Pearl Harbor Day 2015 … December 7th, 1941, A Date That Will Forever Live in Infamy

Pearl Harbor Day 2015 …  December 7th, 1941, a Date That Will forever Live in Infamy …

Always remember, never forget … Today marks the 74th anniversary of the day the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked the Empire of Japan and the United States would never be the same. So many lives lost at the hands of such a cowardly act. It was a time of innocence lost; however, Americans would strike back against their foreign aggressors and save the world from tyranny. We remember those brave men and women that died that fateful day. So many lives affected by that single heinous act; however, as history would record, Japan awoke a sleeping giant. That reprehensible, treacherous act unified a country and in fact awoke a sleeping giant that provided the resolve to win a war against the evil Axis.

God Bless the heroism of Our Greatest Generation!

FDR’s Pearl Harbor speech:

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

The Bombing of Pearl Harbor

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we 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 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 very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

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 unbounded 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 seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”

Thank you to our Greatest Generation!!!

Two U.S. Marines Wounded After Stopping Islamist Terror Attacker on French Train in Belgium (VIDEO) (Update: Gunman ID’d as Ayoub el Khazzani)

HEROES: US Marines always at the ready …

Two U.S. Marines were reportedly wounded after they stopped an Islamist terror attacker aboard a French train traveling through Belgium. The terror suspect was wielding a box cutter and an AK-47. The suspect opened fire aboard the train injuring several individuals. CNN International reports, the struggle was brief, bloody and chaotic as three Americans ,  a civilian, an Air Force member and a National Guard member,  jumped into action and quickly tackled the suspect preventing a most certain massacre aboard the train.

They have yet t officially call this an act of terrorism; however, if it walks like a duck … The suspected gunman, a Moroccan national, was on the radar screen of European counterterrorism agencies for his radical jihadist views, the European counterterrorism official said.

The train was speeding through Belgium when the man emerged from the train bathroom, shirtless with a rifle — possibly an AK 47 — slung over his shoulder, the Americans said.

The three men — a member of the Air Force, an inactive National Guard member and a civilian — responded quickly, possibly preventing a deadly attack on the high-speed Thalys train.

The suspect had a box cutter or some other bladed weapon, authorities said.

“My friend Alek (Skarlatos) yells, ‘Get him,’ so my friend Spencer (Stone) immediately gets up to charge the guy, followed by Alek, then myself,” Anthony Sadler said in an interview with CNN.

“The three of us beat up the guy,” Anthony said. “In the process Spencer gets slashed multiple times by the box cutter, and Alek takes the AK away.

Dramatic footage shows aftermath of French train attack

UPDATE I: The Telegraph – Hero off-duty soldiers and British IT worker describe beating French train terrorist unconscious.

Chris Norman, the British man on board the train who helped tie up the attacker, has praised Spencer Stone’s bravery in helping an injured passenger who he said had been shot, even though he was badly injured himself.

He told reporters: “Once we had actually finally been able to get the guy under control, then Spencer, who is Alek’s friend, went to help the guy who had been shot, because there was a person who had actually taken a bullet wound and he was losing a lot of blood.

“So Spencer, he had a couple of cuts in the back of his neck, and his thumb was nearly cut off, actually probably saved the life of the other guy as well.

“So, it was really amazing. I think Spencer is the real hero of this.

“He was the guy who got up – Spencer first, Alek, Anthony, and then I came in at the end of it.”

UPDATE II: Correction, Three Americans are heroes in preventing terror attack on train.

In any case, the actions of U.S. Airman First Class Spencer Stone, of Sacramento, Oregon National Guard Spc. Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler, a Sacramento State University student described as a longtime friend of Stone’s, meant there was no worst case scenario.

And so Aug. 21, 2015 will not join the list of dates of horrific carnage that have come to be associated with modern terrorism. It will not be recalled as the deadliest attack since Sept. 11, 2001, or simply 9/11, which it could well have been. It won’t be remembered as deadlier than 11-M, the March 11, 2004, terror attacks on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, that left 191 dead. It won’t eclipse the carnage of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris earlier this year, which began on Jan. 7 and ended Jan. 9, and left 17 victims and three attackers dead.

UPDATE III: Gunman Identified as Ayoub el Khazzani.

Obama Finally Lowers White House Flags to Half Staff 5 Days After 4 US Marines & 1 Navy Sailor Murdered in Terror Attack in Tennessee

IT TOOK LESS THAN 5 HOURS FOR THE OBAMA TO COLOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN RAINBOW COLORS, BUT 5 DAYS TO LOWER THE FLAGS IN HONOR OF THE US MILITARY FALLEN IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE. 

File this one under, the its about time file. Well America, you voted for a president, not once, but twice, who said he would fundamentally change America. How’s that working out for you? Yesterday, Barack Obama finally ordered the lowering of the American flag to half-staff at the White House and other public buildings. Of course it was only after pressure mounted against him to do so as the president finally ordered the lowering of the flag some 5 days after the terror attack in Chattanooga, TN where 4 US Marines and one Navy sailor was killed. Critics argued that Obama lowered the flag immediately following other mass shootings like Sandy Hook and it was mere hours after the SCOTUS ruled on same sex marriage that Obama had the White House showered in rainbow colors.

President Obama has ordered flags at the White House and other public buildings to fly at half-staff after mounting criticism over the delay in honoring five armed forces members killed last week by a gunman.

Obama’s proclamation calls for the flags to remain at half-mast through Saturday “as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 16.”

“Our thoughts and prayers as a Nation are with the service members killed last week in Chattanooga. We honor their service. We offer our gratitude to the police officers and first responders who stopped the rampage and saved lives,” Obama said in a presidential proclamation released Tuesday.

“We draw strength from yet another American community that has come together with an unmistakable message to those who would try to do us harm: We do not give into fear. You cannot divide us. And you will not change our way of life.”

Obama announced his decision hours after Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol to be flown at half-staff.

Ahead of Obama’s decision, conservatives lined up to pan the president for failing to lower the flag. They noted that various governors around the country have done so and that the White House had lowered its flag after other mass shootings.

It is disgraceful that a Commander in Chief would wait this long to honor fallen military heroes. And only because he was pressured to.

Chatanooga, Tennessee Terror Attack Death Toll Rises to 5 … 24 Year Old Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith Has Passed Away From Injuries

Sadly, a 5th military individual has passed away as a result of the Chatanooga, Tennessee terror attack …

24 year old Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith passed away early this morning from injuries he suffered as a result of Thursday’s terror attack on the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Smith has been shot several times with wounds to his right arm, back and abdomen. Smith suffered extensive damage to his colon and liver in the shooting. Petty officer Smith underwent several surgeries and died around 2:17 a.m. Saturday. Smith was from Paulding, Ohio and tragically leaves behind a wife and three young daughters under the age of six (pic of Smith and two of his little girls).

Click HERE to watch VIDEO via FOX News

The Navy said Saturday the sailor shot in Thursday’s attack at a military support center in Chattanooga, Tenn. has died.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, 24, was one of three people injured when a gunman opened fire at the center, killing four Marines. The shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism.

Fox News spoke to Smith’s step-grandmother Darlene Proxmire who confirmed he died early Saturday.

Smith was shot three times when a gunman opened fire at the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Thursday morning. He was struck in the right arm, back and stomach, family members told a Kansas newspaper, the Salina Journal, according to the Chattanoogan.

He underwent several surgeries and died around 2:17 a.m. Saturday. His wife and other family members were with him at the hospital when he died.

Those brave men we have lost:

The sailor’s death comes in addition to the four U.S. Marines killed at the scene. They have been identified as Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, of Cobb, Georgia; Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, of Hampden, Massachusetts; Sgt. Carson Holmquist, of Polk, Wisconsin, and Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, of Burke, North Carolina.

A devastated step-grandmother, Darlene Proxmire, talks about Randall Smith.

Sailor from Paulding one of Chattanooga shooting victims:

His step-grandmother, Darlene Proxmire, told NewsChannel 15 Smith was a great baseball player and even got a scholarship to play in college. She said he hurt his shoulder and joined the Navy shortly after. Proxmire said she first heard about the shooting when a friend left her a voicemail.

“I immediately turned it on CNN and wow it was awful,” Proxmire said.

Smith’s mother is in Chattanooga with him.

“It’s hard to understand how somebody can hurt somebody that’s serving for you. For your freedom, for your safety,” Paula Proxmire said.

Proxmire said she never worried about Smith joining the military.

“Because he was never shipped over there where, you know, the fighting and all that was at,” Proxmire said. “He loved the Navy. He loved it in there.”

It was on U.S. soil when the unthinkable happened.

“It’s terrible,” Proxmire said. “You think oh that’s not going to happen to your family, but by gum it can. It can happen anywhere.”

EXIT QUESTION: How many people must die before we take terrorism seriously in the United States?

One of Victims of Chattanooga Terror Shooting ID’d as 40 Year Old Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan … ‘He was our hero’

A HERO IS IDENTIFIED …

One of the four US Marines that was killed yesterday at a Chattanooga, TN military facility was identified as an Iraqi veteran and Purple Heart recipient Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan. The 40 year old Marine had joined the Marine corps in 1997 and was from Springfield, MA.

Our hearts and prayers go out the to family and friends of Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan … Semper Fi!

Rest in Peace Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan

One of the four U.S. Marines killed by a Muslim extremist in an attack on a Tennessee military facility was identified as an Iraqi veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Springfield, Mass.

Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, 40, a Marine since 1997, was one of those killed Thursday by Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, 24, a Kuwaiti-born Chattanooga resident who was killed near the scene.

Sullivan served in India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines and fought in the 2005 Battle of Abu Ghraib, where he earned a Combat Action medal and Purple Heart.

The Facebook page of a Springfield bar and restaurant owned by one of Sullivan’s two siblings posted a message paying tribute to Sullivan.

“He was our hero and he will never be forgotten,” it read. “Please keep his family & friends in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you Tommy for protecting us.”