A brief reminder
USS West Virginia Burning in Pearl Harbor
Today marks the 84th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941.
Many of us remember the Nine-Eleven attack on September 11, 2001. It killed 2,977 people, primarily because so many workers were trapped in the World Trade Center buildings.
Pearl Harbor saw 2,403 killed, the vast majority of whom (2, 000+) were Naval personnel.
I would argue that the Pearl Harbor was actually worse, not just because of the ships sunk but because our population in 1941 was around 143,000,000 and by 2001 it had ballooned to 284,000,000, so we lost a greater share of our people in 1941.
Eight battleships damaged or sunk.
Thankfully, all three Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers were out of port. Also thankfully, our ships in harbor were sunk in relatively shallow water so that some could be raised to fight again.
Japan declared war after the raid, akin to someone sucker-punching you and then declaring the fight was on. For that alone, many today still have no remorse for the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Like the man said to the Bug – “You don’t start any, there won’t BE any.”) Japan failed to heed that, to their cost.
Arguably a day of heroism. Nonetheless, one of the saddest days in American history. Not for the highest casualty count – the Galveston flood of 1900 may have killed several times as many, and we will never know how many died. Military deaths? Over 3600 at Antietam, 2,500 on D-Day. But sneak attacks resonate more than planned-for battles.
Many of us had relatives, fathers, mothers – who were pulled into the war that Japan dragged us into. Think about what they could have done with four productive years not fighting. Think of the ones you never met because they didn’t come back. Remember all those cemeteries overseas filled with white crosses.
Take a few moments and remember.
Category: None, We Remember, WWII
Was stationed at K-Bay when I served in the Marines in the 70`s, we always went to Pearl to pay our respects.
A dark day indeed. Made somewhat worse by those who believed no such attack would be possible and ignored all the intel and warnings. I wonder what the results would have been had all the ships been at sea and ready.
Same situation in the Philippines.
May all those lost that day and in the rest of the War Rest in Peace.
By mother (who was six in 1941) would often comment on the fact that the Japanese attacked while they were negotiating with us. Three of her brothers served overseas in the Army; one was wounded on Luzon, but all came home.
Before Dad got married, he was a member of the National guard (NY) and in August 1940, Pres Roosevelt activated the Guard into the US Army a month before the Sept 6th draft came into effect. Coast Arty, and left as a S. Sgt. His best friend stood next to him in the odd even line on whose going to the Pacific and his friend went and still suffered a little from Malaria after the war. Dad was on a date with his future wife in the movie theater on Dec 7th and his girl friends dad comes into the movie theater and tells dad about the Pearl Harbor attack and dad had to return to the base. Fort Tilden In Rockaway NYC had tha 3 16 inch gun mounts and when they had to get rid of out dated powder bags, they cut the bags and dragged then over the dirt making different designs and lit them off.
Salvador Dali would have enjoyed this.
FDR.
“A date which
willhas live[d] in infamy.” Eighty-four years is a drop in the bucket so far as history is concerned, but it’s greater than the lifespan of many of us. My dad was born just over a year prior to December 7, 1941, and has been gone for nearly 12 years now. A look at America pre-WWII and America even 25 years later is like night and day. I wasn’t there to witness it personally, but by 1966 Japan was a budding industrial giant, bringing compact cars to the US market and cheap products like tools, with “Made in Japan” the equivalent of “Made in China” 20 years ago, or “Made in India” today. By the 1980s, Japanese products were considered among the best on the market, particularly automobiles and electronics.America is quick to forgive, but unfortunately also quick to forget, despite all the “Never Forget…” reminders over the years. Just look at NYC, where a Muslim Socialist was elected mayor. This in a city that saw an attack eclipsing Pearl Harbor by Islamic radicals less than 25 years ago, and in a country where socialism and communism were considered anti-American throughout much of the 20th Century.
The events of 84 years ago affected millions of Americans to this day, though few of us stop to consider it.
The worst part is that at some point we will be remembering the 9/11 the way we remember Pearl Harbor.
With the old generation gone, and the new generations don’t care enough.
So thank you for remembering.
My uncle Joe (RIP) was at Pearl Harbor on Dec 8, 1942 and witnessed the Japanese attack. He was ashore attending Mass, then he rushed out to the Pennsylvania and saw action.
From his service records:
USN entry date 10/15/1940; Discharged 12/30/1946
1. NTS: Navy Training Station, Great Lakes, IL – 12 weeks
2. Assigned to: USS Pennsylvania, battleship,12/8/1940 to 5/?/1943 See Wiki or Grokepedia for what the Pennsylvania did during this period.
3: More…
Later, he participated in Pearl Harbor Survivor organizations.
Correction: 12/7/1942
My connection to 7 Dec 1941:
My grandfather was senior in high school, and some of his classmates enlisted soon after FDR declared war on Japan. His mom was against him and his brother joining. By late ’42 & early ’43, many of the guys he knew were getting their draft notices. So, him and brother joined the Navy. He served in a VP (anti-ship/sub patrol) squadron in the South Pacific from Jan ’44 to Jul ’45. His brother served on a seaplane tender in the South Pacific as well. Both survived the war, but cancer took my Pop-pop in 2001.
Rest in Peace to all the patriots who gave the ultimate sacrifice on the day and the years to follow, a grateful national salutes them all.
God grant them eternal peace.
Wasn’t born yet, but the attack delayed my parent’s wedding. My Dad was already a Reservist at the time, and was called up December 8. He stayed Active until after the war was over, spending his time in North Carolina, Normandy, with Patton’s IIIA, and Dachau. Ironically, I was stationed in the same town he ran as an Occupation officer after V-E Day decades later. I spent an unforgettable afternoon riding around it with him as he pointed out significant spots (“That gasthaus was our mess” “I remember that place, some SOB took a shot at me there”). It was like watching my father turn from 65 to 30 all over again.
What a miracle he survived. 🇺🇸
We’ll NEVER forget.
It seems that history textbooks are watering down the realities of American involvement in maintaining freedom and independence of the helpless and vulnerable citizens around the world. The geography, history and biographical information of leaders is scant. Our children should be taught in order to appreciate their country and the blessings of freedom. But in many schools, merely maintaining law and order is the best many educators can strive for.
A short blurb on my fathers’ and uncles’ service:
Enlisted in the Army (16 Apr 41) two weeks before his 26th birthday.
Served for the duration as a BAR Gunner/Instructor.
Honorably discharged as a Buck Sergeant on 29 Nov 45 at Camp Hayes, OH.
Passed on 24 Sep 72, aged 57.
Uncle Deverle went in the Army as an Infantryman, was taken POW in Tunisia in 1943, served the remainder of the war growing potatoes in Pomerania. Passed at the same age as my father had.
Hand Salute to those two, may they RIP.
Patriots! Rest in peace.