December 7, 1941

Seventy-two years ago, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  Innocent men, women, and children had to endure, and witness a catastrophic event that killed many lives.  I write this knowing of these historical events through books, films, and in history classes.  This happened thirty-one years before I was born.  My words cannot compare to those that come from a person who was alive during this time, more so from someone who served our military during that time, and mostly a survivor from that attack.  More than 2,400 service members were killed, and almost 1,200 wounded.  More than 1,000 civilians were killed because of anti-aircraft artillery shells landing in residential areas.

Of the 84,000-plus service members that survived the attack, fewer than 3,000 remain.  December 7, 1941 remains a part of history, and as it is said “the date that will live in infamy.”  The infamous quote from the 9/11 attacks is “never forget.”   In any of this, we must never forget.  I often repeat one of my husband’s favorite quotes, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  -George Santayana.  This quote is imparted in society with the hopes that we learn from the past, and history will not repeat itself.  As with any mistakes, some of us learn, others do not.  Others choose not to learn.  The price our military pays for our country and the heinous acts of terrorism committed against us globally, or on a national scale, continue. 

A reality in life is death, and we pray for our security; we depend on our service men and women to protect us.  Most of us go on with our daily grind and try not to fixate on the negative.  We, so often, take life for granted.  We normally wouldn’t expect a fleet of airplanes flying overhead, and dropping bombs.  We normally wouldn’t expect someone to open fire in the work place.  We normally wouldn’t expect a sudden explosion.  We normally wouldn’t expect to see an airplane flying toward a skyscraper.  Unless someone has severe anxiety and constantly worries, most of us feel safe.  We have to, or we would live miserable lives filled with constant worry, possibly going insane.  It is unhealthy to constantly focus on tragedy or feel constant fear.  Because of our armed forces, we tend to live our lives without fear. 

That goes for most of us.  Now imagine what went through the mind of a fallen soldier before he took his last breath.  Imagine what the soldier felt after seeing his best friend ripped apart by the enemy.  Imagine the soldier that lives with memories of an explosion and loss of limbs that is confined to a wheelchair, or has to learn how to walk with prosthetic legs, or endures being stared at by society.  What about the soldier that survived from an explosion but is now severely disfigured, his or her face unrecognizable; and their spouse no longer can love them?  Think about the family members that received a notification that their loved one was killed in war.  It is those that experienced death firsthand who live in fear, perhaps have PTSD, and know why life was sacrificed.  Yet, they still love this nation; no matter if they are spit on, disrespected, or dishonored. 

Consider the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor.   9/11 was another unprovoked attack.  If it weren’t for the courage and backbone of our army, marines, navy, and air force, our lives wouldn’t be the same.  We could be living controlled lives with our opinions, ideas, and speech banned or suppressed, and fears of retribution for independent thought and action a part of our daily lives.  A consequence to an unwanted opinion may be your hand or tongue chopped off.  Civil rights would cease to exist.  Morals, values, and just law would no longer exist, or would be severely corrupted. 

While Chris was stationed at Hickam, we often went to a beach that was banked along the inlet to Pearl Harbor.  Hickam and Pearl Harbor is now a joint base.  We would go to the larger swimming pool at Pearl Harbor, or a smaller one next to a housing unit.  The pools were situated along the naval fleet row, and there was not a time that we went that I didn’t try to envision what that must have looked like out in that harbor during or after the Japanese attack.  Sometimes we would drive over and park along the side of the harbor, look at the ships and listen to the waves lapping at the ship hulls.  It was hard to imagine it not being so tranquil.  One afternoon we went to see the ships, and lined up in the harbor next to ours was a Japanese Naval fleet with their nations flags, white with the large red sun in the middle, waving in the wind next to our ships with our flags of stars and stripes.  It was odd to see them side by side in that same harbor, and to realize Japan was now our ally. 

The kids were able to see the historical monuments, including the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine, USS Missouri Battleship (“Old Mo”), and the Pacific Aviation Museum.  That’s quite the hands on history lesson that the kids got to experience, and I hope that they appreciate it, or do to a great degree one day.

Remember why our armed forces defend us and what they have endured in doing so.  Know your rights, and why you have them.  Know that if it weren’t for our service members, our lives would never be the same.  Never take life for granted, and thank God and those who sacrifice their lives for the gifts you have been granted.  Pray that God watches over our nation and gives our soldiers strength to keep us safe, also keeping them safe.  The attack on Pearl Harbor is a part of our past that is a part of this nation, a part of our lives, and like a ghost, haunts us.   Know why December 7, 1941 lives in infamy, and why we must never forget.