Today is December 7th.

[Brass is Best]

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Remember what that means. Never Forget.

[pkhammer]

My father-in-law was a Marine. Fought the Japanese in WW2 in the Pacific theatre. God bless the service men and women that serve to protect this country and the freedoms we all enjoy.

[Guest]

My father was also part of the Pacific Fleet in WWII and served aboard both the USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE 70)

This ship earned 5 Battle Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.

 

And also onboard the USS Rudyerd Bay (CVE 81)

This ship also earned 5 Battle Stars.

Both were Casablanca Class escort carriers and both survived the war.

 

 

[padgett]

Day the Chicago L was returned.

[Morgansdad]

Brass is Best, I'm afraid that most of the world has already forgot ! Or, haven't been taught. The things being taught today has very little to do with actual history and more to do with what's easiest for the educator. (If any on here were educators I'm surely not talking about you).

[SC38dls]

The Americans of Japanese heritage had one of the most decorated battalions in the Pacific campaign. It’s amazing they accomplished that when their families were being treated the way they were back in the states. 
dave s 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, edinmass said:

Our family business which we had started in the 1960’s...........employees were not allowed to park Japanese or German cars in the parking lot................too many customer complaints. That held to the 2000’s. The times have sure changed. 

I witnessed this same sentiment back when I was selling real estate for a living. Older fellow cold calls the office, wants to sell his house. 

Call is taken by my friend Mark, an otherwise good realtor. He shows up at the old boy's house, old boy looks in the driveway at Mark's car and asks what make it was. When the answer was "Toyota" the old boy just quietly closed the door on Mark.

Dumbfounded, he comes back to the office and relates the story. I knew immediately what had transpired. My broker asked me to go out to see if I could save the deal. I showed up in my Buick LeSabre, respectfully apologised for my friend and explained that my father was also a veteran of the Pacific Theater. He sized me up, looked at my car and invited me in. All was good.

Some never  forget.

[C Carl]

Mom turned 21 that day of infamy, so today would have been her 100th birthday. Enlisted in the Navy, she served as a warrant officer packing a .45. But the women I really admire most were at the front, perhaps serving in field hospitals, lives on the line, heroically bidding, some losing their lives so others could live. Different times, different country.
 

Hmmmmm.............   Hmmmmmmmmmff ? Maybe I WILL don a mask after all.  Hmmmmm.........Maybe being asked to bear masks is not too onerous a sacrifice against being asked to bear arms so others may live. Hmmmmmmm.........  Yeah, I think, I think I just might have a box of N95s out in the shop. I’ll look. Yeah....... I think I might just go along with the program when I look at it in that light.
 

No hero, concerned fellow citizen, just plain         -   Carl, today.

[zepher]

I had my flag out today.

It's the least I can do to commemorate a day 'that will live in infamy' and the many lives that were lost.

 

[SC38dls]

2 minutes ago, zepher said:

I had my flag out today.

It's the least I can do to commemorate a day 'that will live in infamy' and the many lives that were lost.

 

2403 lives lost at Pearl Harbor if I remember correctly. If you have never been to the Arizona memorial put it on your bucket list.  The fuel oil leaking is the tears of the nation. 

[edinmass]

Toyota .....from the nice people who brought you Pearl Harbor and the Bataan death march. My uncle Al, who is 99 was at Pearl Harbor. He’s blind now..............but still tough as nails. Went into the drink four times in a B-29. American hero.........never says a word. Farm boy to career Air Force......joined when he was 17. 

Edited December 8, 2020 by edinmass (see edit history)

[SC38dls]

Thank uncle Al, all of those kids were heroes that sacrificed more than just their youth. Too many gave everything that I fear a younger generation just doesn’t understand. My era was Nam, that, Iraq and Afghanistan just were not the same total commitment that WW II did in many ways. 

[Graham Man]

My Grandfather's LSM arriving in China 1945, he passed away in 1961.

 

My other Grandfather in France 1918, he passed away in 1983.

 

Glad they both made it home... glad I get the opportunity to fly our flag. 

[oldcarfudd]

I was 9 when the war ended, so (obviously) too young to have been involved.  42 years ago I was doing business in Tokyo for my company, which was getting into a joint venture with SONY.  As is customary, days were spent interminably arguing over minutiae, and early-to-middle nights were spent socializing, with too damn much booze.  At one point, a well-lubricated fellow from the Japanese team asked:  "Gil-san, do you ever wonder what would have happened if Japan had won the war?"  I replied that I did not, but that I DID know one thing that would NOT have happened if Japan had won the war.  "What?"  "The streets of Tokyo would NOT be full of Fords and Chevrolets."  Long pause.  Eyes got wider, almost round.  "Ah, so!"  Maybe I gave him something to think about.

[rocketraider]

One of Mama's cousins is still in the Arizona. Farmboy who joined the Navy in 1940 to get away from tobacco fields.

 

Her oldest brother helped open Ohrdruf concentration camp in 1945. That was tough on a 25 year old farmboy who had never been more than 20 miles from home till he enlisted Dec 9 '41. Edd would never talk about it except to say we must treat our Jewish friends kindly.

 

In the late 70s another brother bought a Toyota. Edd says you spent three years fighting Japanese who were trying to kill you, how can you drive that? But by the mid 80s Edd himself was driving a VW Rabbit.

 

I often wonder if the US would gel and pull together if something similar were to happen now. Mighty afraid many have already forgotten 9/11, much less remember the Second War.

[35cz8]

Many GOOD men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice for America and look where we are today.  A huge "thank you" and God bless all those that served their country with honor.  

[Fossil]

Gone so young. Forgotten far too soon.

It's up to us to remind the young. 

 

God bless all that have sacrificed for our country.  

[wayne sheldon]

I had three different uncles that served in Europe during the war (my parents were in high school then). None of my uncles would ever talk about it. I was always interested in history, and asked often. But none of them ever said much.

 

A saying from the era I understood very early. "All gave some. Some gave all."

[Restorer32]

On Dec 7 1941 Dad was in the local jail for drunk and disorderly. When the attack was announced the Warden made his rounds and offered to release those with minor charges if they would "sign up".  Dad jumped at the chance, as much so he could get 3 meals a day as because of his sense of patriotism.  He was  abandoned as a child during the Depression and went hungry more than once. He served mostly in New Guinea.

[SC38dls]

I was sent to Germany after I got out of Walter Reed in 68. We would talk to older Germans in the local guest house (bar to us) about the war. They told us the same story a good friend’s father that was a light tank commander told us. The GI’s were crazy guys. They would come to a town and at night knowing there was a brewery or winery in the town would load up a truck and get a tank and take the brewery. Drink all night and then have to fight their way out of town!  They said more small towns were taken from fighting out of town than going in. They also said they were very happy we were over there protecting them than them having to be the protectors over here!  God bless all of our young people that have ever served for the ideas of this country. 

dave s 

[Uncle_Buck]

Spend 3 minutes watching this moving, but warm clip of VJ Day in Honolulu.

 

 

From the despair and dark days following Pearl Harbor to the end of WWII.
 

Who among us today could not feel the rush of exuberance and energy of these brave men and women from 1945 ... 🇺🇸

[bdc]

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it...

We are sure living in a forgetful generation.

 

Also those who control history control the future...that is scary when you see what kids are being taught today in school.

[Walt G]

Kids are taught in school what the teachers are told they are allowed to teach, many times not what they want to teach. Curriculums are set and guidelines , boundaries etc so it is not the fault of what the teachers don't pass on but more so of what they can't or are told not to pass on or how to present it . This is not just about national history but about local history. The administration and school boards have to be a bit more creative and think of how they can present something. They don't do it , they need direction in order to give direction. Yes, I was a teacher for 40+ years, went beyond my area of specialty ( art) and gave classes on history to staff as well as some classes of kids . NY State law I believe still says in the 4th grade the kids have to have some study of local history.

Edited December 8, 2020 by Walt G
typo (see edit history)

[CarNucopia]

I come here to talk cars and appreciate the occasional historical aside. But, I really wish they didn’t all evolve into a “kids these days....” commentary. 

My grandfather landed on D-Day and wore a hat that showed he was a WWII vet. It was hard to have a meal in a restaurant without a “kid” stopping to express their appreciation for his service and the magnitude of the Greatest Generation’s deeds.

[jrbartlett]

Quote

 

My father is one of the sailors on deck in this famous photograph of the cruiser U.S.S. Phoenix as it passed the burning U.S.S. Arizona in the background. He served the entire Pacific war on this ship, rising to warrant officer. Meanwhile his future wife, my mother, operated a traveling crane at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, lifting batteries out of submarines. In fact they met near the yard in 1946. They both considered themselves proud veterans. And surprisingly, in later years they bought Japanese and German cars and even did business with a Japanese manufacturer of electronic cash registers. My father died at age 60, but my mother survived to age 104 and died just 3 weeks ago. My wife and I visit the old shipyard every year or two and look over the buildings and mothballed ships. I always wonder at what it was like when my father's ship put in after the war to be mothballed, and when my mother was there every day during the war. The yard is a civilian facility now, and Urban Outfitters has a really good cafeteria and lunchroom setup at which you can dine while gazing out the window at a giant aircraft carrier or two. 

 

[TerryB]

2 hours ago, Car-Nicopia said:

I come here to talk cars and appreciate the occasional historical aside. But, I really wish they didn’t all evolve into a “kids these days....” commentary. 

My grandfather landed on D-Day and wore a hat that showed he was a WWII vet. It was hard to have a meal in a restaurant without a “kid” stopping to express their appreciation for his service and the magnitude of the Greatest Generation’s deeds.

You are so right, we the parents, grandparents, uncles or whatever have as much obligation to teach history as the schools do.  So often it’s easy to blame the system until you realize we too are part of the system.  Get involved and show your support for history.  My son and I volunteered with wreaths across America and we placed Christmas wreaths on veterans graves.  As Boy Scouts we marched in Memorial Day parades, helped with civic projects and did what we could to show youth they need to understand what sacrifices are for the good of all of us.  Remember it’s our job too.

[dstratton]

My Dad was in WWIi in the European  theater on the front lines keeping  the equipment  running  and fighting  at the same time he made it home in one piece  except for having  shell shock. My Grandpa when he saw my dad for the first time  when he got home he told the family  not to ask him any questions  about  the war because  of deep seated problems and Dad did not talk much about it and in later life we had a friend the was in the German  army  but all his life and mind never knowing bought any Japanese products  and still have problems  with the wife understanding that. An it is to bad the way the world is going. Dallas Stratton

[zepher]

1 hour ago, TerryB said:

You are so right, we the parents, grandparents, uncles or whatever have as much obligation to teach history as the schools do.  So often it’s easy to blame the system until you realize we too are part of the system.  Get involved and show your support for history.  My son and I volunteered with wreaths across America and we placed Christmas wreaths on veterans graves.  As Boy Scouts we marched in Memorial Day parades, helped with civic projects and did what we could to show youth they need to understand what sacrifices are for the good of all of us.  Remember it’s our job too.

 

You're absolutely right.

It is our job as parents to teach our kids history and to make that history real and meaningful.

That is one reason that I regularly take my daughter, she's 13 now, to museums and other places of historical interest.

It's also one of the reasons I am very pleased she loves being in the Young Marines.

She's cultivated a great respect for our nation's veterans with the assistance of the program.

One of the highlights being that a few years ago she got to attend and participate in the ceremonies for the Navajo Code Talkers that takes place in Window Rock, AZ.

 

I never served as I came of age after Vietnam and before any of the Gulf War conflicts but I have worked with many, many veterans and I have many military members  in my family.

Their sacrifices can never begin to be repaid.

[Dave39MD]

From the bridge of the Missouri looking towards the Arizona memorial.

[rocketraider]

😪

[1912Staver]

I am originally from the Canadian Prairies and have visited quite a few small farming towns in the area. Every one has a war memorial in a central part of town. So many young lives lost. Tragic beyond words. Both Grandfathers were skilled and old enough to be more valuable in home war work than overseas service , but two Great Uncles served in Europe. Both thankfully came home although one suffered serious wounds when his tank recovery vehicle was hit by a shell. Not everyone in the crew survived . He was another one very reluctant to talk about the battlefield . They are all gone now but their memory is still very much alive within my family.

 

Greg

[Fossil]

The school children here have a wonderful veterans program every year.  Didn't really realize how much it meant to me until it was canceled this year thanks to the China virus. The children are all younger than 4th grade and go out of their way to make us feel appreciated. Just a wonderful experience.  The school staff is to be commended for their efforts. 

 

[auburnseeker]

4 hours ago, Car-Nicopia said:

I come here to talk cars and appreciate the occasional historical aside. But, I really wish they didn’t all evolve into a “kids these days....” commentary. 

Well some of us got to see first hand what our kids are really being taught when we became the new home school teachers and had to do research at night to teach our kids the next day because many except a few of the teachers were doing a terrible job of remote teaching.  1 assignment a week,  and we are not talking a term paper. 

I knew some things were a miss but I got to see first hand some things I was able to correct my child on.  I also encourage them to seek out truth and not just swallow what you are being fed.

 

Grandpa served in the Pacific for most of the war and remembered going through Pearl Harbor right after it happened.  He said the thing that still stuck in his mind years later was the smell with all the diesel in the water.  He was the only one in his unit to make it back.  He never talked much about the war other than a couple of kind of funny things that happened to him while he was over seas.  Even when I bugged him a little he wouldn't open up except those few incidences.  

I know that whole generation would have some words for us if they saw the direction we are headed.

[SC38dls]

War is and always has been hell as everyone knows. One thing to think about today compared to The world wars is these kids ( they are just kids to a 74 year old) are surviving as wounded warriors at a much higher rate than our fathers and grand fathers did.  Helicopters get the wounded to MASH type units much faster than a jeep or 3/4 ton could in WWII or Korea. Viet Nam saw more disabled troops coming home the nation was not prepared for. In 67 Walter Reed Hospital didn’t have wheel chair ramps on a lot of the buildings. Iraq and Afghanistan have sent home so many PTS cases the system couldn’t and don’t know how to handle. I guess I’m trying to say WWII gave us the greatest generation but every kid, girl or guy that has served to protect this country deserve our everlasting profound thanks and respect. Don’t just say “Thanks for your service” mean it and if possible help a vet in need, they’re out there and unfortunately you really don’t have to look to hard to find one. 
dave s 

Edited December 8, 2020 by SC38DLS (see edit history)

[Uncle_Buck]

[CarNucopia]

1 hour ago, auburnseeker said:

 

I know that whole generation would have some words for us if they saw the direction we are headed.

Thanks for illustrating my point. I’ve been on this forum for over a decade and what I’m referring to is not a new Covid thing. Though maybe “kids these days...” is just actually a subset of “it’s all going to hell”.

 

The point is, almost any thread that delves into the past becomes a platform for people to voice how bad things are. I have plenty of other places to get negativity. It’s tiresome and not helpful in making the hobby enjoyable. Let’s talk cars.

 

PS For those over 65 years old complaining about how things were better in the good old days, know that your life expectancy back then was...65. Today its 78.

Edited December 8, 2020 by Car-Nicopia (see edit history)

[Buffalowed Bill]

Sadly those who served in WWll are mostly gone today. It's important that they be memorialized, and not forgotten. It also important that the truth of the war, as well as it's aftermath be accurately remembered. 

 

The world has significantly changed, over the last seventy five years. Today the Japanese and the Germans our among our best friends and staunchest allies. The present generation in all the nations, and theaters of the war, lost loved ones. We need to share with them in memorializing the victims of that terrible conflict. I think that it's also important to remember the damage that was done, by just a few autocarts, and try to make sure that it doesn't happen again, at least in our lifetime. 

[TTR]

38 minutes ago, Buffalowed Bill said:

... the truth of the war, ... be accurately remembered. 

??? 

Care to elaborate ?

[bdc]

1 minute ago, TTR said:

??? 

Care to elaborate ?

Well check history books at your local middle & high school and see some of the bilge that our (grand)kids are being fed and compare that to what really happened.

[TTR]

54 minutes ago, bdc said:

Well check history books at your local middle & high school and see some of the bilge that our (grand)kids are being fed and compare that to what really happened.

^^ Not really addressing my earlier request for clarification (see below).

1 hour ago, TTR said:

... not from one sided government/school board “issued/approved” interpretations.

I'm more interested in learning about "the truth"(???) so many people often refer to in these types of topics. 

Edited December 8, 2020 by TTR (see edit history)