by Ms Lee P.
Member since:
September 2, 2008

Pearl Harbor Day Remembered (December 7, 1941)

December 07, 2009 12:44 PM UTC (Updated: March 22, 2010 05:40 PM UTC)
views: 0 | 1 person recommends this | comments: 41

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On December 7, 1941 the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history.  A surprise attack by the Japanese that destroyed our Naval fleet in Pearl Harbor abruptly brought the United States into World War II.  This “sneak” attack on Pearl Harbor was labeled by President Roosevelt as “a Day of Infamy” and the battle cry of the American people became “Remember Pearl Harbor.” Later Japanese Admiral Yamamoto who was in command of the Japanese Fleet said “It seems all we have done is awakened a sleeping giant.” How true that was!

A total of 2,403 men and women were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor and there were almost 406,000 Americans killed during World War II and over 671,000 were wounded. This tells me that FREEDOM is not FREE.  It should tell us that war on a global scale is a means of destruction to the human race.  It should tell us that we must be ever vigilant and stop aggression before it spreads. This should tell us that in today's world of speed and instant communication we don't have time to power up from next to nothing in order to meet a threat.

 In 1945 World War II ended in a victory for the United States and our Allies.

Thanks to all our men and women who have served to keep America free I have lived to watch my grandchildren play without speaking German or Japanese, except by choice.  I was too young to be a part of World War II but I joined our Women’s Army Corp. (WAC) shortly after.  It was an interesting chapter in my life. 

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I was a teletype operator in WAC's shortly after the war and I have wondered to myself why I posted these very young pictures of myself, then and now. I think I want to remind everyone that whatever happens, life goes on, one day at a time. Stuff happens inbetween then and now that shape our lives. I thank God every day for the United States of America where I was allowed to grow old in a free country because of the sacrafice of our many wonderful military personell.

Comments: 41

Larry H. Dec 7, 2009, 12:49pm UTC
THANKS FOR SHARING..
phil w. Dec 7, 2009, 1:09pm UTC
" awakened a sleeping giant ,and filled him with a terrible resolve " .
Dexter S. Dec 7, 2009, 1:15pm UTC
Dexter S. Dec 7, 2009, 1:14pm EST
Good post girl!!! Next time post this type thing in Yesterday's Gold!
Ms Lee P. Dec 7, 2009, 1:20pm UTC
Done. Sorry, I was not aware of your group. Now I am. I have lots of memories, as do most old folks. LOL
Dexter S. Dec 7, 2009, 2:43pm UTC
Its a big boat were in Lee!
Joyce Frohn Dec 7, 2009, 1:51pm UTC
WACs and WAVEs don't often get the credit they deserve. Thanks for what you did. This probably doesn't get said enough. Don't forget to WRITE YOUR MEMOIRS so our younger generation doesn't forget. WRITE FAST. We had a great guy in our writer's group that died leaving us with a memoir that ended the day before D-Day.
Natalie Neal Whitefield Dec 7, 2009, 2:01pm UTC
Thank you, Lee. My Father and his brothers went down and re-enlisted on Dec 8th, as did many young men and women. (My mother was still in the hospital after giving birth to me a few days earlier.) It was a very trying time for families and for our nation. Important never to forget!
Sean B. Dec 7, 2009, 2:28pm UTC
Yamamoto resided in the U.S. for a time, he saw the industrial base of our country(which now is practically gone)and new Japan could not win a long term war with the U.S. He could only guarantee 6 month's of victory to the emperor. He was right, The Battle of Midway was just over 6 month's later resulting in major and must win victory for the U.S.
donna h. Dec 7, 2009, 2:33pm UTC
I always remember my mother telling me about where they were when they found out about the attacks. My father joined the army and went over to the pacific after this.
John S. (arizona) Dec 7, 2009, 2:39pm UTC
My father volunteered and fought in the Pacific as well. What a brutal war this event led to, and we should never forget.
I must admit I hit quite a number on news sites this morning, as I usually do, and found one small article on the subject. Sad....
Take care.
J. Reid Dec 7, 2009, 3:17pm UTC
I am a WWII baby and my parents often spoke of the women of the War. Today on C-SPAN congress has made special commemoratives to the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Thanks Lee!
Donna C. Dec 7, 2009, 3:43pm UTC
Thank you for the post, Lee.
I wasn't born yet when the war started, but a few months later.
My mom always reminded us of Pearl Harbor Day.
I wish our people now had the resolve that our parents and grand-parents
had when they were winning this war.............
The equipment that our soldiers use now isn't even made in our country!!
Shame, shame on us............
Barb Carlson Dec 7, 2009, 3:57pm UTC
It's good to remember the day and the event. Definitely write down your memories. They are fleeting and gone so fast. The people who actually remember this are getting fewer every year.
Lawrence U. Dec 7, 2009, 4:03pm UTC
Great historical perspective, Lee! Well done!!
Angela K .. Dec 7, 2009, 4:07pm UTC
Great post....I try to stop and thank every person I see with a Vet hat or recognize as prior and currently in service.
Parris Island Marine Corp Base is here and many veterans came back to this area.
To be near the hospitals and near their benefits of course--but also to be around kindred
spirits. I know you agree that we should do soo much more for our prior and active military, think what we do for ball players and actors who are often terrible role models.
Thank you for all you have done.
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Dec 7, 2009, 4:10pm UTC
I bet you have some great tales to tell!
Kerry (A tree, not a lemon) .. Dec 7, 2009, 4:45pm UTC
Hi Lee!

You were so hot in your uniform! lol
I would love to hear your stories from that "interesting time" in your life. I bet you have some good ones:)
Great article, I enjoyed reading it. I wish I had more time on Gather, it's fun to get little glimpses of people. yaya
Ms Lee P. Dec 7, 2009, 4:56pm UTC
LOL, you made me laugh.

You gave us a glimpse of yourself in you profile --- quote:
"I am- wife, mother, friend, owner, tax-payer, traveler, dreamer, writer, designer, loved, witty, curious, loud, mean, nervous, shy, kind, friendly, amused, intelligent, lost, content, anxious, confused, killer and healer.

I am not- you " - unquote.

I like you and I'm glad you are not me. Thanks for the compliment. Uh, don't you think I'm still hot as an old lady? My walking cane is really pretty. LOL
Kerry (A tree, not a lemon) .. Dec 21, 2009, 4:55am UTC
Lee!

I can't believe I missed this most marvelous of comments!

I like you too:) I am equally as glad that you are not me, since if that were the case I would already know all of your fabulous and interesting stories, which would leave me without the ability to look forward to hearing them. yaya ::takes a deep breath::
Did that amazing run on sentence make any kind of sense?

Of course you are still hot! The thing is, a uniform magnifies ones hotness by a factor of ten thousand. So it is simply not possible to be AS hot while not wearing it. True story!
Shimmy into that uniform and you'll be using that pretty cane to beat the men off! You know it's true *wink*
Darlene B. Dec 7, 2009, 4:50pm UTC
I applaud your military tour of duty. I honor your tribute and remembrance of 'Pearl Harbor'. Keep your memories fresh in the minds of all who served.
Janie E. Dec 7, 2009, 5:33pm UTC
Salute to you and all our men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Cathi L. Dec 7, 2009, 6:17pm UTC
Thank you, Lee. My dad went and enlisted right after Pearl Harbor. He served in the Army Air Corp in the Pacific Theater.

Thank you for posting to the Michael Yon Dispatches group!
M M. Dec 7, 2009, 6:17pm UTC
Lee, God bless you. Thank you for a wonderful post.
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Dec 7, 2009, 6:36pm UTC
Very nice tribute. And thank you for your service in the WAC.
Amber C. Dec 7, 2009, 10:18pm UTC
The day that lives in infamy.
CyberGwen ! Dec 7, 2009, 10:53pm UTC
I woke up this morning, looked at the calender and thought of my grandfather. He got there December 8th and what he saw that day was the only stories he ever shared with his children or me about the war. He just couldn't talk about what he saw later, it was too hard.

Thanks for being a WAC and thank you for this post.
Barbara M. Dec 7, 2009, 11:22pm UTC
I just saw a report on our news about Pearl Harbor. It was a sad time in our history. Thank you, Lee, for YOUR service to our country.
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Janell R. Dec 8, 2009, 1:52am UTC
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Lee. I feel that you wars should be reserved for something we "have" to do since there are so many lives lost and that's only a part of it. Love your pictures, too. Pretty lady - then and now.
Ms Lee P. Dec 11, 2009, 11:17am UTC
Thank you for the nice compliment. I have wondered to myself why I posted this very young picture of myself, then and now. I think I want to remind everyone that whatever happens, life goes on, one day at a time. Stuff happens inbetween then and now that shape our lives. I thank God every day for the United States of America where I was allowed to grow old in a free country because of the sacrafice of our many wonderful military personell.
Janell R. Dec 12, 2009, 10:13pm UTC
Stuff certainly does happen in life that shapes you. I'm glad you posted both pictures, Lee. Your reasoning for doing so is sound. ;-)
Terry M. Dec 8, 2009, 8:39pm UTC
Thanks for this very touching post.
Debra H. Dec 11, 2009, 12:19am UTC
Thanks for the reminder and your service to our country Lee. You were a beautiful young lady in uniform and are a gorgeous picture of wisdom and maturity today!
William Dotani Dec 14, 2009, 9:09am UTC
Japanese public school history books gloss over WW2. This day should never be forgotten.
Granny Janny Mar 23, 2010, 5:05pm UTC
So cool...that's you! Gorgeous!
Ms Lee P. Mar 23, 2010, 5:33pm UTC
LOL! One was 16, one was 17 and the last one is now. Can you believe we it! We do all grow old eventually. Went in when I was 16. It was easier to do that and get away with it then. Don't think anyone could get away with joining at 16 today.
Ms Lee P. Mar 23, 2010, 5:34pm UTC
Uhhhh, that strange sentence should read "Can you believe it!" not can you believe we it. Getting old ain't for sissies. LOL
Granny Janny Mar 23, 2010, 5:35pm UTC
You radiate beauty and wisdom, my friend. I like the last one best!
Ms Lee P. Mar 23, 2010, 5:42pm UTC
Aren't you sweet! Thank you for the complitment. I look exactly like my icon. My grand children said so! LOL! Oh, by the way, I think I used to have a hat that looks like the one in your icon. I'm not sure how old you are but are you old enought to remember when a woman never left the house without a pretty hat? I had some, we used to wear gloves too, I think all our hands looked like Michkey Mouse. LOL! Now my main wardrobe is jeans, t-shirts and flip-flops. LOL!
Clifford N. Apr 10, 2010, 11:12pm UTC
Lee,
You were and are a beautiful lady and person. Thanks for directing me to this post. I happen to like the last photo best as well. Life reflects its experiences in our faces more than we like to think and I see real character in that face.

One of these days, we will have to drink that cup of coffee together.
Clifford N. Apr 10, 2010, 11:13pm UTC
By the way, I meant add, that photo should be your icon.

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