December 7th, 1941

A moment of silence, please, for those who were lost on this day 68 years ago.


Thank you.



My Dad went down to the recruiter a few days after December 7th. He wanted to enlist in the Navy, as he had a trade (Machinist) that he felt would be useful. He failed the physical for the Navy due to being color blind, but was told about openings for men like him in the Seabees, which he then enlisted in. I don't remember where he did his Basic Training, but I do remember him telling me about spending some time in Port Hueneme, and his time "Island Hopping" across the South Pacific. He made light of the fact that the Seabees would usually go in ahead of the "regular" Army, generally with, or right after, the Marines had landed, so that they could get to work building and/or repairing the piers and airstrips required to support further military operations.
Dad didn't like talking much about The War as I got older. When I was just a young 'un, though, we watched "Victory at Sea" every Sunday on NBC. Later on in life, when I asked him things about where he was during certain operations, he just clammed up. I guess a lot of WWII vets are like that, and I respect them in not wanting to relive those past events.

Thank you all who are still with us for your service to our country, and to the world. The world would be a very different place today without your service.
God bless you all.