Sadly, today is a day that most Americans know nothing about. It will be just another Friday, go to work, come home, do some Christmas shopping, what's for supper. If you did a street poll asking what December 7th was, I wonder how many would know. I suspect very few. The RedHawk Review reports that there are NO articles on MSNBC's front page commerating this day. There is nothing on the front pages of ABC News, or CBS News either. That's really something, but not surprising. Before I go on, here's a video posted on YouTube. Please take a few minutes to view it before reading on. It gives just a little smattering of the impact of that day. You will need to click on the Permalink below so the music video from September 11th won't play while you're watching this video.
Over 2300 Americans died that day. Many more were wounded. Eight battleships, including the USS Arizona were destroyed.
There were far too many acts of sheer heroism to go into detail here. Suffice it to say that our servicemen responded in nothing short of the superhuman. One man, 
Messman Dorie Miller (1919-1943), stationed aboard the USS Arizona, used an anti-aircraft gun to shoot down four enemy aircraft. He had no training in the use of this gun. He received the Navy Cross for this and pulling his wounded Captain to safety. All the ammunition was locked up and our men had to break the locks, load the guns, and begin returning fire in less than twenty minutes. 
This attack brought the United States into World War II. Japan was attempting to expand its empire throughout the Pacific and attacked the United States so the expansion would not be opposed. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, other strategic targets were also attacked such as Midway, Wake Island, Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, and the Phillipines. American ships were also torpedoed by Japanese forces on the high seas between San Fransisco and Honolulu. The Japanese government thought this attack would keep the United States out of their way and they could take over the Pacific unopposed. It had the opposite effect. This was a time when our country had solidarity. The vote in Congress to declare war on Japan was almost unanimous, only one dissenting vote. Boys lied about their age and enlisted to defend their beloved country. This kind of unity and resolve is something that is very much absent today. America perservered for four long years until victory was won. Today, I remember and thank all who fought and kept our freedom secure. Take time to remember - we must never forget.
9 comments:
I do remember the day and we all started living in fear that our coasts would be attacked next. My ex-husband was living in Hawaii so when my boys went to visit him they went to Pearl Harbor. I was only 10 years old, but it was one of the most frightening days I ever experienced during the war. All my male cousins where were older than I was and my male uncles on both sides went to war. I had three uncles on my mother's side and five cousins on my dad were were all in that war. My Uncle Crae went down in a plane making a bombing run over Japan. The plane was never found. We had so many relatives to worry about as did so many others. Yes, this was a historic day, causing terrible fear and disbelief much like 9/11 caused in the present day. Gerry http://journals.aol.com/gehi6/daughters-of-the-shadow-men/
I make a point of remembering key dates from World War II, Dirk, and this is one such day. You are quite right that it brought the US into the war. It was the fact that American soil was under direct attack that rallied everybody round. The contrast with Vietnam and Iraq is telling.
You are right, I had no idea that this happened on Dec 7. Thank you so much for sharing...-Missy http://journals.aol.com/ma24179/MISSYZSTUFF
It iwas a day that no American should ever forget.
Hi Dirk- thank you for remembering! I love the 2 posters down at the bottom- On our local news, we saw an interview with a man (he lives in our area) who survived being on the Arizona. He was so close to the action, that he could see the Japanese pilot smiling as he came in to bomb the ship. This vet has severe alzheimers, yet- when he puts his cap on- he remembers everything. I know no one personally who was there that day- but I know a few who had no reservations about lying about their age to join up right after the attack- my father in law one of them- he like so many, was 16- yet looked about like 12 or 13 tops! Sam, from Gravydogg was wondering how many of his comrades are still around- I told him a little fewer in numbers every year when the rememberance holidays come- but even for those who have passed, we can all be so grateful. I ask that God Bless them all- all who survived Pearl Harbor- and all who fought so valiantly afterwards. Carolyn
Our newspaper carried a front page article and we are in pretty good sized metropolitan area. One of my sons birthday is today. We have always told him he was born on "The day the War Started". I had many relatives who served in WW2
and grew up hearing stories about their individual bravery. No, today was not just 'Another Day'.
Thank you!!!!!
Deb
about 7 yrs ago i traveled to Cleveland, which is 4 hrs from me and got a tour of a decommissioned Navy ship.....the USS Cod. An elderly gentleman walked thru it with us and told us of the brave who died on this ship during WWII. I already knew about Pearl Harbor because my grandma had a brother who died that day....and she often told me the story. Thank you for this entry.
lisa
A parallel stuck me how the two times we have ever been struck hard on our own soil, both used planes to accomplish thier dirty work. I can't for the life of me see why the public in general can't see or wants to ignore the similarities in what we face today and what that generation faced. And I can't help but wonder if both weren't allowed by the hand of providence to get our kuisters off the side lines and into the frey both times. - Barbara
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