o/t remember pearl harbor!

My father only talked about the war twice....damned funny stuff, too, like having to shake the snakes out of the sleeping bags every night, and then he'd tell us about some of the pranks they'd play on each other to try to keep some laughter in their lives.
After awhile of telling us kids all the funny and interesting stories...he would pause and look out of the window.
We would all be waiting until he spoke again, and after looking out of the window in silence for about 90 seconds, he would just stand up and leave the room....
He did the exact same thing both times he talked about the war.
When the funny stories ran out, all he had left in his memories was all the horror.
He was also a recon photographer, also, and after he died in 2002, I looked through his old Army trunk, which was "off-limits" all of my life. The photos that were inside were enough to make you sick.
After looking at the awful, really, really grim and horrific images of sheer cruelty, I am amazed that these guys came back to the States and led normal, loving, productive lives.
They must have had some godawful dreams.....

 

Thanks Grandpa. USS New York BB34.

 

thanks Mazooma ..Great story and I did ask my Dad about Vietnam and he would not talk either and Grandpa never talked about WWII , I guess it IS way worse than any civilian can imagine , and God Bless them all

 

Thats a hell of a Hot Rod right there.
God BLess

 

Thanks to all who are serving and have served

 

Indeed we must recognize the sacrifices made by so many that provided us with the lifestyle we have today! Both of my Grandfathers as well as my wives Grandfathers served, We will always remain greatful ! Thankyou and Godbless to the ones that do thier part !

 

Thanks to all military past and present, I do have to add though; patriotism needs to be tought before it is lost, today in school I announced to one of my classes it was the 69th anniversary of pearl harbor attack and that we should thank our military, some were silent, most laughed, I'm also the only student in any of my classes that says the pledge in morning with the admin. Makes me sad to see so little respect for one's own great nation. By spreading the gospel of hot rods to hoodlums everywhere we can spread the gospel of love for America to hoodlums everywhere. Hot rods and patriotism go hand in hand don't you think?
sorry for the rant
God Bless America
and thanks to all the military past and present
Austin

 

God Bless the Greatest Generation for all their sacrifices.

Semper Fi

 

I hear ya'll brothers.

 

Thanks too all who served to uphold this country and all the rights we posses, including freedom of religion.

 

I couldn't agree more, remembering Pearl Harbor is great (my ship used to tie up right across the channel from the Arizona, always looked over at the memorial with much respect)....but ranting against Muslims or any other groups is WAY off topic.

 

Glad to see this thread! I am so grateful to all that served in the U.S. Military! We take so much of what freedoms we have for granted! THANK YOU to all that have served!!

 

Pearl Harbor Dec 7th 1941 The attacking planes came in two waves; the first hit its target at 7:53 AM, the second at 8:55. By 9:55 it was all over. By 1:00 PM the carriers that launched the planes from 274 miles off the coast of Oahu were heading back to Japan.
2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes and a crippled Pacific Fleet that included 8 damaged or destroyed battleships. REMEMBER Pearl Harbor....

 

The other thread on the same subject HERE

 

the goleta oil fields were shelled. but they hit nothing. my buddy george and tom bistagne both served after the attack on pearl.

 

Undoubtedly - The Greatest Generation and deservedly so.

Thank you to all who served and to the families that supported them when they came home.

Rat

 

There are less than 3,000 Pearl Harbor survivors left. If you're lucky enough to know one, let them know how much you apprciate them.

 

Thanks to ALL our military personal past and present. I've been to Pearl Harbor 3 different times, and it has been a very moving and spiritual experience every time. Here's a few shots from last summer.

 

Thank You

 

WOW ! they were some brave men and woman back then I think it best said, I fear all have done is to awaken a sleeping bear and we may regret this day for many years.

 

Thank you for the stats! We had the news on all day, sound muted, as always and I can't recall looking up and seeing anything about "a day which will live in infamy!" But in recent news, Oprah gave away VW bugs to her guests on some show, and got to be praised at some White House gala! Maybe next year, when we hit the 70th anniversary, they might give it some press! That is, if Britney hasn't had another breakdown and Lindsey hasn't set a record for number of times arrested and now her and Paris Hilton are co-authoring a book on how to screw the Justice System!

God Bless America and those who fought to keep it free! Maybe some day those selfish little bitches will realize that too! But then again, I'm a dreamer!

 

"We have awakened a sleeping giant"