It has been eighty years since the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor; an incident which brought the United States into World War II. Americans rushed to recruitment offices in order to avenge the attack, while other hard-working citizens did their best to replenish the American naval fleet and raise money for the war effort.
Sailors, Marines, and Soldiers fought back with extraordinary courage, often at the sacrifice of their own lives. Those without weapons to fight took great risk to save wounded comrades and to save their ships. Pilots took off to engage Japanese aircraft despite the overwhelming odds. Countless acts of valor went unrecorded, as many witnesses died in the attack. Fifteen U.S. Navy personnel were awarded the Medal of Honor — ranging from seaman to rear admiral — for acts of courage above and beyond the call of duty, ten of them posthumously.
I’m a big fan of history, especially World War II, which is why I post about Pearl Harbor every year. There are very few Pearl veterans still with us, and I want to make sure others never forget them and their sacrifices.
Although I agree with your sentiments completely, I fear it is a losing battle. We are producing generations of under educated citizens addicted to their electronic devices, who believe history began the day they were born. How long will it be until someone answers the cry “Remember Pearl Harbor”, with “Who?”
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Pearl Harbor Day. When Navy Sailors were able to save a burning USS California while being attacked by the Japanese and our modern Navy couldn’t save the Bonhomme Richard from a fire during peace time.
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Mike AKA Proof – I guess “Remember the Maine” wouldn’t strike a chord in people anymore, either. (Yes, I know it was eventually found out the Maine exploded by a coal fire.) But they don’t remember the important events in our history. The burning of the White House in the War of 1812, the Alamo, Pearl Harbor, etc.
Ingineer – Well, the sailors of the 1940’s weren’t distracted by pronouns and inclusion.
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When I was younger, I used to wonder what it must have felt like to be a British citizen, when the “sun never went down on the British Empire”, and see the world dominance of your mother country slipping away forever. I don’t wonder that any more.
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This regime has three more years left. America will long be dead by the end of 2022.
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*Sigh*
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Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but I’m hoping we can rise from the ashes like a phoenix.
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I’d like to believe that, but they can do a lot of damage in three years.
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Just a reminder to all. My pronouns are “Let’s/Go/Brandon”
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