Pearl Harbor Day today 7 DEC 41

[Jefe]

In addition to my father, uncle and others who heard about it on the radio at home, I knew two guys that were on active duty when it happened.
One was a SGT stationed in HI and in his quarters on Ft Shafter.
The other was a CPL stationed in the Canal Zone and in a bar in Panama when the MPs came around rounding up all soldiers on pass.

Information

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[BruceHMX]

My Grandfather was a Costal Artilleryman on Corregidor. Needless to say it got very intense for him and the rest quickly. After the Death March and movement to a few POW camps in the PI he was put onboard one of the Hell Ships. Once arriving in Japan he worked in the coal mines owned by Mitsubishi. Liberated shortly after the surrender he was 6ft 1in tall and weighed 97 pounds. Paralyzed on his left side for life due to beatings with a cane pole to the cervical(neck). He retired with full disability and also received some sort of compensation monthly from the Japanese government. He lived out his days in and out of McGuire's Veteran Hospital in Richmond, VA. We would visit where the WW1 vets would sit under shade trees and watch the WW2 and Korean war vets participate in wheel chair races on Sunday afternoons. Had a mean *** Chihuahua whom he spoke to in Japanese, they were forced to learn Japanese while in captivity. He also had to testify at a war crime tribunal where he and other POW's were given the option of seeing former guards hung. He would only speak to my Father about his experiences as my Brother and I were too young.

[Jefe]

Bruce, spoke to the Bataan Death March survivors reunion @ Fort Devens in '91 or so. Found out some interesting stuff while doing research. The Americans and Filipinos (We) fought well. The Japs didn't always have their way. Several Regimental and below actions that stopped them cold. The Japanese Commander had to cease offensive operations to refit/ regroup for a period. Our defensive/ delaying actions were taught at the Japanese Imperial War College during the War.
Their treatment of allied POWs was inhuman. I think one of the final indignities of the March was when we arrived at the beach, the Japs purposely did not have transport to carry the POWs to the ships off shore that would carry them to the POW camps etc. At bayonet point, they made the survivors swim to the ships. Many were too emaciated and sick and drowned.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

It has been 76 years, but is still a vivid image to many. We honor them all.

[RazorBurn]

My wife's Grandfather was at Pearl on the USS Raleigh. He passed away before she was born. I had a great uncle who was in the US Army. Joined in 1942 & went all the way across the Pacific to Japan. My hat is off to all those of the "greatest generation". It's sad how many people in our nation alone have forgotten, and overlook what happened on this date so many years ago.

[imarangemaster]

My dad told me about that day, and how he was listening to the radio along with everyone else in Chicago. On 9/11, he told me the sense of deja vu was too overpowering. He and his brothers all fought in the Pacific. My dad was on Iwo Jima and Saipan, his brothers everywhere from Gaudacanal, Saipan Tiinian, and more. They are all passed on now, and finally have peace. They were the greatest generation... I thank them all, men and women of the time, for their incredible sacrifices.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

They were the greatest generation... I thank them all, men and women of the time, for their incredible sacrifices.

You are absolutely correct. Well said.

[lemaymiami]

My Dad volunteered for the draft within six months of Pearl... He went on to make a career of the Army after getting a chance at OCS -retiring out after 28 years in Corps of Engineers in 1970 or 71... By the time I was 12 I'd lived in five different countries - and everything I am stems from that upbringing (He also did two tours in Vietnam towards the end of his career - I did one shortened tour in 1971...). That war, starting with Pearl had vast consequences for the world we inherited. I'll be 70 next year and I still miss my Dad...

What may not be understood about the "greatest generation" - was that they simply had no choice but to hit the ground running since the welfare world we know today didn't exist back then and it was get going -or starve...

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Back then and when we were growing up in the 50's and 60's people looked on the military with thanks and respect. A larger pecent of the population was serving or had served in one branch or the other. During WW2 9% of the population served. In relation, today .4 of one percent are serving. With less than 7% of the total population having ever served.

They earned the title of the "Greatest Generation".

[painter777]

the welfare world we know today didn't exist back then and it was get going -or starve...

Spot on !