Lest we forget ................ December 7, 1941

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.

The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. There were simultaneous Japanese attacks on the U.S.held Philippines and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

From the standpoint of the defenders, the attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. All but one were later raised, and six of the eight battleships returned to service and fought in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded. Important base installations such as the power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day (December 8), the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for non-interventionism, which had been strong, disappeared. Clandestine support of Britain (for example the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.

Photograph taken from a Japanese plane during the torpedo attack on ships moored on both sides of Ford Island shortly after the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack. View looks about east, with the supply depot, submarine base and fuel tank farm in the right center distance.

A torpedo has just hit USS West Virginia on the far side of Ford Island (center). Other battleships moored nearby are (from left): Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee(inboard of West Virginia), Oklahoma (torpedoed and listing) alongside Maryland, and California.

On the near side of Ford Island, to the left, are light cruisers Detroit and Raleigh, target and training ship Utah and seaplane tender Tangier. Raleigh and Utah have been torpedoed, and Utah is listing sharply to port.

Japanese planes are visible in the right center (over Ford Island) and over the Navy Yard at right. U.S. Navy planes on the seaplane ramp are on fire.

December 7, 1941

In two days, it will be December 7, 2013, seventy two years ago, on December 7, 1941, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, by the Japanese. As FDR  said, "A day that will live, in infamy," I remember hearing that so vividly. The world was never the same after that day, a time of quiet innocence in this country, ended on that day, we were at war.

I have related on many occasions where I was on that day, and my reaction, but more importantly, the reaction of those I was with. A moment frozen in time, still so vivid in my mind, I can close my eyes and relive that moment, and many events of the day, the looks on the faces, in our case, a happy weekend visit at my brothers college and fraternity house, a glorious weekend, ended on that radio broadcast.

I doubt that much will happen on that day, to remember, I think it has become politically impolite to mention the day and the occasion. That day was the first turn of a wheel, that has continued spinning since that day, and has only gained momentum each day. It may now, even be spinning out of control.

Think for a minute, all that has happened in the world since that day, it is staggering. So many things are reality now that were not even imagined in those days. Think of all the lives that have been lost, just in wars, since then. We have almost continually been in a war of some sort, since then. We learned nothing from that experience, only, that when pressed to do it, our nation can mobilize to unimaginable heights. Our technology can produce technological advances as needed. We have the capabilities, the manpower  and the leadership to win wars, when forced in to them.

THE FDR SPEECH

Some remember ........

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — About 120 survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, bombing of Pearl Harbor observed a moment of silence to commemorate the Japanese attack and the thousands who lost their lives that day 70 years ago Wednesday.


The moment of silence came just before 8 a.m., when the first Japanese planes launched their attack. The survivors were joined by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, military leaders and civilians at a ceremony in Pearl Harbor.

Altogether 3,000 people attended the event at a site overlooking the sunken USS Arizona and the white memorial that straddles the battleship.

President Barack Obama hailed veterans of the bombing in a statement proclaiming Wednesday as "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day."

"Their tenacity helped define the Greatest Generation and their valor fortified all who served during World War II. As a nation, we look to December 7, 1941, to draw strength from the example set by these patriots and to honor all who have sacrificed for our freedoms," he said.

Also this week, five ash scattering and interment ceremonies are being held for five survivors whose cremated remains are returning to Pearl Harbor after their deaths.

On Tuesday, an urn containing the ashes of Lee Soucy was placed on his battleship, the USS Utah, which is lying on its side near the place where it sank. The ashes of Vernon Olsen, who was on the Arizona during the attack, will be placed on his ship late Wednesday.

The U.S. lost 12 vessels that day, but the Arizona and the Utah are the only ones still sitting in the harbor. The attack brought the United States into World War II.

The ashes of three other survivors will be scattered in the water in separate ceremonies this week.

USS Utah survivor Gilbert Meyer said he comes back each year to see his shipmates entombed in the battleship which rests not far from where it sank off Ford Island.

Meyer, 88, recalled his ship rolling over after being hit by a torpedo and seeing Japanese planes dropping bombs. When the planes began showing machine gun fire, he knew it was time to move.

"That really got my attention so I got in the water and swam ashore," he said.

It is rolling around again ..... December 7

I imagine the number of people who vividly remember this date is dwindling. I am 79, born in 1932, and remember that day as if it were yesterday. As FDR said, "A date which will live in infamy."

I was in Greencastle, Indiana, along with my Mom and Dad, we were visiting my Brother Dean, who was attending DePauw University. We had just finished eating lunch in the Delta Tau Delta house dining room, my brother's fraternity. I was reclining on a big leather couch, suffering from a mild allergy attack from eating too may hot homemade Parker House rolls. I knew better, I was allergic to eggs, but could not resist those hot rolls.

News was coming in on the big Philco Radio in the large Commons Room, which was filled with many students and their parents. I remember hearing, Japan, Pearl Harbor, sneak attack, bombs, aircraft, words like devastation, casualties, ships sinking, words that would soon become commonplace.

The stillness in the crowded room, the expressions on faces, there was a foreboding feeling in the room that made me acutely aware that a disaster had happened, one that would have a dramatic affect on the young men in the room. I had a feeling that they sensed how this would affect their future, that their lives would never be the same, a life altering event.

I remember the three hour drive home, in a Packard Clipper, few to no words were exchanged between the three of us. We drove in silence. The country would soon be at war, and we all knew it. My Dad had served in WWI and knew of war, his Father, Caleb,  was in the Civil War, and Dad had heard many stories of the horror of that war. He was the most silent, he knew what the future held.

December 7, 1941, "A date which will live in infamy." We should never forget that date.

December 7, 1941

Only one mention on my Facebook, have not heard anything on TV as yet, about this day. It come and goes like any other day, what a shame that is. I think that "someone" wants us to forget what happened on this day many years ago. I remember vividly.

I was nine years old, my Brother was attending DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and he was living in the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity house there. My Mom and Dad and I had spent the night in a guest house in Greencastle, attended an early morning Chapel Service on campus, and went to the Delt House for lunch.

I was allergic to many things in my younger days, one of which was eggs. The cook at the Delt house made the best Parker House rolls, which I was not supposed to eat, but ate two of them anyway, and later on had an allergy attack, wheezy, eyes swollen. So I was somewhat stretched out on one of the giant leather couches they had in the living room at the fraternity house.

I remember when the announcement came over the radio, the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I remember the tension filled hush that went over the room, even at my age, let me know that something of monumental importance had happened. I think all of these young men knew that they would become involved, somehow. They knew what the future held for them.

There were some other events scheduled for that afternoon, but, as I recall, we just said our goodbyes and headed back, in the 1939 Packard, to Dayton, our home.

Dad had served in WWI, and knew of war, Mom had known the worry about loved ones during war time, they both had lived through one war, and now another war was at hand.

I remember the day quite well, I will never forget it, December 7, 1941.

December 7, 1941

I heard no mention of the events that took place in 1941, maybe it is just the older folks who remember that day. It is a day that I shall never forget.

I was in Greencastle, Indiana, with my Mom and Dad, visiting my Brother, who was attending DePauw University. I loved going over there for visits, a beautiful college town, sorority houses, fraternity houses, going to their stadium to watch football games, and their gym for basketball. That is what my brother played and we went over as often as possible to see him play.

My brother lived in the Delt House, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, a beautiful place, sunken garden in the back, large lawn, and a large living room with leather couches and chairs, that overlooked that sunken garden. I can almost still catch the aroma in that house.

On special weekends, the cook baked up Parker House Rolls, hot and steaming, I really liked them, but they were made with a lot of eggs, and I was allergic to eggs in those days. My eyes would get puffy, runny nose, wheezy, and sometimes, difficulty in breathing. But I still managed to steal one or two of those rolls during dinner.

I had done that at lunch, on December 7, 1941, and was suffering the consequences and lying on one of those leather couches trying to overcome all those symptoms.

I remember the radio, playing in the background, not really paying attention to what was on, but I knew something was wrong. A deathly quiet came over the room, a lot of blank faces, staring in to space. Looking back, it is hard to imagine, what was going through their minds, young men, who knew they would be caught up in what certainly would be, a war.

I didn't fully comprehend what all was going on, I was only 9, but the overwhelming tension in that beautiful college fraternity living room, was somehow transformed, and I remember different ones, quietly and somberly, leaving, heading for their rooms, to be my themselves and sort out their own thoughts. It became really oppressive after a while. There was very little chatter in that room full of young men, some with their dates, some with their parents, but I think they knew their lives had just been altered, by that bombing, in Pearl Harbor, and the inevitable war that would follow.

I remember the war pretty well, the reports in the newspapers, the news on the radio, Walter Winchell, H. V. Kaltenbourne, Peter Grant from WLW in Cincinnati, reports on the progress of the war.

My brother ended up serving during the latter stages of the war, in the Navy, Submarine Service. We had friends and neighbors who had ships shot out from under them, one on the Yorktown, some in the Army who walked their way through Europe. We escaped most of the horrors of war, we lost no close friends or relatives. I planted a Victory Garden, was a Junior Commando, collected cans and grease, went around the neighborhood and collect some sort of a "pod" that supposedly ended up in parachutes.

We had our ration card, for food and gas and maybe one for sugar, but I think we were one of Earl's best customers, he had a neighborhood grocery store on Brown Street, down on the corner, across the street from where we lived, so I have a hunch Earl took pretty good care of us.

'A day that will go down in infamy," Roosevelt said, but not much to little to nothing said about it today, maybe "infamy" has come and gone. I guess a lot of water has run over the dam since then, now they own much of this country, we rely on them for many products we use every day ......... so perhaps....... but, I can't forget.