A date which will live in infamy

[GH85Carrera]

December 7, 1941

71 years ago today.

I lived in Hawaii on two occasions. I was there when it became a state. We went back for a second tour from 1967 to 1971. Our house in Wiaphau overlooked Pearl Harbor. We could see them filming Tora Tora Tora.

The following is a list of how many people were killed on Dec. 7, 1941 as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
•US Navy: 2,008 KIA
•USMC: 109 KIA
•US Army: 218 KIA
•Civilians: 68

Total: 2,403 killed.

Thank you to all that served and thank you to all that are serving.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Another thank you to those that serve.

[Dick Shift]

Nice and quite today in Hawaii. 12/7/2012

Mahalo and Aloha to all that have served WWII.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Dick Shift

Nice and quite today in Hawaii. 12/7/2012

Mahalo and Aloha to all that have served WWII.

Good to hear.

I don't think any country will try to attack Pearl Harbor from an aircraft carrier anytime soon.

[widgeon13]

+1

[Jim Bremner]

I've only been to the USS Arizona Memorial once, a 50 year old Japenese woman was talking to two of her friends in Japenese and all three laughed.

We really need Sentries on the Memorial like those who serve the tomb of the unknown.

Tomb of the unknown - soldier yelling at laughing crowd - YouTube

My wife was with me and I didn't want to make a sceen in front of her on vacation.

[GH85Carrera]

Last time I was there several Japanese tourists were laughing. A large man with a crew cut that looked like a ex Marine walked up to them and explained this was a sacred place and if they utter another sound he will personally throw them in the water.

You are right, there needs to be someone there to remind everyone that it is a grave site, not an amusement park.

[Baz]

Glen - Thanks so much for the thread and comments. Thanks for your service as well as all our other servicemen and servicewomen.

My father was on the USS Helena when the bombing took place. Here's a note he sent to my grandparents later about that day...







Dad on the left before the bombing...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Baz that's an excellent read, thanks for posting. Very cool to hear from someone that was there in their own words.

[Hugh R]

Wow, just Wow.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Last time I was there several Japanese tourists were laughing. A large man with a crew cut that looked like a ex Marine walked up to them and explained this was a sacred place and if they utter another sound he will personally throw them in the water.

You are right, there needs to be someone there to remind everyone that it is a grave site, not an amusement park.

Thats the way it should be.

RIP to those who still rest there.

[911boost]

The Japanese tourists I saw looking at the Enola Gay at the Air & Space near Dulles sure weren't laughing..........

[allaircooled]

My ship the USS Chosin near the USS Arizona memorial.

Baz - Thank you for posting your fathers letter and picture.

[Rikao4]

did my OJT @ Tripler..

I may be wrong..
but when I was there..
it looked like oil was still seeping from the Arizona..

Rika

[GH85Carrera]

Bas, thank you for the letter from your dad.

While we lived on base at Hickam AFB my dad worked in a building that had bullet holes or bullet damage. It was clear that PACAF headquarters was hit many times by bullets. There were no actual holes left but many craters on the building where the bullets hit. That was in 1969 & 1970. I suspect the damage is still there.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

did my OJT @ Tripler..

I may be wrong..
but when I was there..
it looked like oil was still seeping from the Arizona..

Rika

You are correct. It does indeed still leak oil..

[drcoastline]

BAZ great post. To all our service men and women thank you.

[R K T]

The local TV news was on the street interviewing some "younger" people this morning, asking them what Dec 7th meant to them. Six out of the seven people had no idea what happened on Dec 7th 1941.

It made me mad, sad, disgusted, scared and sickened at what our country has become.

[Baz]

Hey guys you're welcome for the letter and pic and thanks for comments but to be honest I feel so fortunate to have had such patriotic parents. My Mom was a WAVE and at 89 y/o just went on an Honor Flight to Washington DC earlier this year.

Regarding that pic - I should have told you my Dad was "C.W. Schultz" per the newspaper headline. Always joking around.

Our veterans should always receive praise and recognition no matter what else happens in our world.

Chris - thanks for the beautiful pic of your ship and the Arizona Memorial!

You know I still can't wrap my head around all the devastation that happened on that day.
For me it will live in infamy...

[MT930]

This country will never know a greater generation than whose who served during those years. There are few left.

My Grand Father who served in the Pacific in WWII was old during the war said his Grand father was a prisoner in Anderson prison in Georgia during the civil war he said that was the real deal.