December 7, 1941

I know it might sound a little cheesy to some, but our veterans have always meant a lot to me. I intentionally enlisted on December 7th 1978. And I specifically made sure that I retired 21 years later on Memorial Day. Actually the next day because its a holiday.

I hate how a disaster like 9-11 is needed to bring a country together, but when there isn't a direct threat to our country in play, most Americans are quick to forget about those who have made it possible for them to live the life they currently have. Too many are ignorant and go ultra-liberal in their "Can't we all just get along" mentality. When I see what our veterans have given for this country, and then I realize how many people in this country "DON'T DESERVE" the freedom they have been given; it sickens me.
 
I know it might sound a little cheesy to some, but our veterans have always meant a lot to me. I intentionally enlisted on December 7th 1978. And I specifically made sure that I retired 21 years later on Memorial Day. Actually the next day because its a holiday.

I hate how a disaster like 9-11 is needed to bring a country together, but when there isn't a direct threat to our country in play, most Americans are quick to forget about those who have made it possible for them to live the life they currently have. Too many are ignorant and go ultra-liberal in their "Can't we all just get along" mentality. When I see what our veterans have given for this country, and then I realize how many people in this country "DON'T DESERVE" the freedom they have been given; it sickens me.

Could we please have one remembrance and memorial thread about this day in history without a need to segue into a personal political argument. Thank you.
 
This past weekend we moved my 93 year old father in-law out of his house to move in with his son.

While packing up his things we pulled out his Navy scrapbook, it seemed a good time to once again look through the book and listen to his stories. Bob had served in campaigns from Africa, Sicily, and almost all the major battles in the Pacific. I sat in awe of what the man had done and experienced as I do every time we discuss his service. It's hard to understand for some of us that deployments back then were not just 12 to 15 months, some of these men did not come home for a few years. Please don't think I am taking anything away from those that have been deployed so many times in the past 10 years. What these men and women went through is hard to comprehend sometimes.

December 7th is always a day of reflection for my father in-law as the day that changed so many lives and sent them to war. I respect him so much, not only for his military service but for how he came home and built his life and provided for his family. That generation will always stand out in my mind for what they did during and after the war.

Bob spent Thanksgiving with us, over the weekend my younger son had about 6 friends come to the house to watch football, Bob loves his football. I was gone for a while, when I got home I saw all 7 kids watching the game with Bob right in the middle cheering along with them. I have to admit, I got a little choked up seeing the two different generations together having such fun.

Bob is very proud of both my son's, even though he does rib them about being in the Army, all in good fun. My older son wanted his first salute to be from his grandfather but Bob was unable to make the trip to school for the commissioning, they did it again when he came home.

As we were finishing the move, Bob gave me his old issued M1-Carbine, he opened a box and handed me the clip and said "Those are the last 5 bullets I had in the rifle when we were told the War was over.

December 7th holds a lot of meaning in our family as it does for most all Americans.

God Bless all the men and women, past and present that serve this country.

Sorry for the rambling, it seemed a good place to share.
 
Hornet; Actually, that was totally my intent. Hopefully people will read threads like this and in fact remember, memorialize, and appreciate. Like this story of a Pearl Harbor Survivor:

pearl-harbor-survivor-helps-identify-unknown-dead/

There is nothing political about this. Simply stating a "fact". When times are good or there aren't outside negative influences directly affecting an individual, many tend to put their head in the sand and not think about bad times. They prefer ignorance. Unfortunately, it's the men and woman who wear/have worn military uniforms that have to handle the "Not so good times".

In simpler terms: I want people to remember, memorialize, and appreciate those who have sacrificed so much; but not just on memorial day; veteran's day, pearl harbor day, etc... There's no personal political agenda here. Just facts.
 
This past weekend we moved my 93 year old father in-law out of his house to move in with his son.

While packing up his things we pulled out his Navy scrapbook, it seemed a good time to once again look through the book and listen to his stories. Bob had served in campaigns from Africa, Sicily, and almost all the major battles in the Pacific. I sat in awe of what the man had done and experienced as I do every time we discuss his service. It's hard to understand for some of us that deployments back then were not just 12 to 15 months, some of these men did not come home for a few years. Please don't think I am taking anything away from those that have been deployed so many times in the past 10 years. What these men and women went through is hard to comprehend sometimes.

December 7th is always a day of reflection for my father in-law as the day that changed so many lives and sent them to war. I respect him so much, not only for his military service but for how he came home and built his life and provided for his family. That generation will always stand out in my mind for what they did during and after the war.

Bob spent Thanksgiving with us, over the weekend my younger son had about 6 friends come to the house to watch football, Bob loves his football. I was gone for a while, when I got home I saw all 7 kids watching the game with Bob right in the middle cheering along with them. I have to admit, I got a little choked up seeing the two different generations together having such fun.

Bob is very proud of both my son's, even though he does rib them about being in the Army, all in good fun. My older son wanted his first salute to be from his grandfather but Bob was unable to make the trip to school for the commissioning, they did it again when he came home.

As we were finishing the move, Bob gave me his old issued M1-Carbine, he opened a box and handed me the clip and said "Those are the last 5 bullets I had in the rifle when we were told the War was over.

December 7th holds a lot of meaning in our family as it does for most all Americans.

God Bless all the men and women, past and present that serve this country.

Sorry for the rambling, it seemed a good place to share.

Thank you for telling your story. It's post like this one that gives this site great feeling of fellowship especially on days like this.:thumb:
 
This past weekend we moved my 93 year old father in-law out of his house to move in with his son.

While packing up his things we pulled out his Navy scrapbook, it seemed a good time to once again look through the book and listen to his stories. Bob had served in campaigns from Africa, Sicily, and almost all the major battles in the Pacific. I sat in awe of what the man had done and experienced as I do every time we discuss his service. It's hard to understand for some of us that deployments back then were not just 12 to 15 months, some of these men did not come home for a few years. Please don't think I am taking anything away from those that have been deployed so many times in the past 10 years. What these men and women went through is hard to comprehend sometimes.

December 7th is always a day of reflection for my father in-law as the day that changed so many lives and sent them to war. I respect him so much, not only for his military service but for how he came home and built his life and provided for his family. That generation will always stand out in my mind for what they did during and after the war.

Bob spent Thanksgiving with us, over the weekend my younger son had about 6 friends come to the house to watch football, Bob loves his football. I was gone for a while, when I got home I saw all 7 kids watching the game with Bob right in the middle cheering along with them. I have to admit, I got a little choked up seeing the two different generations together having such fun.

Bob is very proud of both my son's, even though he does rib them about being in the Army, all in good fun. My older son wanted his first salute to be from his grandfather but Bob was unable to make the trip to school for the commissioning, they did it again when he came home.

As we were finishing the move, Bob gave me his old issued M1-Carbine, he opened a box and handed me the clip and said "Those are the last 5 bullets I had in the rifle when we were told the War was over.

December 7th holds a lot of meaning in our family as it does for most all Americans.

God Bless all the men and women, past and present that serve this country.

Sorry for the rambling, it seemed a good place to share.

Thanks for sharing the story. Here's hoping he'll take a salute when distinguished scion #2 is commissioned
 
Jcleppe, thanks for that awesome story.

History has always been my favorite subject in school, and WWII is my favorite war to learn about; Pearl Harbor has always held a special place in my heart. A lot of people my age seem to not even care, but there are those of us who do.

God Bless those that lost their lives that day and those that died in the subsequent years of the war, and thank you to the Greatest Generation.
 
I hate how a disaster like 9-11 is needed to bring a country together, but when there isn't a direct threat to our country in play, most Americans are quick to forget about those who have made it possible for them to live the life they currently have. Too many are ignorant and go ultra-liberal in their "Can't we all just get along" mentality.

Do you know anything about our entry into WWII? Anything at all?

The attack on Pearl Harbor was precisely the event that got us involved in the War: 26 months after Poland was gobbled up, 14 mos. after the beginning of the Blitz, after Japan had already gobbled up half of Asia. Eight years after the opening the Dachau Concentration Camp for God's sake.

It took all kinds of "lend lease" type trickery for the US to help Great Britain after the bombs were already falling. Our entry into the war was opposed up to the morning of Dec 7, 1941 by an assortment of "Ultra-liberals" like Joe Kennedy, Father Coughlin, Charles Lindberg et al.

Ever heard of the America First Committee? It was established in 1940, with "ultra-liberal" Gerald Ford one of its founders and "ultra-liberal" future PT boat commanding, future Cuba blockading John F. Kennedy one of its early financial contributors.
 
Do you know anything about our entry into WWII? Anything at all?

The attack on Pearl Harbor was precisely the event that got us involved in the War: 26 months after Poland was gobbled up, 14 mos. after the beginning of the Blitz, after Japan had already gobbled up half of Asia. Eight years after the opening the Dachau Concentration Camp for God's sake.

It took all kinds of "lend lease" type trickery for the US to help Great Britain after the bombs were already falling. Our entry into the war was opposed up to the morning of Dec 7, 1941 by an assortment of "Ultra-liberals" like Joe Kennedy, Father Coughlin, Charles Lindberg et al.

Ever heard of the America First Committee? It was established in 1940, with "ultra-liberal" Gerald Ford one of its founders and "ultra-liberal" future PT boat commanding, future Cuba blockading John F. Kennedy one of its early financial contributors.

Pearl Harbor was HARDLY the first event that got us involved in WWII. Yes, it was the event that rallied Americans, but "lend lease" wasn't the most neutral program. If we're going to mention Cuba blockading, we should probably mention Bay of Pigs failing.

That said, I've never been the biggest fan of labeling those involved "the Greatest Generation". It's a selling point for a book. You have generations now, in the military, willing to do the same kinds of things as WWII vets, and none of them were forced into the military, they're volunteers.

The "big" story for the Coast Guard on that day was the operation's of the Coast Guard Cutter Taney. Taney, named after Chief Justice Taney, of Dred Scott case "fame", fired some shots. We were always told about the Taney, even as many of us cadets questioned what the cutter actually did, besides shoot into the air. If you're in the Baltimore area, the 327' Taney sits in the inner harbor, open for tours. My old EO was a fireman on the Taney's sister ship.

There was an interesting piece in some publication (I can't now remember) about the U.S. forces in the Pacific now, and the risk of a sudden strike from China.
 
God Bless all the men and women, past and present that serve this country.

Jcleppe,
Best wishes and thanks to Bob. He is a great man. Take lots of pictures of Bob and your boys. Its the things like the football game and other family gatherings that your boys will always remember about their grandfather.

I am going to film my parents and children discussing the family history over the Christmas Break. I am working on some questions for them to discuss. I thought about doing it with my grandmothers in the 1980s and did not.

The last few years with the old folks can be at times very tough with their failing health. Always remember them in their prime and tell your sons to do the same. It can also be very rewarding because they often have great clarity of the past and are willing to share things they would not when they were younger.


Many thanks to Bob and his generation
 
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