Peral Harbor day

[KA9VQF]

I wasn't born until well after this happened but I have read an awful lot about it.

I have some of my own writings from folks who were there but those fellows are getting sorta thin on the ground these days.

[K9STH]

Over the weekend I "discovered" a pile of newspapers that my mother had given me when my father died in 1987 (they had been stored under a workbench). Although the one for 7 December 1941 was not there a copy of the Chicago Sun Times for 11 December 1941 is. That is the day that Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.

Remember, we did NOT declare war on Germany and Italy, they declared war on us! Too many people have this backwards. Declaring war on the United States has been determined to be one of the two greatest mistakes that Hitler made. The other was starting the war with the Soviet Union and not taking into consideration the Russian winter.

Glen, K9STH

[WA5KRP]

I have had a fascination with WWII ever since I took an elective course on it from a history professor at the University of Texas Austin in 1971. At that time, Dr. Thompson believed that President Roosevelt had not been warned of an impending attack on Pearl Harbor but would not rule out a deathbed confession - former President Truman was still alive then. Now that all the players are dead, we'll probably never find for sure what Roosevelt knew.

I used to think of the attack on Pearl Harbor as something that triggered WWII. But having seen 9/11 unfold, I have come to more fully understand the horror of December 7, and the resolve it burned into my parents' generation.

I no longer know any Pearl Harbor survivors. But I am good friends with an 84 year old Navy radio op who was on duty in Panama Dec. 7 when he copied the initial report of the bombing directly from Pearl Harbor. At the risk of understating the obvious, his Navy career took on a whole new dimension in the Pacific.

Was that America's greatest generation? I wouldn't argue it's not.



WA5KRP
Texas

[AG3Y]

Another major error that Hitler made was not allowing the Luftwaffe to put some of its experimental planes into production earlier in the war. My understanding is that he held back the attempts to modernize the German Air Force considerably.

You will get some idea of what we COULD have had fighting us, if they had not been so restrained by viewing

this page. (http://www.luft46.com/)

[w3sy]

I have heard the Germans had a fighter jet in the works. I heard a story from an American pilot who saw one. They were also working on the V-1 rocket, I believe... What's the scoop on that?

Yeah, they were always good with the technology. Too bad they were run by lunatics and madmen. May they rot for all eternity.

[al7n]

I have to wonder sometimes...

64 years ago, Japan attacked and blew away a good portion of the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, killing a couple thousand military personnel and some civilians.
It enraged the country, war was declared immediately, and things were soon set in motion that eventually mobilized the entire nation in one way or another.

On September 11, a few years ago, #a handful of middle eastern terrorists hijacked four civilian passenger aircraft in flight, and used them to destroy a major group of buildings in New York City and blow a huge hole in the Penatagon, God knows where the fourth airplane was headed when it was brought down. #These incidents killed over three thousand people, mostly civilians. Way more than were lost at Pearl Harbor......

In about three years, this incident seems to have been largely forgotten....outside of people flying the US flag for a while, not much else has happened, except #
lots of folks give President Bush hell for going over and blowing away the bad guys in Iraq.....

I think we should have gone over there and blown away a hell of a lot more than we did. #And maybe still ought to.

What the hell does it take to enrage this country these days?
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[KC7UP]

I was 12 years old when this event occurred. I well remember its happenings and the speech of FDR over the radio. It made a tremendous effect on me and even though WWII was over when I was of age to enlist I still had the strong urge and did enlist in 1948.
Curt

[KA4DPO]

Quote[/b] (al7n @ Dec. 07 2004,10:59)]I have to wonder sometimes...

64 years ago, Japan attacked and blew away a good portion of the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, killing a couple thousand military personnel and some civilians.
It enraged the country, war was declared immediately, and things were soon set in motion that eventually mobilized the entire nation in one way or another.

On September 11, a few years ago, a handful of middle eastern terrorists hijacked four civilian passenger aircraft in flight, and used them to destroy a major group of buildings in New York City and blow a huge hole in the Penatagon, God knows where the fourth airplane was headed when it was brought down. These incidents killed over three thousand people, mostly civilians. Way more than were lost at Pearl Harbor......

In about three years, this incident seems to have been largely forgotten....outside of people flying the US flag for a while, not much else has happened, except
lots of folks give President Bush hell for going over and blowing away the bad guys in Iraq.....

I think we should have gone over there and blown away a hell of a lot more over there than we did. And maybe still ought to.

What the hell does it take to enrage this country these days?
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
Yes, we seem to have a short memory these days. It’s sad really that we weren’t far more outraged. But that would mean having to sacrifice and do unpleasant things. No one want's to do that now days. I think the real difference between this generation and our parents (WWII) was their willingness to sacrifice.

[AG3Y]

I certainly think that our attitudes toward foreign attacks are swayed one way or another by what we hear through the "media". #Back in WWII, news journalists such as Edward R. Morrow, and Lowell Thomas painted such a picture of the bombs bursting on London and the atrocities going on in other parts of Europe, that we just were itching to go "Over There" and whip those Nazies and Japs. #

Now days, the situation is completely reversed, and the concept of "the evil empire" is scoffed at and ridiculed by today's news sources with their left-wing agenda. #

It's truly a sad situation, and I am afraid that large numbers of the American populace are either being lulled to complacency or outright opposition to the "war against terrorism" by the media!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
73, Jim

[AE6QE]

I obviously wasn't there at Pearl Harbor in 1941, but I did get a tiny taste of what it might have been like when Disney made the movie in 2000. My battle group was actually used in the movie.

I know that during the filming that I popped my head out of a hatch more than once when there were explosions on Ford Island.

Rickey/AE6QE

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (AE6QE @ Dec. 07 2004,13:31)]I know that during the filming that I popped my head out of a hatch more than once when there were explosions on Ford Island.

Rickey/AE6QE
Just be careful about popping your head out of a hatch... there might be a live shell coming your way! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kg4kww]

Sad to say that CNN,MSNBC,ABC & CBS have not had article one on their web sites about Pearl Harbour.

[N7AAO]

It's probably worth it to recall President Roosevelt's speech:

Quote[/b] ]Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

And Churchill's comment on the above speech:

Quote[/b] ]"To have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy. Now at this very moment I knew the United States was in the war, up to the neck and in to the death. So we had won after all!...Hitler's fate was sealed. Mussolini's fate was sealed. As for the Japanese, they would be ground to powder."

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (KA9VQF @ Dec. 06 2004,23:55)]I wasn't born until well after this happened but I have read an awful lot about it.

I have some of my own writings from folks who were there but those fellows are getting sorta thin on the ground these days.
but they are getting a bit thicker underground! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

now that i got that over with, everyone should know when ww2 started, who can tell me when it was over?

think about this one very carefully before you answer.

[WA5KRP]

Japan is cut-and-dried: #they signed a peace treaty on Sept. 2, 1945.

Germany's fate was determined by the US, England, France, and the Soviet Union when they agreed to divide and occupy Germany during the Potsdam Conference. #This lead to the Potsdam Agreement which all parties signed on August 2, 1945. #Germany was not a signatory but became a divided country known as East and West Germany during the Cold War. #W. Germany remained occupied until May, 1955. #E. Germany saw the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of Soviet occupation on Nov. 11, 1989.



WA5KRP
Texas

[KC0NBW]

wa5krp wins!

most people insist the war ended in 1945!

now, who attacked first? the japanese or us?
also, what was the date the japanese launched the attack?

[k5rna]

Glen is correct.Germany declared war on the U.S.I was 9 years old at the time.Many still belive F.D.R.knew Japan was going to attact us.He suspectd they were going to war but would not be dumb enough to attack the U.S.I have read about every thing written about WW2.To me the book that covers the pacific war is,At Dawn We Slept.It is a long book and i realize reading is not the favorite pass time now but if any one wants to know how it all starded and why i highly recommend this book.

[ac3p]

U.S. Destroyer fired first and sank a Japanese sub before the planes arrived. The attack was launced Dec.8 Japanese time.

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (ac3p @ Dec. 08 2004,09:15)]U.S. Destroyer fired first and sank a Japanese sub before the planes arrived. The attack was launced Dec.8 Japanese time.
another winner! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

a ww1 4 stack destroyer, the uss ward, opened fire on and sunk a japanese mini sub #off of pearl harbor several hours before the air attack.

the ward was manned by a crew of minnesota naval reservists at the time.
the actual gun off the ward is on display just to the west of the veterans service building on the south end of the mall on the state capital grounds in st. paul.

the ward was later rebuilt into a transport and was sunk by its own crew on dec 7 1944 !

the ward took a japanese torpedo on 12/7/44 and the crew was removed to another ship, the captain of the ward requested permission to take over the guns of the rescue ship and they proceeded to sink the ward to prevent the supplies from falling into japanese hands and to keep it from becoming a hazard to other ships.

i got this story from john gill, one of the members of the 1941 gun crew , just a few years before he died.

[K0RGR]

My dad was a radioman on a destroyer escort in the Aleutians , which is where we thought the Japanese fleet was headed, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. They deliberately mistuned their shipboard transmitters so they would chirp when keyed, in order to make them sound like the transmitters in the PBY 'flying boat' scout planes that usually operated in the area. They also rapidly devised different schemes to shield and disguise the radiation from their regenerative receivers so that the Japanese could not detect that.

Nobody's forgotten 9/11 at all. We're just waiting for the President to finish his family feud in Iraq and get on with the business of finding the people he pledged to go get on 9/12. I suspect he intends to leave it for his brother to finish in about 2009.