Pearl Harbor

S

Steven F

Joined
Oct 12, 1999
Messages
1,237
On Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed, triggering the U.S. entry into World War II, a war that would eventually cost the lives of more than 35 million human beings, military and civilian. I think it appropriate that, today, we pray that humankind will one day learn from its mistakes. I think it also appropriate that we pray for the dead of all sides; so many of the young men of the various warring nations were but little more than the pawns of their respective governments. Above all, today we should join in praying for world peace.



[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 07 December 1999).]
 
Yes! Thank you for the reminder.

Please,I ask this out of ignorance, in the hope someone can answer this, since it never gets talked about over here.

That 35 million you mention, Steven, does it include the people who died of famine in India? I have heard there was food stockpiled, but that the British were afraid that a healthy population might revolt/desert to the Japanese side. They thus refused to release warehouses of rice to keep the population too weak to do so.

The western world talks of the horrors of the holocaust, where some six million Jews, Gypsies, and mentally deficients were annihilated, but is it true that America's own allies starved millions to death?

I hate asking this, but I'd like to know the truth. How can we keep it from happening again if we don't learn about it? Where should I look for information on this?

How sad that we are capable of these kind of things toward other humans whether or not this particular incident I enquired about took place.

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"All who follow the leading of God's Spirit are God's own sons." Romans 8:14 ( SO THERE!!! )


 
The 35 million death count is probably due partially to the millions of Russians and Chinese who died during WWII. The body count for the Chinese may have been as high as 20 million, from the Rape of Nanking and Japanese occupation.

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Bob

[This message has been edited by Big Bob (edited 08 December 1999).]
 
I guess I am one of the few here who can vividly remember that day.

My father had taken me to see a movie. Sometime during the film, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, starring Spencer Tracy, the movie was turned off. The theatre manager stepped onto the stage and announced that Pearl Harbor had just been bombed and the theatre was closing so patrons could return to their homes to be with family.

On the walk home paper boys were shouting, "EXTRA! EXTRA! JAPANESE BOMB PEARL HARBOR!"

I went home, consulted my books and predicted the war would be over in 6 weeks -- Japan was simply too small to put up a decent fight. I can clearly remember telling my mother this and asking her not to worry.

How wrong I was!

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
I would have to think that the total was higher than the 35 million mentioned. For example, Ukraine lost 25% of its population of 52 million people or about 13 million people during WWII. Most of the so called Russian losses of that period were in reality Ukrainians who were used as cannon fodder for the human waves that were sent against the Nazis or were killed by both the Russians and the Germans going back and forth in Ukraine, scene of some of the worst fighting in WWII.

However, let this thread not degenerate into nitpicking over which nationalities lost how many members during WWII. It was a losing proposition for everyone. Instead, let us focus on not repeating this and other great human tragedies in the future. As Santayana said, "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it in the future."

Harry
 
When you stand on the monument in Pearl Harbor and realize you stand over the tomb of many, it makes an indelible impression on you. I remember staring down into the waters of the harbor and feeling the enormity of what happened. One dead is too many. Millions dead is incomprehensible. What a sad thing for us all.
 
In any case, I stay off the Rez on Columbus day.

Now to go get my wife some flowers. As I've said, the Arizona was sunk on December 7th, and when I met my wife for the first time on Dec 7th so was I ( even though I didn't know it at the time ). Oddly enough, there just happens to be a model of the Arizona on a shelf in the living room.

Yikes. Post and then look up to see what someone posted just above what you said. Foot in mouth disease.

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 07 December 1999).]
 
My Family was stationed in Pearl Harbor, and I actually lived on Ford Island. It was an eerie place to be. In 1994, they still hadn't really cleaned up the island in the wake of the attack. There were concrete storage bunkers and the airfield which still bore the scars left by bullets and shrapnel. My home was right next to the Admiral's quarters which was built atop an old bunker/shore battery. It had been used for shelter and as a makeshift hospital by the sailors and civilians alike during the raid. The Admiral often used to invite us over and let us walk around down there. I was on base during one of the anniversaries of the attack and had the opportunity to speak with some of the survivors. It was eerie to hear them relate the events of over 50 years ago... And know that as they are telling you the story, and pointing to where these things actually occurred, you could see that it was as if it were unfolding again right before their eyes as you spoke. It was moving. I could walk into my backyard and see the wreck of the Arizona just about 50 yards away. Up until then, it had been a source of interest to me as a point of history, and kind of neat as it is so famous. That day brought it all home to me though as to what it really meant. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who fought in that war... Even those who served and were fortunate enough to have never seen action are deserving of our gratitude. It must have been a frightening time.

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
Boys, I can tell you that after predicting the war would be over in six weeks and then watching what happened in the Pacific this 8 year old kid was running scared. Our foes proved to be much more ferocious than I had thought. It was a very trying time and I am so damned happy we never had to go through that awful experience again.

Living through WWII no matter who or where makes you different.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
Rusty, I'm a tad embarrased to admit that not a lot of research went into coming up with the 35 million figure -- I simply pulled it from an old World Book Encyclopedia.
 
WW II? I was not born yet!

My late father told me that he & my eldest brother hided most of the time to avoid from being caught and sent to complete the railways & bridges somewhere in Thailand or Burma! I guest it must be something like "The Bridge On The River Kwai"!

Please ... do not start another WW!

[This message has been edited by mohd (edited 08 December 1999).]
 
David vS,
War does that to you. It was a thousand years ago and yesterday, all at the same time. And it sure doesn't make any difference which war either.

My Granddads brother was in WW1 and had dreams about it. I had thought that they were over when I came back from the Nam. But, I was having them myself, so I asked him, "how long do the dreams last?" He said, "How the hell old do you 'figger' to get, Boy?"
'nuff said,
Dan
 
No one might have imagined fifty years ago we're talking with computers over this topic today. I'm happy to join this thread that makes me believe the mankind can make progress to understand each other, though no one can deny our past was a sad one full of death... I don't say it's good, but I believe that as far as one think he is more significant than others, his family more than other families, his country more than other countries, fire of war will not be extinguished from on the earth. I hope we don't jump into the final goal now, and we'll make it a steady progress toward the destination.

The population of Nanking used to be no more than 100 thousand, where it is said Japanese army killed more than 350 thousand of them.


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\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
Things I remember

rationing of almost everything
no tires for my bycycle
no tennis shoes for sports
no candy bars
no gas or tires for dad's car

buying war stamps at school
praying at school and home for servicemen

troop trains passing thru town
taking comic books and cookies to give to the soldiers

listening to news and reading papers about war news

Bataan
Wake Island
Midway
Iwo Jima

Still with me and much more.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
I remember...

Bottled water
Sunburn
Cold nights
Noise Dicipline!
"keep an eye peeled to our 6!"
"Alright... enough beach, now where's the $@%&# water?"
A camouflage-painted watch tower along the banks of the Tigris, and a giant billboard sized picture of Saddam Hussein attached to it *L*
A couple of bad moments.
Good men.

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.



[This message has been edited by David vS (edited 08 December 1999).]
 
Oh Yeah...! There WAS a bit of that here and there. *LOL*

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
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