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pied
12-07-2009, 12:39 PM
Day that will live in infamy.

2,200 lost that day.
cougmantx
12-07-2009, 12:53 PM
A day that lives on in infamy! It changed the course of American history for generations and showed the true resolve and character of the American people. God bless that generation...and god bless America.
CCCSportsFan
12-07-2009, 12:59 PM
I visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor a few years back. It is the most somber place I've ever been...
slcdragonfan
12-07-2009, 01:39 PM
I visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor a few years back. It is the most somber place I've ever been...

I have yet to do that. One of the things I have to do in my lifetime. That and Normandy.
DragonFan0316
12-07-2009, 01:40 PM
World's greatest generation. Thanks to all vets and to those who gave the ultimate sacrafice to protect our freedom and way of life. Thanks to pied for getting this started. On December 7th 2009 this day still lives in infamy.

Aim, FIRE
Aim FIRE
Aim FIRE.

Solo bugel plays Taps.
DragonFan0316
12-07-2009, 02:54 PM
nm
The King
12-07-2009, 03:17 PM
Unfortunantly to most people it is simply monday.

Maybe one of the old movie channels will show Tora Tora Tora tonight.
cougmantx
12-07-2009, 03:42 PM
I have yet to do that. One of the things I have to do in my lifetime. That and Normandy.

I lived in the Normandy Provence as a kid for 3.5 years. I remember to this day visiting the beaches and graves. These men were made of steal to do what they did in that invasion. Incredible place.
slcdragonfan
12-07-2009, 03:44 PM
I lived in the Normandy Provence as a kid for 3.5 years. I remember to this day visiting the beaches and graves. These men were made of steal to do what they did in that invasion. Incredible place.

My daughter visited and took pictures of the row upon row of crosses. A very moving site.
CCCSportsFan
12-07-2009, 03:52 PM
I lived in the Normandy Provence as a kid for 3.5 years. I remember to this day visiting the beaches and graves. These men were made of steal to do what they did in that invasion. Incredible place.

The first time I saw the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, I had the same thought... These guys were basically still kids but the bravery they showed was incredible. God bless them!
JagFan
12-07-2009, 03:55 PM
The first time I saw the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, I had the same thought... These guys were basically still kids but the bravery they showed was incredible. God bless them!

I have never been able to watch the whole opening scene. I have had to cover my eyes. They were incredible men.
JagFan
12-07-2009, 03:55 PM
I have yet to do that. One of the things I have to do in my lifetime. That and Normandy.

I have both on my bucket list.
the_phoenix612
12-07-2009, 04:23 PM
I have both on my bucket list.
you're far too young to have a bucket list.
JagFan
12-07-2009, 04:37 PM
you're far too young to have a bucket list.

Thank you and yes I am still young. I just call it my bucket list to give it a name. I add to it every year and take some off every year.
JagFan
12-07-2009, 04:43 PM
you're far too young to have a bucket list.

nm
The King
12-07-2009, 05:03 PM
The first time I saw the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, I had the same thought... These guys were basically still kids but the bravery they showed was incredible. God bless them!

I think they were mostly the last years graduating class. mostly 18 or 19.
Dawg Fan
12-07-2009, 05:08 PM
I have an Uncle who died there. He was on a mine sweeper that was hit by a kamikaze plane. That was 18 years before I was born but my dad told me all about him. His name is on the punchbowl cemetery monument. I was the first in my family to go over there to see it.
CyFallsMom
12-07-2009, 06:37 PM
I don't know how many of you have been to Pearl Harbor but when I was there, it brought me to tears - completely. That was 44 years after the fact. It is a very somber place and when you look down upon the Arizona or cruise around the island and see pieces of what used to be, it becomes so real. We threw a lei out while they played Taps....I couldn't control the emotion. Others reacted the same way - it's pretty hard not to. Right after that, we made a trip over to the Punchbowl which brought the emotions right back.

When my husband and I were kids, on December 7th, our schools always made it known what happened that day and the importance of remembering it. Many of our friend's parents were in WWII so we heard the stories first hand from those who were there. Our schools had us watch war films so we could see what had happened and how evil some people can be (i.e. Hitler). He said NOBODY mentioned it at school today so he brought it up in class. Most of the class had no idea of the significance of this day. So sad that kids seem oblivious to the real history as opposed to what some people want them to think is real. So sad, too, that these people from this war are dying out and not being given the appreciation they so richly deserve. Every time I see a man with a WWII hat on, I go up to him and thank him for saving my country and giving us all our freedom. They were the real freedom fighters.
CyFallsMom
12-07-2009, 06:44 PM
The first time I saw the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, I had the same thought... These guys were basically still kids but the bravery they showed was incredible. God bless them!

Compared to 18 year olds today - well, no comparison. My dad, in a different war (Korea) was 18 and was jumping out of airplanes into enemy territory and was a POW by the time he was done at 22. My son is 23. I can NOT imagine.
He was tough and he was a Marine but he also lived in the French Quarter with his dad when he was a kid for a while (even shined Peter Lorre's shoes) - I guess he felt he had seen everything so nothing was shocking to him. Still, 18 today and 18 then were so different. It takes a lot longer for kids to reach maturity now than back in the day.
CyFallsMom
12-07-2009, 06:46 PM
Unfortunantly to most people it is simply monday.

Maybe one of the old movie channels will show Tora Tora Tora tonight.

The History Channel has been all over it. We also have a Military channel on UVerse that is probably showing some films - I haven't checked yet. I love Tora, Tora, Tora.
slcdragonfan
12-07-2009, 06:49 PM
Compared to 18 year olds today - well, no comparison. My dad, in a different war (Korea) was 18 and was jumping out of airplanes into enemy territory and was a POW by the time he was done at 22. My son is 23. I can NOT imagine.
He was tough and he was a Marine but he also lived in the French Quarter with his dad when he was a kid for a while (even shined Peter Lorre's shoes) - I guess he felt he had seen everything so nothing was shocking to him. Still, 18 today and 18 then were so different. It takes a lot longer for kids to reach maturity now than back in the day.


I wouldn't give the 18 year-olds today short shrift. They just haven't been called. I remember quite a few joined up after 9/11, and we have several right here on this board who spent several tours in harm's way.
Each generation rises to the occasions as necessitated by circumstance.

I do think in general we as parents have made life perhaps too "cushy" for our kids, but it seems to me my parents felt the same way about us, and many of my generation served in Viet Nam. If they got called, I think they would deliver.
pied
12-07-2009, 07:05 PM
Just going to point out that it is possible to remember an event and honor a group without saying someone else sucks. Carry on.
CyFallsMom
12-07-2009, 09:08 PM
Just going to point out that it is possible to remember an event and honor a group without saying someone else sucks. Carry on.

Not saying anyone sucks just saying I don't see the same level of resolve or toughness. I've seen a couple of kids go of to Iraq because they were troubled or in trouble and come back even weaker. One didn't even finish basic. It was a lot harder to fight a war when there were no computers and all the other advanced technology. People, in general, were tougher because they had to be. They were the Greatest Generation and that is not up for debate. We Boomers have been given an easy ride many times too. And we are responsible for creating this easy life for our kids. But those people back then fought a hard war too...nothing like we've ever seen in our lifetimes. I know there are people out there and on this board who have been to war - thank God for them and you are most appreciated and respected by me. It is tough to go to any war. We just aren't in that kind of war right now. I just don't see kids running to the recruiting base if we did go to that kind of war. I pray to God we never do end up in that kind of war again.
CyFallsMom
12-07-2009, 09:16 PM
I wouldn't give the 18 year-olds today short shrift. They just haven't been called. I remember quite a few joined up after 9/11, and we have several right here on this board who spent several tours in harm's way.
Each generation rises to the occasions as necessitated by circumstance.

I do think in general we as parents have made life perhaps too "cushy" for our kids, but it seems to me my parents felt the same way about us, and many of my generation served in Viet Nam. If they got called, I think they would deliver.

I had a cousin who served in Vietnam. Came back an empty soul full of demons. He was a beautiful person whom I adored. I used to cheer for him when he played football and I thought he hung the moon. He died at the age of 20.

And whether I've insulted anyone or not, I still think that this current trend of ignoring the historic events of our coutnry to the point where kids no longer know any of it is wrong. That is the fault of the education system.
JBT
12-07-2009, 09:19 PM
There were some WWII vets at Mass the other week. Very friendly and caring gentlemen. I have so much respect for those individuals who choose to serve our country.

I know it's about Vietnam but I read We Were Soldiers the other week, and I bawled my eyes out for a good 30 minutes.

That book, The Candy Bombers, Wings of Morning, All Quiet on the Western Front and Spare Parts are all great books.
b756561
12-07-2009, 09:28 PM
I have yet to do that. One of the things I have to do in my lifetime. That and Normandy.

If you go to the Arizona, take the military tour from Pearl Harbor. This is the only tour where you can actually get on the memorial. The other tours just give you a ride close to the memorial but you can't actually get off your boat. If you make it to Pearl, the USS Missouri is open to tours also. Well worth the money and you get to visit Ford Island also. I spent a lot of my time there back long before they ever built a bridge to it. Had to get to and from by boat and you had better not miss the last boat of the evening. From the north side of the island you can still see one of the ships sunk on Dec. 7.
the_phoenix612
12-07-2009, 10:48 PM
I had a cousin who served in Vietnam. Came back an empty soul full of demons. He was a beautiful person whom I adored. I used to cheer for him when he played football and I thought he hung the moon. He died at the age of 20.

And whether I've insulted anyone or not, I still think that this current trend of ignoring the historic events of our coutnry to the point where kids no longer know any of it is wrong. That is the fault of the education system.
Today's educational system sucks and is the only reason I might get into politics someday.
ExCOOG88
12-08-2009, 05:49 PM
I visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor a few years back. It is the most somber place I've ever been...

I was there in 1991, week or so after the 50th anniversary. You are correct about being somber. What struck me was the oil still coming up from the Arizona. Brings a tear to your eye, when you realize what these men sacificed. I want to go back and take my kids, something they need to see and understand!!
mad_fan
12-08-2009, 06:15 PM
Just going to point out that it is possible to remember an event and honor a group without saying someone else sucks. Carry on.

No...SOMEONE ALWAYS SUCKS...Japs...OU...ND...Yankees...Spurs...SOMEONE ALWAYS SUCKS...