Bryan Strawser

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Traditions

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I was driving in to work this morning, past the carrier piers, where USS JOHN C. STENNIS and USS NIMITZ are parked.

I was running a little late, and turned the corner by the carrier pier just at 0755. Just in time for morning colors.

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Now this sort of thing either warms your heart or it does not. But it is one of those small ceremonies that is so very commonplace, yet means so much to me. It has gone on in precisely the same way for over 225 years, day after day. It forms a direct link to the earliest days of our Republic, and a link as well to the unbroken chain of Sailors that have served our country so honorably for all of that time – a sturdy chain that has never yet let the Republic down.

The oldest, most grizzled Master Chief, up on that flight deck, watching the color ceremony with a gimlet eye and brass in his voice, a veteran of two desert wars and perhaps Vietnam was once a seaman recruit. His leading chief had fought in Korea, and perhaps as well in World War II. That chief as a seaman served with a man who had sailed around the world in the Great White Fleet. His chief had sailed up the Mississippi at full speed, damning the torpedoes. And so on, back to the infant Navy of 1775, the fighting men who sailed with John Paul Jones, and David Farragut and Hopkins who first flew that Navy jack, and by flying it meant to clear the decks and prime the guns for combat. These are our fathers and our grandfathers. [Neptunus Rex]

Fighting for Freedom

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I think the best thing I’ve read so far was from the family of a 20 year old Marine who was killed. His family said that though they were devastated, it wasn’t a waste because he had been fighting for freedom. Wow. [A Marine’s Story]

Sixty Two Years

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Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Navy Beats Army 34-6

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Navy and Army made football history Saturday: good history for the Midshipmen, bad for the Cadets.

In the 104th meeting of the service academies, Navy, a three-touchdown favorite, wore down Army and won easily, 34-6. Navy (8-4) earned the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy (the Air Force Academy is also involved in the competition) for the first time since 1981 and is headed for the Houston Bowl on Dec. 30. Army became the first N.C.A.A. football team to finish a season 0-13. [New York Times]