| Remembering the attack on Pearl Harbor, | | | | casualties of which 2,117 were deaths |
| we also should be reminded of the attack | | | | (Navy 2,008, Marines 109) and 779 |
| on the twin towers, the Pentagon, and | | | | wounded (Navy 710, Marines 69). The Army |
| the botched try which landed in a field. | | | | (as of midnight, 10 December) lost 228 |
| In all these we come to find out that | | | | killed or died of wounds, 113 seriously |
| tomorrow holds no guarantee for anyone. | | | | wounded and 346 slightly wounded. In |
| Moreover, on December 7th we take time | | | | addition, at least 57 civilians were |
| to remember of the attack on Pearl | | | | killed and nearly as many seriously |
| Harbor. It should teach us lessons in | | | | injured." |
| the "trust no one department" and "be on | | | | With this battle in the Pacific, America |
| the lookout for the next one". | | | | learned for the first time what an enemy |
| Even though, Pearl Harbor happened many | | | | can be like. It was not like others she |
| years ago today, it should also remind | | | | had faced. Americans learned firsthand |
| us of the evil in men's hearts. It | | | | of suicide bombers. Yes, we hear of them |
| reveals to us that with each day come | | | | all the time today. But during WWII, the |
| new challenges. Pearl Harbor opened up | | | | Japanese really put it to devastating |
| the finite and revealed to us infinity, | | | | use. Japanese pilots would dive their |
| which sometimes is allowed to bear its | | | | planes directly into ships, making a |
| teeth and swallow men whole. On this | | | | fireball of tremendous magnitude, |
| day, Eternities teeth did indeed bear | | | | killing many Americans in the melee. |
| down upon a small island in the Pacific. | | | | Americans would find out what fighting |
| It showed us that "hell" can be revealed | | | | to the end meant as 'soldiers of the |
| to us when Eternity allows it to be so. | | | | empire of the Sun' would not give up. |
| Of course, the holder of Eternity is the | | | | At other times, they would find Japanese |
| Lord Himself. When Eternity swallowed | | | | soldiers had committed Hari-Kari, rather |
| the men, women, and islands of Hawaii, | | | | than giving themselves up to the |
| it swallowed the United States of | | | | Americans. In the end, America won the |
| America. The struggle then became one, | | | | War. The cost was monumental in men, |
| of destiny and purpose, which fought the | | | | women, blood, sacrifice, wounded, and |
| evil that struck out to destroy us. | | | | rebuilding. |
| That day held remembrance for our | | | | Today, America still has enemies. The |
| family. My Grandfather was the City | | | | faces may have changed, but the battle |
| manager of Catalina and also had been | | | | plan is the same. Their hatred of our |
| the Sea Ranger (like Forest Ranger) | | | | way of life and even ourselves, preclude |
| working the Island waters surrounding | | | | us from being passive in this. If we |
| it. When the attack happened, my | | | | falter one bit, the enemy will take |
| Grandfather told my dad to get a gun, | | | | advantage of us. Make no mistake, Dec |
| and "go down to the dock, shooting | | | | 7th, 1941 is a day we remember, but it |
| anything or anyone parachuting from the | | | | is also a warning. Evil never rests. |
| skies". The people on Catalina that day | | | | People who hate us never stop hating us. |
| upon hearing what happened in Hawaii | | | | Rejoicing over our hurts, failures, and |
| expected the next step for the Japanese | | | | pitfalls, the enemies of America will |
| would be the shorelines of the United | | | | not stop till they destroy us or we |
| States of America. | | | | destroy them. There is not a single inch |
| The invasion never came as relieved | | | | of middle ground here. You will not |
| residents of the island of Catalina | | | | bargain with this new enemy. You will do |
| found out. But the events of war came, | | | | it His way or perish. For us, His way is |
| triggering the inevitable consequences | | | | 'death to America and Americans'. |
| of such a conflagration. This event | | | | On September 11th, the attacks by planes |
| would envelop my dad. He had been in | | | | upon American shores took over 3,000 |
| high school when it all started, | | | | lives. It rests alongside Pearl Harbor |
| graduating after the war started. | | | | as a 'day of infinity'. The smoke of the |
| Immediately upon leaving High School, | | | | twin towers could be seen rising for |
| Dad joined tens of thousands of other | | | | days. I remember looking at the video of |
| young people to go to war. Many of whom, | | | | that day. Smoke, dust clouds, metal |
| would not come back, while others would | | | | falling, fire bursting out the sides, |
| come back maimed or hurt. For Him, being | | | | people running in horror, and in the end |
| drafted into the Navy was his baptism of | | | | a pile of twisted metal, housing the |
| fire. After going to Corpsman school, | | | | remains of innocent people. Many of whom |
| Dad became a medic on the islands of the | | | | were completely incinerated by the heat. |
| Pacific. For Him, death and bloodshed | | | | They were never found. |
| was the way of life. In this struggle, | | | | The next scene that brings about the |
| some found life. In all of it, though, | | | | most vivid pictures is one of unbelief. |
| the battle for survival affected | | | | There on television bore video of the |
| everyone involved. Surely, now, everyone | | | | Palestinians who were dancing in the |
| was involved. From those at home living | | | | streets over what happened to America. |
| with the rationing of goods and services | | | | Then we saw Osama Bin Laden smiling over |
| to others working in the factories to | | | | the results of the planning of Al Qaeda. |
| produce the war materials for those | | | | Al Qaeda, meaning "the base" had |
| fighting on the front lines. It became | | | | struck the beast as they had seen it. |
| clear that all were affected by this | | | | America in all its worldly trappings was |
| event. | | | | the beast to these Arab warriors. They |
| No one can understand why wicked things | | | | seem to of taken the playbook from the |
| happen. Things happen to good people and | | | | Japanese. Using planes and striking |
| bad. Cutting short lives, wedding plans, | | | | into the heart of the enemy. |
| births, and peace itself. These kind of | | | | We can never stop in this battle. The |
| events trigger moments in history that | | | | warriors we face will not quit till they |
| for all who are involved never forget | | | | are dead. They will not bargain nor make |
| them. The occasion that brought us into | | | | truces. If they seem to make a truce, it |
| WWII lasted only for around two hours. | | | | is for a delay tactic. Both dates are |
| The attack on Pearl Harbor and on the | | | | infamous today. The events, which took |
| airfields of Oahu, according to the | | | | place on those dates, took many American |
| website worldwar2history, show that the | | | | lives. The ability of our enemy to |
| Japanese sank or severely damaged 18 | | | | literally 'shake the towers of history' |
| ships, including the 8 battleships, | | | | so to speak and bring us into such a |
| three light cruisers, and three | | | | warring scenario should not be |
| destroyers. On the airfields the | | | | forgotten. In the wings of history and |
| Japanese destroyed 161 American planes | | | | ebb tides of eternity, another enemy is |
| (Army 74, Navy 87) and seriously damaged | | | | waiting to destroy us. May God keep us |
| 102 (Army 71, Navy 31). The Navy and | | | | as long as we keep Him. |
| Marine Corps suffered a total of 2,896 | | | | |