World War II

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December 29, 2011 | 9:16 AM | By

Parade for Returning Iraq War Vets? Your Responses

Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo / Department of Defense

The mission flag is cased at the end of mission ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq December 15, 2011

Home Post put the question out to readers yesterday: Would you like to see a parade to celebrate the end of the Iraq War? The question was triggered by criticism from GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry while on the campaign trail. He slammed President Obama for not organizing a parade in honor of the troops who fought in the Iraq War.

The KPBS web page got several responses to the question. David65 wrote:

“That’s quite a question. What did we win? The country has been at civil war since ’06 despite our presence. They’re still in turmoil. We never found WMDs. I think the veterans would appreciate improved healthcare versus a parade. At least that’s something they can use.”

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FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Veterans, War, Afghan war, Afghanistan, end of Iraq War, Gulf War, Hall of Heroes, Iraq, President Barack Obama, Rick Perry, ticker-tape parade, Veterans, war, War in Iraq, World War II
December 28, 2011 | 10:02 AM | By

Do You Want a Parade to Celebrate the End of War in Iraq?

Kitty Wallace / Flicker

Ticker-tape parade

Republican presidential candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry slammed President Obama today while on the campaign trail – for not having organized a parade to honor the troops who fought in the Iraq War. According to the New York Times, Perry told a crowd of diners in an Iowa restaurant:

“Maybe it’s because this war is unpopular for the Democrats, I don’t know. But Mr. President, our soldiers come first. And it comes before party politics. We need to welcome our soldiers home.”

According to the Associated Press, Pentagon officials say that no one has asked them to plan one.

However, military history professor Don Mrozek of Kansas State University says a celebration marking the end of one war would be odd, considering we are still fighting another war in Afghanistan:

“It’s going to be a bit awkward to be celebrating too much, given how much there is going on and how much there will be going on in Afghanistan.”

So, Home Post readers, now it’s up to you. Do you think there should be a parade marking the end of the war in Iraq? Why or why not? As always, I’d love to hear what you have to say!

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Veterans, War, Afghan war, Afghanistan, Don Mrozek, end of Iraq War, Gulf War, Hall of Heroes, Kansas State University, President Barack Obama, Rick Perry, ticker-tape parade, War in Iraq, World War II
December 15, 2011 | 11:16 AM | By

Former Commander in Iraq Sings Carol for Troops (Video)

Anyone who reads Home Post knows I have a special place in my heart for Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Report. Last night on The Report, Colbert had as his guest United States Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno. Odierno commanded United States Joint Forces Command in Iraq between October 2010 and August 2011. To see Colbert’s entire interview with Odierno, click here.

What I found most moving, however, was the Christmas carol sung by both Colbert and Odierno to United States servicemembers returning home from Iraq. Even my husband got a little emotional, and virtually nothing makes him cry. Take a look:

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, "I'll Be Home for Christmas", Bing Crosby, Christmas, Christmas carols, Christmas songs, General Raymond Odierno, Iraq, Iraq War, Military Families, Operation Iraqi Freedome, Operation New Dawn, satire, Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, War in Iraq, World War II
December 7, 2011 | 10:48 AM | By

Interview with Pearl Harbor Survivor Living in San Diego (Video)

KPBS / YouTube

Pearl Harbor survivor Raymond Chavez

The number of American servicemembers who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 is dwindling. The New York Times reports the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association plans to disband December 31st because of the rapidly declining number of survivors.

Despite their shrinking ranks, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made a point to send a strong message to Pearl Harbor survivors about the unforgettable place they hold in American history:

We treasure you. You have brought everlasting credit to your fallen comrades. The men and women in today’s military stand on the shoulders of your individual and combined sacrifice and service to our nation. Your example inspires those in uniform today, strengthens our nation’s moral fiber, and proves that with united resolve our country can surmount any challenge.

One of the oldest Pearl Harbor survivors is Raymond Chavez of Poway. The 99-year-old told KGTV he plans to be in Pearl Harbor today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the attack.

KPBS journalist Dwane Brown recently sat down to speak with Chavez. Take a look:

FILED UNDER: Japan, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, 70th anniversary of attack on Pearl Harbor, A date which will live in infamy, December 7 1941, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Pearl Harbor Day, Pearl Harbor survivors, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Poway, Raymond Chavez, San Diego, World War II
December 7, 2011 | 9:25 AM | By

Watch 70th Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony Live from Hawaii (VIDEO)

USS Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor

pearl harbor survivors association

USS Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus is one of the many speakers scheduled to participated today in a special ceremony at Pearl Harbor to mark the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack there. The ceremony begins at 9:40 this morning PST, and will be telecast here on Home Post, courtesy of The Pentagon Channel.

According to the Navy, several Pearl Harbor survivors are expected to attend the event, including Edward Borucki. He was serving aboard World War II cruiser USS Helena when the Japanese surprise attack began:

“We were at Dock 10 across from the Battleship Row… Twelve-seven was the day. Remember Pearl Harbor, December 7th, the day of infamy. I’ll never forget that.”

FILED UNDER: Japan, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, 70th Pearl Harbor Rememberance, A date which will live in infamy, Battleship Row, Japan, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Pearl Harbor ceremony, Pearl Harbor Day, Pearl Harbor survivors, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, USS Arizona, USS Helena, World War II, World War II Valor in the Pacific
December 7, 2011 | 8:35 AM | By

USS Makin Island Marks 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sarah Murphy / U.S. Navy

Command Master Chief Steven Alt, left, and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) Sgt. Major Scott Pile participate in a wreath laying ceremony aboard the USS Makin Island.

The crew of the San Diego-based USS Makin Island, now on deployment, honored the memory of those killed at Pearl Harbor 70 years ago today with a wreath-laying ceremony. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in what became the defining moment of the United States’ entry into World War II.

FILED UNDER: Japan, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, 70th anniversary of attack on Pearl Harbor, A date which will live in infamy, December 7 1941, Japan, Oahu, Pacific Theater, Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor Day, San Diego, USS Arizona, USS Makin Island, World War II, wreath laying ceremony
December 5, 2011 | 12:18 PM | By

Meet the Man Responsible for Burials-at-Sea at Pearl Harbor (Video)

Retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Yeoman James Taylor is the burial-at-sea coordinator for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Because of his duties, he’s met countless Pearl Harbor survivors, and their families. He tells journalist Andrew Breese he has mixed feelings about the upcoming survivors convention marking the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor:

FILED UNDER: Japan, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, War, 70th anniversary of attack on Pearl Harbor, A date which will live in infamy, burial at sea, December 7 1941, Internment, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Pearl Harbor survivors, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Yeoman James Taylor, World War II
December 5, 2011 | 9:06 AM | By

San Diego Newspaper to Live Tweet Pearl Harbor Attack

Paul Walsh / Flickr

Attack on Pearl Harbor

A Tweet which will live in infamy? As a history buff and budding technology geek, I think this is a fascinating idea: the San Diego-Union Tribune plans to live Tweet the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th – the 70th anniversary of the actual attack.

The Twitter account to follow is @sdutPearl for what the U-T is calling:

“…a minute-by-minute creation of the event.”

Do you plan to follow?

FILED UNDER: Japan, Life in the Military, Veterans, War, 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, December 7 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, live Tweet, Oahu, Pearl Harbor, Twitter, United States Navy, World War II
October 17, 2011 | 9:58 AM | By

Home Post Visits Arlington National Cemetery (Video)

Beth Ford Roth

View towards Robert E. Lee Estate at Arlington

The first time I visited Arlington National Cemetery was as an eighth grader on spring break from Southern California. In no way was I able to appreciate or understand the gravity of what I was seeing – the endless sea of perfect white headstones representing the men and women who gave their lives while serving our country.

I was able to visit Arlington once again this past weekend. Perhaps most moving for me was watching the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Or maybe, watching the crowd of tourists watch the guard. All are silent, except for the occasional whisper. Most impressive to me was a group of young children, who may have had some difficulty sitting still, but somehow understood the respect they needed to show the Tomb of the Unknowns. I was a bit in awe.

I shot a bit of video while standing in the crowd. It’s a bit shaky, but I posted it below.

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Iraq, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, Women in the military, Afghanistan War, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia, Civil War, Home Post, Iraq War, Korean War, life in the military, Military Families, Persian Gulf War, Robert E. Lee, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Tomb of the Unknowns, Vietnam War, World War I, World War II
June 13, 2011 | 11:39 AM | By

WWII-Era B-17 “Liberty Belle” Crashes (Video)

Matt Ritchie/Flickr

The Liberty Belle

A World War II-era plane named the “Liberty Belle” crashed this morning in a cornfield near Chicago, Illinois, according to Reuters. The pilot reported the vintage plane known as a “Flying Fortress” had caught fire shortly after it took off from Aurora Municipal Airport, and crashed in Oswego, about 40 miles east of the Windy City. FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory told Reuters all seven people aboard the B-17 survived the crash without injury.

The Liberty Belle was built in 1944 and was registered to the Liberty Foundation, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

The Liberty Foundation’s Don Brooks bought the plane at the turn of the century, painting it in the colors and nose art of a namesake B-17 that flew many missions with the 8th Air Force’s 390th bomb group, including missions with Brooks’ father as tail gunner.

AviationExplorer.com posted video of the airplane in flames on YouTube. Take a look:

FILED UNDER: Veterans, B-17, Flying Fortress, Liberty Belle, World War II