68 Years ago today.............

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: captskillet

the event that finally brought the US into WWII took place............lest we not forget those who gave it all on that fateful morning [&o] !!!

Good idea captskillet. And thanks to all who served, and are serving now.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: P.Hausser

ORIGINAL: moonraker

Yes we must never forget the sacrifices of those at Pearl and many other battles. It's my intention to one day visit the Arizona Memorial and pay my respects.

ha, don't forget the millions of civilians who got bombed to death by the "liberators" ..

But I will forget you. Asshats like yourself are what the greenbutton is for [:-]

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: scott1964

ORIGINAL: GB68

ORIGINAL: m10bob

One of my favourite stories of the events of that day, is that Buzz Wagner, one of the few American pilots to get aloft, and fight the Japanese, was also in the P 38 flight which intercepted Yamamoto's Betty transport flight..

This was his plane at Pearl.

huh??[&:]

My recollection is he was based in the PI, not at Pearl. And died (MIA) late 1942, when Yamamoto died April 1943? Unless there is another Buzz Wagner?

Anyway, my thoughts are also with the heros of that day. Be it in Pearl or in SE Asia. Or those unknown to us. Lest we forget!

From Wienie Roasting [8D]
Boyd David Wagner
1941- The first Ace in World War II was First Lieutenant Boyd David Wagner of Johnstown, PA. On December 11th, Lieutenant Boyd D. 'Buzz' Wagner, Commander of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, took off on a one-man reconnaissance mission to observe the Japanese landings at Aparri.As he flew over Aparri, Wagner could not resist decending lower to strafe the enemy.In doing so, he was jumped by five Zeros. To escape, 'Buzz' rolled over and dived for the sea, but he failed to escape from two of the Zeros following him. He suddenly chopped his power and the enemy planes zoomed passed him and came into his gun sights. 'Buzz' blazed away with his machine-guns and the two zeros burst into flames.In a daring maneuver, Lt.Wagner made another pass coming back low over the water.The Japanese were surprised. 'Buzz' strafed 12 parked Zeros, and left, leaving several planes burning.The U.S. Command was not pleased with Wagner's extra air involvement on the mission.However, his actions were soon overlooked. Several days later 'Buzz' Wagner headed a flight of three P-40s against an enemy-held field at Vigan, Philippines.Lt.Wagner and his wingmen, Lieutenants Church and Strauss began to rip up the field with 30-pound fragmentation bombs. Wagner was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his exploits at Vigan.

Tank you..I stand corrected..No idea how I was off that bad...[:(]

[Brigs]

Salute to all those who gave everything that day.

Has a bit of a personal note for me, as my father-in-law was at Pearl Harbor during the attack on Dec 7th.

[Przemcio231]

My mom has birthday today[:D] so i never have problems with remebering the date[:)]

[Lecivius]

A moment of silence for a world in pain.
 
And only my second every Green Button.

[Historiker]

God bless America and may the victims rest in peace.

[Yamamoto Isoroku]

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." (Yamamoto)

[bradfordkay]

You do know that it's just not quite cricket to quote yourself, don't you? [:'(]

[blastpop]

My father's cousin was stationed on the West Virginia at Pearl on December 7th. Fortunately for him he was on shore leave after partying on Saturday night.  He was scheduled to be back to the ship by 6 AM Sunday morning but was inebriated from the night before and did not make it back in time. He went on to survive the war and passed on in 2005. Hopefully he and his shipmates that have passed are resting in peace. God bless America.

[Ketza]

Given the technology and equipment thet would have done the same to us.

[LST Express]

This is one of those days I always think about when it comes around.

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: P.Hausser

ORIGINAL: moonraker

Yes we must never forget the sacrifices of those at Pearl and many other battles. It's my intention to one day visit the Arizona Memorial and pay my respects.

ha, don't forget the millions of civilians who got bombed to death by the "liberators" ..

I'm not a moderator on this forum by title, but close enough. This kind of remark is over the line trolling. So I'll bite. Since we're not "forgetting", let's also not forget the first bombing campaign of WWII targeting civilians specifically(precipitated albeit by accident). Let's not also forget that the "liberators" tried to avoid the war initially...

P.Hausser, this thread was intended as a sincere form of remembrance on a national holiday. Congratulations for introducing cynicism, dark sarcasm and ill will. Your post has no place here.

[bradfordkay]

I just finished my annual Dec 7 tradition: watching Tora Tora Tora.  

Of course, it looked a lot better this year on the new television (forced to switch from the 1980's RCA console television by the digital upgrade).

[Cuttlefish]

One of my father's friends and co-workers when I was growing up was a man named John Matheson. He was on West Viginia that morning and was blown off the stern and into the water. He ended up swimming to Ford Island.

He was a nice guy and encouraged my early (I was 13 or 14 at the time) interest in military history. In fact he gave me some of my first books about WWII, books I still have on my shelf. I think of him every December 7.

Interesting footnote: another man where my father and Mr. Matheson worked was aboard the Andrea Doria when it was rammed and sunk. By common agreement company outings did not include any boating activies.

[warspite1]

10th December 1941

Here`s to the officers and men of Force Z; HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse [&o][&o]. Some of the survivors of those ships were later drafted onto the makeshift patrol vessel, HMS Li-Wo, and were to lose their lives when Li-Wo was sunk during the last days before the fall of Singapore. Particular mention goes out to Temporary Lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson V.C who, just before the fall of Singapore, was sailing to the Dutch East Indies. When confronted by a force of Japanese cruisers (which were escorting a convoy), Wilkinson attacked them with his little ship, which was armed only with a 4-inch gun. Wilkinson and most of the crew died in the valiant attack.