As the United States slowly recovered from the great depression of the 1930s, there were few more exciting opportunities for a young man than a career in the Navy. It offered a stable income, warm meals, a semi-comfortable bed, and the chance to SEE THE WORLD. Exotic ports of call awaited those who chose to spend a few years of their youth at sea, and the Navy beckoned America's young men like a seductress.

Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii was the homeport of the Pacific Fleet, a wonderful "home away from home" for the men who preserved America's interests abroad. Though the European continent found itself embroiled in a bitter world war in the latter days of the 1930s, in the Pacific there was no hint of trouble. American ships made routine patrols, practiced drills that most men thought would never be needed, and then returned to Pearl Harbor for periods of rest, relaxation, and recreation.

The weekend of December 6 and 7, 1941, promised to be a great time for the sailors who had returned to Pearl. There wasn't the slightest hint of trouble; even the weather seemed to be smiling on the tropical port. When the sun rose on Sunday morning young sailors from around the United States had little opportunity to be homesick; there was too much to see and do.

On a pier near the harbor sailors and Marines prepared for a softball game. On the nearby battleship USS Nevada, others were getting ready for a tennis tournament. Many of the sailors had spent the night ashore, others had returned to their berths late after a night on the town. There was limited duty on this beautiful Sunday morning, affording ample opportunity for the men to enjoy their brief stay in Paradise.

As the hour neared the 8 o'clock muster and the raising of the colors, all was peaceful and relaxed. A large number of sailors gathered on the beach for an outdoor morning chapel service. On the USS Nevada the band was beginning the first strains of the National Anthem for the hoisting of the flag.

Throughout the harbor men were at ease, finishing breakfast, writing letters home, planning for their afternoon on the island's sandy beaches, or just sleeping in. Aboard the USS Nevada, Warrant Machinist Donald Ross was shaving and thinking about his girlfriend Helen at home. Tomorrow would be Donald's birthday. On board the USS Oklahoma Ensign Francis Flaherty was counting the days until he could return home to Michigan and go back to school. He had joined the Navy to earn money to get into medical school.

At Kaneohe Bay, John Finn cuddled next to his wife Alice as they tried to decide which of them would get up and start the coffee.
It was 7:53 A.M. and events were about to unfold that would propel the United States into a World War that would ultimately cost more than a quarter-million American men and women their lives. On this day alone more than 2,400 men, women and children would die in Paradise.

The day was....



December 7, 1941

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c168/RonTutor/Navy/flaghalfstaff.jpg


http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c168/RonTutor/Navy/USSArizona.jpg

The worst day in the history of this country....we best never forget.

R.I.P. to all who gave their lives that day.

:rose: AMEN, Ron & Pagan. Thanks for posting that.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0106/images/feature5_1.jpg
Sacrifice Remembered
Flowers on the waters of Pearl Harbor are cast from the USS Arizona Memorial in remembrance of the 1,177 sailors and marines who died when the battleship was attacked and sunk by Japanese aircraft on December 7, 1941. The memorial, dedicated in 1962 and administered by the National Park Service, straddles the hull of the ship but does not touch it. Yearly 1.5 million visitors—20 percent of them Japanese—pay their respects at the memorial.
~National Geographic Magazine

The worst day in the history of this country....we best never forget.

R.I.P. to all who gave their lives that day.


I have been fortunate enough to have visited Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial twice. It is very erie as you stand on the memorial and look down at the sunken USS Arizona, and think of all the men who went down with that ship. The last time I was there was in 1990, at that time it was still leaking fuel and oil. The ship had just been fueled before it went down, and has continued to leak the contents slowly over the years. I also remember looking down and seeing a coffee cup stuck in the ship. Many visitors throw leis onto the water to honor the fallen men. On one wall of the memorial, there is a place with every man's name who died on that ship, engraved in the wall. I do not remember the exact numbers, but what is even more saddening is that there were several sets of brothers, and some father/son combinations that were stationed on the ship at the same time. Several volunteers, many who were at Peral Harbor the day it was attacked, work at the memorial. To hear their stories, and watch the short film the Navy shows you before taking you to the memorial, brings tears to many eyes. I must admit that I found it disturbing that so many of the visitors were Japanese. I kind of felt that they had no business visiting a place that their county destroyed. Then I realized that most of the visitors I saw that were Japanese, were not even alive when that terrible day took place. Just as I was not alive when it happened. I went there to visit a place of great historical significance, and to honor those who fought for my freedom. The Japanese visitors were probably there for the same reason.

One last thing I must add, is a memory of a plague I saw while there. It was engraved with a quote by Admiral Yamamoto, "We may have had victory today, but I have a terrible feeling that all we have done is wake a sleeping giant."

http://bestsmileys.com/usa1/19.gif For all those we died..

R.I.P. to all our servicemen and women who died that day! It was a cowardly move on the Japanese military's part. Yamamoto was right when he said "We may have had victory today, but I have a terrible feeling that all we have done is wake a sleeping giant." which Ironically enough could be said for 9-11.

Twas a day of infamy indeed and Yamamoto was indeed correct. That day should live on as a memorial to what happens when evil is allowed to corrupt nations as it did during those dark years.

God bless all the U.S. forces and those of the Commonwealth who died so that we may be free.

RIP to all those who died in that attack.:flag: Yamamoto would have no idea how prophetic his words would become.