glory resides in duty

 Old battles and old glory. That is what is on my mind this morning. It was eighty years ago this very day that Pearl Harbor was attacked. A date that will live in infamy! Also, today Biden will hold his video conference with Putin. The date and the significance aren't lost on me. Prior to Pearl the United States had entered into a lend lease program with Russia to assist in fighting the Germans. We were allies. Then the Japanese attacked drawing us into the conflict. We maintained an uneasy alliance with Russia throughout the war. It has been famously recorded that General George Patton advocated for an attack on the Russian forces while we had the troops, the equipment and the supply lines in Europe. He was well aware of the intentions of the Russians. The cold war followed as we all know today. And today, Russia stands poised to invade the Ukraine. Biden, in an attempt to protect our financial interests, that's the official line anyway, plans on threatening Putin with crippling international sanctions. The big question here is, does the United States still wield that club? Do we, as a nation, hold that supreme position? In 1941 the Japanese were warned, by one of their own. Admiral Yamamoto advised the Japanese emperor, to "make every effort to avoid war with America." The quote about awaking a sleeping giant was extracted from Yamamoto's diary and used in the film Tora, Tora, Tora. We don't know if he ever said that to anyone. 

 I wonder how many are aware that WW2 is the last officially declared war the United States has been involved with. That is to say, war declared by Congress, the only authorized legislative body capable of doing so. We fought that war to a decisive victory. A victory celebrated in the streets and our returning veterans honored. A victory celebrated seventy-six years ago this past September. An old victory now remembered by old warriors. The exact number isn't known but is estimated to be less than half a million. As far as survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor that number is also unknown but certainly fewer than fifty. Thirty survivors will be there today to remember and honor their lost comrades in arms. A day to bask in the glory! I'm certain however that isn't how they feel. I've known many men of that generation, many that fought those battles, and I learned from them. The glory stems not from destroying the enemy, but from defending your brothers. The glory resides in duty. 

 Following that attack thousands of men and women swarmed to the recruiting offices, eager to do their part. For their service we must remain forever grateful. We must also remember there were many that didn't rush off anxious to get into the fight. In fact, 61% of the troops were drafted into the service. They answered that call, and fought, and died just as gloriously as those that volunteered. My own father was among those drafted into the service. He flew as a member of a bombing crew in B-24's. He was fortunate to have survived. At the peak of the fighting about 71% of all bomber crew members were killed. Yes, Dad was lucky indeed. He took pride in his service and had a love for his airplane. As far as glory, he wasn't concerned a bit by that. And I never heard him speak of old battles. 

 Today I will remember Pearl Harbor as a day important to my parents and their generation. Tradition is carried one generation at a time. I will never set that obligation down. I will remember what happened on that date in infamy. December the 7th, 1941. That was eleven years before my birth. By the time I was in school that was recorded in the history books. It was something old men talked about. Yes, those men were in their thirties or early forties then, old men in a juvenile's mind. They were more concerned with forgetting the horrors they had witnessed than recalling heroic deeds. I believe it for that reason they only spoke of that time in hushed voices in smoked filled rooms, men among men. Alcohol was the treatment for PTSD before we knew what that was. Battle fatigue is what they called it; they were just tired. I will never tire of telling their stories, keeping their memories alive. I am obligated by time to do so! It is the responsibility of my generation. I will not fail them.