My father was born in early 1940. My grandfather was a gunner’s mate on a US Navy destroyer. Time at home was scarce, and well apprciated.
And then the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941. And my father didn’t see his father for four years. Can anyone reading this imagine that? Even I, a recent military retiree, am used to the one year tours where you come back and see your family (at least as much as Army training allows). To just be…. GONE. For YEARS. And for the US Military, the end of the war didn’t mean you got to go home. We were rebuilding our former allies and keeping the peace, especially the Navy.
And then came Korea. But that’s another story.
If you have a chance to visit the USS Arizona memorial, please do so. I remember going there as a young child and the memory still haunts me to this day.
There’s been a lot of conspiracy theories surrounding whether or not Roosevelt knew the Japanese were going to attack. I don’t know if I believe them. All I know is today, in 1941, led to events that influenced this country is ways that even today show in our actions, both good and bad. It also led to the world seeing just what the American men were made of.
And in all things, remember the sacrifice made by those men.
1 comment
I went there in 2016 and my initial reaction was a lump in my throat and I just stood there in awe. The sacrifice made and the absolute terror these brave men endured must never be forgotten. The boat ride over to the Arizona was amazing! That pilot steering the barge into place was excellent and did so perfectly.
While some would argue it the sneak attack was not as sneak as we have been led to believe. In fact they (Roosevelt) knew full well it was coming and the likely target. Sadly, as in most wars some are sacrificed for the ultimate goal. The only way to stop this is to not have the f-in war in the first place. I wish I had the solution to that one – I could get damn rich.