**My Annual December 7th Post:

DAY OF INFAMY!!!

On December 7th, our Nation pays tribute to the Infamous Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; December 7th, 1941. As some of you know, my Father was stationed at Schofield Barracks, on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii (right up the hill from Pearl Harbor) on that morning. After Dad's death, I discovered some hand written notes my Dad made about December 7th. He and his fellow soldiers were cleaning the barracks before church. He heard the Bugle play "Church Call" and stood on the second floor balcony of Schofield Barracks to listen. While he stood there, the first wave of Japanese airplanes made their pass. Some of the planes strafed Schofield Barracks on their way to both Pearl Harbor and Wheeler Field. Dad wrote that he saw the first bombs dropped.

As I have posted in years past, December 7th involved more than just the attack on Pearl Harbor! My Dad spent many years researching the Japanese attacks in the Pacific on December 7th, 1941. Below is the result of my Dad's research. This is from a Timeline Board that he made for his school and Special presentations, which I inherited. Please note, that all of these attacks occurred between 10:00am, December 7th and 3:30am December 8th, Washington DC time: a period of less than 24 hours.

TIMELINE: DECEMBER 7TH, 1941


(Local times are areas of attack: involving both sides of International Date Line)


 


Local Time                                                                                                                          Washington DC Time


 


12/7 – 05:00    2 Heavy Cruisers launch scouts to Pearl Harbor and Lahaina     12/7 – 10:00


                           Last of Midgets cast off


                           Instructions sent to Japanese Embassy to deliver 14 part


                                    message at 1:00pm DC Time


12/8 – 00:30    Kota Bharu Malaya Attacked by Japanese                                          12/7 – 12:30


12/7 – 07:55    Oahu – First Wave: Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field, Ford Island          12/7 – 12:55


12/7 – 08:02    Oahu – First Wave: Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field                    12/7 – 13:02


12/7 – 08:54    Oahu – Second Wave: Pearl, Hickam, Wheeler, Schofield              12/7 – 13:54


                        Washington, DC: Part 14 of 14 Part Message Delivered Late           12/7 – 14:00


                                    (Message was to be delivered prior to Oahu Attack)


                        Luzon attack aborted due to fog at Army Air Field


12/8 – 04:00    Singapore Air Attack                                                                                 12/7 – 15:00


12/8 – 05:30    Batan Island, Philippines; Luzon                                                           12/7 – 16:30


12/8 – 06:12    Davao Harbor, Mindanao Island                                                            12/7 – 17:12


12/8 – 08:27    Guam Repeated Air Attacks                                                                   12/7 – 17:27


12/8 – 10:58    Wake Island Attack                                                                                   12/7 – 17:58


12/8 – 08:00    Peiping – Tientsin Embassy Guards Captured                                  12/7 – 19:00


12/8 – 08:00    Hong Kong Air Attack and Invasion                                                        12/7 – 19:00


12/8 – 12:35    Clark, Nielson, Del Carmen Airfields Attacked                                    12/7 – 23:55


12/7 – 21:30    Midway shelled by 2 Destroyers                                                             12/8 – 03:30

In the event you have never heard it, you should consider listening to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech regarding the attack:

youtube.com/watch?v=CrVI6ENDL8Y

(photo courtesy of CNN.com)

 Your Dad and all those who served in WWII deserve the undieing thanks of the American public. Thanks to all of them for preserving the freedom we hold so dear.

Thanks for the thread Tim.We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our heros.Brought the country together.Even the Hollywood types joined the service rather than "bad Mouth" our country as they have for years.-I docked in Pearl en route to Guam in Jan."52" and again en route back to the states in Jan "53".Hawaii was not yet a state then and the Arizona monument had not been constructed yet.Would love to return to the home of my ancestors just to throw a lei in the water,by the Arizona,to honor our service people.

I am humbled, fellas. Wonderful and heartfelt tributes to your dads. And to the fellas and gals who were involved in Pearl as well as your son, Shet.

I might suggest to our readers to do something not usually associated with Dec 7th.

Fly your flag on Dec. 7.

People will wonder.

Then they will remember.

Map of Pearl Harbor (Battleship Row) after the attack.....

Thanks to all who served. My father served in the intelligence services during WW II and immediately following. He never talked about what he did, but as a runt I rummaged through his stuff (yes, shame on me) and I would find fascinating tidbits that suggested he was involved in smuggling dissidents out of enemy territory (German territory and then Communist-bloc countries after the war).

I thought I'd mention that tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the iconic blue marble image snapped by Apollo 17 as it was leaving Earth--an image that came to represent hopes for peace and a powerful statement that told us, unequivocally, that we all live on the same planet.

Thank you also for this thread Tim and all our military, past and present.

Thanks, Sarge!! Yeah, he was a Great Dad!! And the Ultimate Patriot. I could tell you stories for hours about my Dad!

Many thoughts went through my mind today, too. We are losing more and more of our WWII Veterans every day. With the end of the World War II being 67 years ago, the WWII Vets are in their 80's. Talk with these guys and gals!! Let them know they are not forgotten. Get their stories for generations to come. And above all, THANK THEM!!!

Sarge, in reference to the USS Arizona Memorial, My son said the same thing. He went to Hawaai a few years ago and visited the Memorial. His words: "It was very moving and heartbreaking!" He also had the opportunity to see the barracks his Grandfather was at on December 7th, 1941.

Bueno, Tim.

This article was closed on 12-8-12

10-8.