Do you remember? December 07, 2017, 04:05:25 pm What is the significance of today's date?Do you remember Pearl Harbor? 1 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #1 – December 07, 2017, 04:47:16 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - December 07, 2017, 04:05:25 pmWhat is the significance of today's date?Do you remember Pearl Harbor? We weren't yet born but we do know what happened on this date 76 years ago. Our flag is at half-mast. 2 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #2 – December 07, 2017, 05:14:56 pm Shared this on my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/navytimes/videos/10155993667697490/ 3 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #3 – December 07, 2017, 09:28:45 pm I don't remember the day, but my Dad (at 17) enlisted in the Marines on December 8, 1941! 6 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #4 – December 08, 2017, 12:53:27 am My Mom’s brothers both enlisted in the Navy out of Hastings, Nebraska, before the war started. The oldest, Don, was on the USS McCall on patrol when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. John, the next oldest was on Midway and had to be evacuated. My wife’s dad led a fighter squadron off the USS Yorktown. His brother Sam died in Europe. My dad piloted B-24s out of England. His brother Phil repaired B-26 bombers in India. I served in Viet Nam. So yes, today has a great deal of meaning for me and my family as I know it does for many families. I just wish we could find a better way to solve our differences.Larry 6 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #5 – December 08, 2017, 07:34:26 am My dad was a navigator/bombardier on a B-24 in the Aleutians and bombed Japan whenever the weather allowed. 2 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #6 – December 08, 2017, 09:34:48 am Mother's oldest sister married a career Naval officer who was at Pearl Harbor & later took an LST into Normandy. Though I don't remember Mack talking about his service, the story I remember hearing as a kid when Mother & her sisters would talk was that the only tattoo Mack ever got was his service number, because he apparently didn't have his tags on when things hit, & he never again wanted to be in a position to not prove who he was.I helped an elderly neighbor who was an Iowa farm boy in the Merchant Marine. He was very generous to share his stories, & I learned a lot...including something still not in our kids' history books--I never knew there had been foreign boots on the ground since the War of 1812, or that the Army had boats (much less wooden ones). Gerald said he was assigned to an Army boat in the Aleutians, to ferry supplies, and that there were preparation underway to push the Japanese off a foothold they'd established on one of the islands. Fortunately for all, when the operation took place, they found the Japanese had abandoned the site. Another interesting thing I learned from him was that even though he was technically a civilian in the Merchant Marine, since he'd been assigned to an Army vessel he was able to qualify for some VA benefits (like getting his RX, etc.), which I've always thought of as a good use of my tax dollars. Thank you to my long-gone Uncle Mack, the stories shared here, and so many others.Lynne 5 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #7 – December 08, 2017, 09:23:39 pm My dad was in the Army Air Corps, and one uncle in the Navy. Two other uncles stayed home and farmed.I served in an Army hospital in Calif in 70 & 71.I recently started taking TaiChi classes locally. Some of the older teachers spent time in camps in AZ & WY. Traveling along US395 by Independence, the Manzanar Camp site is worth a stop. 4 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #8 – December 08, 2017, 10:37:15 pm Interesting story that combines Kern County's last surviving Pearl Harbor vet with our SoCal fires:Thomas Fire victim attends Pearl Harbor ceremony with veteran 2 Likes
Re: Do you remember? Reply #9 – December 09, 2017, 12:32:59 pm Quote from: HiLola - December 08, 2017, 10:37:15 pmInteresting story that combines Kern County's last surviving Pearl Harbor vet with our SoCal fires:Thomas Fire victim attends Pearl Harbor ceremony with veteranNo matter what life throws at us, this family is a great example to get back on the boat, there's work to be done. Thx for sharing!Lynne