Past Movie Scratches: Polar-- Clause-- Carol-- Pearl-- Vinny-- Christmases

Try to guess the name of the movies in the title of this entry.

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I watched on TV in 2021.

115.  POLAR EXPRESS--   12-2--  Loved the hot chocolate waiters.    Those were some crazy rides.  "I believe."  Can you hear the bells?

116.  SANTA CLAUSE 3--  12-4--  Jack Frost is making trouble.  Santa-style snow globes.  A special delivery.

117.  A CHRISTMAS CAROL--  12-6--  Remake with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge.  I'd like to go out drinking with the Ghost of Christmas Present.  No doubt related to King Henry VIII.

118.  PEARL HARBOR--  12-7--  A perfect day to see this movie.    From the Battle of Britain to Pearl Harbor to Doolittle's Raid.  Talk about your WW II.

119.  MY COUSIN VINNY--  12-8--  One of the funniest movies ever despite the language.  Talk about your culture shock.    Brooklyn meets the Deep South.  Complete with Heman Munster and D-Day.

120.  FOUR CHRISTMASES--  12-10--  And you thought your family was dysfunctional?  They just keep getting nuttier and nuttier.  I sure didn't know Dwight Yoakam was Pastor Phil.  

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  What would a chair look like if your knees bent the other way?

81st Anniversary of Pearl Harbor: Herbert Jacobson-- Part 4: The USS Oklahoma Rolled Over

Seven of my blogs today will be about Pearl Harbor and this story which started in my RoadDog's RoadLog blog.

During the attack, the Japanese hit the USS Oklahoma with numerous torpedoes and the ship rapidly rolled over and sank.  Many of the men, including Herbert Jacobson, were trapped in the upturned hull and a few were cut free through intense efforts of sailors and civilian Navy Yard employees.

But the attack resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen aboard the USS Oklahoma, including Herbert Jacobson.  In all, 2,402 Americans were killed that day, when Japanese forces attacked much of the U.S. Pacific fleet.

It took several years before the remains of the 429 deceased USS Oklahoma sailors entombed in the ship to be recovered.  Many of the remains were commingled because there was so little left of the bodies.

Continued in my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog.

80 Years After He Died at Pearl Harbor, Braga Bridge's Namesake Remembered

From the December 6, 2021, WPRI Providence by Ted Nesi.

Tens of thousands of southern  New Englanders drive across the Braga Bridge each day, but do not know where the bridge got its name.

It was named after Navy Yeoman 2nd Class Charles M. Braga, Jr., a 22-year-old Fall River, Massachusetts, native who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Braga, called "Charlie" by his friends, died when a 500-pound bomb hit his ship, the USS Pennsylvania while he was carrying messages.

The Braga Bridge was completed in 1966 after construction began in 1959, and was named after Charles M. Braga of Fall River, Massachusetts, who was killed at Pearl Harbor.

It is just over a mile long and carried I-195 over the Taunton River between Fall River and Somerset.

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

Past Movie Scratches: Pearl-- War-- Suicide-- Battleship-- Resident-- Zombie

Past Movie Scratches:  These are songs I watched on TV in 2019.

61.  PEARL HARBOR--  6-25--   Doolittle gets 'em back!!  Go Doolittle.

62.WAR DOGS--  6-25--  War!!!  It is good for something.  Making money do those who supply the tools of trade.

63.  SUICIDE SQUAD--  6-30--  Task Force X.  That Harley's quite the gal.  Funny and crazy at the same time.  Just the gal for the Joker.

64.  BATTLESHIP--  7-18--  It's Aliens vs. the Mighty Mo.  The Aliens never stood a chance.

65.  RESIDENT EVIL 5:  RETRIBUTION--  8-13--     That was Umbrella and Red Queen.  Go humans.

66.  ZOMBIE TIDAL WAVE--  8-17--   Another SyFy cheesefest.  The worst acting, corniest acting and really bad visual effects.

--RoadBattleship

A Fitting Memorial for September 11, 2001

In all but one of my posts today, I wrote about September 11, 2001.

I always thought that it was too bad that they didn't find a way to stabilize the outer part of the World Trade Center as a fitting memorial to those who died that day.  See the picture to the right of this.

I also would have liked the part of the USS Arizona above the water after the attack to have also been stabilized and left as a memorial for Pearl Harbor as well.

But, regardless, both now have had suitable memorials built for them.

Let's Face It, School Year Is Over

Time to realize that schools just aren't going to be open again this year.  Several states have already cancelled it for the rest of this school year.  It is time for all states to do that.  Let's face it, the school year has been ruined as it is.

I know all this e-Learning is  supposedly taking place, but I don't believe it is anything like actual classroom instruction.

What I would do, if I was still teaching with the kids not in school would be to have them write fifty words a school day on how the "V" is affecting their lives and that would at least take care of their social studies.  After all, this is going to be one of those events in our history as well as the history of the world, that will be (and already is) one of the turning points in history.

Events like Pearl Harbor, the JFK assassination and 9/11 are in that realm.  However, these events did not directly happen to everyone like this "V" is.  This "V" may or not be right at your door.

Even if all schools end up being closed for the rest of the school year, parents should have their kids writing about this regardless.  Maybe having 7th to 12th graders writing 200 words a day.

The Kids Are Living Through Big-Time History Right Now.  --RoadDog

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V"--  To the tune of "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover":

"Stop Touching Your Face, Grace"
"Stay back to Six Feet, Pete."

Pearl Harbor Survivor Art Wells Likely Last Living in Butte County

From the December 7,  2019, Chico Enterprise-Herald "Pearl Harbor veteran is now the last survivor living in Butte County.

On December 7, 1941, a young Arthur M. Wells was on board the USS Pennsylvania when the Japanese came a calling.    Now, 78 years later, he's the last remaining Pearl Harbor veteran in Butte County.

He served in the USMC from July 5, 1940 to Nov. 2, 1945.  He served on a series of battleships at Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa.

He regularly attends the Pearl Harbor commemoration, but will not be able to attend this year.

78 Years Ago Tomorrow, the Day of Infamy

December 7, 1941.  Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oahu, striking a serious blow to U.S. forces stationed there.

The problem was that war had not been declared at the time.

Tomorrow is a day to remember what happened and to also remember that preparedness is always necessary.

I'll have my flags flying.  Hope you will as well.

Pearl Harbor

I'd Celebrate That, December 3 to 9: Pearl Harbor Day

OK, sorry.  I've been forgetting these this month.

DECEMBER 3--  Roof Over Your Head Day

DECEMBER 4--  Santa's List Day   Cookie Day**  The Cookie Monster's Got nothin' on me!!

DECEMBER 5--  Ninja Day    Bathtub Party Day

DECEMBER 6--  Pawnbrokers Day

DECEMBER 7--  Pearl Harbor Day**  I did celebrate it.  Cotton Candy Day

DECEMBER 8--  Brownie Day**

DECEMBER 9--  Pastry Day**

--RoadDog

A Busy Weekend-- Part 2: Old Friends, Vets and Ed Bearrs

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

This being Pearl Harbor Day, the 77th anniversary, I wrote about it in all my blogs.  My flags were already up for President Bush's funeral.

I drove to Bristol, Wisconsin, to have breakfast with former teachers from John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois.  We had our first get-together back in November and hope to get it to being a regular monthly thing.  It is always fun to get together with old friends, especially ones you don't often see.  A lot of retired teachers from Round Lake have moved to warmer climes, but enough of us stay here to have them.

Afterwards, I drove to the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion Post 703 where we were putting on our annual Christmas dinner for the people at the VA Hospital in North Chicago.  I worked in the kitchen plating yams, mashed potatoes and gravy.  We served around 125.

Later I drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and visited the grave of Liz's parents in Memory Gardens and then, with some difficulty found the place where Ed Bearrs was going to speak for the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table at the Arlington Hts. Museum.  Mr. Bearrs is one of the preeminent Civil War people, having written many books and led many battlefield tours.  It was worth the distance and confusion to hear him.  I will eventually get around to writing about him in my Civil War blog.

A Very Long Day.  --RoadDog

The Day of Infamy, Dec. 7, 1941: House Votes To Make Pearl Harbor A Stand Alone Memorial Site

From the November 15, 2018 Stars and Stripes.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to make Pearl Harbor a stand alone memorial site.

The Pearl Harbor National memorial is now a part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.  This also includes sites in California and Alaska.

Five sites of it are in Pearl Harbor:  the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Oklahoma Memorial, USS Utah Memorial, Battleship Row and Ford Island.

I am for it being a stand-alone Memorial.

Illinois USS Oklahoma Pearl Harbor Victim Identified

All of my blogs today will be about Pearl harbor, this being the 76th anniversary of the attack.

From the December 7, 2016, Chicago Tribune "For Pearl Harbor Dead, A Final Rest" by Ted Gregory.

"Katherine Kany was at work last spring when she got the phone call that pulled together the loose ends of a family mystery.  The remains of her uncle, a 22-year-old from Waukegan who died 75 years ago Wednesday, finally had been identified.

"The call was part of a project begun in earnest last year with the goal of identifying and returning to loved ones the remains of 388 sailors and Marines -- 18 from Illinois -- killed when Japanese fighter planes riddled the USS Oklahoma with torpedoes on December 7, 1941.  At least five of the explosions struck the Oklahoma about 8 a.m., and the battleship capsized in less than 10 minutes."

"Kany, of Arlington, Va., and other relatives gathered October 25, at Arlington National Cemetery for a full military funeral for Navy Fireman 3rd Class John H. Lindsley, a man who died before Kany was born."

Identifying These Dead Is the Correct Thing to Do.

Got My Flags Up To Commemorate the 76th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Today

I just went out in the cold (and a light smattering of snow) and put up two U.S. flags to honor those who died and survived that attack on Pearl Harbor 76 years ago that plunged the country into World War II.

Pearl Harbor, along with the Alamo, Fort Fisher and the Titanic have always been the four history stories that have interested me the most.

Sadly, as far as I know, there are no ceremonies in our part of northeast Illinois that is having anything for it.

This being the very first major action of the war for the United States, these persons are among the very oldest of those remaining from World War II and because of it, they are dying off even faster than the others.

When I was growing up, it seemed that all of my parents' friends were World War II veterans and it is hard to imagine there coming a time when they won't be around anymore.

In observance, every one of my blogs today will be about Pearl Harbor.

Hope You Are Flying Your Flag Today.   --

Pearl Harbor, Kennedy Assassination, Man on the Moon and 9-11

It seems that each generation has their "Where Were You" moment.

For my parents, it was Pearl Harbor.

For my generation it was the Kennedy Assassination and Man on the Moon.

For the next generation it was 9-11.

Of course, anyone old enough will know where they were when the event happened.

Pearl Harbor   I wasn't born yet (1951).

Kennedy Assassination    I was in 7th grade at Winston Park Junior High School in Palatine, Illinois.

Man on the Moon     I was at a friend's house in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where we were visiting family.

9-11    I was teaching school at Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois.

Pearl Harbor, 75 Years Ago: No Shipping Out Party for Leo J. Zappa

Every year, I post about this to all my blogs on this date.

From Youngstown, Ohio, Pearl Harbor Survivor Profiles.

LEO J. ZAPPA

Was 22 at Pearl Harbor..  Died in 1993.

Born and raised in Farrell, Pennsylvania.  Dropped out of Farrell High School in 11th grade to enlist the day after Hitler invaded Poland.

He was in the quartermaster company.  Member of the VFW and the Idaho State Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

Quote from his son:  "Pearl Harbor was an unforgettable experience for my dad.  Ironically, he was scheduled to ship out and be discharged from the Army on December 8.  His buddies were even getting ready to have a party for him -- obviously that didn't happen."

So Sad to See Them Dying of Old Age Now.

America Goes to War 74 Years Ago-- Part 2: Oregon Pearl Harbor Survivor Dies in 2014

From the  Feb. 2014 NR Today, Oregon ""Douglas County loses Pearl Harbor survivor."

Joseph W. Brumbach Sr., one of Douglas County's last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors died at age 91.  He was a 1938 Roseburg High School graduate and was crew chief of patrol planes during the attack.

America Goes to War 74 Years Ago-- Part 1: Western Michigan Men at Pearl Harbor That Day

Every year I dedicate today to the events at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  I am writing about it in all seven of my blogs.

From the Dec. 3, 2012, M Live.  These Western Michigan men were at Pearl Harbor that day.  Seaths also given.

HARRISON J. SCRANTON--  Norton Shores, US Army Air Corps.  Retired Colonel, unknown.

BASIL STAYSA--  Muskegon, US Army Air Corps, died 1984.

ROBERT G. WALLEY--  Roosevelt Park, died 2003.

HAROLD E. WARREN--    Muskegon, US Navy. Retired commander, died 1979.

Pearl Harbor: The First of the Big Three "Where Were You"

Today marks the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the event that launched the United States into World War II.  I rarely post on Sundays, but will make an exception when it occurs on December 7th.  Pearl Harbor has always been of great interest to me.

It was my parent's "Day of Remembering."  This is one of those days that you remember where you were when you first heard about it.

For my generation, it was the assassination of Kennedy.  For the next one it was 9/11.

I'll be putting my flags out today, hope you do the same.

This day will always be observed in all seven of my blogs.

I'm Not Forgetting What Day It Is: Pearl Harbor Day, 72 Years Later

All seven of my blogs will have mention of this today as well as one American who died December 7, 1941. I will also have several postings about it in my World War II blog, "Tattooed On Your Soul."

Not forgetting MANFRED C. ANDERSON of Hancock, Michigan (Upper Peninsula), 18th Bombardment Group, Hickam Field.