I'm watching a special on Public Television about the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. Believe it or not, tomorrow (Fri, 12/7) is the 60th Anniversary of the attack! This show is awesome! If you happened to see it, when they show the narrator standing on the decks of a Navy ship - that's the USS Missouri - BB63 - the ship where the surrender was signed on 9/2/45 & the same ship my Dad served on during the Korean War! I got to see her & go for a "special" tour not available to the public last year, about 2 mos before my Dad passed away. (I even got to see HIS bunk!) It was an incredible feeling to stand practically on the exact spot where the surrender was signed & to walk the decks & see the places where my Dad spent 3 1/2 years way back when. I got to show him my video & talk to him about the ship & hear his memories of his days on the most famous battleship, aside from the USS Arizona.
There's also a special on tomorrow on the Learning Channel at 9PM which will give more detail about the Mighty Mo. If you want to visit the site for the ship, go to www.ussmissouri.com & choose the NON Flash version - it has far more to check out. You can even see a comment I published about the site on tthe Ship Info page down in the corner! (They know me well at that site! LOL!).
After this special there's another dealing with Canada at war during WWII & it will conclude on Sunday - not sure of the time. I think I'll watch that too.
At any rate - for all the men who lost their lives on 12/7/41 - May they Rest In Peace. God Bless them all!

 

I was just thinking about posting something on here about P.H. I bought the DVD yesterday and was watching the History Channel section in the Bonus Material. I never heard about the U.S.S. Utah, looks like the only ship still sticking out of the water. I have only heard about the Arizona and the like. I have been checking out some sites on this topic and some even say that it was Franklin D. Roosevelt's fault that this happened. He wanted in the war and the people didn't unless they were attacked first. He devised a plan to get Japan to attack them and then the U.S. had a reason to get involved but his first target would be the german's and not Japan. Not sure what to believe as there was another site that proved otherwise on certain points.

Cowlady, I have to agree, even though I am not an american. Events of this stature definitely makes you happy for what we have today. It may be another country but what happens in your neighbours land does effect everyone around them. As much as some of these sites make me mad that the government would sacrifice so many people is beyond me. You have to start and wonder if all of these so called conspiracies are true or not. Look at all of the different movies, Men In Black, Conspiracy Theory, etc and then you have things like Area 51. Is our governments really hidding something or is it just B.S. ????

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

I don't care what war it was or what branch of the Military they fought in, we all owe everything we have to the men and women who have literally paid for it in their blood, sweat, tears and lives.

I hate it when people don't even realize what WWII was about or Korea or Vietnam or the War of 1812 etc.

Every day should be memorial day. Take a minute to say a prayer for each and every person who has had the guts to put on a uniform to fight for your freedoms. If nothing else just take a few minutes to think about how differnent your life would be without the sacrifices of those people.

To everybody who has served or is serviing.....thank you, keep up the good work.

Chris

 

60 years ago today many lives were cut short, men & women made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for their country. Today I pray for those who lost their lives, and the families and friends who they left behind.

My grandfather, US NAVY, too, served on the USS Missouri, and many other ships, I was fortunate to attend a reunion for the USS Missouri here in Omaha, NE in Sept. 1992.

It was truely a honor to serve in the US Marines 1992-1996, I am now more able to appreciate what our fore fathers sacrificed for this great country.

Cowlady: I checked the USSMissouri website and my grandfather isn't on there, however, I'll get with my grandmother and fix that. Thanks for the infor, I'll be sure to watch TLC on Sunday.

GODBLESS!

 

I have to say thanks for being as patriotic as the members of this site are! I am truly impressed at the genuine pride for our country & it's NOT just because of 9/11 - it was evident long before our Second Day of Infamy!
Husker - I just emailed you - I was dumbfounded to learn your grandfather & my Dad served on the same ship! WOW! It would be awesome if they were aboard at the same time! Who knows - maybe if we could look thru the scrap albums together we'd find pics of them in each oher's albums!
I applaud you for being a Marine too - that's not an easy branch of the military - actually none of the are I guess. You have a lot to be proud of as do ALL the guys here who served or are serving. Semper Fi!
Thanks to everyone for letting me ramble about my Dad as well. I am so proud of him & since he's passed away, I miss him terribly. It was 1 year on 11/19 that he died & sometimes it seems like it was just last week. In fact, I'm going to a Mass being said for him later this afternoon - I'll be sure to include all our brave men & women who fought for this country & died to protect us. It was just a fluke that the Mass is today - I didn't plan it but to have it on the 60th Anniversary of the attack & to know my Dad served on the Mo is just amazing!
Oh well - thanks guys - you're ALL very special to me!

 

I love just talking to my grandfather about some of the stuff that went on. He was shot down over France in a B-24 Liberator. He was able to get back to friendly country without being captured.



One of the planes he crewed in, Flight Engineer.

 

the father of one of the guy's i work with was in WWII. it's amazing to talk to him. just hearing the stories can keep you occupied for hours. funny it seems like i have more in common with his dad then he does. he always says, oh here go the stories again and walks into a different room.

 

It's a shame about your friend - someday he will WISH he had his Dad around to tell him those same stories! Maybe because I was a "girl" my Dad never did that much - he'd answer my questions & then tell me there's nothing glamorous about war & when it can be avoided it should - the unnescssary bloodshed isn't worht it. He was proud of his service & this country but he didn't talk about it as much as I wish he had. Now the opportunity has been lost - I can only hear accounts from other Mighty Mo vets but it's not the same as hearing them from my Dad. There aren't as many Korean war vets in the group. I am lucky that my Dad's best friend from the ship remained friends all thru the years & "Uncle" Bud also worked in radar w/my Dad so he can fill in the gaps. In fact, it was because my Uncle Bud was on the ship when I visited that I go to see the exact bunk my Dad slept in - he remembered where it was & got us there from memory! That was AWESOME!
Wildchild - give your friend a wake up call - ask him to repeat the same stories his Dad tells & see if he's REALLY heard them! If not, he may want to actually sit & LISTEN next time, especially if you remind him his Dad won't be around forever! You can even throw in a little jab & say if he ever wants to know what his Dad went thru to just ask YOU as you DO listen! And, keep listening to his father - that's probably the greatest form of respect we can pay to any veteran - to care about what they experienced & to be willing to hear it all - good & bad, boring & exciting! I think we owe them at least that much! Statues & Memorials are ok but NOTHING can replace genuine interest & caring - just ask any vet!

 

I just got this link & had to share it - it's about Pearl Harbor & lists each ship hit & the damage incurred on 12/07/01.
http://www.de220.com/Pearl%20Harbor/Pearl%20Harbor.htm
Hope you find it as riveting as I did.

 

Wow. It was 60 years ago today...

I visited the Mighty Mo this past summer. Awesome ship. Got to sit in the Captain's chair. Got to see the dent made by the Kamikaze pilot. Had no idea the deck was made out of teak (was told that it kept the ship cooler).

Hard to put into words how it feels to stand where so much history was made.

I'm only 6' tall, but the men back in those days must have been real shorties 'cause I kept having to duck. The bunks were absolutely claustrophobic in size. Can't imagine having to sleep in one. I was awed by the turrets. You whack the steel turret and it makes no sound since it's so damned thick.

I can't wait to go back when they open up the gun turret and the engine room. LOL. I always seem to end up in the engine rooms of ships I've been on.

 

Everybody should, at some time in their life, take a trip to Hawaii to see the Arizona Memorial and the Mighty Mo. It's really hard to describe the feeling you get from being where the war started and ended in the same day. You go from being humbled, saddened, and inspired to being awed and proud.

 

Very well said Dennis! It's true! As you stand on the Arizona Memorial, watching the oil float to the surface, seeing the names inscribed on the Wall of Honor", looking at the base of gun turret #1 where the 14" guns once sat & see the rust & barnacles encrusting them you feel incredibly sad for the loss of life that day. Then, as you turn around & look ahead & see the Mighty Mo standing there in all her glory, looking as though she could head out at a moment's notice to serve & defend us, you can't help but feel proud & overwhelmed at all that she represents to this country!
I don't know if it's true but I was told the survivors & family of the sailors lost on the Arizona don't want the Mo there - they feel she detracts from the Arizona's importance as a Memorial. How untrue! I know I'm biased but I looked at the Mo as standing guard over her & her men & as a tribute to them! Although a different class of battleship & a somewhat larger ship that the Arizona, it helps put into perspective what really lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor - it's hard to imagine the size of the ship as much has rusted away or is too deep to see easily. I don't think ANYTHING could ever diminish the somber importance or hallowedness of the Arizona & I dare anyone to even try!
One last thing - yes the decks of our ships were made of teak for several reasons. Cooling was a MAJOR consideration as was the fact that a metal deck was too slippery when wet & when those 16" guyns went off, the resulting noise & repercussion would have been too much for the men on the ship. The shells they fired weighed 2,700# - more than my Camry did! The 16" represents the diameter of the shell - that's 1 heck of a shell! When any of the Iowa class battelships - Iowa(BB61), New Jersey(BB62), Missouri(BB63) & Wisconin(BB64) fired a broadside - all 3 gun turrets all facing off the same side of the ship & all 9 of the 16" guns firing at once, the force was enough to shove the ships sideways thru the water for many feet! Now THAT is firepower! I'll look for pics of that too & attach later. You'll be impressed! Our enemies sure were - that's a definite!

 

That guy definitely doesn't know what he is missing.
Having the Arizona Memorial and the Missouri next to each other is very appropriate. The Arizona is a strong, harsh reminder of the begining of a dark, hard war. The 'Mo' is a reminder that after all of that, we emerged strong and victorious.

From the wife:
I was on the Boutwell (Coast Guard) a few years back and when I broke an ankle they dumped me on Sand Island for almost 4 months. I made it a point to go to the Arizona every weekend. I can honestly say I didn't leave once without having cried. I never got to go on the Mo (it wasn't open at the time) but I can't wait to have my chance to. Sidewalk has never even been to Hawaii much less the memorial I am going to be quite honored to be able to take him there someday.
I have a friend of mine 'Mac' who was in the army in WWII. Now, normally I don't pal around with grunts but I spent hours upon hours during high school llistening to his stories. I actually did an audio tape 'interview' with him once for school. Not only do I still have that tape , but I cherish it. I only hope that guy will someday cherish what artifacts his dad has...for his own sake!
-ViceGrips

 

I watched a few different things about the attack yesterday learned a few things I didn't know before I hope someday I can make the trip out there to see where it happened. I've been to many battlefields where many of out fine young men lost there lives so freedom could go on most of them Civil war fields a few war of 1812 and revalutionary war battlefields also been to Custers last stand out in Montana but the place where a battle was fought and so much more terror happed that moved me the most was at Dokau?(spelling) in Germany when I was over there in the 80's me a few few guys went down to Munich for the Oktober fest and stopped there to see the old consentration camp were too many Jews lost there lives and were kept prisners forced to work and so on it makes you sick as to some of the stuff the ***** did if you ever get a chance to go to Europe I recomend going there it will show you what we fought for in that War plus remind you to never let anything like that happen again.

 

cowlady i couldn't agree with you more about my friend. unfortunately he is too old and set in his own ways to listen when others make suggestions. i have actually asked him about the stories once and the reply was "i don't know, you'd have to ask my dad". don't get me wrong he seems genuinely proud of his dad, he just doesn't want to listen to him. pity some of the most interesting stories i've heard have been from older people who it seemed no one wanted to listen to. maybe we just don't want to think those things could actually happen. i once had an old stranger come up to me and a friend in germany. he recognized us as soldiers and asked if he could sit with us. we agreed, almost 1 1/2 hours later we parted company with a whole new outlook on a lot of things. seems he had been a german soldier during WWII. very interesting stories.
hmustang you are very right about dachau. it is definitely a place to visit. many say they can still smell the gas and death there. what struck me the most was people reading names on the stones looking for relatives and then lighting candles for them. just to think that is where your relatives are laid to rest is unimaginable.