73 years ago today

[milagros317]

On December 7, 1941, forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
This led to the United States entering World War II.
More details available here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

 

[mb7700]

Nice to see that some of the survivors are still around:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/0...te-in-hawaii-to-mark-73rd-anniversary-attack/

 

[rdhd]

Yes, but the survivors are getting fewer each year. Without them (hell, even with them), there are those that don't want to believe such a thing happened, no matter what the history books say.

 

[SamuelKhan]

I have mp3's of Radio broadcasts that day. That would have been an experience to be around a radio listening in shock and terror. If the aircraft carriers were docked there, the outcome of the war would have been different in the Pacific. The Japanese then were tyrannical just like their goosestepping allies in Europe and were up to no damned good.

Yamamoto prophesied right after their score at Pearl Harbor, "We have awakened a sleeping giant with terrible resolve." They learned that when the Doolittle Raid was able to reach Japan, and had their heads handed to them at Midway.

The Japanese fought almost to the last man on each island liberated by the Devil Dogs. The Kamikaze attacks inflicted some serious damage, but a bomber called Enola Gay ordered by a reluctant Truman dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

But we aren't learning from history, are we?

 

[rdhd]

We aren't learning from history because it's all fiction. Just like science (but that's a different subject entirely).

 

[SamuelKhan]

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

FINN, JOHN WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941. Entered service at: California. Born: 24 July 1909, Los Angeles, Calif.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lt. Finn promptly secured and manned a .50-caliber machinegun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machinegun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

 

[Alliekat]

Thanks for the post Mils. It's always interesting to talk to WWII Vets

 

[paracarl44]

I attended a Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony yesterday and there was one Pearl Harbor survivor in attendance.

 

[Sodahead]

I'm very grateful for the sacrifices so many people made back then. The world wouldn't be the same if they hadn't.

 

[kopfhorer]

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

FINN, JOHN WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941. Entered service at: California. Born: 24 July 1909, Los Angeles, Calif.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lt. Finn promptly secured and manned a .50-caliber machinegun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machinegun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Wow. That's all I can say. Wow.