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Honoring the Survivors, and the Greatest Generation12-07-16 | News

Honoring the Survivors, and the
Greatest Generation

75th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack

LASN Editor Steve Kelly

Walter Kelly, my father, age 24, in 1944, just before his Army unit was shipped to the Pacific theater of war.

Dec. 7, 1941"?(R)?. the Greatest Generation knew that date and where they were when they heard the announcement that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.

The Baby Boomer Generation knows the date, too, because many of our fathers went to war; and many women who became our mothers enlisted, and many more went to work in factories to supply the war effort, and tended the injured at hospitals at home (my mother was a hospital nurse in San Antonio) and in field hospitals.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the attack that killed 2,403 Americans that day, many of them 18 and 19-year-old boys just growing into manhood, or as my mother would say, "wet behind the ears."; 1,177 sailors alone died on the USS Arizona.

For the 50th anniversary, 2,000 survivors were on hand at Pearl Harbor. For the 75th Anniversary"?(R)?only about 100. The surviving servicemen are in their 90s. The vast majority of the Greatest Generation is gone. My father passed away in 1992. The remaining few of that generation are in their finals years.

And so, we remember them, and salute them. I too believe they were our Greatest Generation. We greatly miss them.

Most of us know some of the words expressed by FDR in his address to Congress on Dec. 7, 1941. If you've never read to full text, here it is, transcribed from audio at https://www.americanrhetoric.com:

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.