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.

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

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