80 Years Ago Today - Dave's Midwestern Ohio Memories

Series of Guest Blogs by an out-of-state Fish Report reader originally from this area about fond memories of growing up in Midwestern Ohio during the 50’s & 60’s

Next Blog - 80 Years Ago Today

President Frankilin Roosevelt said 80 years ago, "December 7, 1941,a date which will live in infamy”. He was clearly right as we recognize the ultimate sacrifice by so many in the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese that propelled the US into World War II.

Shown below are the President’s handwritten notes from the speech he gave to Congress and the nation the day after the attack. Click here for the video of the historic 8 minute speech.

Pearl Harbor invasion statistics:

Here are some Ohio newspaper headlines from the time:

An ad from the Minster Post the week after the invasion:

How the local businesses helped the war effort:

First local Pearl Harbor casualty:

During my research for this blog I discovered that my great grandfather died a few days after Pearl Harbor. Here’s his obituary.

My sister recalls our parents telling her that Pearl Harbor occurred before they met, so each were living at home with their parents and that morning had attended church with their respective families, then were finishing up a traditional Sunday dinner when they first heard the devastating news over the radio.That first radio coverage was on the CBS radio network's scheduled news program, World News Today, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. Announcer John Charles Daly read the initial report put out by the White House via newswire a few minutes earlier at 2:22pm. Here’s the audio recording of the historic announcement.

My 91 year old mother-in-law Hilda can't specifically recall the day very well, but if my memory serves, she had told me years ago that her and her sisters Katie and Mary (L-R pictured above) were playing in the barn on their farm before having to feed the livestock. Their aunt Clairie, who lived with the family because their Mother had died in childbirth eight years earlier, told the sisters about the invasion.

Definitely the Greatest Generation lived through that period of our Country’s history. They are the heroes I wish could also live in infamy, as we need their strength and resolve to serve as a role model for current generations.

Check out this link for some of the many activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

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