December 7,1941

[Sea Dangles]

We got slapped 70 years ago and are losing the few remaining survivors of a different era and unfortunately,a different American.A Thank You to those who have served is in order.

[FishermanTim]

The added pain will be when there are NO survivors to recant their stories, and the stories will start getting skewed by those that want to paint a different picture.
Soon we'll start hearing from anti-war fanatics claiming every atrocity under the sun with no one to rebutt their asinine claims.

I can't even begin to imagine what that day, let alone the war was like. It sure as hell wasn't a video game!!!

Remember that those that forget history are destined to repeat it!

[JohnR]

There was mention yesterday that the Pearl Harbor / Arizona survivors group has gotten so small it is disbanding after this year.


"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Twain

[Mike P]

As of today, there are a total of 120 living Pearl Harbor survivors. Those who were able to, gathered in Honolulu one last time today for their 70th reunion. As virtually all of them are in their 90s, there will be no future reunions.

[MAKAI]

We can't hold those guys jock straps. Real honest to God men! Job well done!

Makes our bitching about fish seem so childish.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[joe the plumber]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

We can't hold those guys jock straps. Real honest to God men! Job well done!

Makes our bitching about fish seem so childish.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I gotta chime in on this post.....This past September I was a volunteer with an organization called American Warrior.We took 100 WW2 Vets to Washington DC to the WW2,Navy,Marine,and Air Force Memorials.Back and forth in a day!!It was the most emotional experience of my life.

Listening to guys who spoke of thier experiences,I was in awe of thier courage.They tell thier stories like we talk about doing our daily jobs....They don't deny they were afraid.They just did not have the time for fear.

I came away with so many thoughts,going on that trip with them.The one thought that still sticks in my mind is what were the qualities that so clearly set these men and woman apart from any other generation of Americans.Yeah...we cannot hold a candle to this group.

As the WW2 generation fades away,I cannot reccomend enough,that if you EVER feel the desire to volunteer for the kind of trip I took with these men,DO IT SOON!

Joe

[Piscator]

Those guys (including my grandfathers) were the men that really made this Country Great. I could listen to those stories all day long. Unthinkable courage. What balls those guys had. Think of all the pro athletes that joined to fight back then too. Can you imagine that happening now? I can’t. It was a Patriotic time for sure. It's sad how fast they are going.

[Joe]

Lines around the block at the recruiting centers on the Monday, December 8th.
I don't remember lines around the recruiting centers on September 12th.
How our government has conducted itself in the last seventy years, the necessity of some military actions, and fewer people being willing to sacrifice anything for anyone are all contributing factors. Yes, people are less patriotic - but the government is less trustworthy also. It's a sad case of dual culpability.

[piemma]

My father was a highly decorated WWII vet. Had his arm blown off in the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke about his war experience. When he died in 95, Bill Clinton sent my Mom a letter stating what a hero my old man was. It was then we found out he had a Bronze Star, Silver Star, Pres Battle Citation with 4 Oak leaf culsters and on and on.

That's the way those guys were. They never mentioned the experience except among themselves.

Only one time did I hear him talk about the war. I was little, maybe 5 or 6 and his friend #^&#^&#^&#^& McNamara came over on a Sunday afternoon. They sat around the dining room table and drank wine, smoked cigs and talked about war. I was awe struck until my Mom dragged me away as the language started to get crusty.

Makes my stint in combat in Nam seem like a walk in the park compared to those guys.

[iamskippy]

Originally Posted by piemma

My father was a highly decorated WWII vet. Had his arm blown off in the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke about his war experience. When he died in 95, Bill Clinton sent my Mom a letter stating what a hero my old man was. It was then we found out he had a Bronze Star, Silver Star, Pres Battle Citation with 4 Oak leaf culsters and on and on.

That's the way those guys were. They never mentioned the experience except among themselves.

Only one time did I hear him talk about the war. I was little, maybe 5 or 6 and his friend #^&#^&#^&#^& McNamara came over on a Sunday afternoon. They sat around the dining room table and drank wine, smoked cigs and talked about war. I was awe struck until my Mom dragged me away as the language started to get crusty.

Makes my stint in combat in Nam seem like a walk in the park compared to those guys.

Right on man, that is exactly how it was, my grandfarther was the same way, we never knew till he passed on...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[MarshCappa]

Originally Posted by piemma

My father was a highly decorated WWII vet. Had his arm blown off in the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke about his war experience. When he died in 95, Bill Clinton sent my Mom a letter stating what a hero my old man was. It was then we found out he had a Bronze Star, Silver Star, Pres Battle Citation with 4 Oak leaf culsters and on and on.

That's the way those guys were. They never mentioned the experience except among themselves.

Only one time did I hear him talk about the war. I was little, maybe 5 or 6 and his friend #^&#^&#^&#^& McNamara came over on a Sunday afternoon. They sat around the dining room table and drank wine, smoked cigs and talked about war. I was awe struck until my Mom dragged me away as the language started to get crusty.

Makes my stint in combat in Nam seem like a walk in the park compared to those guys.

Thanks to you and your Dad for your service!

[Joe]

Imagine having lost one arm and having the discipline not to talk about it, and the strength to move on. He must have deflected innumerable idiots asking how he lost it. What character.

[Got Stripers]

Originally Posted by piemma

My father was a highly decorated WWII vet. Had his arm blown off in the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke about his war experience. When he died in 95, Bill Clinton sent my Mom a letter stating what a hero my old man was. It was then we found out he had a Bronze Star, Silver Star, Pres Battle Citation with 4 Oak leaf culsters and on and on.

That's the way those guys were. They never mentioned the experience except among themselves.

Only one time did I hear him talk about the war. I was little, maybe 5 or 6 and his friend #^&#^&#^&#^& McNamara came over on a Sunday afternoon. They sat around the dining room table and drank wine, smoked cigs and talked about war. I was awe struck until my Mom dragged me away as the language started to get crusty.

Makes my stint in combat in Nam seem like a walk in the park compared to those guys.

Similar experience from me, didn't have a clue my Dad was so decorated as a Marine aviator, until his death. The first storys I can remember were told at the wake and service. I salute all those serving past, present and future.

[Sea Dangles]

My wife's Gramps was also in the the one arm category. He could tie his shoes with one hand,swim,never told his family the circumstances surrounding the loss of limb. Including his wife. Like those before have stated,a selfless American who was honored to make a sacrifice for his country.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Joe

Imagine having lost one arm and having the discipline not to talk about it, and the strength to move on. He must have deflected innumerable idiots asking how he lost it. What character.

My dad was and still is my hero. We had a great relationship.
After he died we found out from a guy in his division (79th Infantry) that he was running a radio up to a Company that was pinned down and the Nazis were trying to stop him. Apparently he dove behind a tree and an 88mm shell hit the tree dead on and took his arm off.

Those guys were truly the greatest generation.