Pearl Harbor Day – December 7, 1941
Today we mark the 69th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. On December 7, 1941, Japanese naval air forces launched a surprise attack the U.S. military stations on the island of Oahu, such as the facilities on Ford Island. A new Pearl Harbor visitor center will greet those who journey to the grave site of the U.S.S. Arizona. The loss of that ship accounted for nearly half of the nearly 2,400 killed on that day of infamy. The Pearl Harbor Memorial is perhaps one of the most solemn places to visit, overseeing the hulk of the U.S.S. Arizona. It, along with dozens of other sites on Oahu, make the Pearl Harbor history complete.
This year, there are fewer survivors left among us. The World War 2 generation is dying off quickly. Our society is becoming more discounted from that era. And yet, so much of our lives today are still wrapped up in the events and consequences of actions during that era. The long reach of history still grips us.
A case in point is the current situation in the Korean peninsula. The reason there are two Koreas is a direct result of WW2. The fact that despite Japan not wanting a military establishment following the war, and has steadily been nudged back into having one is quite relevant. Old rivalries with China still linger in the air. Even Russia wouldn’t mind settling an old score or two.
MacArthur was always good for thoughtful speeches. His address on the quarterdeck of the U.S.S. Missouri during the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay was another which should be read by all school children today. MacArthur was not a war monger. He wanted peace more than most and knew the price war cost. Yet, he also knew that peace was maintained through strength, vigilance and determination.