Pearl Harbor Day

Pearl Harbor Day

            This is the 71st anniversary-remembrance of Peal Harbor. As President Roosevelt said, "A day which will live in infamy.

            This writer was an 11-year-old boy on that Sunday afternoon when the news came across on the radio that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Even then, as now, my life revolved around the radio. This was my escape from the realities of the cocoon of poverty, a world of need and want. Through radio, I could dream dreams about a better existence, another life.

            So, on that Sunday afternoon, in the "sitting room" (it was cold and most of our homes, including that of my grandparents, only had heat in one room), family members were sitting around the room talking about many things and this 11-year-old announced to them that Pearl Harbor had been attacked by the Japanese. I was the only one listening to the radio, a small "Silvertone" radio sitting on my grandfather's ancient desk. Of course, if they had any concept of my IQ ability, they would have known that I knew more about the world situation than everyone in the community put together. They learned the next day, on the radio, when they heard the President ask congress for a declaration of war. Of course, at school, I had already studied the map, location of all the various islands of the Pacific which were involved. (Guam, Midway, Wake, etc.)

            In a few weeks, America was getting on a war footing. I had learned from the older members of my family, the older people in the community about their ideas of WWI, not that long ago...even my great uncle's death, an officer in another war, others killed in the Civil War. I had seen, hanging in closets, the uniforms of cousins who survived WWI, the horror pit of France.

            I knew that freedom is not free, that the veterans of these conflicts never recover. Just imagine young men, raised on farms, maturing in the church, having never been exposed to anything the world has to offer, suddenly thrown into the rigors-discipline-newness of military life. This writer thought he understood something of patriotism until getting there. Even as a commissioned officer, what you give up for our country, I can only imagine the trauma facing most young men and women who leave the security of home and community to face the uncertainties-orders of a nation that enslaves you to its dictates, in short, stripping you of everything you thought you owned, privacy-ambition-physical and spiritual values. We understand Christians being molded like clay by the potter, creator of a us all, but to fall into the satanic concepts involved in militarism, a mind shaking experience. Of course, young men from the farms and working people of the cities, already had disciplined lives. They came from homes where good behavior was required, new about health-hygiene, had muscles-stamina-IQ to pass all fitness tests, knew how to handle a weapon. So, off to the front lines went my relatives. My father and his brothers, too old for combat, were all involved in building ships, barrettes, hangers. My mother kept the farm going, children at home and in school. My old grandparents kept their farms going, all the young men-farm hands, including their only son, at the war.

            Books have been written about the vagarities-vulgarities of WWII, geographical politics involved. The FACT that communists in Washington, in the FDR administration (Henry Wallace, Harry Hopkins, Harry Dexter White, Alger Hiss, etc.) knew that Russia wanted Japan to attack America because Russia could not defend against a Japanese attack, could not handle both a Japanese and German war. Much of the same type international intrigue involved the European war. It was usually military personnel from the poor homes who bore the brunt of battle. Gold star mother's were not educated or wealthy.

            Ever sense this veteran's experience, military career, during the Korean war era (totally blind, 100% disabled, service connected medical officer), on staff at military hospitals, patient in hospitals, more important, patient in VA hospitals, talking with other veterans of other wars, I have learned and certainly experienced the true cost involved.

            The Gulf war, August 1990-February 1991, lasting about seven months, Bush-41, officially lists more than one million service members dead or disabled (http://www.libertyforlife.com/military-war/millions_US_troops_dead_disabled.htm).

            The present Iraq-Afghanistan war, now 11 years, Bush-43, verifies 4,448 deaths, God alone knows how many disabled (http://antiwar.com/casualties/).

            Before the present war, the Vietnam war, deaths, 58,156, 75,000 disabled (http://www.mrfa.org/vnstats.htm).

            Just before Vietnam, Korea, 54,236 dead, and an equal number disabled (http://articles.cnn.com/2000-06-04/us/korea.deaths_1_death-toll-battlefield-fatalities-korean-war?_s=PM:US).

            Think of this, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the present 11 year war, as well as the many small wars all over the world in which we are involved, the United States of America has gained absolutely nothing. But, these wars have ruined the lives of many people. This writer realized this up close when he stood in that large U.S military cemetery, Philippines, where 18,000 are buried- and again, when he attended the 25th anniversary of the Normandy invasion and stood at the cemetery where 9,387 are buried. Remember, our fellow men, dead or disabled, only one life.

            This writer was born and raised on a dirt road, farm house, so cold in the winter you felt like you were standing behind a rail fence...no power lines, phone lines, water lines. This writer went to a 12 grade country school, 13 in my graduating class. FORTUNATE, BLESSED, AMBITIOUS to work my way through eight years of professional-university schooling, to jump through all the hoops of becoming a medical officer, United States army. I WILL NOT PLAY THE VICTIM CARD. I am at the very end of the line when awards are passed out. Better than me or anyone I know now, I knew before they gave their all. But, I know how little I have received from the government, not even a white cane or talking watch. I PAY MY OWN WAY, at age 82, still work everyday, in spite of blindness.

            I feel nothing but empathy for young warriors, those returning now. It is an insult to the parents who produce the young warriors of our country, an embarrassment to fellow citizens that the politicians and "do-gooders", well paid, living well, have no idea what was going on in 1941-45 when American's sang "Remember Pearl Harbor."