At 11:55 today, (Central Time), it will be sixty-six years since the attack on Pearl Harbor began.
Even after all of these decades, and in this time of war, this December 7th, 2007, let us not forget that horrid day sixty-six years ago that still lives in infamy.
Should you, for some reason, need reminding of the horror of that day just look carefully at the following photos…
This photo is a view of Pearl Harbor looking southwesterly from the hills to the northward. Taken during the Japanese raid, with anti-aircraft shell bursts overhead.
Large column of smoke in lower center is from USS Arizona (BB-39). Smaller smoke columns further to the left are from the destroyers Shaw (DD-373), Cassin (DD-372) and Downes (DD-375), in drydocks at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard.
The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many of the ship’s 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor. The 184-foot-long Memorial structure spanning the mid-portion of the sunken battleship consists of three main sections: the entry and assembly rooms; a central area designed for ceremonies and general observation; and the shrine room, where the names of those killed on the Arizona are engraved on the marble wall.
Arizona was the most heavily damaged of all the vessels in Battleship Row, suffering three near-misses and four direct-hits from 800-kg bombs dropped by high-altitude Kates. The last bomb to strike her penetrated her deck starboard of turret two and detonated within a 14-inch powder magazine. The resulting massive explosion broke the ship in two forward of turret one, collapsed her forecastle decks, and created such a cavity that her forward turrets and conning tower fell thirty feet into her hull. The names of the 1,177 souls, both sailors and Marines, interred in her hull are listed here.
Everyday that passes we lose more of those brave souls that recall this attack as a part – often a defining part – of their Life Experience. So it was with my father who was aboard the USS Wasp (CV-7) in the Atlantic on that day. The next few years of his life were certainly defined by that war, as were his dreams for the rest of his life.
So it will be for our brave men and women, sons and daughters, serving now in the War on Terror. Let us not forget them either.
Bull, out.
A date which will live in infamy…
I wanted to take a moment and show some link love to several blogs with informative and moving posts covering the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941:
The Cook Shack: Gab & Grub — my pal Cookie’s site, you’re always gua…
Government schools… and now they want to take on health care? I think NOT!
BTW: Got to go to the BLX VA for a chemical stress test on Yule. Should be absolutely NO fun.