Dec. 7, 1941, “a day that will live in infamy.”

We noted the passing of several persons who had celebrated their 100th or more birthdays recently. Being born 100 years ago would have made them 20 years of age the year we were victim to the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.

This is the 80th anniversary of the attack, which marked our entry into World War II. So, it is with great dismay that we see the passing of almost all persons who actually experienced the drastic events of Dec. 7, 1941.

The attack came without warning, but when someone has the intention of killing another, it seems unlikely that they would send a formal declaration of intent. We got caught with our pants down that day, and while the declaration of war signed on Dec. 8 included Japan, the other enemies were already clearly Germany and Italy. How much did those two countries know about the attack beforehand has never really been explained, but it's doubtful that Japan hadn't told them.

Japan's purpose for the attack was to cut down on the response they expected to get from the United States when they would also attack both British and U.S. territories in the South Pacific. The U.S. had already (in 1940) embargoed shipments of oil into China from Japan. Oil was already becoming a huge factor in the balance of power in the world as it remains today. Japan considered the attack on Pearl Harbor to be a preventative attack in preparation for the planned attempt to take over the Philippine Islands.

The attack would remain the worst attack on U.S. soil until the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City in 2001.

A total of 2,400 U.S. lives taken and almost 1,200 more injured at Pearl Harbor. It truly will never be forgotten even as we lose the last few witnesses to the attack in the next few years. Those who slept peacefully in their beds on the island of Oahu that morning were either killed or were swept into “the war to end all wars.”

There wasn't time to point fingers or to politicize the blame for what we suffered that day. They arose Americans, and you will find that their generation remained Americans first, not Republicans and Democrats.

We ask you to remember them today. Remember all of them.

If given the opportunity, thank them for their service. But thank them as American heroes, not as political friend or foe, for they were and are Americans, and they all stood for and fought for the same flag. May God bless America.

— RV