A Day which shall live in Infamy...

[AOD_B.Rubble]

After years of expansion and wars of aggression vs China,The U.S. imposed sanctions against Japan,leading them to attack the U.S. PacificFleet at Pearl Harbor w/out provocation. 8 of the 10 battleships We had were destroyed/heavily damaged,along with many aircraft and associative hangars. 2,300 US service personnel,including Women,were killed in the attack,leading to a declaration of War the next day

The politics of the War are non-withstanding. The fact remains that the U.S. was attacked in a cowardly manner. The Japanese Government didn't understand the ramifications of this,though the Military did.

In the midst of this attack,several pilots,mechanics,base personnel, responded by physically pushing undamaged airplanes to safe areas,and a few interpid Men climbed in and took to the air! Over 300 Imperial Japanese fighters/bombers attacked.

Though the Japanese Admirals quote of "I fear We have awakened the sleeping dragon and filled Him with a terrible resolve' was never attributed officially,nor uttered,it in fact encapsulated the US response to the attack. We of course went on to win the war,but at a terrible cost to the world at large. "I am become death' the famous quote uttered by Oppenheimer at the Trinity test in 1945 indeed was foreshadowing. Today,We still live under the effects of Nuclear Warfare and it's attendant issues.

We simulate this attack/defense of same on the map "Port' which as anyone whose looked at a map of Hawaii recently,will tell You is a DAMN fine interpretation of same. Bangle6 spent many years at post in Hawaii,and in fact CelticDeth can point out where His hotel was later located!

I ask that for a moment,no matter Your nation,religion,political stance,You take a moment to remember those souls lost on that day,and those in war afterwards,on both sides. For it is not the soldiers whom choose war,indeed,ours is not to reason why/ours is only to do or die! If left to the soldiers,no war would ever be fought,and tanks would become planters for trees,and warships would become floating artist collectives and vacation spots,for only soldiers truly know the horrors of war. But for their Nation,their peoples,their way of life,they stood in the breach,and many paid the price. Freedom is NOT free,and it's payment is in blood of the fallen,tears of the wounded,and sweat of those whom carry it forward. From the time We left the tree's as a species,We've fought for "Freedom' in all it's variations.

Hoist a scotch,a beer, flagon of Kool-Aid,bottle of water. Take a moment to consider YOUR actions should You have been there,then toast those brave souls,on all sides. And pray/hope/wish for a peaceful world for Our Children.That THEY would never know the smell of shells fired in anger,that they would never hear the screams of the dying,and the horrors of war.

12/7/2016
Las Vegas,Nv
USPacFlt/DETNellisAFB
EndMsg
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Rubble-Out

[Caash95]

[rayrayblues]

Right on Rubble, very well put