Pearl Harbor Day 2014: 73rd Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor … December 7th, 1941, a Date That Will Forever Live in Infamy

Pearl Harbor Day 2014 …  December 7th, 1941, a Date That Will forever Live in Infamy …

Today marks the 73rd 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. We remember those brave men and women that died that fateful day. And we honor those that survived and fought on to defend the United States, freedom and liberty. The reprehensible and treacherous sneak act unified a country and awoke a sleeping giant that provided the resolve to win a war against the evil Axis. It was that resolve, leadership and focus on the enemy that enabled the United States and its Allies to victory.

God Bless the heroism of Our Greatest Generation!

USS Arizona Under Attack at Pearl Harbor

 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.

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.”

UPDATE I: Pearl Harbor survivors reunite in Hawaii to mark 73rd anniversary of attack.

More than a dozen Pearl Harbor survivors, each more than 90 years old, gathered in Hawaii this week to share stories as they marked the 73rd anniversary of the Japanese attack that killed 2,400 sailors, Marines and soldiers.

The gathering has been called the last meeting for the USS Arizona Reunion Association – comprised of the remaining nine survivors of the USS Arizona, a battleship that sank in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack.

But Louis Conter isn’t ready to talk about the end.

“I don’t think this is going to be our last. … We’ve still got time to go,” said Conter, 93, of Grass Valley, Calif. “We’ll be back out here no matter whether the rest of the crowd can make it or not.”

Emotional Tribute to Our Veterans: For Our Freedom, Honor and Country … I Fought For You

WOW, this might be one of the best tributes ever to our military, our heroes, our veterans.

It starts out with a grandfather saying to his two grandsons, “some people have short memories and those who are too young to know need to be taught”. The two young  kids obviously had no clue what he was saying. By the videos end, they totally understood.

God bless the brave men and woman of our Armed forced who sacrifice so much for our freedom.

A Veterans Day Prayer from President Ronald Reagan

Since our current president was in China and too busy to lay a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetary, maybe a prayer from a true Commander in Chief is required. The following is a prayer from President Ronald Wilson Reagan.

November 11, 2014 – VETERANS DAY … Thank You for Your Service to America and to Protect Our Liberty and Freedom … God Bless You All

We should thank veterans ever day for the service they perform to protect our liberty and freedom, but we do so especially today on this Veterans Day, November 11, 2014 … Thank you for your service and God Bless … HEROES ALL!!!

We know that Freedom is never free and thanks to our military veterans, the United States of America continues to be free. A special thanks goes out to all veterans from the bottom of our hearts to the men, women and their families who sacrifice themselves to protect our Liberties so that we may live in the land of the free, and most certainly, the home of the brave. To the men and women who presently serve and who have served in our Armed Forces … THANK YOU!!! Your service to our nation is truly appreciated and shall never be forgotten and should be forever celebrated.

We owe our veterans, those that would sacrifice their lives for ours our love, prayers and support throughout their lives. There should never be such things as VA scandals, our heroes should be put at the top of the list, not the bottom. Our nation should be forever thankful.

Please watch the fantastic video from the NRA below.

VIDEO

Mexican Judge Orders U.S. Marine Veteran Andrew Tahmooressi be Freed from Mexican Jail

FINALLY,  AFTER 214 DAYS IN A MEXICAN JAIL …ANDREW TAHMOORESSI FREED!!!

Judge Victor Octavio Luna Escobedo of the Sixth Federal District Court in Tijuana ordered the immediate release of a U.S. Marine veteran Andrew Tahmooressi, who was being held in a Mexican jail on possession of weapons charges. Tahmooressi had been jailed since March 31, 2014 when he accidentally crossed the US/Mexican border with ammunition and three loaded weapons. The judge ordered his release on humanitarian grounds and dismissed the case on the grounds that were that Tahmooressi was unfit to stand trial because he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

VIDEO – CBS News

A Mexican federal district judge in Tijuana on Friday ordered the immediate release of a U.S. Marine veteran being held in Baja California on federal weapons charges.

Andrew Tahmooressi, who was on trial for crossing the border with ammunition and three loaded weapons on March 31, returned to the United States Friday night and flew to his family’s home in Florida.

The decision by the Mexican Attorney General’s Office to cease its prosecution of Tahmooressi brings to a close a high-profile case that has resounded far beyond the border.

In the United States, it prompted calls for Tahmooressi’s release from politicians, veterans groups and conservative talk show hosts. But for months there had been an impasse, as Mexican federal prosecutors insisted that the case be resolved through the courts — not through diplomatic or political pressure.

U.S. Marine reservist freed from Mexican prison, arrives in San Diego

Mexico freed U.S. Marine reservist Sgt. Andrew Paul Tahmooressi, who’d been held in a prison there for seven months.

Tahmooressi boarded a flight for Miami from San Diego.

“It is with an overwhelming and humbling feeling of relief that we confirm that Andrew was released today after spending 214 days in Mexican jail,” relatives said in a statement Friday night.

Tahmooressi family spokesman Jonathan Franks said Friday night in a statement: “The family is overjoyed. They are asking for privacy at this time.”

The court said it found no cause to prosecute Tahmooressi on charges of carrying two firearms used exclusively by the military, possessing cartridges used exclusively by the military and carrying a firearm without a license

The court also recommended he be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Reactions following Andrew Tahmooressi’s release:

“It’s a victory for American veterans,” said former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who had talked to Mexican officials to urge them to release retired Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi on humanitarian grounds. “It’s a victory for the United States.”

U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was “elated” by the news and that his PTSD will be treated by specialists in the United States. He had met with Tahmooressi in jail and talked to Mexico’s Jesus Murillo Karam about the case.