However, I vote we keep this thread on track, respectfully honoring the members of the Greatest Generation who were lost that morning.
One thing that characterized that generation was hard work, high morality overall and ability to see the job to the finish. Undaunted by the grievous attack, utilizing tactics to make up for weaknesses and inferiority of equipment, came back with a fighting spirit to bring the war to a close.
For example, the marvels of mass production of slower but proven Liberty Ships kept the supplies moving faster than the enemy could sink them. Equipment production ramped up immediately with mostly prewar aircraft, as it would take time for research and development to provide improved equipment over the obsolescent. Aircraft tactics were developed to capitalize on the best strengths of the pre-WW2 aircraft to gain advantage. Although the tubby Grumman F4F Wildcat was slower, it could outdive the Japanese Zeros and gain an upper hand on the upswing. When this was capitalized on, they were able to down 10 Zeros to the loss of 1 Wildcat.
It was said that a liar was someone who was a coward, did not have the tenacity to stand up to the truth. Slackers at work were also looked down upon. One was expected to work hard, carry a task to its finish. They learned how to economize, it wasn't unusual to wear every day work / play clothing that had patches sewn to extend the life thereof.
We had the manufacturing capacity then to see things through to the end. Today, I see less people who are self starters, who must have someone kept on top of them to produce work. I see more and more grown kids now adults still living with their parents, and doing little to further themselves to be self sufficient.
With our manufacturing base gone exported overseas, and less than half of the young men entering adulthood not being able to meet simple military standards of fitness due to obesity, addictions to illicit recreational substances, failure to complete schooling, siring children out of wedlock and etc., has already placed us at a disadvantage.
If we were that way during WW2, we would have been a vassal state of another nation.
Topic: 81st Anniversary of Pearl Harbor (Read 973 times)