Pearl Harbor, 79 Years Later: Identifying the USS Oklahoma's Unknowns

From the December7, Tulsa (Oklahoma) World  "Tim Stanley:  79  years after Pearl Harbor sinking, project to identify USS Oklahoma's dead nearing its end" by Tim Stanley.

The name Pearl Harbor didn't mean much to most Americans as day broke on December 7, 1941, but by the end of the day, they sure had heard of it.

But, to Oklahomans, one name did strike a bell right up front, and that was what had happened to the ship named after the state.  The USS Oklahoma (BB-37).  Just last year, the Oklahoma  Military Hall of Fame recognized the importance of the vessel by making it the first ship to be inducted into it.

Tim Stanley says the USS Oklahoma started becoming more real for him about four years ago.  That's when he started seeing occasional press releases about Sailors from that stricken ship being identified using DNA.  Almost 400 had died on that ship and not been identified.

Since then, he has been on hand at Tulsa International Airport for some emotional scenes involving families of the fallen.

--Pearl Harbor

OK, All You Cub Fans, A Lot of Folks Out Here in Western Mo. and Eastern Ok., Could Care

As sad as you might be about the Cubs in all likelihood being eliminated tonight because of that horrific lack of hitting and sorry excuse for relief pitching, despite all the money they're paying to Davis, we have discovered one big truth out here on Route 66.

As far as the Cubs are concerned, there are many, many people here in eastern Oklahoma and western Missouri, who don't give a rat about the Cubs.

So sorry you gung-ho Cubbie fans.

Some Folks Just Don't Care.  --RoadDog

Tornadoes Must Have Knocked Out a Refinery

On the way home, we noticed that gas in Fox lake, Illinois, had had a gas gouge.  Earlier in the day, it was $3.94.  Now, it is $4.10.

I'm guessing the tornadoes in Oklahoma must have knocked out some refinery.

Isn't it sad when some folk make big profits on a natural disaster.

You Know How the GRB BO's Are.  --RoadDog

We Got the "Better" News

Yesterday, I saw that the death toll from that Moore, Oklahoma, tornado had been dropped from 51 to 24.  That evening of the tornado, it was expected to rise a whole lot more, some even estimating several hundred fatalities.  Viewing the destruction, I would have to agree.  Still sorry for the 24 deaths.

An additional 240 are injured.

I watched that touching TV interview with the old woman standing in the midst of the rubble of what used to be her home, saying that she had lost her dog and he was surely somewhere in the ruins.  A minute later, they found that dog.  I want to tell you that that brought a tear to my eye.

Then, there was that remarkable video of the tornado taken from the car.  I know that if it had been me, I would have liked to have taken it, but doubt that I would have witnesing that tornado.

Better Than Expected. 

Sad News From Oklahoma

Sad to find out about yesterday's tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.  I was in the Burger King in McHenry, Illinois, when I first saw and heard about it on the TV.  It looked terrible even then and just got worse.

We went through Moore back in 2004, when we took a sidetrip off Route 66 to Norman, Oklahoma, to see Oklahoma University and play NTN.  We even played NTN at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Moore.

A couple years ago, we went through Joplin, Missouri several months after it was struck by that horrible tornado.  Even though a lot os cleanup had been done, it still resembled a war zone.  What struck us the most was that some areas would be obliterated while right next to it there was little or no damage.

The strangest thing were the leaves on the trees which appeared to grow right off the trunks what with the limbs being taken off by the horrendous winds.

Wishing for the Best of a Bad Situation. 

Mizzou-Rah Trip 2011-- Part 3: Poor Joplin

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th

Taking some roads never before traveled this morning.

Took Mo-5 south to US-60 and then west to Springfield. We had to stop at Lambert's right off of US-65. Throwed Rolls and all those pass-arounds. Hard to beat the food and fun.

Back on 65 and played NTN at two new places, Hooters and Old Chicago, both on Springfield's south side.

We got onto I-44 and took it to Joplin where we drove around the part damaged by May's tornado. Most has been cleaned up, but gosh. Striking and sad all the same.

Got onto US-66 into Kansas where we met Lulu, Barb, Brenda and Dean Walker at Van's steakhouse. Then, into Oklahoma and to Miami where we registered for the Missouri Rt. 66 Motor Tour and got a room at America's Best Value Inn and enjoyed Boomer's Bar on the premises.

Quite a Day. --RoadDog