Honor Given Where Honor Is Due - 3

Part 3, From Yesterday’s Post

On December 8th, 1941, President Theordore Roosevelt, gave the great “Infamy speech”. The last few paragraphs woke up a nation that began to prepare for war.

President Roosevelt’s speech ended with,

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 wi ll 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 un-bounding 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.”

Japanese General Isoroku Yamamoto was against the Attack on Pearl Harbor, but once it was inevitable, he planned the attack. Shortly after the attack of Pearl Harbor he said, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." His premonition became a reality. We awoke and we built. Our men went to war and our women built the machine’s that were needed for the war.

Near the end of the war in Iwo Jima Admiral Chester A Nimitz stated that, “Among the Americans serving on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Many said that Iwo Jima was the battlefield that closely resembled the Biblical vision of Hell. Iwo Jima was eight square miles of volcanic ash, pumice and sand. The Marines had the honor of taking Iwo Jima and take it they did.
Iwo Jima was the bloodiest battle in the war and in all of Marine history. They had more casualties than the Union Army at Gettysburg. The battle was responsible for over 1/4 of all the Medals of Honor awarded to Marines during World War II. The picture of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima is the most honored and reproduced photograph of all time. I have been at the Memorial in Virginia. You can’t help but stand in awe, silence and respect when standing in front of it.

Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal told a friend that, “ the raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years." He also came out with this little ditty:

Storm'd at with shot and shell
Bravely they rode and well
Into the Jaws of Death
Into the Mouth of Hell

Part 4, Tomorrow