Pearl Harbor Day
posted at 12:50 pm on December 7, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Fascinating article from WaPo this morning about the oil still leaking from the wreck of the Arizona:
When the structure collapses, Foecke said, the oil will “erupt” toward the surface. “It’s going to break the wreck up and open,” he said. “The oil does have buoyancy, and it’s trying to find a way out, and there’s quite a lot of it.”
Even though Pearl Harbor is fairly industrialized, Foecke said, a big leak would create “a huge mess.” A spill of 100,000 gallons of jet fuel in 1987 fouled a mangrove swamp and a wildlife refuge and took two months to clean up, according to news reports of the time.
For now, tiny slicks scattered on the surface are all that’s visible. They expect the ship to burst and pollute the harbor in about a decade, 75 years after the Japanese took it down.
I posted some reminiscences by survivors last month; listen here and here if you’re in the mood. National Geographic has a dynamite multimedia page about the attack and the VideoRay site has underwater footage from when its probe dived on the Arizona a few years ago. There’s a shot of a tube of toothpaste still inside a cup.
Finally, here’s a newsreel of the attack. Pay attention to the segment where the attack begins, starting at around 55 seconds in; you’ll see bombs descending and then you see a huge explosion on a ship. If memory serves, that’s the actual footage of the moment of impact on the Arizona. The bomb went straight through the deck, hit the magazine, and blew the front of the ship apart. 1,177 men died. Most of them are still there.
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How they must be ashamed of us today!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on December 7, 2006 at 12:51 PM
God Bless those brave men
Defector01 on December 7, 2006 at 12:58 PM
MSNBC has a good, but sad, article on this year’s reunion of survivors, expected to be the last.
Slublog on December 7, 2006 at 1:20 PM
My thoughts exactly. In 65 years, we went from FDR and “absolute victory” to the Gates hearings, and the Iraq Surrender Group report. My only hope is that America wakes up before it is too late. It’s in our hands now.
Kid from Brooklyn on December 7, 2006 at 1:24 PM
Agreed! Also the Founding Fathers and all our warfighters from then to now.
May
Emmett J. on December 7, 2006 at 1:25 PM
I posted about the Greatest Generation some time ago, and it’s still accurate today.
Snake307 on December 7, 2006 at 1:27 PM
In those days, the “anti-war” crowd called Churchill a “warmonger” and Roosevelt a “puppet of the Jews”. Some conspiracy theorists even claimed Roosevelt planned the Pearl Harbor attacks himself.
My, how things have changed.
Free Kurdistan on December 7, 2006 at 1:33 PM
If you ever have the opportunity, this memorial is really exceptional, an unforgettable experience.
New,if related, subject: is anyone aware of anything that would be similiar to the Shoah project, only for WWII vets?
honora on December 7, 2006 at 1:36 PM
I am glad that most of them will not see the depths of shame we wear as a badge of honor.
I will not do it.
I will not do it.
I will not do it.
I will not do it.
I will not do it.
Sorry, private penance. We need to defeat a common enemy that would put honora in a burka and give her genital mutilation for a Christmas present. We must win this war at all costs.
tormod on December 7, 2006 at 1:37 PM
Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose…
Dinsdale Piranha on December 7, 2006 at 1:38 PM
This needs to be addressed.
honora on December 7, 2006 at 1:49 PM
I wonder how many Americans could even FIND Pearl Harbor on a map considering the government school indoctrination that has taken place since then.
*sigh*
SouthernGent on December 7, 2006 at 1:51 PM
SouthernGent
The better question is how many of the schools say we deserve it for cutting off Japan’s oil and coal therby causing the Japanese to expand.
Defector01 on December 7, 2006 at 1:57 PM
If only we had just talked to the Japanese, maybe they would have understood our basic good intentions and not bombed our army air force on the ground in the Phillipines and destroyed our fortress at Corregidor, sending the survivors on the Bataan Death March.
If only there had been a Japan Survey Group to calm things, perhaps we could have avoided further war altogether.
I’m sure the Imperial Japanese would have accepted our de facto surrender by New Year’s Day if we had pursued consensus-buulding at home instead of rashly seeking to solve things abroad through battle.
And wasn’t the attack on Pearl Harbor really just a pre-emptive strike to protest the possibility of a future state of Israel?
And wasn’t Bataan simply the Nipponese way of presciently insisting on the Palestinians’ “right of return” * ?
( * God Bless Mr. Baker and his colleagues for remembering to drag that Israeli detail into the Iraq Group’s report.)
profitsbeard on December 7, 2006 at 1:58 PM
It seems to me the same point could have been made without using a poster here as an example, tormod.
Slublog on December 7, 2006 at 1:59 PM
Actually, I think it’s worse than that–most schools “teach” the Second WW in a manner that suggests that that Japanese aggression sprang from whole cloth, as did Nazism. No context at all.
honora on December 7, 2006 at 2:00 PM
Oops, my apologies to anyone offended by my casual remarks.
tormod on December 7, 2006 at 2:20 PM
Where is it again? Let me google this stuff
Ouabam on December 7, 2006 at 2:23 PM
You know that is what gets me. It wasnt just a US action alone the League of Nations enacted an imbargo against Japan for its invasion of China. We cut off the oil and coal because Japan like Germany was on a path to war against the world.
The anti war nuts honestly believe that like MLK and Ghandi you just march and no war will ever happen. Well that works against democracies but you will never hear of a Islamic Ghandi or a communist Ghandi as they would have been long ago executed.
I constantly challenge the anti war types to really prove they are anti war by going to Iraq and protesting against the violence there. That would finally prove to me that they honestly want peace and arent just rear area crybabies.
William Amos on December 7, 2006 at 2:25 PM
Someone tell me we are not as vulnerable today as we were 65 years ago. Sadly, I feel that today we are in more danger than 7:30 am ( hawaii time) on the day that lives in infamy.
shooter on December 7, 2006 at 2:43 PM
Now what REALLY needs to be addressed is that the announcer in the newsclip called the Japanese the enemy. How dare he? Doesn’t he realize that if we would’ve just given the Mariana’s and Guam to the Japanese that the war would’ve been averted?
dalewalt on December 7, 2006 at 3:04 PM
When I first went to Pearl Harbor in 1946, portions of the USS Arizona was still above water. I told for years that it was the superstructure. I later found out that it was the stacks. The memorial is build over these stacks.
New subject. When stationed in Pearl, I worked with explorer scouts in Honolulu. Some of the boys told me that they were on a scout campout on Pearl Harbor day and saw many of the jap planes fly thru the pass they were camped in. (something they probably still remember)
navy1946 on December 7, 2006 at 3:12 PM
More video here.
A different time, certainly:
Now:
“Dude, like are we there yet? I blame Bush. Its our fault anyway.”
elpresidente on December 7, 2006 at 3:25 PM
That reminds me … How long before we all have to pay cash reparations to the Muslims that we are holding in Gitmo? (just like we had to pay cash out to the Japanese citizens held internment camps between ‘43 and ‘44). What? Don’t think it’ll happen? Me thinks that you underestimate the power of political correctness here in the U.S.A.
CyberCipher on December 7, 2006 at 3:37 PM
You don’t seriously think these two things are the same? And as for political correctness, well its opposite is worse: ever wonder why we interred Japanese Americans but not German Americans?
honora on December 7, 2006 at 4:22 PM
Which lesson will it take to sink in?
I will never wear a burqa, alive!
Entelechy on December 7, 2006 at 4:33 PM
May we never forget. May we never underestimate what they accomplished. May we never allow our children’s history books to leave out what another country tried to accomplish by stepping their boots on our turf. May we never allow a generation to be ignorant of what the bravest men and women this world has ever seen were able to accomplish in such a short time, and against such formidable odds. May we never forget. May we always remember Pearl Harbor.
BigOrangeAxe on December 7, 2006 at 4:36 PM
Because it would have been way too tough to quarantine Pennsylvania?
Slublog on December 7, 2006 at 4:39 PM
I’ve been to the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and it is awe inspiring to be standing on a small platform looking down into the water at the top of what was then one of the greatest battleships of all time, and is now a tomb for thousands of people. You can see the little droplets of oil come to the surface like tiny bubbles and spread their tiny rainbow colored oil slicks. It’ll bring a tear to your eye.
While Japanese-Americans comprised the overwhelming majority of those in the camps, thousands of Americans of German, Italian, and other European descent were also forced to relocate there. Many more were classified as “enemy aliens” and subject to increased restrictions. The Japanese weren’t the only ones in the internment camps.
SilverStar830 on December 7, 2006 at 4:46 PM
Hey…Big Orange Ax….What are you talking about? Forget what?
CHRISTIAN/HOMESCHOOL—-Its the only way to go. Sell your car if you have to…but your children MUST BE EDUCATED.
seejanemom on December 7, 2006 at 5:05 PM
seejanemom,
I hear ya sister! I know I’ll never forget what my dad fought for, and if I do ever have kids, they will never forget. And they sure as heck won’t forget 9/11, like the Pelosis and Murthas of the world. (Just imagine if they’d been in power after Bunker Hill. We’d all be singing “God Save the Queen”.)
BigOrangeAxe on December 7, 2006 at 5:17 PM
Catch the part where the enemy was “In the process of peace negotiations with the U.S. the very moment the planes were in route and bombing”?
Typical of our enemies, even today. Iran is a good example!
i.e. the “Friendly” letter addressed to the people of America from the President of Iran. reaching out a hand of friendship so we can lower our gaurd and he can nuke us!! ;)
Bearhopi on December 7, 2006 at 5:34 PM
Very true. There were internment camps for Germans but not nearly as many. But then again, the Germans did not surprise attack Pearl Harbor.
brtex on December 7, 2006 at 5:48 PM
…agreed wholeheartedly.
Been to Kurdistan, by the way. What I remember most was the fact that all the children that I saw were beautiful. Women were shrouded, men all looked like birds of prey…but the children were beautiful.
Free Kurdistan, indeed!
Puritan1648 on December 7, 2006 at 5:51 PM
A link regarding German internment camps.
http://www.foitimes.com/internment/camps.htm
brtex on December 7, 2006 at 5:52 PM
…I suggested Brigitte Hamann’s book Hitler’s Vienna on the “reading list” thread, and it’s apt for this thread in light of this rather apt comment.
The book runs through the factions, factors and thought process of the people Hitler used to *QUOTE* as influences. Very enlightening in studying how evil manifests itself.
I’ve never been that enamored of Japan in the ’20’s and ’30’s, but would bet that there’s a correspondingly useful book about Japan.
Puritan1648 on December 7, 2006 at 5:54 PM
The only “sameness” that I meant to impy here is the “sameness” that I feel when the U.S. Government taxes me and gives my money away to other people (in this particular case, for reasons of political correctness).
CyberCipher on December 7, 2006 at 6:16 PM
What? Haven’t you seen “Animal House.” OF COURSE, the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor. But we didn’t give up then. (Not like we did in Vietnam. Not like we did in Iraq.) No sir’ee.
(Oops. Sorry. Sometimes I can be every bit as funny as Michael Richards.)
CyberCipher on December 7, 2006 at 6:21 PM
HERES A PEARL HARBOR STORY EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE DESTROYER WARD. SHE FIRED THE FIRST SHOT OF THE PACIFIC WAR. IN THE MOVIE TORA TORA TORA. IT MENTIONS THE COMMANDING OFFICER AS HIS FIRST COMMAND. THE BRASS AT PEARL HARBOR THINK HIS FIREING ONE THE MIDGET SUB TO BE THE ACTIONS OF A GREEN KID. HE WAS OF COURSE CORRECT. 3 YEARS NOW PASS IS DEC 7 L944. THE WARD HAS BEEN DEMOTED TO A DESTROYER TRANSPORT. SHE IS IN ORMAC BAY THE WEST SIDE OF LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINES. SHE IS STRUCK BY A KAMIKAZE ONE THE FIRST OF MANY. FIRE RAGES OUT OF CONTROL SHE IS ABANDONED. THE DESTROYER O’BRIEN — A NEW BIG SUMNER CLASS—IS ORDERED TO DESTOYER HER. SHE DOES THE CAPTAIN OF THE O’BRIEN IS THE ONCE GREEN KID ONE WONDERS WHAT HE MUST HAVE FELT THAT DAY.
bootheel on December 7, 2006 at 7:07 PM
Every five years, the surviving Veterans of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 gather there for a reunion. But this year, the 65th anniversary, will be the last for most of them. These members of The Greatest Generation are in their 90’s now and know that some of them won’t be around in five years or won’t be physically up to the long trip to attend.
A significant part of American history will soon be gone, to be found only in the history books. While all Vets deserve our respect and thanks, the men and women who were in World War II deserve an extra share, for it is their service and sacrifice that put The United States of America in a position to become the most powerful nation on the planet. If you know one of these people, thank them and if they are willing to tell you, listen to their stories and remember them, because as we all know, history books can and have been rewritten.
When I look at the state of the Union today, I shake my head and wonder what these people think of what has become of the country they gave so much to protect. We should do more to be like these men and get some steel in our spines, because the war we are fighting now is more like WWII than most of us would like to admit.
The enemy we face now wants the same thing the enemy they defeated 60 years ago, world dominion. Maybe their motivation is different, but the end goal is the same. But if we lose this war, our lot in life will be far worse than it would have been had these men lost WWII. We must take a lesson from The Greatest Generation and do whatever it takes to win. They fought brutal, bloody battles on the land and at sea because that is what it took to win. They destroyed entire cities and their populations, military and civilian, from the air because that is what it took to win. They could not afford to lose, and neither can we.
Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember 9/11.
MOMinuteman on December 8, 2006 at 5:43 AM
There is one thing in my life about which I can thank Bill Clinton.
He decided that, for a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the September 2nd, 1945 Japanese surrender, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier would make the perfect stage, and the Arizona Memorial the perfect background.
While assigned to The Red Rippers of Fighter Squadron Eleven (VF-11) out of NAS Miramar, attached to Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (”Fortuna Favet Fortibus”) and the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), our entire battlegroup was ordered to deploy from San Diego to Hawaii. The three week trip was entirely in support of Clinton’s photo-op/speech on the flight deck on 2 Sept 95. However, there were a few perks.
About 20 WWII aircraft, including three B-25 Mitchells, an assortment of Corsairs, Hellcats, Gooses, Texans, etc. were craned aboard the Vinson for the trip, and were deck-launched within sight of Waikiki beach. Along with the folks who flew and cared for the vintage planes, several dozen Pearl Harbor survivors, WWII vets (both American and Japanese), and WWII-era War Department personnel were aboard.
The chance to talk with living history is something I’ll never forget, and have already begun passing on to my children. Watching men in their 60s and 70s, who were once enemies, enjoying each others company as brothers was a remarkable experience.
Something of note. More than one of the Japanese veterans who spoke about WWII said that their government had consistently lied to them about how evil and imperialistic the United States was, and how degraded and flawed our society. In every case, they felt guilt that they didn’t know better, even though it was impossible for them to have known the truth. We face the same thing today. Followers of extremist Islam are taught lies about the U.S. and Israel, and learn to hate us. They will never have the chance to learn the truth unless we win.
Never forget.
Freelancer on December 8, 2006 at 7:28 PM