2. ONE JAPANESE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER CHANGED THE WORLD FOREVER.
Communications between Japan and United States at this serious stage were handled over the wireless telegraph.
FDR sent a cable December 6 to Emperor Showa in hopes of "dispelling the dark clouds" of war due to the two countries' long-standing peace and friendship. In Tokyo, Major Morio Tomura, at the Tokyo cable office, delayed the message ten hours believing that war was Japan's only destiny.
When FDR's cable arrived, Japan already had its 14-part cable ready announcing the end of the negotiations. The same Major Tomura delayed this cable as well and it didn't arrive until nearly two hours after the attack.
Thanks a Lot Major Tomura. --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Pearl Harbor Still Holds a Few Mysteries-- Part 1: "The Sleeping Dragon"
From the December 8, 2016, Popular Mechanics by Matt Blitz.
As a result of the attack, nineteen Navy ships were damaged or destroyed.
Even with all the history written about it, there are still things many Americans don't know about it.
1. The "Sleeping Dragon" almost stayed asleep.
The attack was the result of failed negotiations on both sides. The U.S. considered Japan to be like Nazi Germany, but there was much disagreement in the Japanese government about going to war with the United States.
--GreGen
As a result of the attack, nineteen Navy ships were damaged or destroyed.
Even with all the history written about it, there are still things many Americans don't know about it.
1. The "Sleeping Dragon" almost stayed asleep.
The attack was the result of failed negotiations on both sides. The U.S. considered Japan to be like Nazi Germany, but there was much disagreement in the Japanese government about going to war with the United States.
--GreGen
Monday, January 9, 2017
World War II Glass Penny Goes for $70,000-- Part 2
The Blue Ridge Glass Company in Tennessee, which no longer exists, made experimental pennies made of tempered glass.
The former owner of the penny, Roger Burdette, says that the coins' impressions weren't precise, their weight and size not uniform and there was a tendency to develop sharp edges. These led to their being rejected. Most of these experimental pennies were destroyed.
He knows of just one other in existence and it is broken.
The U.S. Mint did make its 1943 pennies from low grade steel covered with zinc and started making copper pennies again in 1944.
Penny for Your Thoughts. --GreGen
The former owner of the penny, Roger Burdette, says that the coins' impressions weren't precise, their weight and size not uniform and there was a tendency to develop sharp edges. These led to their being rejected. Most of these experimental pennies were destroyed.
He knows of just one other in existence and it is broken.
The U.S. Mint did make its 1943 pennies from low grade steel covered with zinc and started making copper pennies again in 1944.
Penny for Your Thoughts. --GreGen
World War II Glass Penny sells for $70,000-- Part 1
From the January 6, 2017, CBS Money Watch "Possibly unique glass penny from World War II sells for $70k."
Heritage Auctions announced that an experimental glass penny, possibly the only one of its kind, was sold for $70,000 on January 5, to an American buyer who wishes to remain anonymous.
During the war, copper was needed for ammunition and the U.S. Mint authorized tests to be made using other metals, plastic and rubber as pennies.
--GreGen
Heritage Auctions announced that an experimental glass penny, possibly the only one of its kind, was sold for $70,000 on January 5, to an American buyer who wishes to remain anonymous.
During the war, copper was needed for ammunition and the U.S. Mint authorized tests to be made using other metals, plastic and rubber as pennies.
--GreGen
Sunday, January 8, 2017
About That KPA in the Last Post
I looked up KPA in the last post and found it should have been the WPA sewing project, not the KPA.
WPA, of course, stands for the Works Progress Administration, a major government agency formed by FDR to get us out of the Great Depression.
I'll do some more research on the WPA sewing project.
--GreGen
WPA, of course, stands for the Works Progress Administration, a major government agency formed by FDR to get us out of the Great Depression.
I'll do some more research on the WPA sewing project.
--GreGen
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Looking Back to 1942: Sewing for the Red Cross in DeKalb
From the January 4, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."
1942, 75 Years Ago.
"Announcement was made today by the DeKalb Chapter of the American Red Cross that it will open a sewing center in DeKalb. The center is to be located on the second floor of The Chronicle building in quarters previously occupied by the KPA sewing project.
"The chapter invites all women who wish to do sewing or knitting for the Red Cross to go to the center any afternoon that is convenient for them."
--GreGen
1942, 75 Years Ago.
"Announcement was made today by the DeKalb Chapter of the American Red Cross that it will open a sewing center in DeKalb. The center is to be located on the second floor of The Chronicle building in quarters previously occupied by the KPA sewing project.
"The chapter invites all women who wish to do sewing or knitting for the Red Cross to go to the center any afternoon that is convenient for them."
--GreGen
Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Meet in Pearl Harbor-- Part 4
Continued from December 29, 2016.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Obama rode a small boat to the white USS Arizona Memorial building in the harbor that sits over the stricken battleship. There the remains of 1,177 sailors and Marines lie entombed for the ages.
Abe laid a wreath to honor the dead.
--GreGen
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Obama rode a small boat to the white USS Arizona Memorial building in the harbor that sits over the stricken battleship. There the remains of 1,177 sailors and Marines lie entombed for the ages.
Abe laid a wreath to honor the dead.
--GreGen
Friday, January 6, 2017
Obama, Japan's Leader Meet in Pearl Harbor-- Part 3: "Sorry Is Just a World"
Among those in attendance at the Arizona Memorial was Sterling Cale, 95. He was a sailor at Pearl Harbor the day of the attack. In the days following the attack, it was his job to pull bodies out of the still-burning battleship.
Mr. Cale said he did not come hoping to hear Abe apologize. He said: "'Sorry' is just a word. What matters more is the action of coming here and going out there with our commander in chief. That says more than words."
Prime Minster Shinzo Abe did not issue a formal apology, even as he detailed the horror of the sinking of the Arizona.''"Each and every one of those service men had a mother and father anxious about his safety. many had wives and girlfriends they loved, and many must have had children they would have loved watching grow up."
--GreGen
Mr. Cale said he did not come hoping to hear Abe apologize. He said: "'Sorry' is just a word. What matters more is the action of coming here and going out there with our commander in chief. That says more than words."
Prime Minster Shinzo Abe did not issue a formal apology, even as he detailed the horror of the sinking of the Arizona.''"Each and every one of those service men had a mother and father anxious about his safety. many had wives and girlfriends they loved, and many must have had children they would have loved watching grow up."
--GreGen
Obama and Japan's leader Meet at Pearl Harbor-- Part 2
Continued from December 29, 2016.
The ceremony was conceived as an affirmation of the close relations that now exist between the two countries.
Said Prime Minister Abe as he spoke to Pearl Harbor survivors: "Ours is an alliance of hope that will lead us to the future."
Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to make a highly publicized visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, though it is believed that three of his predecessors are thought to have quietly visited Pearl Harbor. His visit comes after President Obama's visit in May to Hiroshima, site of one of the two nuclear attacks that helped end the war in 1945.
--GreGen
The ceremony was conceived as an affirmation of the close relations that now exist between the two countries.
Said Prime Minister Abe as he spoke to Pearl Harbor survivors: "Ours is an alliance of hope that will lead us to the future."
Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to make a highly publicized visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, though it is believed that three of his predecessors are thought to have quietly visited Pearl Harbor. His visit comes after President Obama's visit in May to Hiroshima, site of one of the two nuclear attacks that helped end the war in 1945.
--GreGen
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Deaths: Donald E. Casey Sr.-- Part 3: Shell-Shocked
His son said: In retrospect, he thought any and every POW in World War II had that. They just thought it was being shell-shocked. I think he became interested in sharing his experiences."
Over several years, Donald Casey began pulling together his wartime materials, including photos and began to work on his story which resulted in a 294-page book titled "To Fight For My Country, Sir."
--GreGen
Over several years, Donald Casey began pulling together his wartime materials, including photos and began to work on his story which resulted in a 294-page book titled "To Fight For My Country, Sir."
--GreGen
Deaths: Donald E. Casey Sr, --Part 2: Shot Down Over Germany
While flying on his 28th mission in June 1944, German anti-aircraft fire shot down his plane. All nine crew members survived a parachute jump from 23,000 feet, but four were killed by civilians in Hamburg, Germany.
Casey and the other four were captured and transported under guard to prisoner-of-war camps in Poland and then Bavaria. He and his fellow prisoners were liberated by Gen. George Patton's Third Army in April 1945.
After the war, he received his undergraduate degree in economics from Dartmouth College in 1948 and then worked in investment banking before returning to Chicago where he got his law degree in 1957.
For many years, Casey would not talk about his wartime experiences, but about 25 years ago he began researching about World War II and attending meetings with veterans around the country. He also began editing a newsletter for the 379th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force.
In his eighties, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
--GreGen
Casey and the other four were captured and transported under guard to prisoner-of-war camps in Poland and then Bavaria. He and his fellow prisoners were liberated by Gen. George Patton's Third Army in April 1945.
After the war, he received his undergraduate degree in economics from Dartmouth College in 1948 and then worked in investment banking before returning to Chicago where he got his law degree in 1957.
For many years, Casey would not talk about his wartime experiences, but about 25 years ago he began researching about World War II and attending meetings with veterans around the country. He also began editing a newsletter for the 379th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force.
In his eighties, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
--GreGen
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Deaths: Donald E. Casey Sr. (1924-2016)-- Part 1
From the April 11, 2016, Chicago Tribune "Lawyer, vet wrote book about war experiences" by Bob Goldsborough.
Donald E. Casey Sr., a Chicago lawyer and frequent volunteer at Chicago's Pritzker Military Museum & Library, was also an author who in 2009 documented his experiences as a prisoner of war in Nazi Germany during World War II.
He died March 14, 2016. Born in Oak Park and attended school at Campion Jesuit High in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and then went to Purdue University.
While at Purdue, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces' Aviation Cadet program during World War II. Called to active duty in February 1943, he completed aerial navigation school the following October and became a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on combat missions from England.
--GreGen
Donald E. Casey Sr., a Chicago lawyer and frequent volunteer at Chicago's Pritzker Military Museum & Library, was also an author who in 2009 documented his experiences as a prisoner of war in Nazi Germany during World War II.
He died March 14, 2016. Born in Oak Park and attended school at Campion Jesuit High in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and then went to Purdue University.
While at Purdue, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces' Aviation Cadet program during World War II. Called to active duty in February 1943, he completed aerial navigation school the following October and became a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on combat missions from England.
--GreGen
Looking Back to 1941: Flag to Stay Up on Sycamore Courthouse for Duration of War
From the December 28, 2016, Looking Back (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."
1941, 75 Years Ago.
"The flag went up over the court house yesterday, Sheriff William Runnells, custodian of court house properties announced that the flag would be flown daily for the duration of the war.
"Ordinarily the flag is flown only on specific holidays."
The DeKalb County Court House is in Sycamore.
Raise the Flag!! --GreGen
1941, 75 Years Ago.
"The flag went up over the court house yesterday, Sheriff William Runnells, custodian of court house properties announced that the flag would be flown daily for the duration of the war.
"Ordinarily the flag is flown only on specific holidays."
The DeKalb County Court House is in Sycamore.
Raise the Flag!! --GreGen
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
After Pearl Harbor: The Race to Save the U.S. Fleet-- Part 2: Returned to Service Quickly
The Flagship of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the USS Pennsylvania, had been in drydock. The USS Tennessee and Maryland were moored inboard of the USS West Virginia and Oklahoma and were sheltered from the Japanese torpedoes. All suffered damage, but remained afloat.
Within three months, the USS Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tennessee, cruisers USS Honolulu, Helena and Raleigh, destroyers Helm and Shaw, seaplane tender Curtiss, repair ship vestal and floating drydock YFD-2 were back in service or had been refloated and headed back to the United States for final repairs.
The most heavily damaged of the smaller ships, the Raleigh and Shaw, were returned to active duty by mid-1942.
--GreGen
After Pearl Harbor: The Race to Save the U.S. Fleet-- Part 1
From the December 1, 2016, History by Sarah Pruitt.
Most of the big damage at Pearl Harbor was done in the first 30 minutes. The Arizona was completely destroyed and the Oklahoma capsized. The West Virginia, California and Nevada were sunk in shallow water. Altogether, five battleships were sunk.
Also, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers and other smaller vessels were seriously damaged. That was along with 180 planes destroyed on the ground.
In addition, there were 3,400 casualties and 2,300 killed, mostly on the Arizona and Oklahoma.
--GreGen
Most of the big damage at Pearl Harbor was done in the first 30 minutes. The Arizona was completely destroyed and the Oklahoma capsized. The West Virginia, California and Nevada were sunk in shallow water. Altogether, five battleships were sunk.
Also, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers and other smaller vessels were seriously damaged. That was along with 180 planes destroyed on the ground.
In addition, there were 3,400 casualties and 2,300 killed, mostly on the Arizona and Oklahoma.
--GreGen
Monday, January 2, 2017
Shorpy Home Front Photos:
Dec. 5, 2016-- AIR NOIR: 1943. July 1943. Greenville, South Carolina "Air Service Command. Enlisted man folding up his gas mask to hang on the wall after having worn it all day." Jack Delano, OWI
December 6, 2016 ELECTRIC ANGEL: 1943. January 1943. Washington, D.C.. "This Office of Price Administration clerk, speaking of her boarding house room, says: 'The light looks like an angel when I leave the shade off, so I do.'" Esther Bubley, OWI.
--GreGen
December 6, 2016 ELECTRIC ANGEL: 1943. January 1943. Washington, D.C.. "This Office of Price Administration clerk, speaking of her boarding house room, says: 'The light looks like an angel when I leave the shade off, so I do.'" Esther Bubley, OWI.
--GreGen
Shorpy Home Front Photos: Zoots to Relax
Dec. 3, 20016 ZOOT ALORS: 1943. July 1943. Washington, D.C.. "Negro alley dwellings near Capitol." Esther Bubley, OWI. The picture shows slums, but the man is wearing a real nice, probably expensive Zoot Suit, probably one of the ugliest creations ever.
Ya Gotta See It To Believe It.
Dec. 4, 2016 CORNERMAN: 1943. July 1943. Greenville, South Carolina. "Air Service Command. Enlisted man of the 25th Service Group relaxing in his hutment." Jack Delano, OWI.
--GreGen
Ya Gotta See It To Believe It.
Dec. 4, 2016 CORNERMAN: 1943. July 1943. Greenville, South Carolina. "Air Service Command. Enlisted man of the 25th Service Group relaxing in his hutment." Jack Delano, OWI.
--GreGen
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Germany Evacuated Entire Town On This Past Christmas Day Because of World War II Bomb
From the December 25, 2016, Independent "Germany evacuated entire town on Christmas Day after discovering Second World War bomb."
Thousands in the town of Augsburg were forced to evacuate while authorities worked to disarm the bomb. It was discovered last week during construction in the city's central district.
The evacuation involved some 32,000 homes and 54,000 people in a 1.8 kilometer zone.
The bomb found was weighed 1.8 tons. That's a huge blast if it goes off.
A large part of Augsburg was destroyed February 25-26, 1944, when it was bombed by hundreds of British and American bombs.
Bombs, the Gifts That Keep Giving. --GreGen
Thousands in the town of Augsburg were forced to evacuate while authorities worked to disarm the bomb. It was discovered last week during construction in the city's central district.
The evacuation involved some 32,000 homes and 54,000 people in a 1.8 kilometer zone.
The bomb found was weighed 1.8 tons. That's a huge blast if it goes off.
A large part of Augsburg was destroyed February 25-26, 1944, when it was bombed by hundreds of British and American bombs.
Bombs, the Gifts That Keep Giving. --GreGen
Lauren Bruner Returns to Pearl Harbor for 75th-- Part 4: Amazing Recovered and Continued to Serve
Continued from December 23, 2016.
It took Mr. Bruner seven months to recover and he then returned to duty in the Navy as the service needed all the sailors it could get.
He was on the USS Coghlan at Attu Island in Alaska in 1943. His ship later took troops to the South Pacific and was near Guam when the war ended.
After his death, he wants his ashes interned in the wreck of the Arizona with his old shipmates. He prefers this to being buried in a sparsely visited cemetery on land.
"I think I've got the final spot," he says, confidant that he will be the last of the Arizona's survivors to die.
--GreGen
It took Mr. Bruner seven months to recover and he then returned to duty in the Navy as the service needed all the sailors it could get.
He was on the USS Coghlan at Attu Island in Alaska in 1943. His ship later took troops to the South Pacific and was near Guam when the war ended.
After his death, he wants his ashes interned in the wreck of the Arizona with his old shipmates. He prefers this to being buried in a sparsely visited cemetery on land.
"I think I've got the final spot," he says, confidant that he will be the last of the Arizona's survivors to die.
--GreGen
Beginning This Blog's 6th Year
This post marks the beginning of this blog's sixth year and marks its 2456th post.
I was writing about World War II in my Cooter's History Thing blog, but as we were entering the 70th anniversary of the war and especially after all the Pearl Harbor articles back in 2011, I figured why not start this new blog.
I have always been interested in Pearl Harbor, but but so much in the rest of the war.
Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s (I was born in 1951) most all of my parent's male friends were World War II veterans and, essentially, they were just all over the place. But now, with the Greatest generation passing away so quickly, I figured this would be a good time to honor them.
The Greatest Generation. --GreGen (Short for Greatest Generation)
I was writing about World War II in my Cooter's History Thing blog, but as we were entering the 70th anniversary of the war and especially after all the Pearl Harbor articles back in 2011, I figured why not start this new blog.
I have always been interested in Pearl Harbor, but but so much in the rest of the war.
Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s (I was born in 1951) most all of my parent's male friends were World War II veterans and, essentially, they were just all over the place. But now, with the Greatest generation passing away so quickly, I figured this would be a good time to honor them.
The Greatest Generation. --GreGen (Short for Greatest Generation)
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