Pearl Harbor attack teaches a valuable lesson. (original) (raw)

Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, marked the 67th anniversary of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor by elements of the Japanese navy. That occurrence in 1941 immediately plunged the United States into World War II and would eventually cost this country hundreds of thousands of lives. One Internet source states that 416,800 Americans died in the war.

Over the years this tragedy has been somewhat watered down by politically correct individuals who don�t want to offend the Japanese. And although I haven�t seen one lately, I wonder just how much about this event is recorded in school textbooks. I do know that many calendars no longer mark the day.

People who are old enough to recall that dramatic event can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.

My dad was 21 years old and already in the Texas National Guard when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He lived in Austinand remembers that they were ordered to secure Camp Mabrey where he was stationed. �They ordered us to guard a warehouse full of old boots from World War I. The toes were turned up on them and they were in terrible shape, I doubt if the enemy would have wanted them,� he said.

Dad said they didn�t find out until they went to the firing range that the old World War I era rifles they were issued didn�t even have firing pins. He spent the next four years of his young life serving with the Army in France, Belgium, and Germany.

Many folks in these parts got the news via the radio or newspaper. The Dec. 9, 1941, issue of The Lavaca County Tribune had a large headline on the front page that read: �United States in War with Japan.� The paper was published on Tuesdays and Fridays back then and the attack happened on Sunday which explains the delay in getting the news in print. No doubt everyone had already heard the newscast on the radio.

The Dec. 9 issue also reported that the Dutch Indies, Canada, and Costa Rica had declared war on Japan. It also included information about several Hallettsvilleboys; Gus Smolik, was on the battleship Oklahoma that was sunk during the attack and Joe Henneke was serving with the Marines at Pearl Harbor.

The Japanese also invaded Wake Island and the Philippines would eventually fall.

Later issues of the paper included information regarding action taken by the House to activate the draft. The headline stated that men 21 to 44 years old would be called up. And all males between the ages of 18 and 65 had to register. The report said the proposed measure would go to the Senate for approval. The initial plan was to raise an army of six million.

It seems that we were just as unprepared for the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor as we were the attack Sept. 11, 2001, on the World Trade Center.

In my opinion, we should learn from our mistakes and improve our position. But unfortunately, with the lack of security on our borders, we are apt to see another attack on this country.

I don�t know about you, but it is very frustrating to me that our government doesn�t do more to protect its citizens.

Plain old common sense would confirm that it is much more important to secure U.S. borders than the borders in Iraq or Afghanistan.

We need to be ever vigilant and not get caught unaware again. Remember Pearl Harbor!

� Murray Montgomery
Lone Star Diary

December 11, 2008 Column

Related Story: Pearl Harbor survivor Vic Lively

Related Topics: World War II | War War I | Texas Towns | People|