December 7, 1941 began as a perfect Sunday morning for the troops serving the US fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Under a early morning South Pacific sun, softball teams were lining up on the beach. Pitchers warmed up their arms, while batting rosters were finalized and the wives and kids came over from seaside church services.
They did not know that for hours the Japanese naval fleet and air forces had been speeding across the ocean toward America's Pacific base. There, like a string of pearls draped across the docks and waterfront, was the majority of America's naval might.
The devastating Japanese onslaught began at 7:48 a.m., eventually killing 2,402 Americans and wounding many others, sinking four battleships and damaging many more.
The Pearl Harbor attack spurred America into World War II, leading ultimately to Allied victory over the Japanese in the East and Nazis and other Axis powers in the West. And the country promised never to forget this day of infamy.
Here are photographs from the attack and its immediate aftermath:
On another thread Rufus makes the observation, "My point is the upcoming generation is the product of years and years of indoctrination (passing as education) in the schools and in the media." I wonder how many of today's younger generation, say under 40, have any idea of the historical significance of this day and what it led to.
In 1945 the United States bestrode the world like a colossus. Today we wonder if it can even survive. Liberalism has done its job.
The two basic truths of Life: There is a God. He isn't me.