80 years…


On Dec 7, 1941, Japan performed a sneak attack on the US at Pearl Harbor, the attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more; other damages included three destroyers, three cruisers, 188 aircraft with 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded.

This day does live in infamy…

The oldest attendee this year, the 80th anniversary will be 101 years old. I don’t know if there will be another ceremony where an actual WWII survivor will be able to attend.

Comments

80 years… — 17 Comments

    • Ed, Read today’s article in American Thinker…The Sun is reporting that in 2016, at a Zhuhai air show, China paraded missile launchers that are meant to be hidden in the containers used on cargo ships…so setting up for another surprise from another Asian empire?

      With Biden in the White House and Congress ordering the Defense Department to do a better job reporting and tracking extremist behavior among troops, it was found across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, resulting in 10 non-judicial punishments, one court martial, 31 administrative actions and 18 unspecified punishments or 0.002% of the active duty military or lower than your chance of dying from COVID.

      No time time for honing fighting skills, make sure you get everyone in line for vaccinations, etc.

  1. How long is 80 years?

    1781: Cornwallis surrenders to Washington at Yorktown. 80 years go by, and it’s 1861.
    1861: The South secedes from the Union, leading to the start of the Civil War. 80 years go by, and it’s 1941.
    1941: The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor; in the aftermath, the US enters WWII. 80 years go by, and it’s 2021.

    So, we have three 80 year periods which comprise most of the history of the US as a formal entity. Which of the three periods brought the most change, the best change, and why? Defend your answer.
    For extra credit, predict what will happen in the next 80 years.
    You have the remainder of the class period.
    Good luck.

    • *waves hand from back row* Can I get an extension? My pen ran out of ink, and the low-pixel light is flashing on my computer screen.

      • Here’s a pencil.
        Here’s an eraser.
        Here’s another pencil.
        And put away that crocheting. You can make your Christmas presents AFTER you solve World Peace.

        • You can have my hooks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers. And I won’t promise not to use them as weapons, either. It’s not like I have to worry about dropping a stitch like I would with knitting.

  2. Ed, Pat. It seems to me, there could be a almost predicable cycle.

  3. I had a math teacher who was on the USS Nevada during the attack on Pearl Harbor. At least twice a week, someone would try to derail the math lesson by asking him questions about his time in the war. It usually didn’t work.

  4. Hey Old NFO;

    We still remember and Ed is correct, we are on the way to a surprise from another Asian empire thanks to the short shortsightedness of our “Leaders” and we will pay in blood and treasure before it is over and perhaps with our national identity thanks to the damage they have caused.

  5. I remember visiting the Arizona back in 71. During the summer. It was hot on the island but cold on the water, and colder as you got nearer her. And I swear I could hear the dead whispering. Tried to sound out the names of her dead while we were there. And watched her tears floating to the surface as she still wept (and weeps) for her dead.

    Put quite an impression on me at a young age.

    I haven’t forgotten.

  6. When my late parents visited Hawaii they took the tour. Both reported they were deeply moved. My father was a CBI veteran. We who are born after that event can read and hear how those alive then were affected but cannot feel what they felt. Maybe 9/11 is the closest for us.

  7. I like the current presentation of the Arizona Memorial with the USS Missouri next to it. Sort of a “You started it, We finished it” motif. Working up the hill from Hickam/Pearl at Camp Smith, I had a spectacular view of the whole thing. I’ve got a scar on the back side of my arm from slipping and falling on the wing of a Japanese bomber shot down on that day. It reminds me of today.

  8. I was in Astoria, OR, when the USS Missouri was towed into the port, in preparation for towing it to Pearl. I got to walk around the deck. I was born and raised in Missouri.

  9. All- Thanks for the comments, and yes, the 80 year thing IS interesting… JMI- They have been ‘hiding’ IDs for years on AIS.