December 7, 1941: Some Different Perspectives
 

"I knew the United States was in the War now up to the neck, so we had won after all. American blood flows in my veins. The United States is like a gigantic boiler. Once the fire is lighted under it, there is no limit to the power it can generate." 'I went to bed and slept the sleep of the saved and thankful.”
The Diaries of Winston Churchill, entry for December 8, 1941

“The war is over. Of course, there are years of fighting ahead, but the Germans are beaten.”
Charles de Gaulle, on hearing the news of Pearl Harbor, December 8, 1941

The British Empire gave the world Parliamentary Democracy, The United States let the world keep it.

Thanks to all US Veterans, and their families.





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Thanks for posting that.

In before nota types say US deserved it, or some other revisionist BS.

That's good stuff, thanks for posting.

Looking back. It was defiantly the turning point.

Thank you "Yanks".

An interesting tidbit of history. The ships bell of the 'Arizona' was in a navy yard when it was located by a young officer who was doing inventory of garbage material. This officer thought it should be saved and not scraped, took it upon himself to call his school the U of A in Tucson AZ and a arranged a Federal transfer of property to the Uof A where it was used for many years to ring time for class.

Thanks for the thread, AAP and all the posts thus far. Important date for us to remember.

I posted this in a previous thread on December 7th but will repeat it here in case it's of interest. My father's letter to his parents on that day....

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[QUOTE=Baz;8385349]Thanks for the thread, AAP and all the posts thus far. Important date for us to remember.

That is a great letter Baz and a very important one too. If the Americans had not joined in the war the world could have ended up a very different place.

Thanks to all those that contributed to WW2.
Guy

My Dad is the "Joe" in the middle. I once asked him about the war and all he said was" we did what had to be done, we all did".

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Baz that letter is fantastic, thanks for posting.

I just found out a few weeks ago that my Father in-law is a Pearl Harbor survivor. He got there on the 5th. and was waiting to be assigned to a ship when it happened. He will not talk about it, but does talk about his time on PT boats and on the USS Honolulu. He has some stories to tell but nothing about Pearl Harbor. He told my brother in-law some and that it was just to horrific to talk about, even today. He is now staying with us, and we don't even tell him the date, as he will just be sad all day. He did go to Pearl for the 50th Reunion for some closure, and I guess it did help, but some wounds never heal.

My grandfather was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He didn't talk about it much either until a few years back when my family was starting to collect his stories on tape.

http://www.usswestvirginia.org/veterans/personalpage.php?id=3703

Baz - Was your dad stationed at Camp Smith?

A few years ago my uncle put together a little booklet with biographies of all the relatives on my fathers side who served in WWll. They all enlisted after Dec 7, 1941. In my grandfathers case he, his two brothers, and sister eventually all enlisted. Two of their cousins enlisted also..I know members on the maternal side my family were involved in the war effort also.

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Here's my perspective:
I notice that Google, and American company, puts up 'doodles' for all sorts of obscure artists, poets, holidays, anniversaries, etc. Yet one of the most important dates in 20th century American history goes without any such recognition.

Political correctness. But you knew that.

My sincerest respect to all those who have served.

I recently had the opportunity to talk to my grandpa who is now 94 about his WW2 service. He doesn't talk about it. But on this day, for whatever reason, he and I were alone and he opened up.

Turns out he was in the 36th Texas assigned to the attached howitzer division; they drove the Germans to the North up and out of Italy. He was at the battle of the Rapido River (ala Monte Cassino), regarded as one of the worst military blunders in history, and fortunately was at the back. I think over 1,500 US infantry were lost in like 2 days, he choked about that big time. "Those poor guys just got slaughtered."

Since he was of Austria-Hungaria descent, he spoke fluent German and so was a forward observer with a radio for his first two weeks in Italy prior to be reassigned. At one point, he was a Captain's guard and rode in the Jeep. They gave him a rifle with only 3 bullets. "They wouldn't gimme the whole magazine." He asked what the deal was with the 3 bullets and was told "if the Germans get to this Jeep- first you shoot the driver, then you shoot me (the captain), then shoot yourself."

At some point they captured an "Anzio Annie". The Krupp K5 was a German mounted railway gun with a 283mm barrel (11.1") measuring over 70 ft long. He said "the damned ground shook from a long way off" when the Germans fired it...

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My mother and her sisters don't even know this stuff.