Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
So began President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech to a joint session of congress, asking for a declaration of war, the day of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. [reference: Pearl Harbor Speech: Day of Infamy ]
And below is a scene from the the movie, aptly titled, Pearl Harbor (2001) :
That plan came to fruition in April of 1942 as the Doolittle Raid. It was led by Jimmy Doolittle, which became known as Thirty Seconds over Tokyo. The attack was a psychological blow for the Japanese. [reference: Jimmy H. Doolittle ]
And three years later came total victory over Japan, known as V.J. Day. And the moment was captured in this iconic picture:
That date, D-Day, the invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Overlord, was a critical day of the allies taking the offensive in Europe during World War Two. It was also a day wrought with military blunders, causing many causalities. But soldiers overcame these obstacles with tremendous courage, making due with the hand they were dealt, as noted here:
Most of the "greatest generation" - those raised during the Great Depression, who fought in World War Two, have passed away, including my father-in-law, Fortunately, he wrote down some of his memories, which I posted here: World War Two: Memories of North Africa
But we owe a debt of gratitude that we can never repay to these patriots, the greatest generation, who sacrificed for others.
The music of Big Band in America may have found its origins after World War I with Jazz and Swing. But after the stock market crash of 1929, it rose in popularity during the Great Depression and World War II with such composers as Duke Ellington, Tom Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman.
One of the most memorable musicians of the World War II generation was Glenn Miller. In 1942, Glenn Miller had enlisted in the Army and later transferred to the Army Air Force. There, he headed up the US Army Air Force Band and boosted the morale of the troops with his music during the war.
In August 1944, Captain Miller had been promoted to the rank of major. Sadly, Major Miller's military flight from London to Paris disappeared on December 15, 1944. His death remains a mystery as neither his body nor the plane had been found. But as thousands of other men, he gave his life serving his country. [reference: Glenn Miller Biography ]
And 70+ years later during the Holiday Season....
In the spirit of Big Band music, the USAF Band, Washington DC, dance troupe from New York City put on this show, as described in the comments:
A special holiday musical presentation from Union Station in Washington, DC celebrating the service and sacrifices of our nation's World War II veterans and commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.
The picture above is a diorama of the Battle of the Bulge.
December 1944, as World War II turned in favor of the allies, Hitler's Army made a last ditch effort in an offensive against Belgium. The Nazi attack caught the American troops off guard and outnumbered.
As a consequence, the Germans bottled up the 101th Airborne in Belgium in what has became known as the Seige of Bastogne. And I previously blogged about this in the post: Christmas 1944, when we said NUTS to the enemy
General Patton to the rescue
Patton's Third Army did a 90 degree turn and moved quickly from northeast France to Bastogne, Belgium. Yet, another enemy was the weather. And Patton looked for help from the top of the chain of command, the Almighty, as shown below.
The weather cleared. As Patton's troops linked with the defenders of Bastogne, the seige was broken. Despite overwhelming odds, the Americans defeated the Germans.
In January 1945, the Battle was over. April saw victory in Europe. The Patton Prayer is now in the annals of history and the subject of many movies.
But that fighting spirit to not give up against overwhelming odds, to look up to heaven for help, is part of
I clearly remember that day of the Memorial Day weekend in 1971. My mother looked at the morning newspaper and said that, mourning a loss of a great American hero, who perished in an airplane crash.
Frankly, a teenager at the time, I really didn't know anything about Audie Murphy. Yes, this dates me as a baby-boomer, whose parents were, as Tom Brakow coined the word: The Greatest Generation. My parents lived through the Great Depression, which ended with the onset of World War II.
I later learned one of the greatest heroes of that war was Audie Murphy. In fact, he was the most decorated World War II combat soldier, perhaps in all American history. [reference: Audie Murphy Facts]
And this soldier is the subject of part 5 of the CC (The Commander and the Chief) thread.
In this scene, Lord Wise briefs Colonel Jack Sheffield about another American hero, Admiral Connor Quinn, at a London tavern. The Admiral had died mysteriously and his widow is assembling a team to get to the bottom of his accident.
“Back to Admiral Quinn,” Jack continued when they were
alone, “word is, as a POW, he talked Yasser Nasser out of deploying his nukes,
surrendering to the allies, and destroying all his weapons of mass destruction.
That feat is legendary. Surely it’ll go down in the annals of military
history.”
“Quite.” Wise put away his reading glasses. “And not long
after the war, the Admiral and Yasser Nasser were awarded the Alfred Peace
Prize.”
“With much pomp and ceremony.” Jack wiped the brew from his
blond mustache. “But the Admiral’s death. Why would an admiral be flying alone?
Into hostile air space? Especially where he’d previously been shot down? You
send a drone, or one of your lackeys, someone more expendable. Not the Hero of
the Dust Devil War.”
Wise glanced about, then lowered his voice. “Precisely. The
press reported it as an unfortunate accident. They likened it to the death of
Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War Two. Murphy,
too, was tragically killed in a plane crash, years later after the war.”
“And that should be the end of the story.” Jack finished his
brew.
“But it’s not.” Wise continued, “The US Navy SEALs were
alleged to have retrieved the Admiral’s remains in the desert—in the Forbidden
Area. The Admiral’s body was apparently badly mangled. That’s why he had a
closed casket funeral. He ostensibly has been laid to rest at Arlington
National Cemetery in a very public display on American television.”
Jack squinted at Wise. “Sounds like you have doubts.”
“My client…she has many unanswered questions.” Wise rubbed
his chin. “Dr. Orlovic has exhausted her resources at home. All her inquiries
have been met with stonewalling and threats as she digs for answers. She
believes the Todd Administration is covering up something terrible.”
Lord Wise seals the deal with Colonel Sheffield with a reference to one of Audie Murphy's movies, To Hell and Back.
“Dr. Orlovic is waiting at the Gladstone Hotel as we speak.
Indeed. She has serious doubts. And she’s wholly committed to do all she can to
find her husband. Or at least find out what really happened to him.” Wise
finished his brew. “The logistics are in place. I’ve hired other agents. They
know only what they need to know. But you’re a critical piece, Colonel. An
experienced soldier I can trust to lead this mission to hell and back.”
“Why should I meddle in this American affair? What’s in it
for me?”
“First of all, we gambled that you’d take this job.” Then
Wise showed a page on his mobile display. “But I’m counting on my client’s
offer being one you cannot refuse.” Jack’s blue eyes opened as wide as the Atlantic Ocean when he saw the seven-figure offer. “I’m in!” And they shook on it.
After the war, Audie Murphy went to Hollywood. It took him a while to break into show business, but from 1948 to 1969 he made 44 films, a TV series, and other appearances. [reference: Audie Murphy - IMDb] He was also a successful songwriter (1962 - 1970). [reference: Songs by Audie]
This snippet from 1955 on What's My Line, before the movie To Hell and Back was released, tells what a big movie star he was in his day: Audie Murphy What's My Line on 3 July, 1955
But his life was not a bed of roses after the war ... Audie Murphy and PTSD
Audie Murphy suffered from what we call post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with symptoms of insomnia, nightmares, depression. He battled addictions and suffered a tumultuous first marriage, which ended in divorce. But later he championed the returning Vietnam veterans and lobbied the government to extend health care to treat their PSTD and mental health problems. [reference: Audie Murphy and PTSD] No Fairy Tale Ending
Gambling, womanizing, bad investments, bad publicity took their toll on this hero. In the late 1960s, Audie Murphy was bankrupt and his reckless actions had tarnished his public image. [reference: Audie Murphy Facts]
My favorite site, The Audie Murphy Story: oldbluejacket.com/AudieMurphy One final thought of bravery: "Loyalty to your comrades, when you come right down to it, has more to do with bravery in battle than even patriotism does. You may want to be brave, but your spirit can desert you when things really get rough. Only you find you can't let your comrades down and in the pinch they can't let you down either." Audie Murphy
And in the spirit of honoring those in World War Two, we are grateful for all veterans who have served and for those who still serve to keep us safe, home and abroad.
August 14, 1945 was the dawn, ending those dark days from 1939 - 1945 which were marked by a horrific world war. World War II left no continent untouched and a devastating body count. With causalities approaching 70 million, it may have been the worst war in recorded human history, such seen in this interactive video: The Fallen of World War II on Vimeo
But as the Psalmist wrote:
"... weeping may endure for a night,
but joy cometh in the morning."
Psalm 30:5 (KJV)
Finally the night of weeping ended and joy came with the unconditional surrender of Japan bringing with it a promise of peace. This iconic kisswas a snapshot of that day - capturing the spirit of VJ Day - Victory over Japan. And I wrote about it five years ago in this blog: A kiss immortalized in August 14, 1945
And 70 years ago was a different time. During World War Two, America was united. We were bold and committed to what FDR said in his Pearl Harbor speech -
"No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. ...
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God." from: FDR: Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation
Yet, FDR would not live to see the end of the war, but died in office on April 12, 1945. [reference: FDR Dies]
But he inspired us to never give up and overcome in the face of overwhelming odds, like he never gave up when faced with a crippling handicap, as dramatized in this scene: The best part of the movie "Pearl Harbor"
And though I wasn't born yet, my parents had not met yet, it does make me feel nostalgic for a time when all Americans are united, again, and determined to fight for the right. And in the end experience ...
It was a lifetime ago, 70 years. It was then the world's first atom bomb exploded. It was a test in the desert of New Mexico, near the end of World War II. And the silent film below shows what happened :
Less than a month after this atomic test, Japan was bombed with this new weapon: Hiroshima on August 6th, and Nagasaki on August 9th. And Japan's Emperor Hirohito unconditionally surrendered on August 14/15, citing this "new and most cruel bomb." This date became known as V-J Day (Victory over Japan) and was followed by the formal surrender was on the US battleship Missouri off the coast of Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, officially ending World War II. [reference: Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - World War II - HISTORY.com ]
What history overlooks is the B-29 firebombings of Japan the previous months of March - August 1945) under command of General Curtis LeMay. Those bombing killed far more combatants and civilians than the two atomic bombs. [reference: Curtis LeMay | World War II Database ] Yet, because of the shock of this "new and most cruel bomb" those deaths seemed eclipsed.
Yet, the bombing ended the war, most likely the most terrible war in recorded human history. Some put the total deaths of World War II over 70 million, with virtually no part of the planet untouched by this global conflict. [reference: World War 2 statistics ]
The Enormity of that War:
The one nation that really took a hit was the former Soviet Union at 25 million deaths, followed by China at 15 million, and Germany at 8 million.
The video shows the perspective of World War II death counts. It compares to other wars and ongoing conflicts since World War II:
Since then, in the United States we had conflicts and wars: Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I and II, as well as the Cold War and other conflicts throughout the world. All these are tragic, especially to those who lost loved ones. But the video shows these were minor in comparison to World War Two. Same case can be made for the other countries of the world.
The Long Peace is debated, but it asks the question: Are we living in a modern Pax Romana?
Perhaps.
Giving Peace a Chance
Peace is hard to quantify as it has a qualitative meaning as well as lack of immense global conflict. But during the 1960s and 1970s this theme of peace was echoed in the Baby Boomer generation. There was no World War III, at least on the scale of World War II, but it seemed we all seemed to live under a specter of an imminent nuclear holocaust during the Cold War.
Anyone who watches the news - if it bleeds, it leads - sees we still are fighting each other. But the scale is nothing like it was over 70 years ago. May the Long Peace continue as we Give Peace a Chance ...
This was the beginning of the end of World War Two, which was the most deadly war of the twentieth century. But it would not officially end until after VJ Day, Victory over Japan Day, when Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945: V-J Day - World War II - HISTORY.com
One of the largest conflicts in recorded history
Some estimates put the casualties of World War Two over 70 million, making it the most deadly war in modern times: World War Two Statistics
World War Two was sparked by Hitler's invasion of Poland. And the map in the video below give a summary of the conflicts in Europe:
.
And his obituary included the photo, shown above in this public domain picture. And it can be found on wikipedia with the following description:
U.S. Army Air Force Lt. Robert L. Hite, blindfolded by his captors, is led from a Japanese transport plane after he and the other seven flyers were flown from Shanghai to Tokyo. Hite was co-pilot of crew 16 (B-25B s/n 40-2268 Bat out of Hell, 34th Bomb Squadron) of the "Doolittle Raiders". After about 45 days in Japan, all eight were taken back to China by ship and imprisoned in Shanghai. On 15 October 1942 three were executed, one died in captivity. The four others, including Hite, were liberated on 20 August 1945.
And here's some background to this story.
December 7, 1941
The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, caught America by surprise and the country was not prepared for war.
Below is an inspiring clip for the Pearl Harbor (2001), where FDR gathered his top advisers to come up with plan to strike back at the heart of Japan.
In the clip above, the scene ends with the entrance of Captain Francis S. "Frog" Low. This submarine officer formed an ingenious strategy, launching army bombers from an aircraft carrier. This gave birth to the Doolittle Raid.
* Spring of 1942
Those early days of the war, American moral was at its nadir. Imperial Japanese forces in the Pacific had pushed American troops into retreat. Many men were lost in the fall of the Philippines, culminating in the infamous Bataan Death March.
* April 18, 1942
Meanwhile, Lt. Colonel James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle trained and lead a crew of 80 to strike back. So on April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25s took off from the desk of the USS Hornet, 650 miles south of Japan.
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo became the title of the book (1943) written by Ted Lawson and the movie (1944) as shown in this clip below:
Those critical 30 seconds, April 18, 1942, was a great morale boost for America. Though the war would not end for three more years, September 1945, the Doolittle Raid gave hope that we could win.
For a list of the 80 men that took part in the raid, 5 men in each of the 16 planes, check out: Doolittle Raider 80 Brave Men
The sacrifice
Here are the causalities of the brave men who suffered and gave their lives:
* One man, Faktor, was killed on a bail-out after the mission
* Two men, Fitzmaurice and Dieter, drown in a crash landing off the China coast
* Eight men, Hallmark, Meder, Nielsen, Farrow, Hite, Barr, Spatz, and DeShazer,
were captured by the Japanese:
* Three men executed by firing squad: Hallmark, Farrow, and Spatz
* One died as a POW from malnutrition, Meder
* The remaining four, Nielsen, Hite, Barr, and DeShazer,
survived 40 months of prison,
most of which was in solitary confinement
* And Hite lived till 95, passing away March 29, 2015
* Capt. Ted W. Lawson survived his plane's crash off the coast of China. Though the underground rescued him, his injured leg had to be amputated. He lived to write the book, turned movie: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Now only two of the original Doolittle Raiders survive as I type (April 11, 2015): retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher.
* April 12, 1945
FDR would not live to see the allied victory over Europe or Japan, as he died on April 12, 1945. But this Commander-in-Chief, struggling with a debilitating handicap, gave courage to the country to carry on, to take risks, to do what it takes to win, and to never give up during dark days.
And the Doolittle Raid is part of America's story.
Old movies and television shows give us a peek into Christmas Past - not long past, but perhaps our past, our parents' past, and even our grandparents' past.
And some of our best loved classics have meant much to the Greatest Generation who lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War II, then settled down with a special loved one during the post-war period of the 1950s.
My pick from the pop culture of the past are two iconic holiday scenes from the 1950s, one from the movies, the other from television:
Christmas Past in Wartime
White Christmas (1954) opens with crooner Bing Crosbyas Captain Bob Wallace singing the title song. This classic captures the nostalgia of the soldiers, who were fighting overseas, yet yearning for home during the holidays. That feeling is timeless.
And Bing Crosby was also a great patriot. America had entered World War II when he was 37 and, with a family, he was deemed too old to put on the uniform and fight. But much like his contemporary Bob Hope, Bing Crosby worked tirelessly to entertain the troops and boost their morale. [reference: As Veterans Day approaches, niece remembers Bing Crosby's service to soldiers]
The composer of White Christmas, Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989), like Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, was a patriot as well. Born Israel Baline, he was an immigrant to America, fleeing religious persecution of the Jewish community in his native Russia and settling in New York City. For more on his biography -Irving Berlin - Biography - Songwriter - Biography.com
From a misspelling of his name, I. Berlin, as lyricist, Israel Baline decided to keep the name and become known as Irving Berlin. And what followed were many ironies of a Jewish composer choosing the surname Berlin. Most obvious, his career spanned two World Wars, which the United States fought against Germany, whose capital was Berlin. And Hitler's Germany was hell-bent to exterminate the Jews, like Irving Berlin.
During World War I, Irving Berlin had first written God Bless America, as a great peace song. But with a glut of patriotic songs coming out at the time, he tabled it. Two decades later, Kate Smith introduced his peace song in 1938 at the cusp of World War II. Another irony. For more on this story: The story behind Irving Berlin's "God Bless America"
Though Jewish, Irving Berlin composed one of his best loved songs, White Christmas, celebrating a Christian holiday. Yet another irony. And it was Bing Crosby who introduced White Christmas to the world - on Christmas: December 25, 1941 - just as America had entered into World War II a few weeks earlier. [reference: Bing Crosby introduces "White Christmas" to the world — History.com This Day in History — 12/25/1941]
Christmas Past in Peacetime
And in the movie, White Christmas, the war came to an end. And the plot focused on the characters making their way during peacetime and ending their adventures with a big Christmas production, such as shown here: White Christmas ending
But during the postwar years, the early days of television produced another classic holiday scene from the Honeymooners (1955-1956) . Ralph Kramden, played by Jackie Gleason, a bus driver in New York City, struggled to strike it rich. Meanwhile, his wife Alice, played by Audrey Meadows, pulled him back to earth. The couple would fight and argue, such as in these scenes: Bang Zoom ...You're Going to the Moon!
But Ralph and Alice, bereft of material goods, living in a spartan apartment, deeply loved each other. And during Christmas, Ralph waxed nostalgic about his feelings during this closing scene from 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (24 Dec. 1955).
In spite of the everyday struggle of the middle class, those seemingly more innocent times as shown in popular entertainment reflected the post-war optimism during peace.
Christmas past ... Christmas present ...
Let me wax nostalgic during Christmastime. During this dark time of the year of short days, long nights (at least for us living in the northern hemisphere) the goodwill spirit of the season has an effect on us. Ralph Kramden expressed it so beautifully in the clip above. We may seem kinder, more generous, more compassionate toward one another than at any other time of the year.
And Christmas seems to reflect the optimism that during a dark season such as the dead of winter, we've turned the corner. Spring will soon come and our days will get longer and nights shorter. And my Christmas wish is for a kinder spirit to prevail throughout the New Year.
