World War II Woman

President Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy Speech

Mr. Vice President [Henry A. Wallace], Mr. Speaker [Sam Rayburn], members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: yesterday, December 7th, 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.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor [Hirohito] looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador [Kichisaburō Nomura] to the United States and his colleague [Saburō Kurusu] delivered to our Secretary of State [Cordell Hull] a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. 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.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounding determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

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December 7, 1941 (final)

Three more memories –

Ralph vividly remembers where he was – at the Oxford Movie Theater on Rising Sun Avenue in the Burkhome section of Philadelphia watching a double feature. It wasn’t until he went out onto the street that he heard what had happened. Everyone was talking about the attack. However, it was at school the next day that the importance of the attack became very real. Northeast High was an all-male school. Every student knew that the events of the previous day would drastically effect his life far into the future.

Margarita was at her home in Wynnefield, near Philadelphia, when news of the attack came over the radio. She was with her mother and other family members. Her greatest memory is that of fear. The attack was a terrible shock accompanied with worry for her own safety. She recalls looking at the windows in her bedroom and thinking they could be blown out. Her comment is that she was “really afraid.”

Anne was at Penn State College, now Pennsylvania State University, in Centre County. She was eating dinner with fellow students in the dining room when word of the attack was announced. The news was met with great shock and unhappiness. Many of the girls were crying because their boyfriends were already in the service. And, of course, the male students knew that war would greatly change their plans. It was a time of much uncertainty about the future.

This ends my series of memories of Pearl Harbor Day. I am grateful to the people who shared their stories. Sunday is Pearl Harbor Day. On Monday, December 8, I will feature President Delano Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy speech.

For more World War II stories, go to www.peggeorge.com.

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My brother George

Today I have only one memory of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, to share. That is the memory my brother George Hewitt related to me the other night.

George was honored a few weeks ago as the recipient of the 2008 Spirit, Mind & Body award by the Eastern Delaware County YMCA for his outstanding dedication and service to the community. I had known George was active, but let me mention just a few of his many activities.

George was a parish minister in the Methodist Church for over 42 years until his retirement in 1984 when he became Director of the Department of Pastoral Care at Delaware County Memorial Hospital. At the age of 86, he still goes to work every day, ministering to patients and staff alike.

His community involvement includes the Boy Scouts of America, Rotary International, Freemasons, Delco Child Care Center, American Cancer Society, the Community YMCA, Upper Darby Community Outreach Corporation, and the Sellers Library. In many of these activities he has held leadership positions and received awards for his distinguished service. George has been awarded the Freedoms’ Foundation Medal of Honor, and the Legion of Merit Award from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains.

Back in 1941 George was a college sophomore in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. One week before Pearl Harbor Day, he was appointed to be Pastor of the South Avis Community Church. While visiting in a parishioner’s home, word of the bombing of our ships at Pearl Harbor came over the radio. A young son serving in the Navy was at home that day. Immediately he received word to report back to the naval base in Bainbridge,  Maryland. Shortly thereafter he was dispatched overseas.

As a 19 year old college student, George felt a heavy responsibility while he led the family in prayer for the safety of their son.

For more stories of World War II, go to www.peggeorge.com.

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The First Thanksgiving

There are 2 and only 2 primary sources for the events of autumn 1821 in Plymouth: Edward Wihslow writing in Mourt’s Relations and William Bradford writing in Of Plymouth Plantation.

Edward Winslow

“Our harvest being gotten in, our government sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, whch they brought to the Plantation and bestowed upon our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

William Bradford

“They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All summer there was no want, and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees) And besides waterfowl there was a great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports.”

From the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth Massachusetts web page

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Memories of December 7, 1941 (5)

Norman, his brothers, and several friends decided to make a surprise trip to visit an uncle living in Baltimore, Maryland. They were living in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, their uncle was also making a surprise visit to Pennsylvania. With time on their hands, and very little money in their pockets, they decided to go to Washington, D.C. to see the sights, all free. While on the way home, listening to the radio, they learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Norman says that from that day forward for many years he could think of almost nothing except the war and its impact on our lives. He enlisted and served in Europe.

Mary was in the Army Nurse Corps Reserve stationed at Ft. Belvoir outside of Washington, D. C. on December 7, 1941. She had enlisted in January of that year. On Pearl Harbor Day, she and another nurse were visiting her friend’s home in Washington when they heard the news. Given the fact that they had been encouraged to enlist to treat wounded soldiers,  they were not surprised by the news. They had suspected war was bound to happen sooner or later. The following days at camp were filled with shots, new instructions, and rumors of where they would be sent. Some of the nurses went overseas; Mary went to the Panama Canal Zone.

Bob and Ruth shared their memories of December 7, 1941. Bob was listening to the New York Giants game on the radio when the news was announced. Ruth had a neighbor friend visiting for an afternoon of play. They were still children and quite frightened by the news. Having no idea where Pearl Harbor was, they thought perhaps the Japanese could be in their neighborhood. When Ruth’s friend returned home, she left by the back door, climbed a fence, and went through backyards. She then called Ruth to announce that she had arrived home safely without seeing any Japanese.

For more World War II stories, go to www.peggeorge.com

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December 7, 1941 (4)

More memories of Pearl Harbor Day

• Rose recalls the attack was announced late on a Sunday afternoon. Her older siblings were not at home but she and her mother were listening to “The Shadow Knows” on the radio. Perhaps that’s the program that was on the radio at Jeanne’s friend’s house mentioned in the previous blog. At any rate, in the middle of the program, an announcement interrupted the suspense of this very popular drama with the words that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Rose and her mother wondered how this could possibly effect their lives. But, then, it was time for dinner.

• Helen, her mother and her father went to Grand Central Station that Sunday afternoon to catch a train to Pleasantville in Westchester County, where they were having dinner at a friend’s home. At the station and all the way to their destination, people were talking about the attack on Pearl Harbor. No one seemed to know where it was. When they arrived at their friend’s house, they told her of the attack. Although a well-educated woman, she didn’t know where Pearl Harbor was either, so she spread out a map on the table for them to see just where this place was. They had no idea how significant this day would be for our country in the days ahead.

• Charlie remembers clearly that he was watching a movie along with a bunch of other soldiers at the Post theater in Pine Camp, New York. He had been drafted in May of 1941 at the age of 25. In the middle of the movie, an announcement was made telling them to return to their barracks for further information. It was there they learned the words that would change their lives forever. Some of them had hoped to be discharged within a short time. It was not to be. The following day was spent in meetings preparing the men for what lay ahead.

For other World War II stories, go to www.peggeorge.com

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December 7, 1941 (3)

More 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  

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