Dec 7, 1941

[Mobasser]

My father was a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, stationed at a small air base in Kansas City Kansas.                                                       They were having coffee that morning, when a private burst into the room and told of the attack on Pearl Harbor.                     Six times, they were called to the flight line in full battle gear, then, told to stand down. There was much confusion, and no TV, no cell phones, and only radio to hear what was happening.                       Dad told me that many of the men begged to go, to do whatever they could to help at Pearl Harbor.                                                They were ready, furious, and wanted to seek revenge for this horrible attack.                                  They never had to go that day. Eventually, dad was sent to the Solomon Islands area, and saw some combat there. He made it back home safely.                         We can never forget these things, the lives lost, and the sacrifices that were made.

[MN Fisher]

My grand-uncle J.W. was a Lt. Commander in the USCG stationed at Cape Lookout, NC when TSHTF. He told me that it was 'all hands on deck' for a while after.

 

He got his promotion, command of a frigate and spent the war escorting cargo ships both in the Atlantic and later Pacific. Did so well as lead 'captain' of the escort group that he got a medal.

 

 

[A-Jay]

 

'A Date Which Will Live in Infamy'

 

A-Jay

[Mike L]

My Dad and his 2 brothers enlisted on Dec 8th. He told me the line to sign up was around the block and down the street. 
He became a combat engineer building runways in the Aleutian Islands and the Azores.
His older brother joined the Marines and fought in New Guinea and the Solomon’s. 
 

Neither of them ever talked about what they did. 
But they never forgot
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Catt]

My Dad & brothers

My Father-in-law 

 

 

[Mobasser]

1 minute ago, Catt said:

My Dad & brothers

My Father-in-law 

 

 

Catt, this was a tough generation of men. Some of our country's very best.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Catt, this was a tough generation of men. Some of our country's very best.

Two more of the family

Grand-uncle - John Hofschire - US Army, Sergent, injured at St. Vith

Grand-aunt - Irja Ryssy - 1st Lt, front line nurse.

 

John and Irja met when she was one of those in charge of his care...they got married after the war was over..Aunt Irja was the younger sister of R.Adm Ryssy.

[Glenn]

This a fantastic thread. Keep it going.

 

Lest we forget.

[Mobasser]

What I think is so incredible about this generation is that they fought and won this war, then, came home and rebuilt the country, making the 1950s a prosperous time for Americans.             They were true unswerving patriots. Dad was trained as a tail gun turret gunner in a B24 Liberator, a dangerous job. He told me the Japanese fighter was the Zero, fast and nimble, and the the Japanese pilots were very good. They also had a full on no surrender policy., and would do anything to take out an American bomber.                                                         Overall, he never talked much about his war years. I think he spent many years trying to put it behind him and move on.He was the most patriotic guy I've ever known, and he passed it on to me.

[Skunkmaster-k]

My Grandfather fought on the Pacific front and never talked about it with me. I finally understood at his funeral when the Honor Guards fired the 21 gun salute. I’m proud of him. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

He became a combat engineer building runways in the Aleutian Islands and the Azores.

 

That's what my Dad & brothers did, first in the Mediterranean & then Pacific.

 

My father-in-law was a Aerial Photographer in Europe.

 

My sister-in-law's Dad & Mother were the first couple married were both the bride & groom were in the military during WWIi.

 

 

[Mobasser]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

That's what my Dad & brothers did, first in the Mediterranean & then Pacific.

 

My father-in-law was a Aerial Photographer in Europe.

 

My sister-in-law's Dad & Mother were the first couple married were both the bride & groom were in the military during WWIi.

 

 

Catt, my folks told me about the rationing during those years. Certain things like tires were hard to come by. Everything went towards the war effort. I still have three pennies that are silver in color from 1942. I think they might be zinc, but not sure. All the copper was needed. Lots of folks here at home sacrificed a lot also.

[Catt]

4 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I still have three pennies that are silver in color from 1942.

 

1943 steel cents are U.S. one-cent coins that were struck in steel due to wartime shortages of copper. 

[CountryboyinDC]

5 hours ago, Mike L said:

My Dad and his 2 brothers enlisted on Dec 8th.

Same for my grandfather.  I wonder if the people felt the same way back then as I (and I know many others) felt after 9/11.  There sure were a bunch of us in the recruiter lines then too.

[Columbia Craw]

Read this book.

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, Columbia Craw said:

Read this book.

I read that when I was in grade school. Maybe right when Tora, Tora, Tora! came out. 
 

Yamamoto was spot on when he said “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” 

[Log Catcher]

I had a Brother In Law that was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was on a ship sitting next to the Arizona. He was blown in to the water but he made it. He never talked about it much and I never pushed for information about his experiences. He passed away in 2011 just a few days after their 45 anniversary.

[Smalliefan2]

My dad was on jeep carriers for North African invasion, ferrying planes. Then in combat across the pacific. Called up again for Korea. Mom was a WAVE, Brooklyn naval hospital, then the pacific. My uncle was in Patton's third in Europe. Many neighbors served in combat. None of them would talk much, but went they talked between themselves you got a peek at what they went through, and accomplished. 

[12poundbass]

My grandpa fought in New Guinea. He never talked about his time there except for seeing kolas, sloths, and kangaroos. He’s been gone 25 years now and resting peacefully at Fort Custer National Cemetery here in Michigan. I still have his dog tags from his service time and several of the shells from the 21 gun salute from his funeral. 

[Mobasser]

These men and women of this generation are hero's of mine. I admire all of them for the traits they had. Work ethics, patriotism, and a no quit attitude. They've been called our greatest generation, and this is probably true. We should all look up to them. We desperately need more people like them now.

[JH Michaels]

On 12/7/2021 at 7:16 AM, MN Fisher said:

Two more of the family

Grand-uncle - John Hofschire - US Army, Sergent, injured at St. Vith

Grand-aunt - Irja Ryssy - 1st Lt, front line nurse.

 

John and Irja met when she was one of those in charge of his care...they got married after the war was over..Aunt Irja was the younger sister of R.Adm Ryssy.

wow....you are a distant cousin!  John Hofschire was my grandfather.  

[MN Fisher]

52 minutes ago, JH Michaels said:

wow....you are a distant cousin!  John Hofschire was my grandfather.  

If you were Charles's son, you'd be a Hofschire - but I don't remember Charlie and Sheila tying the knot or even having kids.

Jane died in 1979 - married name was Davis.

 

Those were John and Irja's kids - so I think it's a different John Hofschire.

[volzfan59]

My dad, Thomas Hutson was a Sergeant in the old Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Alaska at a radar outpost.

[jbmaine]

My dad was on a destroyer, my uncle piloted B-17's . The greatest generation.

[N Florida Mike]

 One of my uncles was in the navy on a carrier in the S Pacific. The only thing I remember him telling me was seeing dead japanese floating in the water.  I wish I had prodded him to talk about it more. 

Another uncle was in the army in Europe and later, the Aluetians. He never spoke about it.

My dad helped built Liberty ships during the war  at wilmington NC. 

I remember my mom telling me of 4 brothers from her area that were all killed at Pearl Harbor. She said she was at a movie that day and they interrupted it to tell of the attack…