Infamous Day..

I just wanted to say a quick thanks to all those that served and their families, especially members of The Greatest Generation. We have gardeners of all generations here. Some remember, some weren't even thoughts in their parents' eyes yet. But, this is truly a day that changed the course of this country and a day to be held in the highest reverence.

Two things crossed my mind this morning I thought I'd share..

1- When Pearl Harbor was ambushed, the morning was just getting underway. The National Anthem was being played on ship decks. The soldiers were standing at attention, most of them. And, they had to watch as those planes came screaming in dropping torpedoes into the waters. I find it incredibly ironic that the National Anthem was being played the moments before we jumped into war......like it's played moments before the start of sporting events.

2- Almost every piece of our naval arsenal was in port that day. However, one HUGE part of our navy was out to sea running drills......our carriers. Had they, too, been docked our world would be very different today. VERY different. Those three ships fortuitous survival were the only reason we didn't immediately lose Hawaii, and later Midway, to the Japanese and have to completely rebuild our entire navy.

Feel free to provide anecdotes of your own.

I heard on the news this AM that this year will be the last time the Pearl Harbor Survivors will have their annual memorial/reunion. There are just too few left that can make the trip.

boffer wrote:I heard on the news this AM that this year will be the last time the Pearl Harbor Survivors will have their annual memorial/reunion. There are just too few left that can make the trip.

That same thing happened to my grandfather several years back. When he started with the reunions, it was 1986. He/they had just retired and were about 150 strong. I bet you couldn't find 10 today. And, that's sad. They had some of the coolest stories about everything.

If you have a chance to talk to a survivor, make the time.

I met a man in my town that served in the pacific theater. I made him a pin that showed that he has EIGHT bronze medals. After surviving Pearl Harbor, he fought and lived through battles on eight different islands (including months on Guadalcanal, which he called Starvation Island). He showed me some of his memorabilia including samari swords and handguns taken from Japanese officers.

I salute my friend Carl Leisure. He is a great man. I now know why they call them the greatest generation.

I toured the USS Arizona in Aug 1998 and talked to the survivor volunteer on speaking duty that day.Then I went up to Hickham and looked at all the bullet holes left in the buildings. It was sobering and I'm so glad I made my daughter go with me.



Kay

I had an uncle who went down on the Arizona. My mom goes to the memorial every year on December 7, but I've never been able to go with her. I have uncles (from my mom's family of 18) who served in almost all the major theaters in WWI and II. I'm so proud of that heritage of bravery and honor.

My husband is a history teacher and one of his student's families was able to arrange for he and his student to interview a WWII veteran. If you are into that kind of thing, here is the video of the interview. The man was not only a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge but a POW as well.

Part 1 of 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_9FsjRsr5I

Part 2 of 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vALjEEDwzc4

Part 3 of 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnRFHxlRFGc

Part 4 of 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4JmvMAh1uY

Mr. John Kline, the veteran, has a website where you can read his journals, etc at: http://home.mm.com/user/jpk/wardiary.htm

Thank you to all our veterans and their families for your service and sacrifice!