I forget... What is it we do?

[Sir_Winston54]

Are we supposed to wish one another a Happy Pearl Harbor Day, or just ...

Take a moment to reflect on (and thank) those who gave their all that day and every day they wore their uniforms, and those who still do?

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/imagesqtbnANd9GcT48WnINpnyxi3Isudz0.jpg​

 

[Evil_Geoff]

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and 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, that 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.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941

December 7th, 1941. A day that changed the world. It turned the United States, a nation that had been decidedly isolationist as a society, and was, in fact, a second rate military power, into the mightiest armed force in human history.

It was a day that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto dreaded. Even though he had planned the attack himself, afterwords he said: “A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten.” He did not believe that Japan could win an extended war with the United States - “In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.” He regretted that the Japanese Foreign Ministry fouled up the communication of the Japanese declaration of war against the US. While Pearl Harbor was intended to be a surprise attack, the declaration of war was supposed to have been delivered BEFORE the attack occurred.

2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians were killed, 1178 people were wounded note: different sources provide different figures). Their sacrifice flung the US into the war that had been going on around the globe for almost 4 years (while the Germans had been at war in Europe since 1939, the Japanese invaded China in 1937).

Today we remember that sacrifice, and we remember that eternal vigilance is the price of peace, that we can never let another attack like that happen. Just as September 11, 2001, reminds us that new enemies, in new times, will find new ways to strike.

 

[DVS]

Are we supposed to wish one another a Happy Pearl Harbor Day, or just ...

Take a moment to reflect on (and thank) those who gave their all that day and every day they wore their uniforms, and those who still do?

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/imagesqtbnANd9GcT48WnINpnyxi3Isudz0.jpg​

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and 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, that 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.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941

December 7th, 1941. A day that changed the world. It turned the United States, a nation that had been decidedly isolationist as a society, and was, in fact, a second rate military power, into the mightiest armed force in human history.

It was a day that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto dreaded. Even though he had planned the attack himself, afterwords he said: “A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten.” He did not believe that Japan could win an extended war with the United States - “In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.” He regretted that the Japanese Foreign Ministry fouled up the communication of the Japanese declaration of war against the US. While Pearl Harbor was intended to be a surprise attack, the declaration of war was supposed to have been delivered BEFORE the attack occurred.

2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians were killed, 1178 people were wounded note: different sources provide different figures). Their sacrifice flung the US into the war that had been going on around the globe for almost 4 years (while the Germans had been at war in Europe since 1939, the Japanese invaded China in 1937).

Today we remember that sacrifice, and we remember that eternal vigilance is the price of peace, that we can never let another attack like that happen. Just as September 11, 2001, reminds us that new enemies, in new times, will find new ways to strike.

I think this will do nicely.