IVANO SAYS: JUST IN CASE SOME OF US MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT DECEMBER 7, 1941, WAS ALL ABOUT, I'M PUBLISHING KRISTIAN'S (MY 13-YEAR OLD GRANDSON) CLASS ASSIGNMENT FOR TODAY.
December 7, 1941, ‘A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY’
On December 7, 1941, Japan, without declaring war, made a ’sneak attack’ on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, bombing our ships. Many ships were sunk and many American lives were lost. This ’sneak attack’ caught our armed forces stationed in Hawaii completely by surprise.
On December 8, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt went before Congress and declared that “December 7, 1941, was a day that will live in infamy .” By that he meant that the ‘sneak attack’ by Japan was a disgraceful and dishonorable act and would always be remembered that way. He demanded that Congress declare war on Japan.
Congress did declare war on Japan. Japan’s partners (Germany and Italy) declared war on the United States. The United States then declared war on Germany and Italy. The United States became fully involved in WW II.
Because many of the ships had been sunk, the United States could not attack back. It was also not prepared to defend itself. Many people thought that Japan would launch another attack on the west coast of the United States. Coast Guard Units and Army soldiers were set up all along the coast to look for enemy Japanese submarines and airplanes. Blackouts were ordered at night so the enemy could not see us. Laws were passed to make Japanese, German and Italians who lived in the United States to stay away from the Coast. Some lost there jobs and property; Some were forced to move inland.
To win the war, the United States called up many, many young men to serve. Some were volunteers, but most were drafted. This left many jobs without men to do the work at home. The women filled in and did most of those jobs. Factories that turned out cars, trucks, etc. were made to turn out war things such as airplanes and tanks. Restrictions were put on the amount of food, gasoline and other products you could buy at one time or not at all. Everybody was involved one way or another in this war.
The United States soon became strong enough to attack back. We became so strong that we beat the Germans in the first part of 1945. Later in 1945, we dropped Atomic bombs on Japan ending the war there. By doing so we began the Atomic Age.
The United State began the War as a nation that didn’t want to get involve in other nation’s wars. At the end of the War, we became the leader of the free world. We supported the United Nations and to this day are deeply involved in international affairs some involving undeclared wars in foreign nations. What would the founders of the Constitution think of this?
IVANO SAYS (CONT'D) I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT KRISTIAN GOT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COAST FROM THE BOOK"LA NOSTRA COSTA" (OUR COAST) BY YOURS TRULY . SEMPRE AVANTI.
December 7, 1941, ‘A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY’
On December 7, 1941, Japan, without declaring war, made a ’sneak attack’ on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, bombing our ships. Many ships were sunk and many American lives were lost. This ’sneak attack’ caught our armed forces stationed in Hawaii completely by surprise.
On December 8, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt went before Congress and declared that “December 7, 1941, was a day that will live in infamy .” By that he meant that the ‘sneak attack’ by Japan was a disgraceful and dishonorable act and would always be remembered that way. He demanded that Congress declare war on Japan.
Congress did declare war on Japan. Japan’s partners (Germany and Italy) declared war on the United States. The United States then declared war on Germany and Italy. The United States became fully involved in WW II.
Because many of the ships had been sunk, the United States could not attack back. It was also not prepared to defend itself. Many people thought that Japan would launch another attack on the west coast of the United States. Coast Guard Units and Army soldiers were set up all along the coast to look for enemy Japanese submarines and airplanes. Blackouts were ordered at night so the enemy could not see us. Laws were passed to make Japanese, German and Italians who lived in the United States to stay away from the Coast. Some lost there jobs and property; Some were forced to move inland.
To win the war, the United States called up many, many young men to serve. Some were volunteers, but most were drafted. This left many jobs without men to do the work at home. The women filled in and did most of those jobs. Factories that turned out cars, trucks, etc. were made to turn out war things such as airplanes and tanks. Restrictions were put on the amount of food, gasoline and other products you could buy at one time or not at all. Everybody was involved one way or another in this war.
The United States soon became strong enough to attack back. We became so strong that we beat the Germans in the first part of 1945. Later in 1945, we dropped Atomic bombs on Japan ending the war there. By doing so we began the Atomic Age.
The United State began the War as a nation that didn’t want to get involve in other nation’s wars. At the end of the War, we became the leader of the free world. We supported the United Nations and to this day are deeply involved in international affairs some involving undeclared wars in foreign nations. What would the founders of the Constitution think of this?
IVANO SAYS (CONT'D) I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT KRISTIAN GOT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COAST FROM THE BOOK"LA NOSTRA COSTA" (OUR COAST) BY YOURS TRULY . SEMPRE AVANTI.
3 comments:
Bravo Kristian! Congratulations on your well worded account of the events of 70 years ago. Those of us who were already alive then, did our part too. While too young to be in the service, we bought war stamps, donated scrap metal, and wrote encouraging letters to our friends in the military. Those five years changed our lives geatly, but we became stronger as a people because of those times. May we remember and be thanful for those who served.
Gino.
Thanks Gino: I'll pass on your thoughtful comments to Kristian.
Kristian is studying the Constitution at the moment. It came as a pleasant surprise that he was given this assignment. Some events are more important than everyday sequential studies. I was happy that the School and Mr. Bremis (Kristian' Social Studies teacher)realized this. And the President going before Congress asking (demanding) that they Declare War is how the Constitution says it is to be done. By my account, that was the last time that this has happened although we have been envolved in at least 4 undeclare wars since then.
Great job, Kristian. I hope you continue to read your Grandfather's book. It really gives you a feel of what it was like for Italisns to live though those war years. It wasn't the best of times for our parents but they came through if all right. Thanks. SS
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