Author Topic: DECEMBER 07, 1941. (Read 6096 times)

Hoss Cain · « **on:** December 07, 2012, 01:05:31 AM »

I remember it as I was just about to be 6 years old in a couple months and I remember in the apartment we lived in that day.
Everyone around was heads to the old time radios.

Now there is some stuff going around that is blaming the US for everything because the attack on Pearl was just a thing that a bunch of Japan' Naval Officers were playing with and not supposed to become a real war. They were mad about some movie made in USA that was nasty to Japan.

Never FORGET!

Paul Smith · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2012, 05:46:34 AM »

The Cloudbusters' indoor flying session will, as usual, have Pearl Harbor event tonight at the Heritage School. Pearl Harbor models only. WE only have this event when one of our require events falls on Dec 7.

Coincidentally, Heritage School's team is The Hornets.

Avaiojet · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2012, 06:28:47 AM »

Quote from: Hoss Cain on December 07, 2012, 01:05:31 AM

I remember it as I was just about to be 6 years old in a couple months and I remember in the apartment we lived in that day.
Everyone around was heads to the old time radios.

Now there is some stuff going around that is blaming the US for everything because the attack on Pearl was just a thing that a bunch of Japan' Naval Officers were playing with and not supposed to become a real war. They were mad about some movie made in USA that was nasty to Japan.

Never FORGET!

Gene O'Keefe · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2012, 07:49:37 AM »

God Bless the Navy boys that gave their all that day.

Bill Morell · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2012, 08:02:39 AM »

My Dad was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. Never got completely over the memories of that morning. Every time he would talk about it he became very emotional. I wonder if our current prez will apologize to Japan for having caused them to bomb us?

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2012, 08:21:16 AM »

Quote from: Bill Morell on December 07, 2012, 08:02:39 AM

My Dad was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. Never got completely over the memories of that morning. Every time he would talk about it he became very emotional. I wonder if our current prez will apologize to Japan for having caused them to bomb us?

Klinton already apologised for it.

One of his apologies was also to order the removal and return from the campus of my alma mater a bell captured by alums on Okinawa in '45. People were not too happy about that.

Bill Morell · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2012, 09:12:43 AM »

Quote from: Steve Fitton on December 07, 2012, 08:21:16 AM

Klinton already apologised for it.

Must be selective memory on that. A lot of the things that are going on here in the U.S. I try to not think about or remember.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2012, 09:15:50 AM »

I do not remember that day as I was still an unknown kind of baby was about to enter this world. But, it is one date I could always remember in history class.

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2012, 11:02:16 AM »

On that fateful Sunday morning, I was in our driveway helping my dad grind the valves on our 1936 Willys sedan. People up and down the street came out to the sidewalks to discuss the news between them. We then turned on the radio and heard that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. I was 8 years old.

Floyd

Paul Smith · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2012, 03:41:42 PM »

The Pearl Harbor attack was legitimate counterforce warfare. Navy vs navy. The "day which will live in infamy" has been trumped by the terrorist attack against unarmed civilians on September 11, 2011.

In retrospec, the "rabbit punching Japs" were honorable warriors.

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2012, 03:50:53 PM »

Quote from: Paul Smith on December 07, 2012, 03:41:42 PM

The Pearl Harbor attack was legitimate counterforce warfare. Navy vs navy. The "day which will live in infamy" has been trumped by the terrorist attack against unarmed civilians on September 11, 2011.

In retrospec, the "rabbit punching Japs" were honorable warriors.

Read - "Retribution" by Max Hastings.

The atrocities committed against the Filipino's and Chinese, along with US and allied POW's rivals Nazi Germany.

Bill Morell · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2012, 06:57:04 PM »

In retrospec, the "rabbit punching Japs" were honorable warriors.
[/quote]

WTF?

What was "honorable" about a sneak attack?

??

don Burke · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2012, 07:17:12 PM »

They got what they asked for at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and they deserved it!

Mike Keville · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2012, 08:19:51 PM »

I was 1-1/2 years old at the time, Sunday at my grandma's in Haddon Heights, NJ.

As weird as this may sound, I seem to remember all the adults suddenly coming unglued at something they heard on the Philco radio.

I know, I know.....no one can recall things they heard or saw at 18 months old. Don't believe it! I seem to remember everyone really upset about something.

(Of course, that could've been because they were getting low on Creme de' Menthe.)

Mike Scholtes · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2012, 08:25:15 PM »

Another excellent book that goes deeply into the background that led to the growth of Japanese militarism is "Flyboys," by the same man who wrote "Flags of Our Fathers." The atrocities committed by Japan in the 30s and 40s are unspeakable and beyond our modern ability to imagine. That said, the reasons why the Japanese turned into what they did are understandable and allow, at this distance of years, forgiveness.

On a different note, here in the San Francisco Bay Area the huge rotating beacon atop Mount Diablo is lit for only one night a year, December 7, in remembrance of the fact it went dark on December 8, 1941 in case Japanese planes used it as a homing beacon. Volunteers keep the creaky old searchlight operable, sort of. Very dramatic. Can be seen for 200 miles.

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #15 on:** December 07, 2012, 09:38:13 PM »

Quote from: Bill Morell on December 07, 2012, 06:57:04 PM

In retrospec, the "rabbit punching Japs" were honorable warriors.

WTF? What was "honorable" about a sneak attack???

Hi Bill, I think what Paul was eluding to in the terms of "honorable," was they hit military targets as their intended mission, not unarmed civilians.
BTW; A man who worked with my dad at the airlines; who taught me (twelve years old) how to fly control line; walked with a bad limp.
I asked my dad why he limped so bad? He told me something about surviving some kind of march...something about death or dying...something about a place called Bataan. It was a few years later that I came to realize how humbling it was to have met him.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2012, 12:06:38 AM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on December 07, 2012, 08:19:51 PM

I was 1-1/2 years old at the time, Sunday at my grandma's in Haddon Heights, NJ.

As weird as this may sound, I seem to remember all the adults suddenly coming unglued at something they heard on the Philco radio.

I know, I know.....no one can recall things they heard or saw at 18 months old. Don't believe it! I seem to remember everyone really upset about something.

   Who says you can't recall things from 18 months? I have many memories from then and earlier, including vivid memories of my mom going in to the hospital to have my 18-month-older brother. Like it was yesterday - Mrs. Jacoby took us to the hospital in her Volkswagen with me in the right rear seat and then we went to her house and had spaghetti.

  Closer to on-topic, I clearly recall the Cuban missile crisis, we lived in Northern New Jersey at the time, and my mom was boiling water and storing it in mason jars and anything else for when the Reds hit New York, and that that was imminent. I was a little over a year old.

  I would think any child would recall a case where the adults were terrified, like Pearl Harbor, 9/11, etc.

   Brett

Will Hinton · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2012, 07:37:06 AM »

Errr, Brett, good buddy, I am sure you meant 18-month younger brother, but I agree with you on the extremely early memory thing. I was 1 1/2 when Pearl happened, and I remember sugar rationing and a lot of other stuff from then, like lights out drills and such. I find no honor in a surprise attack such as Pearl Harbor, none whatsoever.

RC Storick · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2012, 12:33:26 PM »

I am a post war baby or baby boomer. So I don't remember it however I do remember as a kid watching the black and white documentary of the 'Day that will live in infamy" I asked some people yesterday if they knew what happen on Dec. 7 1941 and most don't know. I talked to my WW2 Dad and he said in 25 years it will have been forgotten. Such a shame.

Lets see we need to apologize to the nut cases for 9-11 too. But you really don't want to hear what I think happend. Lets just say look at history.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #19 on:** December 08, 2012, 12:47:19 PM »

Quote from: Will Hinton on December 08, 2012, 07:37:06 AM

Errr, Brett, good buddy, I am sure you meant 18-month younger brother

I have a time machine, too. Maybe I didn't mention that.

Brett

George · « **Reply #20 on:** December 08, 2012, 02:12:42 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on December 08, 2012, 12:06:38 AM

... Closer to on-topic, I clearly recall the Cuban missile crisis, we lived in Northern New Jersey at the time, and my mom was boiling water and storing it in mason jars and anything else for when the Reds hit New York, and that that was imminent. I was a little over a year old.

Brett

I was riding a Submarine in the north Atlantic during that time as part of the "blockade"...it was a scary time.

George

Will Hinton · « **Reply #21 on:** December 08, 2012, 02:24:20 PM »

I was supposed be discharged on the day we blockaded Cuba! They let me out two weeks early because the Essex was sailing for a shakedown cruise after overhaul. She ended up just off Gitmo during the whole fiasco. I was critical rate and would have seen an automatic 2 year extension like my buddies. Had that happened I would have gone career. Sometimes I look back and think that would have been just fine.

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #22 on:** December 08, 2012, 03:12:59 PM »

December 7, 1941...I was born 3 1/2 years later, and I haven't forgotten. I am still stunned each time I hear someone who is clueless about that date. This week there were even three people on "Jeopardy" who did not recognize that date. Some things should always be remembered - through the generations.

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #23 on:** December 08, 2012, 03:15:17 PM »

Shoulda gone on the other, but I decided to let it lie. - SK

George · « **Reply #24 on:** December 08, 2012, 03:57:14 PM »

Quote from: Serge_Krauss on December 08, 2012, 03:12:59 PM

December 7, 1941...I was born 3 1/2 years later, and I haven't forgotten. I am still stunned each time I hear someone who is clueless about that date. This week there were even three people on "Jeopardy" who did not recognize that date. Some things should always be remembered - through the generations.

Yes, we should remember.

I was born almost three weeks before that day. I still remember a few things like...people helping each other, some large planes flying over Lexington (KY), my Dad leaving for boot camp, answering the door with him standing there in his uniform when he returned from serving on PT Boats. There were parades and festivity after the war.

I also remember climbing on and looking in an F4-U Corsair placed on the court house lawn for people to examine, but that was after the war ended.

George

Mike Keville · « **Reply #25 on:** December 08, 2012, 04:09:59 PM »

Quote from: Serge_Krauss on December 08, 2012, 03:12:59 PM

. . . three people on "Jeopardy" who did not recognize that date. . .

If they were too ignorant to recognize that date, they had no business being on 'Jeopardy'.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #26 on:** December 08, 2012, 05:30:12 PM »

I remember Kaiser Willie's War, so there! But I don't recall much about last weekend.

Steve

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #27 on:** December 08, 2012, 09:26:31 PM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on December 08, 2012, 04:09:59 PM

If they were too ignorant to recognize that date, they had no business being on 'Jeopardy'.

That's what we thought too. With age, it seems, come many things we believe to be part of America and its history that go unrecognized by others.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #28 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:58:53 AM »

Can you also beleive there are people that think the movie, "Tora Tora Tora" was a just a story written by someone. Until you have been to Pearl Harbor and seen it from the air. Then after landing at the airport to start the tour. A bus ride to the memorial grounds, watching the movie they have and the the launch ride out to the memorial. Can still see the remains of the gun turrets. Very quiet mood at that monument. Been to the Vietnam memorial in DC and had a much different feeling while reading some of the names. Don't know how many classmates lost in that one, but all of my pals at that time came home. They were not the same as when they left.

Joe Just · « **Reply #29 on:** December 09, 2012, 11:12:42 AM »

I honestly believe that our education system has failed in regards to our history. Making out a check in a grocery store about 10 years ago I noted the date on the check and mention that June 6th was an important time in our Nation's history. The clerk asked what the date meant and I said "June 6th, 1944 was part of the D-Day invasion of France in WW2. Her repley was, and I'm not kidding, "Yea, just another example of the US picking on somebody again!" I guess I should have just shook my head and moved on out of the store, but being who I was I nearly screamed, "How F87K78NG STUPID are you? The manager asked that I leave the store and never come back. He got his wish. As a free Nation (for awhile) we can have honest discussions about 12/7/41, but I am really scared that the general public will look at the discussion of Pearl Harbor and come to the conclusion that George Bush was responsible for it.

I remember my Mother crying, and my Dad looking at me strangly while we listened to the radio about the attack. He was a veteran of "The Great War", having gained his citizenship by inlisting in the Army and flying with the 95th Aero Squadron. I will Always remember Dec. 7th. 1941

Joe

Mike Keville · « **Reply #30 on:** December 09, 2012, 05:48:27 PM »

Hmmm....thought about posting a shot at the Revisionist "teachers" in our schools today --- then it occurred to me that the Owner and Moderators had asked us to avoid political comments.

Just as well. You don't really need to see what I think of the wimpy, pinko morons who.......

Ooops....never mind.

Will Hinton · « **Reply #31 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:09:53 PM »

I know Mike, I feel the same frustration.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #32 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:35:09 PM »

Oh, and by the way: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(As opposed to all that "Happy Holidays" baloney.)

John Gluth · « **Reply #33 on:** December 09, 2012, 08:10:10 PM »

Seems like most Stunthanger members are Boomers. I am, and want to recognize and express gratitude to all that served and sacrificed in WW2.
Thank you for the life and freedom we all enjoy today! That is what EVERY December 7th means to me.

Dan Berry · « **Reply #34 on:** December 09, 2012, 09:36:25 PM »

Quote from: Douglas Ames on December 07, 2012, 03:50:53 PM

Read - "Retribution" by Max Hastings.

The atrocities committed against the Filipino's and Chinese, along with US and allied POW's rivals Nazi Germany.

Actually, they eclipse what NAZI Germany did.

Hoss Cain · « **Reply #35 on:** December 10, 2012, 01:38:48 AM »

Quote from: Mike Scholtes on December 07, 2012, 08:25:15 PM

Another excellent book that goes deeply into the background that led to the growth of Japanese militarism is "Flyboys," by the same man who wrote "Flags of Our Fathers." The atrocities committed by Japan in the 30s and 40s are unspeakable and beyond our modern ability to imagine. That said, the reasons why the Japanese turned into what they did are understandable and allow, at this distance of years, forgiveness.

//snip//

It takes a strong personal "constitution" to read and digest Bradley's "Flyboys". While I am one to hold a grudge against that type of treatment against prisoners, I suppose the current younger generations of Japan are just as dumb and unconcerned about that war as our own young people here are today. I cannot understand why our own leaders have this wimpy way of sending our own youth to fight an unwinable war with no hopes of victory, rather than just call whomever needs a strong message with a weather forecast: You boys have 24 hours to cease and desist or expect a strong Weather-Change: Cloudy Skies, some strong winds, and 10,000+ degrees.
I spent many days sitting all ready to leap into the beautiful B-47 all loaded with Thermonukes and ready to roll. I did not want the ruskies to get the first blow but I did so want to go!

To keep sending our best youth to die and/or get all broken up with NO way and/or desire to WIN is IMO, the most horrible way I can think of to maintain a strong love and pride-of-country. I guess winning is just too old fashioned. We have not had a win since WW-II. Just think, People 68 years old have no conception of TOTAL VICTORY. How sad!

OH well I will get some backyard Ringmaster and Still-Stuka time this week. 'Bout time.

Avaiojet · « **Reply #36 on:** December 10, 2012, 06:49:11 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on December 09, 2012, 07:58:53 AM

Can you also beleive there are people that think the movie, "Tora Tora Tora" was a just a story written by someone.

Joseph Lijoi · « **Reply #37 on:** December 10, 2012, 10:10:30 AM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on December 09, 2012, 05:48:27 PM

Hmmm....thought about posting a shot at the Revisionist "teachers" in our schools today --- then it occurred to me that the Owner and Moderators had asked us to avoid political comments.

Just as well. You don't really need to see what I think of the wimpy, pinko morons who.......

Ooops....never mind.

Pinko.......Nice one Mike....a classic, haven't heard that one in a while. Happy Hannukkha to you and yours.

don Burke · « **Reply #38 on:** December 10, 2012, 12:39:00 PM »

Quote from: Joe Just on December 09, 2012, 11:12:42 AM

I honestly believe that our education system has failed in regards to our history. Making out a check in a grocery store about 10 years ago I noted the date on the check and mention that June 6th was an important time in our Nation's history. The clerk asked what the date meant and I said "June 6th, 1944 was part of the D-Day invasion of France in WW2. Her repley was, and I'm not kidding, "Yea, just another example of the US picking on somebody again!" I guess I should have just shook my head and moved on out of the store, but being who I was I nearly screamed, "How F87K78NG STUPID are you? The manager asked that I leave the store and never come back. He got his wish. As a free Nation (for awhile) we can have honest discussions about 12/7/41, but I am really scared that the general public will look at the discussion of Pearl Harbor and come to the conclusion that George Bush was responsible for it.

I remember my Mother crying, and my Dad looking at me strangly while we listened to the radio about the attack. He was a veteran of "The Great War", having gained his citizenship by inlisting in the Army and flying with the 95th Aero Squadron. I will Always remember Dec. 7th. 1941

Joe

My daughter-in-law is a product of the Kalifornia educational system. She's about 50 years old. She asked me after watching "Saving Private Ryan" if there was real any history involved. She was never exposed to anything about WWII! So the revisionists got started really early!

Joseph Lijoi · « **Reply #39 on:** December 10, 2012, 03:36:54 PM »

Quote from: Dan Berry on December 09, 2012, 09:36:25 PM

Actually, they eclipse what NAZI Germany did.

And what "revisionist" history education system did you graduate from?

Bill Morell · « **Reply #40 on:** December 10, 2012, 04:15:08 PM »

Looks like this one has gone the distance.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #41 on:** December 10, 2012, 04:16:32 PM »

Yup. 'nuff said....

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #42 on:** December 11, 2012, 03:29:17 AM »

Quote from: don Burke on December 10, 2012, 12:39:00 PM

My daughter-in-law is a product of the Kalifornia educational system. She's about 50 years old. She asked me after watching "Saving Private Ryan" if there was real any history involved. She was never exposed to anything about WWII! So the revisionists got started really early!

Don,
I call B.S. on the "Kalifornia" comment of the period you reference. I went to Edison H.S. in Huntington Beach, California about the same time as your daughter-in-law and I assure you history was taught. Good schools then, and good teachers. Like anything absorbed, there needs to be some participation by the student. Maybe she didn't really care about the history that was taught.
There were always some non-conformists teaching, perverts, slum lords, fanatics of various nature, but those types are all over.
I came out fine.
My 16 year old boy knows about WWII, he said it was a big topic in 8th grade. I filled in some blanks for him that he said were missed. Some of the facts don't line up with reasons some times in these new textbooks (he lives in the great state of Arizona where the best thing to come out of it last was WWI ace Frank Luke) so the more we speak of these things with our kids and grandkids, the more they'll know.
That's the way I figure it, anyway.
Chris...

don Burke · « **Reply #43 on:** December 11, 2012, 06:37:25 PM »

"......so the more we speak of these things with our kids and grandkids, the more they'll know."

I agree totally that's why I "educated" her (gently) a little after her comment. My dad (102nd Cav Recon) landed in Normandy on June 7, ended up in Prague. And he never talked about it, some things he just didn't want to discuss like concentration camps they liberated.

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #44 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:42:34 PM »

My Dad was in college at the University of MO when the attack on Perl Harbor went down. He left college shortly after and inlisted in the Marine Corps,
(for Mr Obama that pronounced Core...not Corpse)...uuhhh oh yeah I was born in July of 1941, so don't really remember much about him at that time except He was a pilot with the black sheep squadron, flew a lot of missions and had 10 confirmed kills. As I suspect happened a lot during the war my Mom divorced him during the War and remarried (several times). I didn't meet my Dad until I was 9 years old. I lived with him as a Teenager but never really hit it off with him. He wasn't really a very friendly guy. I'm told he was a genuine Hellraiser when he was in the war...maybe that's what it takes to fly Corsairs and kill the enemy...He wouldn't talk about it very much but hated Japanese people until he died in 1985 (I think). I attended his funeral and met Pappy Boynton...He was there at the funeral and said He would have recognized me anywhere because I looked just like my "Old Man".
He said he was a "Hell of a Pilot" and a real son-of-a-bitch in a fight...I believed him.

Vietnam was my War and it wasn't much fun either...1st SOG 1968-1969.

At any rate that's His story as I know it.

Randy Cuberly

wwwarbird · « **Reply #45 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:48:21 PM »

Quote from: Randy Cuberly on December 11, 2012, 08:42:34 PM

My Dad was in college at the University of MO when the attack on Perl Harbor went down. He left college shortly after and inlisted in the Marine Corps,
(for Mr Obama that pronounced Core...not Corpse)...uuhhh oh yeah I was born in July of 1941, so don't really remember much about him at that time except He was a pilot with the black sheep squadron, flew a lot of missions and had 10 confirmed kills. As I suspect happened a lot during the war my Mom divorced him during the War and remarried (several times). I didn't meet my Dad until I was 9 years old. I lived with him as a Teenager but never really hit it off with him. He wasn't really a very friendly guy. I'm told he was a genuine Hellraiser when he was in the war...maybe that's what it takes to fly Corsairs and kill the enemy...He wouldn't talk about it very much but hated Japanese plepole until he died in 1985 (I think). I attended his funeral and met Pappy Boynton...He was there at the funeral and said He would have recognized me anywhere because I looked just like my "Old Man".
He said he was a "Hell of a Pilot" and a real son-of-a-bitch in a fight...I believed him.

Vietnam was my War and it wasn't much fun either...1st SOG 1968-1969.

At any rate that's His story as I know it.

Randy Cuberly

Wow. Hard to say much else on that one.

Thank you for sharing that story Randy.

Author Topic: DECEMBER 07, 1941. (Read 6096 times)

Joe Just

John Gluth