I am one of those people who has trouble remembering dates, and, more specifically, what I was doing on a certain date.
If I were ever to be interrogated by law enforcement, I would be in deep doodoo.
Take last Saturday, for instance. That date I remember. Can't tell you what I was doing on that date but I know why the date is significant to me. It was Dec. 7, and its significance is Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
That date led to a lot of introspection and the making of a list of four dates important to my generation. I posted that list on Facebook, and then followed up with my reasons why.
Here on Blogspot, I will post each of the four dates and my reasons.
Here's the first:
Response One:
First, I should establish the parameters of “my generation” and, since it’s mine, I choose those of us born in the 1940s who are included in The Silent Generation and whose parents were in The Greatest Generation, plus the Early Baby Boomers.
Those born after—1950s and 1960s and so on, will have names for their generations and might have dates that are significant to them that may differ from mine.
Dec. 7, 1941—The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
Most of Europe, eastern Asia, and North Africa was consumed by war. FDR was fighting to keep the US out of the war.
The attack, a horrendous intelligence failure, destroyed much of the US naval fleet and planes based in Hawaii, and propelled the US into declaring war against Japan and, subsequently, into the European fray.
This conflict became known as World War II, as it involved most major countries as well as smaller, remote countries such as Greenland and Iceland, a truly world-wide effect.
While we might not remember the day these events occurred at the time, we eventually grew old enough to understand the importance of the date. Many of us had relatives who went off to war.
I was two weeks old on Dec. 7, 1941.
Well, I was a bit older than you Gullible, 1 year and 3 months old, so while I do not remember December 7th, 1941 actively, at the time I, and my family, lived in California. I have heard stories from my Dad about how California went on alert, and eventually my Dad went on active duty with the Navy and was on a ship off the coast when the flag was raised on Iwo Jima. My Dad would not talk about any other memories from being on active duty during the war. Once I started school, I also had Japanese friends who were in, or had been in, internment camps. Looking forward to hearing about your other memorable dates. Post hugs and always appreciating your commitment to sharing your thoughts with your posts!! Patti and Cap
ReplyDeleteEven though I was only age 5 on December the 7th, 1941, I clearly remember listening to Walter Winchell announcing the attack on Pearl Harbor as my parents were listening on our living room radio. I had no real idea of what it was about, but I "could tell" it was big news. Perhaps because I served in the United States Marine Corps I don't forget certain dates. Pearl Harbor along with D Day June 6th, 1944, are two I do not forget. Cap of Cap and Patti.
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