Day of infamy
Day of darkness
To weeks of darkness
To months of darkness
To years of darkness…
…when suddenly there was a great light. Some of the people rejoiced for it did bring about the end of years of planet wide war. One had never seen a light so bright…
…or so harsh, so destructive and so deadly, bringing in an age of fear, a different kind of fear, a fear lasting for almost eight decades now with no end in sight.
Yes, the great light of the nuclear bomb massacring hundreds of thousands three and one half years after Pearl Harbor.
It began eighty two years ago today just before eight in the morning in the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese had elected to destroy much of America's naval power and did so by attacking and destroying most of Pearl Harbor. Seven hours later the Japanese attacked America's airfields in the Philippines on Luzon. Because of the international dateline it was December 8th in the Philippines. The United States of America’s entire Pacific air fleet was virtually destroyed in less than a half hour.
My father had just finished his lunch at one end of Clarks Field (where he ended the day commanding one of the one of two surviving anti-aircraft units at the base), when the Japanese filled the sky with zeros and bombers dropping the full wrath of the Japanese command.
Artist’s Depiction of Clark’s Field seven hours after Pearl Harbor by Curt Funke.
I quote him from the book Faithful: Because of Love a True Story of the Defenders of Bataan. The book is a literal translated eyewitness account of what happened that day and the ensuing aftermath and horror in the Battle for the Philippine’s.
One of Big Al’s reflections after that moment…
From Disc Two Track Three Major Suttmann quotes… “My feeling is that the generation that was born after World War I, that became the soldiers of World War II, came through some very, very tough times. The society of that time was not exactly Victorian-like but once the roaring 20s were over, they took on a very rigid attitude because of the depression and everything.
As a result, you had deep respect for authority for your parents, for your teachers and for your country, and I think that helped make the finest army of this country, ever. I don't think you'll ever assemble another group of men of that number… you are talking somewhere around ten million people, that had the dedication and commitment to soldiering like that group did.
I really didn't find too many bad soldiers. Actually, I can't think of a really bad soldier I had. Hey! There was plenty of them that had fear. I had fear. But the commitment to get the job done, to do as you were told, even in the face of death crossing that field…
But the commitment to get the job done, to do as you were told, even in the face of death crossing that field…
Are we still committed to get the job done?
Like loving your neighbor regardless of race, religion, politics to the point of laying down your life for them.
And following the Will of the One who told us of this ultimate act.
Yes, just two simple rules…
1. Love Him
2. Love everyone else created in His Image and Likeness
Clement
And now hear his voice and listen to him. The world needs to hear him now more that ever. Second half of five minute tape.