Let Us Never Forget
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE)
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
A toast to the fallen and to those who survived. Never forget the cost of our freedom as that price is high.
read about one hero (http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/biographies/w/watts_victor_ed.htm)
God rest their souls.
I posted this because my now deceased grandfather was at Pearl Harbor that day. He was not killed there but died of natural causes many years later. He would only tell us when he was asked that he was there. He didn't want to talk about it other than that.
70 years....I cannot imagine going in some of the ways that those sailors, soldiers and marines did....Lord Rest Them...When 9/11 happened one of the first things I said to my Mother on the phone was this is our Pearl Harbor.....I always feel very sad when I read, watch, see stuff about it...
Obviously I never knew my cousin, but through my whole childhood the family talked about him and all of my cousins who were of age enlisted because of him. His parents never got over losing him even though they had another son who was much younger.
My dad was stationed at Clark Field (Philippines) at the time. The Japanese hit Clark as they returned from Pearl, just a few hours later. He survived that, but was captured in early April `42, and took part in the Bataan Death March (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Death_March). For the remainder of the war, he was a "guest" of the Imperial Japanese Army, and spent the last year of the war in/around Fukuoka, Japan, mining coal. Fukuoka is about 65 miles from Nagasaki. Pappy said that they just assumed Nagasaki had been firebombed—they could see the smoke from where they were. A few days after, the prisoners woke up and found that the soldiers had abandoned their posts. Pappy made it back, but his best friend that he joined the USAAC with, died shortly after the Death March. I was named for him.
This arguably marks the last time America was involved in a war that had a reasonably understandable cause. It's time to stop killing our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters.