12-07-2004, 09:02
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#1
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Administrators
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, NC
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National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2004
On a quiet Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, more than 2,400 Americans were killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. On that day, life changed in America, and the course of history was altered forever.
Our citizens reacted to the attack with firm determination to defeat tyranny and secure our Nation. This enterprise required the commitment and effort of our entire country. At the height of the conflict, the United States had ships on every ocean and troops on five continents. In all, more than 16 million Americans wore the uniform of our Nation. They came from all walks of life. They served honorably and fought fiercely. At home, millions more contributed to the war effort, laboring for victory in our factories, on farms, and across America.
Today, we honor those who fought and died at Pearl Harbor, and we pay special tribute to the veterans of World War II. These heroes hold a cherished place in our history. Through their courage, sacrifice, and selfless dedication, they saved our country and preserved freedom. As we fight the war on terror, their patriotism continues to inspire a new generation of Americans who have been called to defend the blessings of liberty. Like those who have gone before them throughout our history, our troops fighting the war on terror are defending America from danger and liberating the oppressed.
The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has designated December 7 of each year as "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2004, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I urge all Federal agencies, interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff this December 7 in honor of those who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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Dan is offline
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12-07-2004, 09:19
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#2
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Midwest
Posts: 7,134
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Lest we forget. RIP to those who died that day and in the subsequent war, as they fought so valiantly to defend America. And as always those that continue to do so. God bless them all and God bless our Country.
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Gypsy is offline
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12-07-2004, 09:20
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#3
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Bladesmith to the Quiet Professionals
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Location: Oregon, Land of the Silver Grey Sunsets
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Good post Dan, Thanks.
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Bill Harsey is offline
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12-07-2004, 09:35
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#4
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Quiet Professional
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Thanks, Dan.
I have been on the Arizona Memorial many times, and it is always a reverent and solemn experience. Over 1,000 dead Americans under your feet, and she is still leaking oil from her bunkers to put a rainbow sheen on the surface. I am always surprised at the numbers of Japanese tourists that flock there. You would think that shame would keep them away, but I guess that they don't teach that there anymore.
Our Quad at Schofield Barracks in the 25th ID still had bullet holes in the exterior walls from Japanese planes' strafing attacks.
RIP, brothers.
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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12-07-2004, 10:29
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#5
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Gun Pilot
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Iowa and New Mexico
Posts: 2,143
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Reaper
Thanks, Dan.
I have been on the Arizona Memorial many times, and it is always a reverent and solemn experience. Over 1,000 dead Americans under your feet, and she is still leaking oil from her bunkers to put a rainbow sheen on the surface. I am always surprised at the numbers of Japanese tourists that flock there. You would think that shame would keep them away, but I guess that they don't teach that there anymore.
Our Quad at Schofield Barracks in the 25th ID still had bullet holes in the exterior walls from Japanese planes' strafing attacks.
RIP, brothers.
TR
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Dan:
Thanks for the post.
We visited Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Arizona Memorial w/in a 2month timeframe, pretty sobering stuff...
I found only one reference to Pearl Harbor in the two japanese memorials, and it totally glossed over the fact that we were attacked by Japan.
Nancy had a Japanese Post-Doc who was here for a year or two, studying with her, he saw the film "Pearl Harbor" (the recent, silly version) and was aghast that the movie depicted Japan attacking the US... That was not what he had been taught. He asked everyone he was working with if in fact this was true, "Did Japan really attack the US at Pearl Harbor?
They have been rewriting history over there for some time now.
Terry
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CPTAUSRET is offline
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12-07-2004, 10:59
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#6
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Loup City NE
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by CPTAUSRET
... he saw the film "Pearl Harbor" (the recent, silly version) and was aghast that the movie depicted Japan attacking the US... That was not what he had been taught. He asked everyone he was working with if in fact this was true, "Did Japan really attack the US at Pearl Harbor?
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That's sad indictment of the Japanese. Maybe our schools should teach that pioneers were nothing more than peace-loving expansionist who were brutally attacked by the savage indians.
I like your description of the movie. LOL!!
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CRad is offline
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12-07-2004, 11:08
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#7
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Quiet Professional
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They also deny their brutal treatment of POWs and indigenous personnel that were subject to their "hospitality", particularly some of their more egregious acts in the Phillipines and China. 
I guess the whole "Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" was a bad dream as well. 
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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12-07-2004, 11:58
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#8
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Area Commander
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by CPTAUSRET
They have been rewriting history over there for some time now.
Terry
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Seems it is also being done here in our own schools. 
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Gypsy is offline
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12-08-2004, 01:26
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
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Some of the Heroes
Rest in Peace and Thank You
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Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
Still want to quit?
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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12-08-2004, 01:41
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#10
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Reaper
their brutal treatment of POWs and indigenous personnel that were subject to their "hospitality", particularly some of their more egregious acts in the Phillipines and China.
"Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere"
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Yet today we trade extensively with them and consider them allies. Important lesson for those who oppose our work in Iraq.
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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12-08-2004, 06:38
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#11
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer
Yet today we trade extensively with them and consider them allies. Important lesson for those who oppose our work in Iraq.
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We were cooperating with the Germans against the Soviets before the smoke over Berlin cleared.
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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12-08-2004, 08:14
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#12
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Area Commander
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Texas
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Whoa there
You guys are wildly off base about the Japanese. I grew up with a great many Japanese, most of whom remain friends to this day, and every single one invariably becomes uncomfortable when the topic of WW2 is raised. They are profoundly aware of the fruits of their aggression, and most feel personally ashamed of those events even though they were perpetrated by another generation. Hence the national trend toward pacifism, which took root after WW2 and is in marked contrast to their long martial tradition.
Anyone seen that kind of contrition from a German recently? Let's not slander our friends needlessly.
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jatx is offline
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12-08-2004, 08:19
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#13
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Bladesmith to the Quiet Professionals
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
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Thanks NDD.
I just finished reading the detail on each one.
Thanks to All.
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Bill Harsey is offline
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12-08-2004, 08:45
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#14
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Quiet Professional
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jatx
You guys are wildly off base about the Japanese. I grew up with a great many Japanese, most of whom remain friends to this day, and every single one invariably becomes uncomfortable when the topic of WW2 is raised. They are profoundly aware of the fruits of their aggression, and most feel personally ashamed of those events even though they were perpetrated by another generation. Hence the national trend toward pacifism, which took root after WW2 and is in marked contrast to their long martial tradition.
Anyone seen that kind of contrition from a German recently? Let's not slander our friends needlessly.
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I lived in Hawaii for several years, traveled to Japan, had Japanese friends, and met many Japanese business people and tourists.
I will have to take exception to your comments and state that I think you are dead wrong.
Were your friends educated in the West?
The Japanese know that there was something wrong with what happened, but are grossly uninformed about their involvement in WW II and are in denial about the horrible atrocities they committed. They do not teach the Japanese expansionism and aggression that started WW II, or their sneak attack on U.S. forces in Hawaii and the Phillipines that precipitated U.S. involvement.
One of my best friend's father had been captured on Corregidor and made the Death March. The stories he told me of the actions of the Japanese soldiers and even civilians are absolutely horriffic and incomprehensible.
Their zenophobic dislike of foreigners continues to this day. My associates who have lived in Japan have also commented on this, saying that foreigners who leave the insular group of friends or business associates and meet Japanese casually there say that the racism is palpable.
The Germans teach that Nazism was a horrible time in their country's history and that it must never happen again. Many sites in Germany are dedicated to the horros perpetrated there. The Germans have made reparations to many of their victims, and the evil of Hitler is mentioned there on a regular basis. Other than Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Japanese War Memorial (all looking at external damage done to Japan), where are the Japanese reflective on their horrors? Any public castigation or acknowledgement of the terrors of Tojo or mistakes of the Emperor? They deny the sack of Manila, the Rape of Nanking, and the torture and chem/bio experimentation on POWs.
No, the entire Japanese culture is in denial, and I see no change in sight.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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12-08-2004, 09:06
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#15
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Bladesmith to the Quiet Professionals
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oregon, Land of the Silver Grey Sunsets
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I have personally had many positive experiences conducting business with people from Japan and have recieved many here in the shop as not just customers but true friends.
My sister in law is from Japan and I would never speak against her.
Our old firewatch and gate security man for the logging operation was a survivor of the Bataan Death March (rest in peace Mr. Hickey) who told me some of what he both witnessed and endured.
I believe what The Reaper says is correct.
Last edited by Bill Harsey; 12-08-2004 at 09:11.
Reason: spelling
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Bill Harsey is offline
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