Pearl Harbor Day Anniversary
 

With all that is going on in the news daily, PLEASE do not forget that today is the 79th anniversary of the attach on Pearl Harbor.....Dec. 7, 1941. May those hero's who lost their lives or were severely wounded be forever remembered with our gratitude and prayers for their service and sacrifice. Freedom is not free !!!!

A Day of Infamy
 

"...a date which will live in infamy..."

This day should remain in our minds and hearts, reflecting on the military and civilian losses of life that occurred on that day 79 years ago.

Dave

God Bless our veterans and our present troops. Never forget!
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December 07, 2019
 

My daughter is married to a Marine Officer. He is stationed at the marine air base outside of Honolulu, known as KBAY.

I had the honor of being at Pearl Harbor, just before 7:45 am on 07-December-2019. it was a humbling experience to be part of the audience, on base, to witness the ceremonies. Later in the day I went to the Punchbowl and paid my respects at the Navy missing memorial to my fathers cousin, a Naval commander, lost at sea with other aviators, the first week of Aug, 1945.

Having started my military career in the mid sixties as a draftee, medic and ending it as a field grade officer, I wondered a lot that day how I would have dealt with the horror and unmeasured bravery of those men that day.

My son, also is a Marine officer and he and my son-in-law were in combat in Afghanistan, Christmas 2010 -

A veteran who served during war knows the feeling that Pearl Harbor can evoke.

My grandson wants to go to Annapolis, like my son, earn his Marine Corps wings, and serve like his GGF’s WW2 / GF‘s Vietnam / Father & Uncle Iraq : Afg

I salute those brave Pearl Harbor Veterans

What would happen today?
 

My father used to tell the story of December 7. He, his brother Bill, and a few other friends were in Frankie Hurley's basement playing ping-pong in their South Boston neighborhood that Sunday afternoon. Suddenly, the news of the attack came over the radio. He said first, everyone was in disbelief...they thought it was a prank, like Orson Wells' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast had been. Then, as the afternoon progressed and it became clear it wasn't a hoax, the disbelief turned to anger. Literally, the next day, my father, my uncle Bill, and their friends went down to enlist and the line was out the door and down the sidewalk. My father and uncle were 21 and 19; their friends were also late teens/early 20's. My father and uncle were both in the navy through the end of the war and were lucky enough to come home. They always said that there was no question that you would serve in WW II if you were a young guy...it was "the right thing to do".

You should be proud of your dad and uncle.
Thank you.

Thank goodness they did not have orthopedic issues.

Winni-retired,

You and your family have certainly earned my heartfelt thanks and respect!

Home of the free because of the brave!

Dan

"Enlisted Pilot" Lou Conter—Arizona Survivor
 

Every December 7th, Lou Conter, of Grass Valley, California, has attended every Arizona memorial. He survived the blast that killed most officers and enlisted sailors aboard, and tried to save many wounded.

Lou Conter transferred to Naval Air as an "Enlisted Pilot". Those of us in the U.S. Navy never saw the patch Enlisted Pilots wore on their uniforms.

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Lou became my Dad's co-pilot in the "Black Cat" Squadron over the Soloman Islands, and hit night-time "Targets for The Day" at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Lou and my Dad also survived being shot down off an enemy-held island. They, and their crew of four, hid in the jungle for several days until hidden Aussie "Coast Watchers" radioed for a PT-boat rescue.

Lt. CDR Lou Conter:

Pearl Harbor Day Anniversary
 

I visited the Arizona memorial a few years back and had the very distinct honor of being there when a veteran survivor of the attack was visiting for his first time since the end of the war. It was very moving. Truly our Greatest Generation. I was shocked that people were not required to remove their hats when on the Arizona memorial. I removed mine. This a tomb to 1,102 of our honored war dead and deserves solemn reverence and the utmost respect. Instead I witnessed people who didn’t even try to control their children who were goofing around. Kids will be kids, but at least try to convey to them the solemnity of the location and for God’s sake take off your damn hats and show some respect.


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