December 7, 2011, - 2:33 am
Remember Pearl Harbor, 70 Years Ago Today
Seventy years ago today, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. 2,459 U.S. military personnel and other Americans were killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 1,178 American servicemen were wounded. 12 ships were sunk or beached, 9 damaged. We lost 164 aircraft to total destruction, and 159 others were damaged.
Until then, America hadn’t really entered World War II. They attacked us. Just like all the many attacks in which the replacement “they”–Islamic terrorists and the vast majority of the Islamic world that cheers them on–have attacked us, and not just on 9/11/01, but well before and after. On 9/11, President Bush wrote in his diary, “The Pearl Harbor of the 21st century took place today.” But he did not fight the enemy the way American did post-Pearl Harbor. Instead, he further embraced the enemy. That’s just one of the many reasons why it’s so important to remember the attack on Pearl Harbor.
With only about 2,700 survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack still alive, today is a monumental anniversary. There will likely be only a fraction of those alive for the 75th anniversary. At the time of the attack, there were 60,000 U.S. military personnel serving in the area and the surrounding South Pacific. And since there are fewer and fewer remaining Pearl Harbor survivors, this important day in American history is quickly receding into history, barely a memory. And, most important, we’ve already forgotten their resolve to fight back.
Whereas yesterday they fought back against the Japanese and America entered and won World War II, today, we have a silent attack–with Muslims entering our shores and multiplying, and with us doing nothing to stop it. Today, we are fighting the new version of those allied with the Japanese–-the new Nazis. They are far more committed, far more dangerous. They don’t just bomb ships and planes and military. They torture and murder innocent civilians.
Sadly, on our end, we’ve lost the fortitude and bravery to fight back. We’ve surrendered our shores through immigration and open borders to the enemy. And instead of fighting back, our institutions and culture have bent over forward and backward for this enemy in our midst.
As I’ve said before, yesterday we responded to the Japanese who attacked us and their allies, the Nazis. Today, we attack our own and enable the new Nazis.
G-d Bless all the brave men who died 70 years ago today. Let’s make sure their deaths continue to mean something–that we never forget, but also that we connect the dots and fight back against Islam’s silent Pearl Harbor on our shores, which succeeds without sending a single explosive device to Hawaii.
One of the remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack is 91-year-old Constantine Socrates Savalas (brother of the late actor, Telly Savalas, of “Kojack” and “James Bond” (Blofeld) fame).
“I stand before you as a witness to the destruction of ships and destroyers at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941,” said Savalas, briefly describing the surprise attack by the Japanese.
He sings a song to students regarding his experience, with these lyrics:
There’s a grief that can’t be spoken.
There’s a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables.
Now my friends are dead and gone.
More:
Savalas was aboard the heavy cruiser Astoria that had left Pearl Harbor and was off the island of Oahu when 353 Japanese fighters struck in what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy.”
He was operating his ship’s radio when the Morse code call for help came from Pearl Harbor.
“The message said ‘This is not a drill! Come to our aid! We’re under attack!’ and it was repeated over and over,”‘ Savalas said. “I ran and woke up my communications officer. He was aggravated at first that I had awakened him.”
When the Astoria hurried back to Pearl Harbor, Savalas and his shipmates were stunned at what they saw. All eight of the Navy’s mighty battleships were sunk or badly damaged. So were three cruisers, three destroyers, a minelayer and an anti-aircraft training ship.
“The fires were still burning. It was unbelievable they had gotten these big ships,” he said.
Read more about the Pearl Harbor attacks from several survivors who remember it like it was yesterday.
***
From my 2005 coverage of Pearl Harbor Day, don’t forget these words from the Memorial:
My brothers lie in state,
In clear waters
Of testimony, their willingness
To answer our Nation’s call.
An angel bends down, whispers in my ear,
Never forget. Never forget.
Honor them. They
Gave their lives for you.
No man hath a greater love.
Do them honor.
And never forget.
Never forget Pearl Harbor. And never forget that we are facing an enemy far more fierce, an enemy that is slowly defeating us.
Tags: 70 years ago, 70th anniversary, 911, attack on Pearl Harbor, Constantine Savalas, Constantine Socrates Savalas, day that will live in infamy, December 7, December 7 1941, December 7th, December 7th 1941, Hawaii, Japan, Japanese, Nazis, Pearl Harbor, Remember Pearl Harbor, Seventieth anniversary, seventy years ago, U.S.S. Arizona, USS Arizona, veterans, World War 2, World War II, World War Two, WW2, WWII
They torture and murder innocent civilians.
Dear Debbie: The Japanese and the Nazis also tortured and murdered innocent civilians.
The song is from the Boradway musical Les Miserables. Every time I hear it, I cry.
Happy Pearl Harbor Day to all the patriotic Americans on this website.
Miranda Rose Smith on December 7, 2011 at 2:56 am