12/7/41
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii,
on the morning of December 7, 1941.
The
attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.
♥
These are my ration stamp books...
during the war, a lot of things were rationed...
Sugar, shoes, gasoline....many more things.
My mother said she traded shoe stamps for sugar stamps with my Aunt Bonnie..
Mom had only one little one to buy shoes for...Aunt Bonnie had two.
Mom would bake cookies with that sugar and take Aunt Bonnie half of them....:O)
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.....Mom was a ROSIE THE RIVETER, working in air defense plants and helping to build airplanes.
Isn't that just amazing.?
I can remember we all tore the aluminum off gum wrappers and pressed them all together, forming a big ball of aluminum...
the balls were then taken to a place where they were melted down and the aluminum was used in the making of aircrafts.
Tin cans were also saved, mashed and taken to be used.
This memory just blows me away...
Would we, today, do this for the good of our nation..?....I like to think we would. 
The top photo is my step-dad, the one I loved so much, that's me with a flower pot looking little hat...
and my Uncle Otis...they were brothers and served in the army at the same time.
I can't remember just what we were doing that day...I think it was some sort of honoring the veterans of WW2...The date on the back of the photo is 1946....
Veterans Day.....Memorial Day, maybe....
My dad on the bottom left, leaving for war...he was almost 30 yrs old.
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Going overseas, the ships were so crowded, some of the men had to sleep on deck....
My dad was one of them...with all the water rushing on board and him staying wet for so long, he got very ill. He spent 2 1/2 years in a hospital in India...
The doctors there removed one lung and half of the other.
Dad spent another year in BROOK GENERAL HOSPITAL in SAN ANTONIO.
What a man....he lived to be 86 yrs. old !!
GOD BLESS THEM ALL...EVERY ONE!
Wondering if you have any memories of that wartime ?
Wondering if you have any memories of that wartime ?
Thanks for the great post, BJ. I was born in 1944 near the end of the war. Mom worked at the US Navy shipyard in Portsmith, Virginia, even though she lived in Cleveland, OH. I still don't know how that worked and totally forgot to ask her about the logistics of it all. She can't answer me now so it's a moot point. Maybe I'll look things up on a map and figure out my own story. This post reminds me that there are so many questions I wish I had asked a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Marrianna
Hi, BJ. I was 7 when Pearl Harbor was hit. I don't remember a lot about the war. I do remember my aunt driving to a different store in another city (she was there for another reason) to buy a pint of mayonnaise. It was so scarce. I remember my little stamp book where I bought stamps for a dime at school, pasted them into the book with the hopes that one day I'd have enough to buy a war bond. As for this country stepping up to the plate now like they did back then. I don't think they would. It's a sorry mess our country has become the last few years.
ReplyDeleteHi BJ,
ReplyDeleteThanks for remembering this special day. My Father was a Pearl Harbor Survivor and it took many years for him to ever speak of it. I can't being to imagine the horror they must have experienced that day. He was a Chief Radio Officer on the "Shaw."
I wonder too if it happened today, would we react the same?????
hugs
Sissie
We went to Pearl Harbour when we visited Hawaii, it was a very poignant visit. I was glad we were able to take the kids. You have some great photos here, I love your ration book and the trades that your Mum did with her ration stamps.
ReplyDeleteWren x
I'd like to think we would be good enough to join in the effort, but doubt the world today would survive another all out war. My uncle was a POW in a Japanese prison camp and my father lied about his age so he could join the Navy and go save his brother. My two brothers and I all served in the military during the Vietnam war.
ReplyDeleteBJ, Much thanks for men like your father. So sad what he went through. Your whole family. Thanks for your tribute. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteWow- This sure brought a lump to my throat. I was born in 48 so things were a bit different then. I remember my parents talking about the rationing though..and how tough times were. God bless your Dad and family members that served over there. He was quite a guy to live that long with 1/2 a lung! God had His hand on him for sure. xo Diana
ReplyDeletewow. thanks for sharing these remarkable family members with us.
ReplyDeleteI remember the rationing that you described. My dad fought in WW1 and he told us he wanted to join up to fight in WW2 but they would not take him because he had a family to take care of. I did have an uncle and some cousin in WW2. I honor all veterans . Have a blessed day. Madeline
ReplyDeleteI always look back on World War II history and I'm somewhat glad both Imperial Japan and Germany were too greedy in their quest for power. Germany tried to conquer too much of Europe on both the west and the east.
ReplyDeleteJapan started a war they could have easily avoided with America when they were already at war with China. Without American forces, China would have been conquered without question.
Had these two powers had slowly conquered and given themselves time to heal, they may have been unstoppable. But I suppose they would have started their own Cold War with each other after it was over.
Also I'd be interested to see people from Baby Boomers on down live on rations in today's greedy world.
What a sweet memory, and a truly amazing man. We have the Nimitz Pacific War Museum here in Fredericksburg. Its really incredible. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteEighty-six with half a lung? That is incredible. I am glad that his devotion to his country was honored with a long life. Amazing stories of those times for sure and to think that you lived them.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Bj, but I wasn't born until August 1945 so I have no memories of it. My mother's sister was a RN in the Army at that time so I was told. I too would hope we would do the same today as was done back then IF it was necessary.
ReplyDeleteLovely commemorative post, BJ! The war was over by the time I was born, but DH was in the Navy during it. My Aunt Katy was an Army nurse, stationed in India...wouldn't it be a small world if she took care of your Dad while he was ill there? No way to know, now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your special memories of these brave people!
BJ: Thanks for the memories.. I was 3 years old in 1941. I have some ration books also from that time. My dad worked in the ship yards in Antioch and Oakland at the time. I vaguely remember putting dark shades over the windows at night..Happy Weekend..Judy
ReplyDeleteLovely post bj ... nice to have the good memories. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Oh bj,, your post gave me chills just reading it and knowing what everyone had to go through. I wasn't born until 1949 and I have no memory of it. I loved seeing your old photos of a bye gone era, and seeing all of those that you loved.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a fabulous post! I loved every bit of this story, from how you were to how your mom and aunt shared. Great pics, love little bj....................
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your memories with us, dear friend. So many have sacrificed so much to keep our nation free.
ReplyDeleteOh bj! What precious photos and memories you have. Thanks so much for sharing these.
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos ans memories! I wasn't born til 1947 so have no memories of the war. I know my Dad, before they were married was a photographer in the Army during the war. I have a picture that he took of Mac Arthur and the Japanese guy signing the papers at the end of the war. My FIL told me it would be very valuable.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post too mom. But I love ALL your posts! ❤️Grandmother & Papaw!
ReplyDeletebj, What a wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry so much happened to your dad.
My Grandfather was at Pearl Harbor.
After the war he lived well into years, dying in his home, sitting in his favorite chair.
He died from a heart attack.
We have many relatives who were, or still are, serving.
xoxo
Excellent post bj . . ,
ReplyDeleteI was born in '39 . . . I remember tokens, rationing . . . vague, but I remember . . .
I remember an uncle who was at Pearl Harbor . . . who never talked to me personally about it but he must have talked to someone because he saw most of his crew killed, when he dodged under something and was spared . . .
And I remember another uncle, my mother's brother, missing in action . . .
Sad life memories . . .
Proud of those who served . . .
Like today . . .