7 December 1941
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2007 by Travis Cody in"This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny." Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 27 June 1936
I published some of the following words as a Thursday 13 submission last year on 7 Dec. The words stand alone, as they did a year ago.
But I was a young blogger then. This year, I can add some things to make the words a little more special. And I think it is necessary that I do so.
This is an important day. We must remember these events. We owe it to the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and other service personnel who fought for the freedoms we enjoy. We owe it to the people who loved them...those who waited for them, and wrote them letters, and sent them photographs, and searched the news wires for any small word of them, and dreaded the Western Union man.
We must never take these events for granted.
I honor those who gave "the last full measure of devotion". I honor those who persevered through the horrors of combat and came home.
To the Greatest Generation, I say thank you.
I dedicate this special remembrance to...
...my grandfather, who lied about his age so he could join the United States Merchant Marine. He doesn't talk about his service, but I have asked him if he would write it for me so I can have it after he's gone. I know that he served as a Seaman from early 1944 until the end of the war. I found his name on the Manchester NH World War II Veterans Honor Roll. He was barely 17 in 1945.
...the 1,177 men who went down with USS Arizona.
...the additional 1,158 service personnel killed during the attack.
...the 68 civilians killed during the attack.
...the 1,178 military personnel and civilians wounded during the attack.
...rescue and medical personnel who braved oil slicks and searing heat to pull victims to safety and render first aid and comfort.
...the numerous and varied acts of heroism above and beyond the call, such as Ship's Cook Third Class Dorie Miller USN, serving on USS West Virginia, who carried many of his wounded shipmates to safety and attempted to rescue his mortally wounded Captain. Then he manned a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft gun for which he had never been trained.
...the crew of USS Nevada, who managed to get their battleship underway during the attack and tried to steam out of harm's way, ultimately running aground in order to avoid being sunk in the middle of the harbor.
...the pilots and service crews who were able to get a few P-40's and P-36's off the ground from Haleiwa airfield. These planes engaged enemy aircraft and shot down as many as 11, losing 4 of their own.
...Navy and civilian salvage crews, who worked for more than 20,000 hours on over 5,000 dives. Their efforts helped put 11 ships back into service from 1942 through 1944. They were also able to re-float 4 sunken battleships, which were ultimately returned to service and saw action against Japan later in the war.
...all veterans of the Pearl Harbor attack.
To all who performed above and beyond the call in the early morning hours of 7 December 1941, and in the subseqent days leading to 15 August 1945 when Japan surrendered and World War II came to an end, I offer my deepest respect and gratitude.
"Yesteray, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Congress, 8 December 1941.
Today in Hawaii, a memorial will be dedicated to USS Oklahoma.
Trav - that was a fantastic tribute to those who died, those who performed such acts of bravery and heroism at Pearl Harbor. It was most certainly a "Day that will live in infamy" was it not?
No, I feel kind of guilty cause I came here to tell you I'd like you to come play a game of Viral Tag. Come by my blog for your instructions waiting there.