Incidently, U.S. Flags should be flown at Half Staff on December 7th!!

I am honored to own a flag that was flown over the the battleship, U.S.S Arizona.

I know that this posting will not reach national attention or be within the global 24-hour news cycle. However, whoever reads this, consider these thoughts:

1. It has been 70 years since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As strongly as we embrace the 'Never Forget' mantra of the 'bombing' of the World Trade Center, aka "9/11", it has been only a mere 10 years. Who will remember 9/11 in 70 years. Who is remembering Pearl Harbor?

2. A stunning decision was made: The national Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will disband at the end of this year, 2011. It was founded in 1958. It's end comes as a result of the continued loss of survivors. Remember, Pearl Harbor was 70 years ago. I do no believe we have even one PoliceLink member who was 'there'. Again, who is remembering Pearl Harbor?

3. Friends, ... Hawaii, (The United States of America) was bombed as a result from an air strike. New York City (The United States of America) was attacked as a result of an air strike.

4. There were souls lost in the bottom of those ships. There were souls lost in the 'downstairs' area of the WTC.

5. In 1941, we had a President who brought an immediate response against the enemy. In 2001, we had a President who brought an immediate response to the enemy.

Spend some time on the internet and look into Pearl Harbor. Many of you have visited Hawaii. Many of you have been to the memorials. If you cannot wrap your head around feeling anything regarding a place called Pearl Harbor, just think of it as bombing Hawaii.

Thank you Tim, for your thoughtful, introspective and moving post to launch this topic. I feel especially privileged that you posted your dad's notes.

My flag will be flown at Half Mast.

Thank you for these articles, very moving.

Gone but not forgotten. Your sacrifices will be remembered always!!! 

I had the honor of meeting Pearl Harbor survivor Al Gaskell in March of 2008 at the groud breaking of the Veterans Memorial in Warren OH. He is only 1 of 2 Pearl Harbor survivors in the Mahoning Valley area and I am glad that I meet him.

My father was not at Pearl Harbor but he was sent to the European theater shortly after.  He spent the next two years there fighting for our Country.  My father passed in March of last year, but his service along with all of the others during this time will never be forgotten.

Map of Battleship Row after the attack.......

Messages from CINPAC (Commander in Chief - U.S. Pacific Command) and OPNAV (Operational Navy; aka Office of the Chief of Naval Operations)

(Unpublished Photo Courtesy of LIFE.com)

CINCPAC: "Your conduct and action have been splendid. We took a blow yesterday (Sunday). It will not be a short war.We will give many heavy blows to the 'Japanese'. CARRY ON"    (Keep Smiling)

OPNAV: "While you have suffered from a treacherous attack, your Commander in Chief has informed me that your courage and stamina remain magnificent. You know you will have your Revenge. Recruiting Stations are jammed with men eager to join you." OPNAV

Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Field: 7-December-1941

Captured film from a Japanese Airplane. Photo taken during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor Casualties and Damages; 7-December-1941:

 (Info Courtesy of The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association - 2011)

Personnel:

US Army: 218 Killed; 364 Wounded (Total 582)

US Navy: 2008 Killed; 710 Wounded (Total 2718)

US Marines: 109 Killed; 69 Wounded (Total 178)

Military Total: 2335 Killed; 1143 Wounded (3478 Total Military)

+ Civilians: 68 Killed; 35 Wounded (Total 103)

GRAND TOTAL: 2403 Killed; 1178 Wounded (3581 Total People)

Damaged/Lost Ships (18)

9 Battleships
3 Cruisers

3 Destroyers

1 Mine Layer

1 Seaplane tender

1 Repair Ship

Aircraft (347)

US Army: 96 Destroyed; 128 Damaged (Total 224)

US Navy: 92 Destroyed; 31 Damaged (Total 123)

Japanese Task Force:

6 Carriers

1 Light Cruiser

2 Heavy Cruisers

2 Battleships

9 Destroyers

3 Submarines

8 Tankers

PLUS:

1 Freighter at Takan Bay (Rendezvous Point)

28 Submarines in Pacific (watching US Fleet Movement). 5 of these Submarines were at Pearl Harbor and carried Midget Subs which were launched to join the attack.

353 Airplanes were used by the Japanes in the Attack. 79 Additional Planes were in Reserve and used for Air Patrol.

1st Wave (0755 hrs) Consisted of 183 Planes:
40 Torpedo Bombers

49 High Level Bombers

51 Dive Bombers

43 Fighters

2nd Wave (0845) Consisted of 170 Planes:

130 Bombers

40 Fighters

ssu459 says ...

Although the 7th is officially over,as of approx. three hours ago I believe none of us will forget the brave ,young men and yes women,who  contributed to our liberty.We also owe a great deal of thanks to "Tim"--36TR,our brother who provided the important data,info for our use.Unfortunately it won't be long before they,our w.w.2 heros ,are all gone.I wish to take this opportunity to personally thank all of our fathers,mothers,grandfathers and grandmothers who sacraficed so that we may still enjoy the awesome site of "Old Glory" stll flying proudly....Dave

Dave, I guess you could say I'm following in my Father's footsteps in keeping these events alive as much as I can.  Thanks for the compliment.

And BUMP the rest of Dave's post!!! THANK YOU to ALL of our Veterans for giving us our Freedoms!!!

A couple of years ago, I danced with an elderly gentleman at the Veteran's Day BBQ nearby.  Navy.  91 years old, as I recall.  He was a survivor of Pearl Harbor.  A strong lead.  Lots of fun.

It makes me very sad to know we are losing so many voices who went through that day.  Not too long ago, I heard Army Nurse Corps nurses interviewed about their experiences after the attack.   I've been looking for a good article to transcribe.

Found one in The North County Times, an interview in Fallbrook, CA with Harriet Moore Holmes, about her experiences with fellow Army Corps Nurses when she served at age 22 in Tripler Hospital just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

U.S. Army Nurse Corps 2nd Lt. Harriet Moore recalls:

"Tripler General took the brunt of burn victims and those needing surgery.  Nurses at Schofield Hospital and Hickam Field, as at Triper, all faced supply shortages.  The attack lasted until 9:45 a.m.  

"My first three patients suffered burns over most of their bodies and shortly died," Holmes said.  "When I tried to swab ones with alcohol for an IV, his entire forearm skin came off.  As I recall, my next three patients survived."

Sometime during the day, her roomate found out her fiance, a B-17 pilot, had gotten his plain airborne but was shot down and killed during the attack.  

"She was very shook up when she found out he was killed, but she kept right on working," Holmes said.

The calm response and skill of the nurses contributed to low post-injury mortality rates during the war, and 1,619 medals, citations and commendations were awarded according to an Army Nurse Corps web site.

The Corps, which listed fewer than 1,000 nurses on Dec. 7, 1941, had 12,000 women in uniform six months later.  

Blackout

In the weeks after the attack and declaration of war by the United States against Germany and Japan, the hospital staff worked in nearly complete darkness at night.  In fear of another attack, black curtains were hung over windows at night and the lights were kept low.  Corpsmen held flashlights so the nurses could work on patients, Holms said.

"Sometimes we even had to hold blue paper over the lights, and it was hard to work with light like that.  But we got used to it," she said.

A nearby theater became a makeshift morgue.  Holmes recalled a military policeman who heard moaning from inside and discovered a man thought dead was still alive.

"The man recovered and I don't think he ever knew he was found in a morgue," she said.

Wiki lists one of our beloved veterans without naming her, only "WWII Army Nurse Veteran of the Battle of the Bulge."  The photo was taken during an honoring ceremony with 21 gun salute.  Does anyone know her name?