Holiday Greetings from Admiral Nimitz

Merry Christmas from Admiral Nimitz, 1944!

Letter from Pearl Harbor

In memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I thought it appropriate to post an excerpt from a letter home from a Texan on the USS Arizona. It was one of his last letters home. From Grover Barron Bishop:

USS ARIZONA 9 Nov 1941

Dear Dad & Folks:
It sure has been a long time since I’ve gotten a letter from that part of the world. I’m beginning to wonder just why there isn’t more mail? Maybe there is so much cotton to gin that you just don’t have time?
Boy, I was sure a sick boy for awhile. I am still awful weak & I still have a heavy cough but am up & around. I still am not back to regular duty but am on light duty list. Doctor says I’ll have to take it easy for awhile. Dad, on all of my beneficiary slips I’ve put Ladonia’s at Johnnie & Samies address. If something should happen to me they’ll wire here. So if anything comes for her you take it and of course notify her. That is the easiest way as each time your address changes a new slip must be made out & sworn to. This way the address is permanent & saves lots & lots of trouble for the overworked yeoman.
Dad, I’m tempted to ship over in the outfit without even a crack at the outside. Also am tempted to ship over early & try to make arrangements to get leave over Christmas. As it stands now I’m almost positive we’ll be here during the month of December. As you know a Christmas under a palm tree won’t be Christmas to us Cedar loving people. . . . .
The Army seems to be having a little trouble over morale. Well, maybe the morale is low & maybe the morale of the Navy isn’t so high, but once we start fighting that’ll all be forgotten. The men out here are hard worked and would like to see the fleet return but we have faith. We believe the President will return us home just as soon as he thinks it is safe. For that reason & because we know it is in the best interest of the nation we don’t mind it so much. In a few more months we’ll all be native anyway. It won’t matter then. I’d say the morale of the ship is as high as it has ever been. One thing that would help would be war with Japan. That would give us confidence in ourselves & at the same time furnish a lot of good training.
Well folks in about 5 minutes the lights go off & mail closes before reveille in the morning. So I’ll cut this short.
Just remember how very much I think of you & write me soon as your letters mean so much. Lots & lots of love to all.
From, Barron

The Rescue of Lt(j.g.) George HW Bush in 1944

The following is a video that was made when Commander Paul Cook, USN (Ret) visited the museum recently. He was part of the detachment that rescued George HW Bush in 1944 when his plane was shot down. Former President Bush was a Lieutenant (junior grade), USNR at the the time of the rescue. See Cdr. Cook tell his story of the rescue.

Tarawa

The following are photos from the Museum's Collection. They were taken by Norm Hatch on Tarawa. The bloody Battle of Tarawa was fought from November 20 - 23, 1943.

Inspiring our Youth

The museum's motto is "We Inspire our Youth by Honoring our Heroes."

This college professor is doing his part in carrying out our motto by bringing students to learn the history of the Pacific War and the generation of heroes that fought that war.

We have an ongoing program for museum visitors to write letters to wounded servicemen and women at BAMC in San Antonio. This letter was written by one of our younger visitors and hopefully will bring a smile to one of today's wounded heroes.

America's White Table

This post was made around Memorial Day but I believe that it deserves to be posted again on Veterans Day.

During patriotic holidays, including Veterans Day, a model of America’s White Table will be set up to honor those men and women who serve(d) in the United States’ Armed Forces. The tradition of placing the table began with a group of Vietnam fighter pilots but has now extended to honor all of those serving this country all around the world. Margot Theis Raven, author of the children’s book, America’s White Table said, “The point is every single day of freedom is brought to you by that person who is not sitting there.”

The small table signifies one lone serviceman’s battle against many. The white cloth honors our comrade’s pure heart for answering his country’s call to duty. The lemon slice and grains of salt represent the captive serviceman’s bitter fate and the tears of his family awaiting his return. A black napkin is placed for the sorrow of captivity. The glass is upside down for the meal that won’t be eaten. The white candle and the red rose represent peace and hope for the serviceman’s return. The empty chair at the table is for the missing serviceman.

“You are not forgotten so long as there is one left in whom your memory remains.”

The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

Veterans Day was originally established as a holiday to honor and memorialize those men who fought in World War I. World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. However fighting ceased more than seven months earlier with an armistice that went into effect at 1100 on November 11, 1918. Originally, the day was known as Armistice Day because World War I was to be the war to end all wars. Following World War II, which required the greatest mobilization of all branches of the military in the nation’s history, and after the Korean War, the word “Veterans” took the place of “Armistice.” On June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. For a brief time, Veterans Day was to serve as one of four national holidays that would be on a Monday to ensure a three-day weekend for the people, but because of the historical significance of November 11 it was returned to that date. Today we honor veterans from all wars, both past and present, for their service, honor, and courage.

Come out to the Memorial Courtyard at the National Museum of the Pacific War at 11:00 am on Thursday for a commemoration program. Senator John Cornyn will be presenting the Keynote Address. It is a free program and all are welcome!

To all of those who have served, thank you!