December 7, 1941: If you are old enough, where were you on this day. I was sitting in my grandfather's easy chair next to his GE console radio listening to one of the Sunday afternoon...

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

If you are old enough, where were you on this day. I was sitting in my grandfather's easy chair next to his GE console radio listening to one of the Sunday afternoon programs when the program was interrupted and President Franklin D. Roosevelt came on the air to say that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. It came as quite a shock since my uncle's best friend was in the army as a radio operator stationed there. Later we learned that he was not injured. I was 11 years old at that time.
Bud

Bushpilot Loc: Minnesota

This is seldom mentioned on this day anymore by the media, and is probably not even mentioned in history classes in school.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I wasn't born yet but I only missed it by 10 years.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I didn't arrive until 1959 but what made this special for me occurred when I was in high school. I walked into my World History class and "December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day" was written on the board. The teacher didn't say much other than this is what brought us into the war. My next class was American History where we were expecting a test and we had been warned it was going to be difficult. (The rumor was that one of the classes he taught had been quite disruptive while he was lecturing so he was going to take it out on all the classes.)

At the end of the test was a bonus question: What is today? The next day the teacher announced that out of all the classes there was only one person who had a perfect grade. The other classes were graded on a curve because they had done so badly but the class with the perfect grade wasn't. If you haven't guessed by now I had the perfect grade. I wasn't a popular person and this took me down a peg in the eyes of my fellow students. Oh well, guess they should have studied and also had World History. Since Pearl Harbor Day got me those bonus points I did some reading to learn about it. I also thanked the World History teacher for putting that on the board.

I've never forgotten December 7 since. Sorry for the story but it was one of those unforgettable moments that you look back on.

Dodie

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

luvmypets wrote:

I didn't arrive until 1959 but what made this spec... (show quote)

Thanks for your comments. I enjoyed your story. It is important to me as it should be to all of us as 9/11.
Bud

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Bushpilot wrote:

This is seldom mentioned on this day anymore by the media, and is probably not even mentioned in history classes in school.

I taught it every year I had classes in Modern US History 1973 to 2007.

One of my Dad's best high school friends was stationed in Hawaii as a crewman of a light tank at the time the attack took place. Then his unit participated in multiple island hopping invasions during the war. He and his wife lived on a farm next to my Grandparent's farm after the war. He has since passed on.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

BudsOwl wrote:

If you are old enough, where were you on this day. I was sitting in my grandfather's easy chair next to his GE console radio listening to one of the Sunday afternoon programs when the program was interrupted and President Franklin D. Roosevelt came on the air to say that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. It came as quite a shock since my uncle's best friend was in the army as a radio operator stationed there. Later we learned that he was not injured. I was 11 years old at that time.
Bud

Beats the devil outta me, I was just barely 3 yrs old, but I do remember, being at the movies with Mom and Dad near the end of the war seeing news reels.

cincykid

I was born in 1944 and don't have the same memory you do, but growing up with a father who had been in the Army, this moment in history was huge for me.

A couple of years ago I picked up a copy of "Victory at Sea" at Cracker Barrel - all episodes for something like $10.00. I've been showing it an episode at a time to my grandson. He is amazed. We should never forget and always be vigilant.

whfowle Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque

Sad to say but most kids today don't have a clue what happened on December 7th. Seems the teachers don't have a clue either.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Bushpilot wrote:

This is seldom mentioned on this day anymore by the media, and is probably not even mentioned in history classes in school.

Sadly in the near future the mention of the Attack on Pearl Harbor will be considered offensive to some group and will eliminated!!

McQ6 Loc: Florida

I was sixteen and driving to a friend's house when I heard the news on the auto radio. It was quite a shock to the nation as the USA was largely isolationist and there was a large group of German Americans who favored Nazi Germany. Sadly, Japanese Americans were placed in concentration camps after losing their homes and businesses. I think that was terrible crime committed against those people. Many of their men volunteered to join the American army and fought for our country while their families were interned . The German American Bunde quietly disappeared. All American males 18 and up to (I believe) 45 hd to register for the draft. A year and a half later I was in the Army training to be an Air Force navigator.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

We must never forget. I shudder to think what the world would have become had Pearl Harbor not brought the US into the war.

Dannj

McQ6 wrote:

I was sixteen and driving to a friend's house when... (show quote)

I enjoyed reading your comments and I’m impressed by your ability to recall and record your thoughts at your advanced age. Unless my math is off you are 97👍

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

BudsOwl wrote:

If you are old enough, where were you on this day. I was sitting in my grandfather's easy chair next to his GE console radio listening to one of the Sunday afternoon programs when the program was interrupted and President Franklin D. Roosevelt came on the air to say that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. It came as quite a shock since my uncle's best friend was in the army as a radio operator stationed there. Later we learned that he was not injured. I was 11 years old at that time.
Bud

Yes, I'm old enough!! I was sitting on my Mom's lap listening to Roosevelt's broadcast/short speech. It is indelibly printed on my memory. I was two months shy of my 5th birthday. I remember the entire war. At times, during blackouts at night, I trembled awaiting bombs dropping. I had nightmares of Nazi soldiers taking me from my bed. My friends & I played "war" frequently. We chose up sides - the losers were either Japanese or Nazi soldiers. I hated it when I lost. My father was an air raid warden. He was not drafted due to having a rheumatic heart. My Mom was delighted, I was disappointed. Everyone saved tin cans and foil from cigarette packs and contributed the collections to scrap drives. Food items were rationed and one needed a ration book of stamps to buy gas, food and other items. There were always soldiers in uniform traveling by buses and trains. I lived 6 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean where cannons and anti-aircraft guns were permanently part of the landscape of the beaches. While I did not see them, I was told German U-boats were just miles from the shore. I remember how frightened I felt after the atom bomb was dropped on Japan. That lasted for years and years, including when I was a teacher during the Cuban Missile crisis.

Yes, I remember Dec. 7 and the entire time of WWII. We danced and celebrated when it was over on VE and VJ days.
At times, I wish my long term memory was not that good.

Mark

olddutch Loc: Beloit, Wisconsin

We must learn our History real well, so it is not repeated... And we must not let the Educators tell our Children that these events did not take Place..