Remember Pearl Harbor!!!

Nathan · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:42 am

Today is Pearl Harbor day. One of the most tragic events in U.S. history. Please take a moment today to remember those that fought and died that day. These guys had no idea about the attack but yet they still fought with what they had and did the best they could!

A few rounds for our Pearl Harbor vets... :drinkers:

Thanks,
Nathan

Holedigger · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:15 am

Indeed! A horrible day, but triggered with a stoney resolve for revenge. Salute to those who were there, and those who joined up in defense of our country! :drink3:

texasraiders · **Joined:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:21 pm **Posts:** 14

68 years exactly.

Any ideas for the 70th anniversary: coins, t-shirts, models of the fleet.

Chris

DaveG · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:49 pm

I spent time in my 7th grade science classroom today making sure that my kids knew the deal with Pearl Harbor. I pulled out my nice little map that I bought at Pearl a couple of summers ago and hung it up above the blackboard. I showed them Pearl on Google Earth and talked about why the Navy used it and why it was strategically important. I explained about how the war in Europe had been going on for 2 years prior and that it wasn't until December 7th, 1941 that America entered the war as a combatant. I showed them pictures that I took and made a point to show them a shot of the list of Arizona survivors who were later entombed aboard the ship upon their own deaths 40+ years later.

In virtually every class, the majority of the kids knew little about Pearl Harbor. I explained that, if you were aboard the Arizona 68 years ago and were but 17 years old, you were now 85. We talked about how few survivors are still around today and why it is still important to honor them as well.

I re-discovered that, even though 7th graders have access to more information instantly than could even be dreamed about 20 years ago, they don't use that awesome power to look to the past. Many of them are stuck in the immediate and have no need or desire to learn. They have little curiosity.

Some of the kids mentioned having relatives who served in the military. As usual, I reminded them of the importance of asking questions and learning as much as possible about their service. They don't seem to understand why that is important.

My dad was their age in 1941. He read about the war every day in the paper and they printed maps of far-away places and they identified aircraft flown in WWII. He darn sure knew what a Spitfire or Hurricane or Betty or Boulton Paul Defiant looked like as well as most anything flown during the war. He carved a Boulton Paul Defiant in shop class to be used for identification purposes. The emphasis on information was huge. Access was limited, but everyone made a point to read and learn and keep up. Those were the cool kids.

Not so much anymore. They can tell you what Lady GaGa wore at the latest music awards show but can't tell you where Fallujah is.

I asked them about 9/11. They were 4 or 5 years old and have little memory of it as it was something that they adults around them were dealing with...they weren't part of the discussion. What is their "Pearl Harbor?" or "9/11?" I figure that the biggest national/international story in their lives so far (of things that impact them directly or that they might be able to tell you where they were when they heard about it for the first time) might be the death of Michael Jackson. Maybe that's a good thing.

Anyways, thanks vets.

Holedigger · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:03 pm

It really is a shame what they teach these days that passes for history. Guess they are too busy teaching who-knows-what. My kids must be weird or something, I doubt my 11 yr old knows who lady Gaga is, could care less about MJ, but he knows the difference between a Spit and a Hurri, knows most of the major battles of WW2 and is a Beatles fan.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:07 am

There were many survivors and other Vets at Fredericksburg this weekend. I have never noticed till this year the many veterans that are in walkers and wheelchairs. How sad, but in the same time how proud I am that we are doing our little part to honor them. Makes you feel good when one thanks you for your participation in the fly overs, at the same time giving you the opputunity to thank them for their sacrifices.

k5083 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:06 am

I agree we should remember events like Pearl Harbor, but not always for what reason.

Many of the views expressed above are parochial or just inaccurate.

Still, nothing wrong with using historical events to indoctrinate today's youth with our values, I guess.

August

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:50 am

Remember it while we can before the Japanese have it erased from all history books.

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:54 am

Meanwhile do you remember Kota Bharu? Ever heard of it?

I didn't learn that in history in school, and I'd bet most here have never heard of it - despite the fact it was a battle that started before Pearl Harbor in the Pacific war. Part of the confusion was while the first shots were fired hours before the Japanese raid on Pearl, it was on the 8th of December - not the 7th. Malaya was on the other side of the International Date Line.

It was a major battle honour for the RAAF. Of course I didn't get to learn that in school in the UK. We didn't just miss out on some colonial events, we went straight from 1939 to 1945. Skipped W.W.II. I asked for my money back, but apparently, that's not how it was worked.

I'd suspect if we are honest, most of our history education was pretty patchy (there's not time enough in school to do more); that most of our contemporaries couldn't care less about history when we were at school much as we might have; I'd wager that most of us would do as badly on non-military history outside the mid- 20th century as we complain about others' ignorance of our pet area; and I think we'd get a shock if we went back and compared what was understood to be the full story of W.W.II then to what we know now - you don't need to be that old to have missed most of the secret stuff like Enigma/Ultra.

I've written a short essay, partly to broaden my understanding of history through research of Kota Bharu. From what I've learned I don't trust anyone's version of history (not even my own) but try and piece it together by my own research. You can see it here:
http://vintageaeroplanewriter.blogspot. ... e-7th.html
Constructive comment, and correction as ever, welcome. (Thanks to Rogue for the poster, by the way.)

There's always more to learn, I find, and I generally find that we don't know all there is to be known about any event in W.W.II.

Regards,

wls3 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:12 am

History forgotten?
There is hope with future WIXer.
Take a moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGZk1_eFd8s&mode=related&search=

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:44 am

Wow! That kid is a historian in the making! Great grasp of history and even pronounces tricky names well (even with missing teeth!) As I recall it, HS history was very thin on WW1 and WW2, spent more time on the politics leading up to and the aftermath. There really is too much info to try to cover in a general history class. When most people's knowledge of WW2 history comes from Hollywoods interpretation, THAT is where I get irritated with idiotic generalizations and just plain STUPID mistakes. I can deal with minor issues such as wrong equipment, uniforms and such, but when they botch or gloss over MAJOR historical points they get the two-thumbs-down! Compare the old "Tora, Tora, Tora" and the new "Pearl Harbor", just what historical fact and fiction does the viewing audience come away with? What is the best movie on the Pearl Harbor attack out there? As bad as the "Pearl Harbor" movie was historically, it had more in it than most students are exposed to in class.

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:47 am

Here are a few to remember!

US NAVY PHOTO
THE USS SHAW EXPLODES

USAAF PHOTO
HICKAM AIR BASE

US NAVY PHOTO
USMC SBD BURNS AT EWA

US NAVY PHOTO
WHEELER FIELD

US ARMY SIGNAL CORPS PHOTO
MAKESHIFT MACHINE GUN POSITION

USAAF PHOTO
A SHOT DOWN, BURNING US PLANE WITH ZERO ABOVE. PHOTO WAS TAKEN FROM AN ARRIVING B-17 DURING THE ATTACK.

US NAVY PHOTO
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MEN KILLED AT NAS KANEOHE DURING THE ATTACK DEC 7, 1941.

US NAVY PHOTO

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:18 pm

Let us never forget!

Warbird Information Exchange

Remember Pearl Harbor!!!

Who is online