Day of Infamy SPEECH

[knockonit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xd8MpR-5Ko

 

[smithers599]

On the night of December 6, 1941, the ship's band performed at the Block arena where they came in second place at a band competition. The next day all band members were killed in the attack at Pearl Harbor.

Rare photos of the USS Arizona from the Univ. of Arizona collection:
https://tucson.com/news/retrotucson/collection_da38c166-ac2b-11e6-8ff3-674350ff0b87.html?id=201408#anchor_item_77

 

[smithers599]

I just finished reading a book about The Enterprise ("America's Fightingest Ship"), written by Mesa resident Barrett Tillman, an author and historian, and by the way, damn fine shooter with pistol and rifle (Gunsite grad, 1979). Hell of a book. Rather than just regurgitate the documentary record, he spent years interviewing men who actually served on the Enterprise, from commanders to cooks.

The Enterprise was supposed to be docked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, and would have been destroyed, but they were delayed by a storm, and didn't arrive at Pearl Harbor until December 8. One of many examples in the book of how luck plays a big role in history.

 

[knockonit]

want to chat in regards to luck
had an uncle who had been stationed on the Arizona and had been in the hospital due to some illness, he contracted whilst out in the south pacific. survived pearl harbor, was stationed a month later on a destroyer, which was sank, survived it, was on a cruiser that was in one helleva battle and sent to san diego to be refurbed, then was stationed on, wait for it;; THe Indianapolis, but was offloaded at its last debarkation point due to same illness that kept him off the Arizona. He was blessed or something, passed away back in the 90s of old age. had some amazing stories to tell of being a sailor for about 7 years, mostly prior to the WW2

what a generation those folks were.
Rj