“A Date that will live in infamy.”
On December 7, 1941 while our grandfather General Rupertus was stationed at the Marine Barracks, NOB San Diego, the Japanese launched a suprise attack on the US Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Two thousand three hundred people were killed, ships caught on fire, sank, or were beached. Those living in and around Pearl Harbor scrambled for understanding and safety, fearing their lives. Every life was impacted as word spread of the attack, loss of lives, and instant need for action.
The Japanese also bombed the Philippines, Malaya, Hong Kong, and Wake and Midway Islands.
And, they took the remaining American Marines and navy personnel stationed in China as POWS.
We were thrown into WWII on December 7, 1941 which did not truly end until the Japanese officially surrendered aboard the USS Missouri, September 2, 1945.
What was our response to being attacked and the loss of American life?
See President Roosevelt speak on December 8, 1941 in this video with text:
https://www.ushistory.org/documents/infamy.htm
For further research see this summary of President Roosevelts response to the attack on Pearl Harbor over December 7-8, 1941 from the FDR Museum and Library and Google Arts:
Immediately we were in a VUCA situation, short for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. It would take leaders of all kinds and ages known for bravery and action, with the entire country working together to win the war for freedom.
Let us never forget those that rose to the occasion.
