header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
October 5
1970 - College of the Canyons' first on-campus classes held in portable buildings located just south of future Cougar Stadium [story]
portables


It was a quiet and beautiful Sunday morning at Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor — home of America’s Pacific Fleet.  Many of the 60,000 Sailors and other military personnel stationed there were still in their bunks resting after a Saturday night on the town. Some were eating breakfast; a few were on duty, others just straggling in. What appeared to be another day in paradise would quickly turn into a nightmare.

At five minutes before 8 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, 183 Japanese aircraft raced across the mountains north of Pearl Harbor with a mission to destroy the U.S. Fleet. Bombs were dropped on fuel and ammunition dumps, buildings, and ships. Japanese pilots strafed the same with wing-mounted machine guns while others dropped torpedoes.

The attack was a surprise. Some Sailors went down with their ships. Some were trapped only to drown inside as water replaced the air in the sinking ship.

Some had to choose between staying aboard a doomed ship, or take a chance by diving into a harbor aflame with burning oil, littered with the dead bodies of their fellow service members.  It was truly a living hell.

But in American fashion, these brave men and women pulled together. Ammunition and weapons lockers were cracked open in order to fight back. Army pilots dodged bombs and machine gun fire to make it to their planes in attempt to take to the air and drive off the attackers. Some rendered aid to the injured and dying. Others put their comrades before themselves and risked their own lives to save a stranger.

Fifty minutes later, a second wave of 170 Japanese planes intensified the attack arriving almost simultaneously from three different directions. More than 1,100 Sailors were killed when the U.S.S. Arizona’s forward magazine exploded from a direct bomb strike.  In all, the assault claimed 2,403 American lives and left more than a thousand others wounded.

Ninety minutes after it all began, the last Japanese plane headed away from Pearl Harbor and back to its carrier.  America’s entry into World War II was solidified.

Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor, would write in his diary, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

Whether or not the Admiral actually wrote those words is debatable, however, there is no doubt the attack did awaken a sleeping giant. Sixteen million fighting Americans would go on to drive the Japanese and Germans into surrender—fighting in every corner of the globe to deliver a world free from tyranny.

Today, fewer than 3,000 Pearl Harbor survivors remain as our last living links with history and the beginning of America’s greatest generation. Most of these brave Americans are now in their late 80s and 90s. Today, we salute their valor and sacrifice, and we honor their fighting spirit—a spirit that has motivated millions of Americans to follow their lead and live by their example.

For most of us born several generations later, it’s hard to relate to the devastation, the loss of life and the implications of those events that happened 70 years ago; and thousands of miles away.

I believe the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor was to the greatest generation what 9/11 is to most of us. Most of us weren’t directly affected by the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., but we felt the horror, the overwhelming emotions and the desire to unite and take the fight to enemy.

Those experiences and emotions must have been similar to what the greatest generation felt and it spurred them on to set a high standard for both future American service members and for how the world would view the United States and its military might.

Those of us who have worn the uniform, and those who will wear it tomorrow, are the legacy of the survivors of Pearl Harbor as well as the millions of brave Veterans who followed in their footsteps. They put country before self and are willing to risk all to save all—the American way of life. We owe all that we are today, to those who came before us.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, Oct 4, 2024
Excessive Heat Warning Predicts Triple Digit Temps for SCV
The Los Angeles County Health Officer has issued an excessive heat warning as high temperatures in the triple digits have been forecast for the Santa Clarita Valley Saturday, Oct. 5 through Monday, Oct. 7.
Friday, Oct 4, 2024
‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ at The Main
Eclipse Theatre LA presents Ray Bradbury’s "Something Wicked This Way Comes," an adaptation of the classic novel by the legendary science fiction and horror author, on select dates in October in Old Town Newhall.
Friday, Oct 4, 2024
Barger Honors Posh Sweets During Women’s Small Business Month
October is National Women's Small Business Month and to celebrate Los Angeles County Fifth District Superviser Kathryn Barger honored three Fifth District small business owners at the Board of Supervisors meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1970 - College of the Canyons' first on-campus classes held in portable buildings located just south of future Cougar Stadium [story]
portables
The Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: SUSD Holds Public Hearing on Teachers’ Union Proposal
The Los Angeles County Health Officer has issued an excessive heat warning as high temperatures in the triple digits have been forecast for the Santa Clarita Valley Saturday, Oct. 5 through Monday, Oct. 7.
Excessive Heat Warning Predicts Triple Digit Temps for SCV
Eclipse Theatre LA presents Ray Bradbury’s "Something Wicked This Way Comes," an adaptation of the classic novel by the legendary science fiction and horror author, on select dates in October in Old Town Newhall.
‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ at The Main
October is National Women's Small Business Month and to celebrate Los Angeles County Fifth District Superviser Kathryn Barger honored three Fifth District small business owners at the Board of Supervisors meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Barger Honors Posh Sweets During Women’s Small Business Month
Dr. Jason Wright, an astronomy and astrophysics professor at Penn State, will present “Intelligent Ways to Search for Extraterrestrials” at the College of the Canyons Fall 2024 Star Party on Friday, Nov. 1.
Nov. 1: COC 2024 Fall Star Party at Canyon Country Campus
The city of Santa Clarita will present the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show weekend showings from Friday, Oct. 25 - Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Centre, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Saugus, CA 91350.
Oct. 25-27: Rocky Horror Picture Show Weekend Showing at the Centre
The Santa Clarita City Council will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 8, in open session beginning at 6 p.m.
Oct. 8: Council to Hold Public Hearing on Tesoro Del Valle Project Changes
Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger recently honored Donna Deutchman, the retired Chief Executive Officer of Homes 4 Families, a non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to helping veterans and their families attain affordable housing
Barger Honors Retired CEO of Homes 4 Families
The award-winning Hart High School dance team is hosting a youth clinic on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2-4:30 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium. The event is open to boys and girls ages 4-18 and no previous dance experience is required.
Oct. 12: Hart High Dance Team Hosts Youth Clinic
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk has announced voters can expect to start receiving their ballots for the Nov. 5 General Election in the mail within the next few days.
L.A. County Issues Vote by Mail Ballots
The United States Department of Justice has announced federal and local law enforcement have arrested 42 members and associates of the SFV Peckerwoods, a San Fernando Valley-based white supremacist street gang, on a 76-count federal grand jury indictment.
Canyon Country Woman Charged in Federal Indictment
The Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra presents "Young Stars and Old Masters," Sunday, Oct. 13 2-4 p.m. at Canyon High School Performing Arts Center, 19300 Nadal St., Santa Clarita, 91351.
Oct. 13:  Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra ‘Young Stars, Old Masters’
1900 - Pico oil driller Alex Mentry (as in Mentryville) succumbs to typhoid fever at California Hospital in Los Angeles [story]
Alex Mentry
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce announced its 14th annual Salute to Patriots event, as the business community comes together to salute veterans for leadership in the business community and their dedicated service to America.
Nov. 7: Salute to Patriots Nominations Now Open
The family of Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer in partnership with the American Red Cross presents the Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Memorial Blood Drive on Monday, Oct. 7.
Oct. 7: Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Memorial Blood Drive
The city of Santa Clarita announces the return of the second annual Pet Adoption Week, Monday, Oct. 7-Saturday, Oct. 12.
City Waives Adoption Fees for Pet Adoption Week
The Sable Movie Ranch, located near the intersection of Sand Canyon and Placerita Canyon Roads has been listed for sale at $35 million.
Sable Movie Ranch Listed for $35M
As fall approaches, the city of Santa Clarita is gearing up for its most anticipated season of the year.
Jason Gibbs | Explore Events at Santa Clarita Community Centers
On behalf of Q2 Solutions, IQVIA Laboratories invites members of the Santa Clarita Valley business community to the Grand Opening ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 9-10:30 a.m.
Oct. 9: Q2 Solutions Grand Opening, Site Tour
California Institute of the Arts has announced the death of Robert J. Fitzpatrick, 84, (1940-2024), CalArt’s second president, who died on Sept. 30.
Robert Fitzpatrick, CalArts’ Second President Dies at 84
For the fifth consecutive time since its formation in 2018, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency has been recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with a WaterSense Excellence Award.
SCV Water Wins Fifth Consecutive U.S. EPA WaterSense Excellence Award
College of the Canyons women's soccer opened the Western State Conference, South Division portion of its schedule Tuesday, Oct. 1, with a 2-0 victory over visiting Glendale College.
COC Women’s Soccer Starts Conference, 2-0 Over Glendale
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department and Associated Student Government are inviting students, staff and community members to attend the 2024 Homecoming Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 17 at Cougar Stadium.
Oct. 17: All Invited to COC Homecoming at Cougar Stadium
SCVNews.com