My Mother's Memories of December 8, 1941, the Day AFTER...

[MarianJack]

...the Day that will live in Infamy.

As many of you know, my mother passed on last summer (and thank you again for all of your kind words at the time). I am reconstructing the story of average Americans as told to me for years by she and my uncles. As with most Americans, my mom's family spent the evening of December 7, 1941 in shock, sadness, fury and prayer. As most Americans, they listened to President Roosevelt the next day.

My mom had 3 brothers. Their names were Jack, Jim and Joe. On December 9, 1941 (my Mom's 20th birthday, BTW), my Uncles Jack & Jim got up early to enlist, thinking that they were going to beat any rush. When they got there they saw a scene reminiscent of the scene in "A Christmas Story" when the boys think that there is a short line for Santa and then see the line that runs around the corner. Part way down the line, they ran into my Grandfather who had just gotten off of his over night job and went down before coming home. Now please understand, my grand father was in his 40s at the time. 65 years ago, your mid-40s were a lot different than they are now.

The men behind my grandfather, for the most part, had a good chuckle saying "take your boys in line with you, pop".

When they got to the head of the line, the sergeant just looked at my grandfather and said "Go home, Pop!" My uncle Jack wasn't taken because he was married and had a daughter. My uncle Jim was 4-F because when he was 12 or 13, he was hit by a car and almost lost his leg.

My uncle Joe didn't go. He had said that he wasn't going to go. He'd said that if they wanted HIM, they'd have to come and drag him from under his bed.

Just a few weeks later, he enlisted. He became the top sergeant in his outfit. He was at Normandy and he was in charge of one of the first (if not THE first) units to light the Eiffel Tower with Air Raid lights from the backs of Jeeps. He was decorated by the French for this. He was jolted when the French officer kissed his cheeks.

When my Uncle Joe, the top sergeant, and my Father, a bombardier and a captain, came home, it was one of the proudest moments of my grandfather's life when he was able to take the 2 of them to the "tap room" for a drink and to show them off.

Even 30+ years later, I would see men in the area who had served with my uncle Joe greet him with "Hi'ya, TOP!"

I share this for a few reasons. History isn't just what happens to the famous people. Many of you certainly have stories about your dads and uncles, brothers and husbands, sons and daughters. Maybe some of you are World War II vets. History is kept ALIVE by people like us and word of mouth.

I also am constantly aware of the difference between a president in office on the strength of 3 landslides who speaks of "a day that will live in infamy" and one who says "I was just trying to say out of harm's way" after sneaking into office on the strength of a stolen election.

I'd love to hear some of your family's (or your own) post Pearl Harbor stories. Thanks in advance, and as always...

PEACE!