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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> The greatest generation
        
(Message started by: Linda_Howell on Dec 7^th, 2007, 1:17am)

Title: The greatest generation
Post by Linda_Howell on Dec 7^th, 2007, 1:17am

December 7, 1941

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm

:'(

Lest we ever forget

Title: Re: The greatest generation
Post by BarbaraD on Dec 7^th, 2007, 6:26am

A day that will live in infamy(sp). FDR

No we shouldn't forget Linda. A quiet Sunday morning turned into Hell.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: The greatest generation
Post by DennisM1045 on Dec 7^th, 2007, 8:17am

On December 6th 1941, My Father-In-Law, Oliver Boucher went to sleep counting down the last three months of his four year hitch in the army. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor. The next morning he woke to the sounds of explosions and saw smoke on the horizon. So he hailed a cab and headed back to that side of the island. He got to the harbor in time to see the Arizona go down and continued on to the air field. Once there he began filling craters in the runways trying to get planes in the air.

Needless to say his enlistment was extended. Over the next four+ years he island hopped his way across the Pacific Ocean toward Japan. Oliver was a CB. His job was to follow the Marines in and build air fields on coral atols for the bombers that would one day end the war. This was dangerous duty with Japanese snipers always in the trees and brush working in barely secured territory.

Ollie survived the war and was never wounded. He came home, married Francis and had six children. Ollie worked for the Gas company digging ditches and later spent 20 years as a school janitor. He was rich in love and life if not money.

We lost Oliver two years ago this past August. Late in his life he finally opened up to tell some of the stories of that time; a time when ordinary Americans were called to perform an extraordinary mission. Like Heroes throughout the ages, Oliver responded and accomplished the seemingly impossible - one shovel full of dirt at a time.

I am grateful to have known him.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: The greatest generation
Post by Mosaicwench on Dec 7^th, 2007, 8:26am

Dennis, thank you for sharing your FIL's story. What a brave man.

My dad was in England flying bombing missions over Germany. It was the same way at the end of his life - opening up about his war stories. I'm so glad he told me about them.

A fabulous generation, indeed.

Title: Re: The greatest generation
Post by Kevin_M on Dec 7^th, 2007, 8:47am

Thank you, Linda.

This is from an "aftermath" link on that site:

Quote:

Its planes hit just before 8AM on 7 December. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out and over 2400 Americans were dead.

American and Allied morale suffered accordingly.

A big mistake by Japan, followed by another huge one:

Quote:

Within a few days, Germany and Italy had declared war on the United States.

This is the normal course of the war commonly read about in the aftermath:

Quote:

For six months, Japan would encounter few reverses to its energetic offensives. Then, in May and June 1942, it would be twice checked, in the carrier battles of the Coral Sea and Midway.

Less read about was this retaliation immediately planned:

Quote:

In response (to Pearl Harbor), President Franklin D. Roosevelt secretly authorized an extremely dangerous mission to retaliate against the Japanese Empire.

On April 2, the HORNET sailed under sealed orders, with its screen of Cruisers and Destroyers.

That afternoon Captain Marc A. Mitscher revealed our destination over the loudspeaker system. (bomb Tokyo)

After the bull-horn squawked off, and a moment of stunned silence, wild rebel yells began to respond throughout the ship. Thrilled signalmen sent the word from ship to ship in the escort, where echoing cheers rang out.

(April 17th) At 2 P.M. that day we heard "Tokyo Rose" speaking from the Japanese Radio Station JOAK, telling her listeners why it was impossible that Tokyo would ever feel the sting of bombs.

(April 18th, Sixteen B-25 bombers from the USS Hornet attacked Tokyo)

This bombing of Tokyo and other industrial cities in the Japanese homeland was a great "Morale Boosting" action for the American public, as a retaliation for the sneak attack at Pearl Harbor.

...the Japanese officials had a difficult time explaining how such an attack could have happened and they suffered considerable "Loss of Face."

http://ussslcca25.com/dolittle.htm

A great generation

Title: Re: The greatest generation
Post by thomas on Dec 7^th, 2007, 9:05am

Thanks, Linda. :'(

Title: Re: The greatest generation
Post by Sean_C on Dec 7^th, 2007, 9:12am

http://tinyurl.com/3xysvm

Thanks to all who served.

Sean.............................

Title: Re: The greatest generation
Post by George_J on Dec 7^th, 2007, 9:59am

My sincere respects, and my admiration for the "greatest generation". They were called upon to serve a great purpose. It can truly be said of them that they changed the world.

Best always, in remembrance,

George