December 7 1941

[BigAl52]

A day in history that should always be remembered. God Bless those who served and to those who perished.

[Sir Henry]

The greatest generation at their best.

[Hatchdog]

Agree with both comments above. The ole’ bear got poked.

[Vaquero]

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Amen!

RP

[daytime dave]

It was 83 years ago. Wow.
I was privileged to have gone to Mary's father's WWII Air Force reunion on two different occasions. The survivors were old then. An 18 yr old during the war would be 101 now. That's sobering.

Mary's father was a radar navigator / bombardier stationed in Italy. He wanted to be a pilot, but a superior officer blocked that. He changed crews often, unlike most others, due to his unique skill with the radar. Not many were trained on it. He only spoke about it once, at one of the reunions. Mary's brother has a piece of German flak shrapnel that her dad found embedded into his seat when he went to another spot in the plane to get something. He was in B-17s.

I would agree they were the greatest generation. I've always tried to pin down just why.

[BigAl52]

Im betting if you walked out on the street and asked 18 to 30 year old adults what this day was not many of them would know a thing about December 7th 1941.

[BigAl52]

It was 83 years ago. Wow.
I was privileged to have gone to Mary's father's WWII Air Force reunion on two different occasions. The survivors were old then. An 18 yr old during the war would be 101 now. That's sobering.

I would agree they were the greatest generation. I've always tried to pin down just why.

To me Dave its how fast the country came together and how fast they tooled up to go to war. Im not sure we could do that anymore.

[fortyshooter]

Had an uncle that served in the Navy in the Pacific during WW2. Luckily he survived and many thanks to all that gave all to save our country!

[BrokenolMarine]

One of our best friends fathers is featured in a video in a WWII museum in Louisiana. He was a decorated bomber pilot, earning two purple hearts among his other citations, but humble about his accomplishments. Given the chance to talk about one of his most harrowing missions, he didn't talk about himself, but of his upper ball turret gunner. An enemy round broke his ankle and nearly took his foot, but the gunner insisted they tightly bandage the foot so he could stay on the job and protect the crew. My friend's father put him in for the DFC.

[cooperhawk]

My Father was 32 with a family when he sold his trucks and enlisted. My Mother never forgave him for that.
He was in Patton's 3rd Army and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. Dad had six brothers and five brother's
in law that also served.

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[Centaur]

My father in law was at Ft. Shafter that day. Out for a morning jog, he watched the attack and saw the direct hit that took down the Arizona.

[Vaquero]

It was 83 years ago. Wow.
I was privileged to have gone to Mary's father's WWII Air Force reunion on two different occasions. The survivors were old then. An 18 yr old during the war would be 101 now. That's sobering.

I would agree they were the greatest generation. I've always tried to pin down just why.

To me Dave its how fast the country came together and how fast they tooled up to go to war. Im not sure we could do that anymore.

Sadly, I couldn't agree more Al.
Dad joined the Army in '40, he and a friend wanted to join the Merchant Marines, but were put off.
He and his buddy were hungry and when turned down at the Marine recruiter, they walked down the street to the Army recruiter's office were accepted on the spot.
He was in Europe and N. Africa during that war, then was among the first to arrive in Korea when that began.
All together he was wounded 5 times and had the medal to prove it.
He never talked about any of it around us kids.

RP

[BrokenolMarine]

I found the Video you would find of my friend Dave's Dad, John Noack if you visit the WWII museum.

https://www.google.com/search?q=john+no ... lA2L0,st:0

I had the pleasure of knowing John for Several Years, he was an amazing man. He returned home after the war and led a successful life, like most of his generation, rarely speaking of his service. Dave gave me a coffee table his dad had custom built when he was working for an oil company down in the Caribbean, where they lived for years when he was young. He said the wood was rare and he hated to see it go to waste, do with it whatever I would.

I made a pair of cutting boards and gave them to He and Dave Jr. for Christmas, since they had lost John the year before. Note the two purple heart accent stripes in honor of John's two Purple Hearts. Neither has ever used the Cutting boards, they are displayed in their homes.

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[Ernie]

I am with you Al. I don't think this country could come together like that now.
Truly the greatest generation.

[HenryFan]

The father of my closest friend was at Pearl Harbor on December 7 aboard the USS Honolulu, a light cruiser. He had been in the Navy for almost 4 years on December 7 and planned to take his discharge at the end of him enlistment and return to South Carolina but he stayed on active duty through the end of the war. His 4 year enlistment turned into a little over 8 years.

Unfortunately, he is gone now but he was one of the finest men I have ever known. He rarely talked about the war but was active in his local American Legion post. I never once heard him say a disparaging word about anyone, including the Japanese.

I think of him as illustrative of the Greatest Generation.

[Hatchdog]

I found the Video you would find of my friend Dave's Dad, John Noack if you visit the WWII museum.

https://www.google.com/search?q=john+no ... lA2L0,st:0

I had the pleasure of knowing John for Several Years, he was an amazing man. He returned home after the war and led a successful life, like most of his generation, rarely speaking of his service. Dave gave me a coffee table his dad had custom built when he was working for an oil company down in the Caribbean, where they lived for years when he was young. He said the wood was rare and he hated to see it go to waste, do with it whatever I would.

I made a pair of cutting boards and gave them to He and Dave Jr. for Christmas, since they had lost John the year before. Note the two purple heart accent stripes in honor of John's two Purple Hearts. Neither has ever used the Cutting boards, they are displayed in their homes.


which one.jpg

Love the Purple Heart tribute. Well done.

[RanchRoper]

Nice tributes. It was my anniversary on the 7th too; 39 yrs.

[Hatchdog]

Nice tributes. It was my anniversary on the 7th too; 39 yrs.

Congratulations to you and Mrs. Roper.

[Steve51]

My dad was stationed out of Pearl Harbor a couple of years after the attack. He was a sonar operator on a submarine until the war ended.

[JEBar]

I've been somewhat surprised to see that there is only 1 classic WWII war movie showing on the various channels we get .... I can only wish I'd have recorded more of them over the years