The Day that lives in Infamy

7 DECEMBER 1941 - THE DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

For me, that day still lives in infamy.  I turned 10 the week following that day and I remember it well.  A short time later, my two oldest brothers were on Active Duty, along with three Cousins.  When my other brother reached 17, he too was on Active Duty. That left me at home to wait until I reached 18 coincident with the so-called Korean Police Action.  My opportunity came and I could not, have not gone.  My Gold Star Mother grieved her loss the rest of her life until she left us at age 90 and is now with her three Sons.

During WWII, we were pretty well all of one mindset.  A far cry from the way it is now.  Well before the War ended the Japanese Soldiers had a battle cry which went this way: "To Hell with Roosevelt, To Hell with Babe Ruth, To Hell with Bing Crosby, To Hell with Roy Acuff".  Roy Acuff?  Why him? I was puzzled until I remembered his record. "Smoke on the Water", and then it became clear.  The enemy hated that song, but you will love it. Years later,  Roy Acuff was on tour in Japan, and Shoji Tabuchi wiggled his was backstage to visit him.  Roy was impressed and encouraged him to come to America, which he did and later established his famous Theatre in Branson.  Now you know... 

Our Wars have achieved different results around the world.  Japan for example, once our bitterest enemy is now one of our closest allies. We did them a lot of damage, but we have done a great service to their people.  Japanese Women are now enjoying freedom as never before.  Those tiny binding shoes have been replaced with flip-flops or whatever they want to wear.  They owe this freedom to one young WAC (Women's Army Corps) who was the Clerk for General MacArthur when he was writing Japans new form of Government.  The young WAC politely reminded the General to include equalizing terminology for the Japanese women, which he did.

During the American Revolution, we had our own battle cry; "Live Free or Die".  We continue to live free because of those who paid the Supreme Sacrifice, or brought home scars of war.  I ask you to be thankful for their sacrifice and saving our Freedom.  Let us set aside our differences, examine the issues, make our choices, vote and move on with our lives.  This is what they sacrificed for, this is what they would want.  Let us not let their sacrifice be for naught...

And that's my update from Tadpole Road...

                                                            Donal