Two Dates of Infamy and Their Lessons

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