OT - Pearl Harbor Anniversary

I heard on the morning news radio this AM that this is the first time there will be no Arizona survivors present at the annual ceremony.

Only 5 of the survivors are alive - and none are able to make that long trip to Oahu.

Time marches on - end of an era.  Definitely thank them all (my deceased Grandfather among them, he fought in Europe) for their service.

The Arizona memorial should be on everyone's list along with the U.S. military cemetery above Omaha Beach in Normandy.  Takes your breath away.  Also, go to the bluffs and look down on the beach.  You see the enormity of the task faced by our soldiers that day.  

Was reading an article this morning that made me think this:

Japan attacking Pearl Harbor might have saved the world.

If not for this attack, the U.S. might have remained isolationists long enough for Hitler to solidify Europe and who knows after that.  I think the U.S. would eventually join the war, but it might have been too late (or at least lengthened the overall war) had Japan not attacked and forced the U.S.'s hand when it did.  Who knows if Germany would've gotten an A-bomb during this time?

Food for thought.

On the other side of it, my father was a young 18 year old who was sent on an aircraft carrier to Hiroshima to help rebuild it after we dropped the bomb.

He rarely spoke about it, other than in passing to mention how terrible of conditions that the survivors were in. 

In retrospect, I wish I had taken the time to talk to him about it more when he was alive.  There is not a lot about my dad's life that I know about.

Hiroshima killed my father too.  By his early 30s, he had debilitating rheumatoid Arthritis and his body was covered with psoriasis.  His fingers and toes were permanently closed like pincers by the time he was in his late 30s.  He lived his life in immense pain, while working many years as a HS teacher.  Shortly after he retired in his early 60s, he had prostrate, double bipass surgery for a heart attack, and esophageal cancer within 7 years before passing away at 69. 

My father was a health nut, ate very healthy and excercised as much as he could.  Shortly after he got back from Japan, he was a body builder, lifting weights at a time when it was not popular in the 50s, and excellent amateur golfer who won tournaments.

I'm convinced that he got radiation poisoning over in Hiroshima, where he was stationed for 2 years.  It took his health, stamina, mental attitude and his life.

Never forget those poor sailors who lost their lives in the Oklahoma.

Oil still bubbles up from the Arizona to the surface.  The same oil that was in the ship when it was bombed 77 years ago.

You can see it when you are there.  It makes it very real.

We visited Pearl Harbor this past summer, during a trip to visit my son and his wife, who both recently finished their contracts with the US Army stationed at Schofield Barracks. While we were unable to board the floating memorial positioned over the ship due to some repair issues with the docking area, we did get to see the movie and take the boat ride out and see what was visible from the surface of the water. A very moving experience, to say the least.

I've posted this before, so I'll apologize to the members who have seen it.

My dad's first cousin was aboard the California. When the order to abandon ship was given he went into the water with his gun crew - the last time they saw him. His body was not recovered. It was chaotic after the attack, and communications were all but non-existent. My aunt never fully recovered from those days, weeks, and even months of uncertainty. There were so many terribly wounded and unidentified sailors in the hospital that it was impossible for her to give up hope.

The ship was due for an inspection so many of the watertight doors were open when the attack began. That resulted in flooding that settled the ship on the harbor floor. The California went down fighting - more Medals of Honor were awarded to California crewmen than to the crews of any of the other ships.

RIP S2c T. Simmons

I've toured the Nautilus, it was an amazing experience. To see the Nautilus and imagine what the WWII Boats must have been like is sobering. It is impossible to have anything but pure respect for the men who went to war in those submarines.

Here in Town we are welcoming back the remains of a soldier who died in Korea. Here is an American of whom we think of when we remember  the sacrifices on Memorial and Veteran's Day, right along with all the others. He is one "those who have died to protect us".

He is one of those that we never forgot, that we always remember. I pray that we never forget.

We were there in 2012. Absolutely sobering. Can’t imagine what these guys went through and appreciation for what they did and ALL who’ve served is never ending. 

The “greatest generation” for sure.