Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

It has been 74 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. When I opened my shop 25 years ago veterans would stop in and talk about that day. They swore that there would never be a Japanese automobile sitting in their driveway. I guess the stories they told me were never relayed to their children.

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

Fox NFL was at the Harbor yesterday. Great telecast. They had 17 or 18 survivors honored there. Other than that, I haven't seen much mentioned about it. Sad....

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

The youngest survivor would be in his early 90's ?

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

When I was a kid growing up in my Dads(a WWII Vet.) gas station, it was the meeting place for all of his Veteran Buddies. As a punk kid, I didn't show them the respect that they deserved. Now that they're all gone(including Dad), I very often think about those characters and what a privilege it was for me to grow up around those Heroes.

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

Thank you for recognizing this day.

My father fought in Europe during the war. He was 18 and one month old when he was drafted. He would never speak about the it other than to say "War isn't hell. It's worse than hell."

There's a lot of graphic footage that has come out in recent years that has helped me understand a lot more about what he was trying to say. One of things that I now understand most is that I'll never understand what the soldiers and civilians went through.

Total war at home and abroad. It's no wonder that they were known as the greatest generation.

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

One of my friends Dad was at Pearl Harbor,he is still living,I remember when Toyota was going to build factory in Georgetown,Ky. he told me how that should never happen and he would never drive a Toyota and my Grandpa was W W2 veteran he always said, we had to drop A-bomb to stop the Japanese,then US went over rebuilt them, taught them how to manufacture,etc. and they will take this country over without ever firing a shot.
Like Billy said when you are younger you don't realize how much you should respect and honor those older vets.
I now understand their opinions and have the utmost respect for their sacrifice and service they gave to our country.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

I saw an old guy in a WWII Vet cap in a Lowes parking lot a while ago and decided to pay my respects. I got the same type of response as this. He had served in the Pacific and didn't really have any fond memories of it. He appreciated the recognition, though and I'm glad I took the time to talk with him.

My father was service age but had a family so he didn't get drafted. I remember building a model of the Enola Gay in the 60s and showing it to my Mother. She was pretty disturbed by it. Very upsetting times.

Dale

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

My 100 year old Grandfather served in WWII in the Pacific, he was on his way to Pearl Harbor the day It was bombed. I often reflect on what "might of been" if he was a day earlier. He has been the picture of health for 100 years until the last 3 months. Unfortunately I had to call hospice in for assistance last week but last night he asked me what day it was, when I told him I could see a little smile as he always considered himself fortunate.

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

Really cool story James. I bet he has told you some interesting stories over the years. Enjoy the time you have left with him. I visited Pearl Harbor several years ago. When I drove through the gates and looked at the top of the mountains it sent chills through my body. Lots of history at that place.

Re: Remembering Pearl Harbor......
 

(Billy Nees) Billy: Other than my older brother I have never talked with anyone else who was pumping gas at the same age I learned how to ride a bike. My Dad was also a WWll Vet and served in Guadalcanal as a SeaBee he had a gas station as well and once a month he and his Vet friend's would get together for a Beer and shoot the breeze at his station. I never forgot those guy's and when I told my Dad I was going to enlist he asked me to look into the USN SeaBee's as well I did and was the second generation to serve in the same branch as my Dad. But I would not have traded those year's at the gas station for any other job and that opened the door for us racing together as I made my first pass thank's to Dad the summer of "64". In closing I admire those guy's that served in WWll as well as all of the guy's and girl's that put it on the line every day for us to do what we do just my $.02 -
Bob Albert