![\"Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor_Japanese_planes_view_Small.png\"](\"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor_Japanese_planes_view.jpg\")
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75 years ago, \u00a0the Japanese Air Force attacked Pearl Harbor \u00a0in Hawaii. \u00a0The attack was by 352 aircraft, in two waves, and, was amazingly successful. \u00a0Their goals were to destroy as many of the warships in the harbor as was possible, \u00a0kill as many military personnel as possible, \u00a0and demonstrate to America that we were not the superior force in the Pacific. \u00a0They were partially successful, \u00a0in that the attack damaged or destroyed 20 ships, \u00a0killed a couple thousand military folks, \u00a0and wounded another 1000 folks. \u00a0 However, \u00a0 the end result was NOT successful. \u00a0By demonstrating their military prowess, \u00a0the Japanese hoped to keep America from joining in the growing World War. \u00a0 Their attack did just the opposite, \u00a0as it generated enough support for Roosevelt that it was trivial for him to get a declaration of war through Congress in short order.<\/div>\n
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This attack lead, \u00a0directly, \u00a0to a curtain of chaos and madness engulfing the world, \u00a0killing millions of youth, \u00a0destroying everything from simple cottages that were the homes of good people, \u00a0to archeological treasures, \u00a0to great cities, \u00a0culminating in the ONE time that Nuclear weapons have been used in conflict.<\/div>\n
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\n![](\"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor_USS_Arizona_BB-39_burning_NARA_195617_Small-300x237.png\")
<\/a>The USS Arizona (BB-39) burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. USS Arizona sunk at en:Pearl Harbor. The ship is resting on the harbor bottom. The supporting structure of the forward tripod mast has collapsed after the forward magazine exploded.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/a>The scars of this event persist today, 75 years later. \u00a0 The U.S.S. Arizona is a permanent memorial in the waters of Pearl Harbor. \u00a0It is visited by millions every year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Some of those visitors are there because it is a classic tourist destination, and their tour group is scheduled to stand on the bridge over the resting place of the great ship and its crew.<\/div>\n
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Some of those visitors are there to crow over the success of one side inflicting terrible wounds on the other side.<\/div>\n
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Some of these visitors are there because their family members went down with the ship, and it is their final resting place. \u00a0They have come to weep over the loss, \u00a0and to remember the grandfather who never came home.<\/div>\n
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Some are \u00a0on the bridge to contemplate the evils of war, \u00a0and, of the bigotry, \u00a0racism, hate, and greed that drives mankind to it…and to ask the question “What can we do to keep this from happening again?”.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n If you were standing on the bridge over the Arizona, \u00a0what would YOU be thinking about?<\/b><\/em><\/h2>\n
If you were standing on the bridge over the Arizona, \u00a0what would YOU be thinking about?<\/b><\/em><\/h2>\n<\/div>\nEarlier today, \u00a0I heard a short interview with a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. \u00a0 He was a Navy man, \u00a0and, \u00a0ended up near the Oklahoma (which had taken several bomb hits and rolled during the attack). \u00a0 He told of being near the hull of the ship, \u00a0and hearing the survivors inside, \u00a0banging on the hull. \u00a0They were trying to get attention, \u00a0so they could be located and rescued. \u00a0 The chaos was so overwhelming, though, \u00a0that it took several days for crews with cutting torches to get to the ship. \u00a0 During that time, \u00a0the banging got weaker and weaker, \u00a0and there were fewer and fewer hits echoing out, \u00a0as the trapped survivors succumbed to CO2 \u00a0poisoning and died. \u00a0 By the time the rescuers were able to cut into the hull, \u00a0and make an entrance, most, \u00a0if not all, \u00a0of the crew trapped in these compartments were dead. \u00a0 They had spend their final hours in total darkness, \u00a0partially submerged in water, \u00a0breathing air that slowly became death, \u00a0not life. \u00a0 This man, \u00a0who is 93 years old this year, \u00a0was heading back to Pearl Harbor, perhaps for one last time, \u00a0to take part in memorial services. \u00a0 His family said that he had carried those dark images with him for decades, and never spoken of them, \u00a0until last year when he finally opened up and started talking about the attack and its aftermath.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWe all have events in our lives that leave deep scars – the loss of a companion animal, \u00a0the death of a friend, \u00a0the death of a parent, and the like. \u00a0I am sure that there are nights when we lay in bed, surrounded by darkness, \u00a0and relive that moment when the trauma happened…Those moments are hard to revisit, but, \u00a0I cannot comprehend living with memories such as were left by the attack on Pearl Harbor, \u00a0and remaining sane. \u00a0 I am very glad that he, and the other old guard who are finally talking about their dark experiences with others are able to do so. \u00a0I hope it will bring them some peace, and heal some of the old wounds that they have carried for so long.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIn closing, \u00a0 I hope everyone that reads this will take a minute or two, \u00a0and contemplate the evils that mankind is prone to engage in. \u00a0 Learn from this moment in history. \u00a0 Be vigilant about how we are treating each other…and work to focus on respect for others, not demonization. \u00a0 Honor those who have fallen while fighting for principles they believed in. \u00a0If YOU are a veteran with dark memories, \u00a0do not repress them forever. \u00a0You have friends, \u00a0from both the civilian and military worlds, \u00a0who can and will share your burden. \u00a0They will not condemn or judge…but will support and help you deal with those festering wounds.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPleasant Dreams???<\/div>\nBee Man Dave<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n=-=-=-=-=Powered by Blogilo<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Earlier today, \u00a0I heard a short interview with a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. \u00a0 He was a Navy man, \u00a0and, \u00a0ended up near the Oklahoma (which had taken several bomb hits and rolled during the attack). \u00a0 He told of being near the hull of the ship, \u00a0and hearing the survivors inside, \u00a0banging on the hull. \u00a0They were trying to get attention, \u00a0so they could be located and rescued. \u00a0 The chaos was so overwhelming, though, \u00a0that it took several days for crews with cutting torches to get to the ship. \u00a0 During that time, \u00a0the banging got weaker and weaker, \u00a0and there were fewer and fewer hits echoing out, \u00a0as the trapped survivors succumbed to CO2 \u00a0poisoning and died. \u00a0 By the time the rescuers were able to cut into the hull, \u00a0and make an entrance, most, \u00a0if not all, \u00a0of the crew trapped in these compartments were dead. \u00a0 They had spend their final hours in total darkness, \u00a0partially submerged in water, \u00a0breathing air that slowly became death, \u00a0not life. \u00a0 This man, \u00a0who is 93 years old this year, \u00a0was heading back to Pearl Harbor, perhaps for one last time, \u00a0to take part in memorial services. \u00a0 His family said that he had carried those dark images with him for decades, and never spoken of them, \u00a0until last year when he finally opened up and started talking about the attack and its aftermath.<\/div>\n
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We all have events in our lives that leave deep scars – the loss of a companion animal, \u00a0the death of a friend, \u00a0the death of a parent, and the like. \u00a0I am sure that there are nights when we lay in bed, surrounded by darkness, \u00a0and relive that moment when the trauma happened…Those moments are hard to revisit, but, \u00a0I cannot comprehend living with memories such as were left by the attack on Pearl Harbor, \u00a0and remaining sane. \u00a0 I am very glad that he, and the other old guard who are finally talking about their dark experiences with others are able to do so. \u00a0I hope it will bring them some peace, and heal some of the old wounds that they have carried for so long.<\/div>\n
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In closing, \u00a0 I hope everyone that reads this will take a minute or two, \u00a0and contemplate the evils that mankind is prone to engage in. \u00a0 Learn from this moment in history. \u00a0 Be vigilant about how we are treating each other…and work to focus on respect for others, not demonization. \u00a0 Honor those who have fallen while fighting for principles they believed in. \u00a0If YOU are a veteran with dark memories, \u00a0do not repress them forever. \u00a0You have friends, \u00a0from both the civilian and military worlds, \u00a0who can and will share your burden. \u00a0They will not condemn or judge…but will support and help you deal with those festering wounds.<\/div>\n
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Pleasant Dreams???<\/div>\n
Bee Man Dave<\/div>\n
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