My uncle, Richard Ahern KIA December 7th 1941 on the USS Arizona. My grandfather never really recovered from the loss of his only son. Tough times for them, they lost a couple of farms during the depression and ended up in California. Then as things were getting better December 7th hit. The dedication and sacrifice made by the servicemen and women along with many of the citizens during the next few years is nothing sort of amazing and hopefully will never be forgotten.
Here's to my father (along with so many others) who enlisted in the Navy on 8 December. He served in the submarine service throughout WWII, Korea, and the beginning of Vietnam.
Here's to my Uncle Floyd, a Marine survivor of the Bataan Death March after the fall of Corregidor. He was 5'9 and 172 pounds when they surrendered to the Japanese. In 1945 when released he was 5'7 and a half and only weighed 87 pounds.
Here's to my Uncle Bill who was wounded on Guadalcanal and spent the rest of the war recovering.
I'd drink to the rest of the "greatest generation", but 3 drinks are already over my limit.
Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live into infamy, the empire of Japan....." I will never forget Pearl Harbor or WW2. I may be only 17 but it is a important part of our history and world history. My grandmother and (step) grandfather were on one of the last trains to leave Kiev before the Germans occupied it. They were Jewish. My family ran away from the German advances. On the day that Barbarossa started my (step)grandfather was less than 10 KM from the Ukraine-polish border. I met my great-grandmother (on both sides of the family) but I was unable to have a conversation with them about their experiences (on my mothers side my great-grandmother had german troops living in her house and she had to live in the shed in the backyard.) When my dad's grandmother (my great-grandmother) died I was around 5, all I knew was that she ran away from some Germans, it was not until around 7 years later that it clicked about WW2 and the holocaust. My great-aunt was a camp survivor. For me I will always remeber WW2, Pearl Harbor, D-Day. V-E day and V-J day.
Netflix has recently colorized this event. It is their top documentary right now. As much as you think you know the history behind this day, there is always a little tidbit gained by watching.
I remember every year as a younger man seeing an article on the front page of the newspaper every year remembering and reminding everyone of the horrors of that fateful day. Now, for the past years NOTHING! Shame on you editors!!! Today’s youth do not remember. Change that! I tell a number of younger people every year about the day. Those who don’t remember may be subjected to the same disaster someday.
My father ended up fighting in Europe. His, and multitudes of others sacrifices, do, and will not, go unappreciated by me or anyone I can tell to remember.
I can only say that the darkness that descended on the world in that time will not happen again should I have anything to do to prevent it.
I can only hope that December 7th will continue to “live in infamy” forever.
Q: When does a collector become a numismatist?
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
I inherited these from my great-grandmother who passed in 1998. She had three brothers serve during World War II; one of which earned a Silver Star. My great-grandfather had three brothers serve and had a sister lose a husband in the AAF when the SS Paul Hamilton was lost in the Mediterranean in 1944.
If common sense is so common, why is it so uncommon?
I was surprised to see the thread I created a year ago. I can't imagine sleeping in on a Sunday morning awakening to carnage and destruction. The weeks and days leading up to this, the Japanese Empire expressed hope and peace. All day long I thought about it, no one at work even knew the significance of this day, except for one. God bless those lost on this tragic day.
I posted this on another thread, but perhaps someone will enjoy the photos here too:
My family is watching "Pearl Harbor" right now. They enjoy it, despite the historical liberties.
These photos are from a visit in 2011. The oil is still seeping up, all these years later. I have memories of seeing that during my first visit to the place in 1979. The last photo was taken from the deck of the USS Missouri (Mighty Mo). The Japanese signed the instruments of surrender in Tokyo harbor on her deck on September 2, 1945 - the final act in a damnable part of human history.
@TomB said:
That's a great picture, @SeattleSlammer! Who is in the painting behind you?
I’m fortunate to have many pics of us enjoying libations together over the years. Some of the most meaningful times of my life. That is my great, great, great grandfather (on my grandmother’s side) in the painting — born 1820.
Comments
http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/1911-information/
Again
My uncle, Richard Ahern KIA December 7th 1941 on the USS Arizona. My grandfather never really recovered from the loss of his only son. Tough times for them, they lost a couple of farms during the depression and ended up in California. Then as things were getting better December 7th hit. The dedication and sacrifice made by the servicemen and women along with many of the citizens during the next few years is nothing sort of amazing and hopefully will never be forgotten.
K
Never forget.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Not to many left that seen action. My uncles are already gone and they never talked about it.
Here's to my father (along with so many others) who enlisted in the Navy on 8 December. He served in the submarine service throughout WWII, Korea, and the beginning of Vietnam.
Here's to my Uncle Floyd, a Marine survivor of the Bataan Death March after the fall of Corregidor. He was 5'9 and 172 pounds when they surrendered to the Japanese. In 1945 when released he was 5'7 and a half and only weighed 87 pounds.
Here's to my Uncle Bill who was wounded on Guadalcanal and spent the rest of the war recovering.
I'd drink to the rest of the "greatest generation", but 3 drinks are already over my limit.
"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live into infamy, the empire of Japan....." I will never forget Pearl Harbor or WW2. I may be only 17 but it is a important part of our history and world history. My grandmother and (step) grandfather were on one of the last trains to leave Kiev before the Germans occupied it. They were Jewish. My family ran away from the German advances. On the day that Barbarossa started my (step)grandfather was less than 10 KM from the Ukraine-polish border. I met my great-grandmother (on both sides of the family) but I was unable to have a conversation with them about their experiences (on my mothers side my great-grandmother had german troops living in her house and she had to live in the shed in the backyard.) When my dad's grandmother (my great-grandmother) died I was around 5, all I knew was that she ran away from some Germans, it was not until around 7 years later that it clicked about WW2 and the holocaust. My great-aunt was a camp survivor. For me I will always remeber WW2, Pearl Harbor, D-Day. V-E day and V-J day.
This infographic is 9 years old but the history behind it applies today...
My 1941-Dated Remember Pearl Harbor Medals set
https://coins.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=12054#:~:text=This%20NGC%20%C2%AE%20Registry%20set%20honors%20the%20men,tragedy%20that%20formed%20the%20legacy%20of%20American%20heroism.
Lafayette Grading Set
Lafayette Grading Set
Netflix has recently colorized this event. It is their top documentary right now. As much as you think you know the history behind this day, there is always a little tidbit gained by watching.
peacockcoins
I miss my GPA greatly who passed at 95 in 2018. WWII Vet. Sharp as a tack until almost the very end.
Here’s one of my favorite pics with him ... he loved very stiff gin martinis.
I remember every year as a younger man seeing an article on the front page of the newspaper every year remembering and reminding everyone of the horrors of that fateful day. Now, for the past years NOTHING! Shame on you editors!!! Today’s youth do not remember. Change that! I tell a number of younger people every year about the day. Those who don’t remember may be subjected to the same disaster someday.
My father ended up fighting in Europe. His, and multitudes of others sacrifices, do, and will not, go unappreciated by me or anyone I can tell to remember.
I can only say that the darkness that descended on the world in that time will not happen again should I have anything to do to prevent it.
I can only hope that December 7th will continue to “live in infamy” forever.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
I inherited these from my great-grandmother who passed in 1998. She had three brothers serve during World War II; one of which earned a Silver Star. My great-grandfather had three brothers serve and had a sister lose a husband in the AAF when the SS Paul Hamilton was lost in the Mediterranean in 1944.
I was surprised to see the thread I created a year ago. I can't imagine sleeping in on a Sunday morning awakening to carnage and destruction. The weeks and days leading up to this, the Japanese Empire expressed hope and peace. All day long I thought about it, no one at work even knew the significance of this day, except for one. God bless those lost on this tragic day.
My December 1942 M1 Garand. Issued one year after the start of the war.
I posted this on another thread, but perhaps someone will enjoy the photos here too:
My family is watching "Pearl Harbor" right now. They enjoy it, despite the historical liberties.
These photos are from a visit in 2011. The oil is still seeping up, all these years later. I have memories of seeing that during my first visit to the place in 1979. The last photo was taken from the deck of the USS Missouri (Mighty Mo). The Japanese signed the instruments of surrender in Tokyo harbor on her deck on September 2, 1945 - the final act in a damnable part of human history.
That's a great picture, @SeattleSlammer! Who is in the painting behind you?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I’m fortunate to have many pics of us enjoying libations together over the years. Some of the most meaningful times of my life. That is my great, great, great grandfather (on my grandmother’s side) in the painting — born 1820.