James Lambert
On its 70th anniversary, America remembers the heroes of Pearl Harbor
FacebookTwitter
By James Lambert
December 7, 2011

Seventy years ago this day (on December 7th, 1941) America was forever changed by the surprise attack of Japanese forces on our naval base at Pearl Harbor (Honolulu), Hawaii.

Douglas Scripps McKellar, a young radio station news broadcaster remembers that day in December well. Working for radio station KGU in Honolulu on that fateful morning, McKellar, according to his younger brother Jim, was one of the first radio broadcasters to report the horrific attack that pushed America into World War II. Like many WWII veterans, Doug McKellar has since passed on. Jim was a college student at Stanford University at the time but was also later enlisted into military service.

Jim joined the growing number of enlisted men who were called up to respond to the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. By the summer of 1942 thousands of military recruits from all over the country were ordered to report to bases like Camp Elliot and Camp Callan located in Southern California. One of those recruits was Jim Lambert, a grocery store entrepreneur from Henderson, KY. Like thousands of others from around the country, he would move to Southern California because of his military call to service. Ultimately, Southern California became a large staging area for future invasions by US soldiers during the war.

Today, the Pearl Harbor attack is being recognized by 120 returning U.S. Navy World War II and Pearl Harbor survivors. The Navy is commemorating the event with a special "missing man" fly-over.

The attack on that fateful day seventy years ago sank 21 ships and destroyed over 300 aircraft. The merciless bombardment conducted that morning by the Japanese Imperial Navy and its air fleet killed more than 2400 people and wounded 1,178. In his famous speech given on December 8th, 1941 in Congress, President Franklin Roosevelt referred to the Pearl Harbor attack as a "day of infamy." Certainly it was.

The damage done from the attack lasted a little more than 2 hours but it dragged America into a war where over 500,000 Americans were ultimately killed.

America was to change forever on that fateful day 70 years ago. Today, we should all be thankful that our country had the courage to repel and defeat the cruel regimes of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. I can only pray that we continue to learn from our own history.

© James Lambert

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

James Lambert

James Lambert has a broad business background. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon), Lambert pursued a career in banking by working in various management capacities for Crocker Bank, San Diego Trust & Savings Bank and First Interstate Bank (between 1973 and 1995). By 1990 Lambert received his Master in Business Administration from National University (San Diego). For 3 years, Lambert also taught Finance at Mira Costa Community College... (more)

Subscribe

Receive future articles by James Lambert: Click here

More by this author

September 24, 2023
Why illegal immigration negatively affects our country


August 14, 2023
Remembering a nice friend from my teen days who sadly passed away recently


August 1, 2023
Gavin Newsom has taken action to fully eliminate oil extraction in California


May 30, 2023
Newsom & Democrats eliminate the freedom of dealers to sell gasoline powered equipment


April 10, 2023
Over 60 years: 7 heartwarming San Diego team appearances at National Championship games with only 1 win


March 10, 2023
Dems ‘Amnesty Plus’ Senate proposal would have disastrous results


February 2, 2023
Homelessness is out of control, so is illegal immigration at our border


December 30, 2022
Congressional Dems' gov’t spending is out of control, which will hurt our young generation!


October 5, 2022
California continues to lead nation in gas prices – you can thank the Dems (who control the state) for that!


July 26, 2022
Congress continues to ignore national (fed) debt—resulting in negative consequences


More articles

 

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
Flashback: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Bonnie Chernin
Israel's abortion policy will imperil their security

Jerry Newcombe
An amazing story of redemption out of Pearl Harbor

R.T. Neary
Youthful medicine made in the USA—and it’s free of charge. Let’s manufacture a lot more

Cherie Zaslawsky
Israel in the crosshairs, Part Two

Pete Riehm
The world shares Israel’s problems

Peter Lemiska
The poisonous mix of imported hatred and home-grown ignorance

Michael Bresciani
Prophecy 2024: Major prophecies are closing fast

Selwyn Duke
For the West to live, immigration(ism) must die

Mark Shepard
Black Men for Trump – Makes a lot of sense

Cliff Kincaid
Will someone investigate the NSA?

Rev. Mark H. Creech
Revelation Chapter 19: Guarding against idolization, John’s angelic encounter

Steve A. Stone
No retreat – No surrender – No quarter
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites