Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: rpm on December 07, 2007, 01:00:45 AM
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Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
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Stole all these from another thread. Thought they might be worth looking at today. <>
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and RIP to those who were lost fighting to end the destruction of freedom during that time.
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My father was stationed at Pearl from '90 through '93, and so as a child I got to be there for the 50th anniversary of the Attack, in 1991. Seeing surviving Vets being honored there is something I will never forget... Man did those guys have some stories to tell.
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I finally had the chance to go to Pearl Harbor for the first time in January 2004. It was a 3 week work related trip in Honolulu but the first weekend we were there my Warrant Officer and I went to Pearl to the USS Arizona Memorial.
As many times as I've seen documentaries, read books, and watched movies about Pearl Harbor, to actually stand there over top the Arizona and look around I could picture in my mind what it looked like in 1941.
Knowing that under the water where I was standing were the remains of almost 1200 sailors that lost their lives right there was very sobering to say the least. To this day the ship still bleeds oil into the water from the attack.
I'm thankfull that CWO4 Mordica was with me on that day. I've known him a long time from several different commands we have been stationed together at, and he shares my passion for history. He also shares with me a deep understanding of Naval tradition and honor that only those who have served together during hardship and combat can relate too.
We agreed before we even went out there to take our dress uniforms along for that trip so that we could show proper respect to the fallen. We were both surprised that when we were saluting the wall with the list of the dead from the Arizona an ederly gentleman walked up and stood beside us rendering honors as well.
After we had paid our resects we got to talking with this man and as it turns out he was a survivor off the USS Oklahoma who now lives near Pearl. We spent quite a bit of time talking with him and listened to his accounts from that day. Frank was a hell of a story teller and I was glad to have met him in such a way as I did.
I found out several months after that trip that Frank had passed away from a stroke in Febuary of 2004. Just weeks after we had left to come back home. He was an amazing man, just like all the other men and women that served during WWII.
So on this day to Frank and all the men and women of that generation who worked in the factories, fought in combat, bought war bonds, flew as ferry pilots, hauled the cargo by truck, rail, ship, and plane, and most of all to those that gave their lives fighting for freedom. There is no Thank You big enough.