Out of Respect

By Mark W. Danielson

No doubt, the 9-11 attack on our World Trade Center permanently etched our brains.  While this unimaginable event left our nation in shock, years before another day shall forever live in infamy.  I cannot imagine the horror our Pearl Harbor survivors’ experienced as they watched World Trade Center fall.

I don’t fly to Hawaii as often as I used to, but during every Honolulu visit, I've made it a point to climb Diamond Head so I could peer into the distance and imagine the Japanese bombs pounding our ships and airfield.  Those who were stationed on Diamond Head helplessly watched, its guns meant to ward off a sea invasion, not an air attack.  But had it been better equipped, Diamond Head was still too far away from the attacking planes to have had any effect.  The guilt those observing the fight from Diamond Head must have been horrendous.  They probably re-lived that nightmare countless times during their lifetime. 

Oahu's Diamond Head may have had mystical qualities to the locals, but its strategic significance had the United States military transforming the crater into a military installation in 1905.  At the time, the United States was occupying foreign lands with gunboat diplomacy.  Military installations were set up in the Philippines, Guam and Hawaii to defend the nation during the Spanish American War.  Inside Diamond Head, trails were carved, tunnels dug, mortars and cannons capable of launching fifteen-inch diameter projectiles were placed.  Well before World War I, Oahu stood ready to defend itself, but no amount of guns could stop its post-war economic development.  In recent years, pineapple and sugar cane fields have succumbed to condos and resorts, cars pack its roads, buildings steadily rise, and yet this steady influx of tourists is what fuels Hawaii’s economy.  Thankfully, even on Oahu it is easy to escape the bustle of the city by driving a few miles.  Of all the places I've visited around the world, I still consider Hawaii paradise. 

While many criticize Hawaii’s development claiming the Untied States raped the island, it is worth noting that had the United States not militarized these islands, history may have been re-written.  Had the Japanese pursued their December 7th attack as an invasion rather than continuing their course for Australia, and had our carriers not set out to sea before the attack, the outcome of the War in the Pacific could have been different.  

For those visiting Oahu, I strongly recommend visiting the battleships Arizona and Missouri, then Punch Bowl Cemetery to study the Pacific battles depicted on its grand memorial walls.  Spend time reflecting on the endless rows of white crosses to remember our soldiers' ultimate sacrifice.  Finally, climb Diamond Head to observe Pearl Harbor in the distance so you can imagine what happened that fateful December seventh day in1941.  (You can now avoid the steep stairs by using the south wall bypass.) 

To all who have served and defended this country, particularly WWII veterans, I salute you.  In your honor, I shall climb Diamond Head on every visit so long as I’m able.

Carved in Stone

By Mark W. Danielson

In a time when everything can be posted within seconds, it’s now more important than ever to choose our words wisely.  Cringing at some of the news articles or management comments I see, I realize it’s probably best to write my words like they are carved in stone.  While it is doubtful any of my good words will ever be recognized, I am certain that badly chosen ones will soon come back to haunt me.

When you are passionate about a topic, it’s easy to write with emotion.  In fiction, this is an essential ingredient, but when responding to a Facebook post, editorial, or question from the boss, it may not be advantageous.  Case in point, I frequently see comments that slam the French for being snobbish or weak.  I am neither of French descent or a defender of this country, but I have spent a lot of time there, and for every person that may seem arrogant, I can easily find their equal anywhere in the United States.  In this regard, it’s probably best not to brand a civilization based on a single experience, but rather realize that our own behavior often affects our interaction with others.  We should also realize that not everyone shares our own frame of reference, and that international politics can often slant how people see us.

So how does an author respond to a comment or cause without creating an uproar?  The answer is simple.  Never publish anything right away.  Instead, write it and then sit on it.  This works for any kind of writing, casual or professional.  After it’s fermented for whatever length of time seems appropriate for your situation, then re-read it out loud so you can hear your own words.  By doing so, the chances are good you will find new words that may better express what you were trying to say.  Once you’ve made your changes, then sit on it again.  And before sending anything on, read it aloud again to make sure you are satisfied.  If you have done this, then you can take your lumps as the criticism begins. 

Reputations can be ruined by just a few poorly chosen words.  Such fury is predominant when rivaling political figures spit their venom, but elected officials that are not careful with their words will forever be remembered for their bad choices.  One exception, however, is the word I chose to represent this article.  Infamy. . .   Anyone that has studied history will remember Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s word to describe the day Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7^th, 1941.  That day will forever live in infamy.

Nowadays, few seem to be accountable for any of their actions, so it’s best that authors lead the way in raising the communication bar.  And while we strive to perfect whatever words we use in writing, it’s probably best that we speak like our microphone is on and act like we’re being videotaped.        

A Day to Remember

By Mark W. Danielson

Yesterday was Pearl Harbor Day. A day that lives in infamy. The day that launched us into World War II. Ask anyone old enough to remember and they will tell you exactly where they were the day thousands died and others were severely burned and injured. Heroes kept on fighting. The survivors kept living.

For those of us too young to know, it’s hard to imagine the fright they experienced on that peaceful Sunday morning as waves clapped at sandy beaches, palms swayed under a sapphire sky, residents prepared for church, and soldiers and airmen sat idle. And then the sky buzzed with hundreds of bombers. Reality didn’t sink in until after the first bombs fell. Within seconds, Satan’s hand had blocked the sun and the sky was on fire. People ran for cover. Then more bombs fell and chaos ensued. The unprovoked attack is the reason we still remember Pearl Harbor today. Lest we forget.

Our toll in the Pacific was greater than the ocean itself. This war was won by sheer determination, one island a time. Luck was on our side at Midway. Even more so when master planner Yamamoto’s Betty bomber was intercepted and shot down by P-38 fighters in the Solomon Islands.

Countless books have been written on the war in the Pacific, but none better than James Bradley’s Flags of our Fathers and Flyboys. Both of these books take the reader into the Pacific theater from the vantage of a few brave men. The fact that George H. Bush is in Flyboys is more coincidence than intentional, for it was his airmen, captured on Chi Chi Jima, that form the basis of this story. Photos of these men give the book heart. Living their horror gives their story meaning.

If you haven’t already done so, take a moment to reflect on those who served during World War II, particularly those who gave their lives at Pearl. Thank these veterans for their service, and never forget that their sacrifices are what allow us to post messages like this one.