Karma's a Bitch

[Dibbons]

Japan's aerial attacking force at Pearl Harbor involved 353 planes, 29 of those planes were lost in the attack. Japan's fleet consisting of some 67 ships was located approximately 200 miles north of Oahu. Only one ship that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor survived through the end of World War II.

 

[Lefty71]

Not many of you into anime I'm sure, but a very sad movie, Japanese made, from the 80's called "Grave of the Fireflies" about a Japanese family alludes to the fact the the Japanese navy was highly touted before the war, but pretty much non existent by the end of the war (and by the end of the film). War is bad news for all parties involved.

 

[Runner 68]

Yes and December 7th was only 11 days ago and it was chilly. Why does it always seem that there is a nip in the air on 12/7?

 

[65Bel]

Japan's aerial attacking force at Pearl Harbor involved 353 planes, 29 of those planes were lost in the attack. Japan's fleet consisting of some 67 ships was located approximately 200 miles north of Oahu. Only one ship that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor survived through the end of World War II.

At the time of the attack, Japan had the largest naval force, the biggest and best ships, the best airplanes, the best torpedoes and the best trained naval pilots in the world. The U.S. was truly in deep ****. We still had our aircraft carriers, our tremendous manufacturing capacity and a huge pool of willing military recruits and factory workers. Those things, plus an abundance of national determination to fight back, allowed us to prevail in the Pacific War and to ultimately destroy Japan's naval and ground forces. Nothing came cheap for the USA, for Japan or for any of the many other nations, on both sides, involved in WWII.

 

[Under Pressure]

That last Japanese ship was the battleship Nagato, which was surrendered to the U.S. at the end, and then finally sank by using it during the Bikini island A-bomb tests after the war

 

[s/w theo]

Always good to hear some facts about WW2. People should be thankful for what they have. A lot don't realize how lucky they are, & horrific that war was, on everyone at the time. Not too many WW2 Vets left either.

 

[Under Pressure]

My father served on the USS Phelps, when he would speak of it, I learned many unfortunate horrors these men and women experienced as well as the pride and patriotism’s they passed on to many of us.
The Phelps escorted Yorktown and Lexington at Coral sea, provided support during the air fight.
Ultimately the Phelps was ordered to put down the Lexington after it was beyond saving after the Japanese air attacks

 

[68BabyBlue]

My father served in New Guinea, enlisting after Pearl Harbor. He was a professional photographer, whose military service consisted of documenting potential sites for air strips deep in the jungles, occupied by the Japanese. I have multiple albums of photos he took during his time there, and a wealth of stories of the determination of the Japanese military. He spoke candidly about not expecting to return alive, and of the burden that was lifted after Hiroshima.

He had regrets that FDR had made race an issue in garnering support for the war effort. We were among the first patients of a Japanese American dentist from California who had been interned during war. Dad, who lost teeth as a result of his service, often said one of the great injustices of the era was that Dr. Higashida was not permitted to enlist in the US military and use his skills. In contrast to much of the public mood today, my father was truly color blind, adopting an Asian/American child (me), in an era when such things weren't done. He truly was part of the Greatest Generation.

 

[yella71]

I dont think Karma had anything to do with it....