Aloha on this Thoughtful Thursday traveling to a Fantastic Friday,

By the time I get to blogging here today, it is almost tomorrow for many of you, so my opening salutation shall address two days for a couple of days more and perhaps more days than that.

December 7, 1941 is a day that is remembered by many. On that day, the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu. 31 Japanese ships, including 6 aircraft carriers, had crept within 230 miles north of O’ahu.  From there, the dive bombers, zero fighters, torpedo bombers and high-level bombers took off early on the morning of December 7, 1941.

At 7:50 AM, the first wave of 183 planes bombed and strafed the harbor and air fields. 30 minutes later, the second wave of 167 planes pounded down with more bombs and bullets. 21 American vessels were sunk or heavily damaged, 323 aircraft were destroyed or damaged and 3,177 U.S. soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded. The Japanese Navy lost 55 airmen and 29 planes.

The battleship USS Arizona still lies today beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor. 1,177 of its crewman died. 900 of those could not be rescued from the sunken ship. They remain entombed there beneath a white memorial over the clear green water where you can see the rusting ship below and watch the black tears of oil reach and glisten on the surface those sailors never reached. Even with its many visitors, it is a quiet place with the silent salty water reaching many an eye watching that surface.

It is a place I always wanted to visit and am glad I could.

There is clarity in past memories, even though they may be sad, and a joy in seeing those around you remember too.

Have a great day, appreciate what you see around you and remember those who gave so much to make it so.

Grandpa Jim