December 7, 1941 (3)
November 17, 2008 – 6:00 amMore memories of December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor Day
Ann writes, “I remember well December 7, 1941. I was 15 years old living in Wilmington, Delaware. My mother, sister an aunt, and I were visiting friends. It was customary to visit friends and relatives on Sundays. While there, the phone rang and we were told to turn on the radio. And then we heard the terrible news. We were horrified and, I am sure, unbelieving. I also remember the speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt the next day. It was so powerful. Of course, none of us can ever forget those horrifying events, which still reverberate in our memories to this day.”
From the book Dead Reckoning by McAvoy and Sigfred, we have this story. On December 7, 1941, Sture Sigfred stopped at a gas station on a rural road in Wisconsin. The voice on the radio in the background indicated that something had just happened at Hickham Field in Honolulu. The gas attendant was about to turn the radio off, suggesting the report was some sort of soap opera. Surge, a pilot, told the attendant he had just been in Honolulu four weeks ago and this was no soap opera. And then they both listened intently as the announcer reported the devastation at Pearl Harbor, hangars burning and battleships sinking into the sea. As if in a daze the attendant went to the phone and dialed. “Rose,” he said. “Call Joe at the co-op and order 100 pounds of sugar.” It appeared that his message was meeting with some resistance, so he repeated his order. “Don’t ask questions. Just call Joe at the co-op and order 100 pounds of sugar. I’ll be home soon.”
Jeanne remembers that she was visiting young friends in her hometown of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania on that fateful day. Other family members including older brothers were listening to the radio when suddenly they became quite agitated. Jeanne knew that something terrible had happened – a really major event. She knew her parents were not accustomed to listening to the radio on Sunday afternoons, so she ran home to tell them to turn on the radio. She recalls they all went to church that evening.
For World War II stories go to www.peggeorge.com
2 Responses to “December 7, 1941 (3)”
Hey Mrs. George! It’s Evan from Mrs. Cartee-Harrings class. First, just wanted to know how you are, and that you got to your car alright after that day. On your question, I cant imagine how I would have felt. I mean, you are going to go to war, there is no doubt when you have such evidence like nearly an entire fleet of war ships destroyed. I can’t imagine the feeling of those young kids, who even though they were so young and innocent, they still decided right then to go to war, to risk their lives for this country. They have great courage and I respect them greatly. I have a history of family who fought in World War Two, on both sides actually. I also see a lot of them at my work, Pine Run Community, and they all seem like they really did feel for the country at the time, that they didn’t have regrets about fighting. It is not the same today with this war. I forget what I was watching, but I saw on TV once a political commentary in which they showed clips of people doing all they could for the army and the war back in the 1940s and then they would cut back to clips of what we are “doing” today for the war and the army. It was really eye opening, we don’t have to be active citizens any more. I always look back to World War II as the last black and white, “good” vs. “evil” war, and how it was probably the last proper war, you knew your enemy, and they knew you. It was truely a fight against tyranny and a fight for liberty and freedom. That’s really all I have for today, thanks again for coming into our class and have a nice day!
~Evan Spitzer
By Evan Spitzer on Dec 7, 2008
Hi Mrs. George!
I’m also from Mrs. Cartee Haring’s Class. My name is Elizabeth. I found your account of December 7th really interesting. I could not help comparing the “Day of Infamy” to “September 11th” - because for my generation - that is probably our most disturbing and eye-opening memory. Or at least it is for me. Of course I was much younger than 15 - I was about 9 I believe, so I don’t remember Bush’s address to the nation… I just remember feeling so confused. Prior to the attack, I had imagined the World Trade Towers as two big domes for some reason. After the attack, I remember disliking Tuesdays from that day forward. Maybe I was too young to appreciate the significance of the event. But I don’t think so. I believe that when a tragedy occurs - as horrific as Pearl Harbor or September 11th, a person cannot help but remember.
Tragedies have a way of unifying people… people look for something or someone to blame, to cling to… In Pearl Harbor’s case, it was a call for military action - a call to end isolationism and avenge the unprovoked Japanese attack. In 911’s case, the call for military action did not come right away, but it did come. Tragedies have such far-reaching and powerful effects - whether it be war, or unification.
That’s my two cents for now.
Thanks again for coming into our class!
-Elizabeth
By Elizabeth on Dec 8, 2008