Day of Infamy

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BKelley

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Remember Pearl Harbor

How many of you remember hearing the announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor seventy year ago today? How many of you still have a tear in your eye remembering? How many of you remember to thank God for the brave men who kept us free?

I remember, I hope you do also.

Ben
 
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I'm not old enough to remember that, but I am betting it was a lot like 9/11 !!! A feeling of disbelief, sorrow, anger and the knowledge that life had just changed forever!!

I know I am very grateful for the men and women who have served, continue to serve and will serve to defend our freedom and the freedom of others.
 
I wasn't hatched yet, (only a kid ya know) but I still can feel the sorrow, anger, and pain and terror our Nation went through that day, it truly was a day of infamy.
My Gramps was there and he regaled me with story's that could rival any of the Greek Heroics, That day saw the rise of some Mighty Men and the loss of so many.
I owe them my life and way of life with Freedom and still a certain amount of Liberty.
 
I'm too young to remember, but I've had the opportunity to visit the Pearl Harbor memorial twice in my life and it was a sobering experience (and a highlight to my vacation) both times.
 
I remember. It was a cold Sunday afternoon on Long Island, NY, when my mother called us into the house and told us. I also remember listening to FDR on the radio speaking to Congress when he spoke those words. Luckily all family members who served returned safely, although some did have lasting physical and phsycological effects. They were the Last Great Generation.
 
I remember it well... I was 16, building a model wood airplane on kitchen table , and listening to radio. I also remember Pres. Roosevelt speach to Congress. I tried to join the Marine Corps the next day. Too young, underweight, and not wet behind the ears yet. I kept trying to join the Corps the next three weeks. Finally, gained enough weight (ate 5 pounds of bananas) my Mother and Dad lied about my age and I was off to the Marine Corps in January. I served with Pres. Roosevelt's son as my commanding officer in the 4th Marine Raiders and two years, two months, 22 days in the South Pacific. That happening on December 7th, 1941 changed my whole life and for the rest of my life. I salute ALL Service Men on this day.
 
bensoelberg said:
I'm too young to remember, but I've had the opportunity to visit the Pearl Harbor memorial twice in my life and it was a sobering experience (and a highlight to my vacation) both times.
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I was in Pearl once, but had young children with me and wasn't allowed on the memorial. Sure would have liked to have visited. I've heard there's a feeling of both serenity and eeriness.
 
It was about 16 years before I was born, but I've seen a lot of coverage over the past 54 years concerning it. As already mention, it was a VERY defining moment in our history, More-so than 9-11 but that's the closest to the day in Pearl Harbor that most younger people can relate to.
 
Mr. Wright, as I wrote to you a while back about my dad, it is very ironic how parallel your experience then was to my dad's. He too was underweight, underage, and had to eventually get my grandmother to lie about his age. Like you, he spent several years in the Corps in the Pacific theatre. Like was said about the psychological effects, Dad had them till he passed away in '95. His two physical wounds healed, but not inside his head. Even though he was very proud of the Corps, he would not talk about his war experiences. Add all of this up, and a person can get a little bit of an idea the sacrifices that those men and women made for us. I never cease to be proud of all of them, then and now.
 
MrWright said:
I remember it well... I was 16, building a model wood airplane on kitchen table , and listening to radio. I also remember Pres. Roosevelt speach to Congress. I tried to join the Marine Corps the next day. Too young, underweight, and not wet behind the ears yet. I kept trying to join the Corps the next three weeks. Finally, gained enough weight (ate 5 pounds of bananas) my Mother and Dad lied about my age and I was off to the Marine Corps in January. I served with Pres. Roosevelt's son as my commanding officer in the 4th Marine Raiders and two years, two months, 22 days in the South Pacific. That happening on December 7th, 1941 changed my whole life and for the rest of my life. I salute ALL Service Men on this day.
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MrWright,
Thank you for your service. I too, am to young to know anything about WWII except what I've read and studied. I did however get to experience Vietnam and know something of the sacrifice all our veterans have endured to help to keep this country a safe haven for all and many other countries at least a hope for freedom.
 
Not only was I not born then, neither of my parents were. My grandfather on my mother's side served in the Army near Pearl Harbor prior to WWII. He injured his back when they were ordered to move a field gun with too few troops. He was discharged prior to Pearl Harbor. He rejoined after Pearl. His wife was also a WAC who trained other women short hand to be Air Traffic control tower flight recorders.

My Father was in the Air Force near the end of the Vietnam war and I spent time in the Air Force during Bosnia and Desert Storm.

The single worse day of my life was watching those plane hit the towers and the helplessness I felt to protect my wife and daughter. That pales in comparison to what happened at Pearl Harbor. I salute the men and women of our Greatest Generation who endured more they would ever tell us.
 
I Don't quite remember

Although the attack on Pearl Harbor occured a few days before my 4th birthday I have only vague memories of WW II. I remember the little flag in the window with three stars one for each of my brothers who were serving. I remember going out and gathering milkweed pods to be used in life preservers because kapok was not available. I remember saving tin foil to be returned to the war effort. Flattening tin cans to be recycled, ration books, "Not available for the duration" stamped on almost everything in the Sears & Roebuck Catalog and being reminded whenever we did something wasteful that "Don't you know there's a war going on".

I also remember my mother's joy when a letter arrived from one of the boys and how happy we all were when it ended and how great we all felt when the "boys" came home....

I have always been greatful to those who went and particularily to those who did not come back.

There is no way I could have lived with myself if I didn't serve in the military...I was brought up believing we owed something to our country...those at Pearl Harbor believed that too.
 
Yes, Bill, I remember you. Thanks for those reports you gave me as well. A little funny thing due to the lieing about the age stuff. I kept my "milirary birthday" throughout my civilian life as well. Even when I did Civil Service Employment of a Naval Base in Oregon. BUT, when I went to get my Social Security at 65, I took my discharge papers to prove my birthday. I told the lady my real birthdate and why I lied about it. She said I really could get back pay on my SS if I wanted to, but I told her to correct my records. So my records were changed to my real birthday. NOW, about 5 years ago, my wife got a letter from the Social Security that her husband (me) had passed away and she had been receiving a SS check during that time and wanted the money back. They wanted a death certificate and date that I had passed away. So my OLD military birth date had been tied to a guy with name and date (I guess) that had died. Now, my military disability check was in jeperday, as well as my SS. Really had a problem getting all the government and military stuff taking care of and back on pay-day-time. Still got the letter and my wife and I have many fun times wondering how she is going to pay the money back, and who in the h-ll was she married to.
 
Mr Wright, there again is another parallel. When Dad had to retire at age 62, he filed for SS. His original birth certificate was lost in a courthouse fire in the '40's before there were microfilm backup records. His only proof of age was his DD214. His patriotic "lie" caught up with him, and it cost him several more months of finding at least 3 people who would certify that he was born at his actual birth year. Those months were a little lean for him and my mother, but he never once regretted doing what he did during the War. So, as so many have said here, I offer my heartfelt thanks for him, you, and all of the vets who did it for all of us.
 
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