If you click on the Picture another one will come up click on full size and you can read the names of the Men who died for our Country. May they rest in peace.............

Thank you Dad, Uncle Norm, and Grand Dad and "The Silent Service",
(Silent Service = WWll Submariners)

I was grumping a wee bit of having to drive in to DC one more time, I am always coming and going. Checking in on my parents. Then today, I see this reminder of Dec 7 and I get teary eyed and remember that my Dad, uncle, and Grand Dad were either at Pearl Harbor or a nearby base. I take them for granted. But on days like Dec 7 I have to stop and be grateful for their life long examples.

Funny, on days like today, I remember all the crap my siblings and I gave my Dad. Sorry for the language, my older siblings were either joining the military or struggling through school during the late 60s or early 70's. My younger sister and I were much younger, but we were giving the nuns at school a run for their money. And my Dad was still in the Navy at this time but not at sea, as he was an old guy by then in Navy terms. He never complained, never missed a school conference when the nuns called him at work, and towards the end if his Navy career he was home for dinner every night. Did any of us kids ever wonder what he did at work?, nope. We were just happy kids. My Dad, and all the shipmates I have met, have been saints. Some more colorful than others, but nice to the core.

All these wonderful men were at Pearl Harbor or nearby. My Dad was a young Navy guy on a submarine, his CO demanded they rise early on Sunday and redo some drills. Not sure if they went out on Saturday or the next day really early. Some of the subs had young and green crews and needed extra training. So, breaking from the customary practice of sleeping in on a Sunday morning, part of the Sub group and a Submarine tender headed out of the harbor. Dad said they were not happy but that was life. He said you do not argue. And the commander was right, they were green and in need of training. While out on drills they eventually saw the Japanese planes overhead, immediately when the Japanese ignored these subs and flew by, the submariners knew it was not good. My Dad said eventually the subs made there way back, after countless attempts to signal and give and receive information. He said as a young guy it was a nightmare, a controlled anxiety gripped them, but they did what they had to do that day.

My uncle was a pilot on the Lexington and they had spotted the Japanese scout planes on Friday. The information was discounted after the Lexington radioed it in. No other ship could provide backup confirmation. My uncle, another young Navy guy counts his blessings but it was bitter sweet.

I am not sure of the timing or logistics. They were ordered to stay outside the harbor for a period of time as they were the last of the Navy vessels, and it was critical not to block the harbor entrance. A big concern was a disabled ship would limp out of the harbor and stall in the entrance, causing a gridlock and creating more targets. The Japanese wanted to strike at a ship as it eased through the entrance. All ships that day made valient effort to steer clear, otherwise it would take months to open a shipping lane. Leaving them vulnerable and unable to regroup. ( Note Submarines are boats not ships, so I am careful to avoid calling a sub a ship, drives my Dad crazy.)

Coming back in, they were all called to deck, and turned out in full form. Dad said it was overwhelming for them and the survivors they passed. It was a small but effective effort to show support and to let them know resources were in deed coming in. Then came the orders for rescue, the banging of metal from sailors trapped below decks on submerged ships was horrible. Efforts were made to cut away sections of the hulls and rescue survivors but most areas were of course too thick. Every sailor who had a blow torch was hanging from a line. Gradually, through the night the banging stopped and there was a sad quiet. My Dad said it was the longest and saddest day of his life.

Thank you for starting this thread. My family and I are having a difficult time as my parents ( 90 years old) navigate the challenges of aging. We have had some funny stories this past year relating to assisted living, in home care, and family gatherings. My Dad keeps leaving or firing care givers. I will have a better smile when I visit them in their home this Sunday. We are putting up the tree and hanging our decorations we made over the years.

I feel better remembering my Dad as that young Navy man, and that understanding parent in 1970. I also recall stories of my Uncle and Grand Dad who were in the Pacific. God only knows how they were all nearby in the Pacific on that day, and survived. My Uncle and Grand Dad had left Pearl earlier in the week. All three of them said they were the ones who had it easy. They never really talked too much about that day on Dec. 7, except for the brave sailors and marines who lost so much in the harbor. And those sailors' families back home. They were always overcome by the bravery shown by those around them.

FOOT NOTE:
1) My Dad said whoever made the remake of Pearl Harbor (2001) should be shot. That was the most violent thing he has ever said. I think he refers to Torra Torra as the original, and he had problems with that version as well. But the one with Ben Affleck, Josh Harnett, & Kate Beckinsdale ripped. Especially the atrocious scene with them dancing or "doing it" among parachutes. UGH...

2) I am also impressed by my Dad, always making an effort to keep his judgments in check. Sure he had them. He was aware of the reality of war, the ugliness of some, but found the good in many. He would acknowledge the misdeeds and harsh acts at Pearl Harbor and later in the Philippines. But never used words of hate towards those countries, or its people. And he was there. His stories of subs waiting off the coast of many islands rescuing Philippinos and islanders, women, children, missionaries, and informers were heartwarming.

I think I'll get bombed tonight, maybe it'll take care of my headache.

Sounds good, as long as we take a respite on starting another thread on guns or reproductive rights. otherwise, it will be a serious headache alert.

Again, a shout out to our Veterans, especially those from WWll.

Have you ever tried something called Sinus Buster?

http://www.sinusbuster.com/

I just heard about this today and I'm going to go and pick some up. I get terrible sinus headaches. This stuff is based on hot peppers. You shoot it up the nose and it nukes your sinuses. The guy that developed this stuff discovered it when working with pepper spray.

'zat what happened with the cops?? i knew you probably had good reason....

Nice way to derail a topic.

God Bless all Veterans.

I knew you'd be proud.


Thanks for the blessing.

Community:
My Dad was a C B M on the USS. Swan a sub tender. Maby he was involved with your dads sub at sometime.

God bless all the Veterans

My Dad reminded us over dinner last night that he was at a Redskins game in DC when the bombing happened. While the game was going on, they would call over the loud speaker "General so and so, Report to Your Office at the War Department Immediately." "Colonel so and so" and the same message over and over. At half time, my dad went out and spoke to a member of the fire department (they didn't have or need police or security at the games back then) and asked him what was going on. The gentleman told him that the Japanese had just bombed Pearl Harbor. Dad remarked that at first people didn't think it was too bad, so he went back to the game and watched it to the end, then took his date home where her father was listening to the radio and they found out how really bad it was.

My dad enlisted in the Army Air Corps the following month.

Great story, Naomi.

Thanks SMan!