Patriot's History: World War 2, 1941-45 (Chap 17)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Andrews Sisters, 1940sWar, Daniel Brett
Piano Composition in D Minor, Joseph Buchheit
Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition, 1942
Fragment, by Marisa Buchheit
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Summary We waited far too long, but with Japan's attack we joined the war. And once engaged we didn't lack resolve or spirit, and our wartime industries ensured both Europe and Pacific victories. Chapter America responded slowly, we were unprepared for war, and Roosevelt waited far too long. Japan declared its villainous intentions with an unforeseen attack. In Germany, the "Blitzkrieg" and an egomaniac anticipated victory. Japan, less confident, relied on fast invasions and a populace content to die for country -- though Americans had failed to see the threat. When war began, our national economy would boldly lead the way. Our allies - Britain, Russia, France - got tanks from us, and fuel and electronic goods. Their chance for victory derived from our resourceful industry. The Axis powers - Germany, Japan, and Italy - were evil, dictatorial, unable to compete with our productiveness. Unfortunately, the defeat of Adolf Hitler and avoidance of the Holocaust might well have happened early on, if we had helped. The cost was great on dual fronts, the Europe and Pacific Wars. Japan, engaged in other South Pacific corridors - Malaysia and the Philippines - had swept uncertainty from all Americans. "A day to live in infamy," said FDR. The Arizona lost a thousand men, and now enlistments - black and Japanese-American included - overwhelmed the military. People lied about their age to go to war! All classes nationwide had come to fight -- the wealthy, movie stars, celebrities. Two battles raged: in Europe we were facing Germany's attacks against our ships. To battle back we struck by air, and this, along with Hitler's push in Russia, took a share of German forces that might otherwise have won the war in the Atlantic! Our inventive people furthermore reversed the flow with sonar, radar, new technology. And now began initiatives restoring liberty to people of the world, with Ike against the "Desert Fox" in Africa, defeating Rommel's bold, unorthodox techniques with air and naval military strategy. And Sicily was freed by Patton and Montgomery, and "Hail America!" arose from the Italian streets. With our economy producing for continued feats of valor, it was D-Day - Normandy - "The Longest Day." The great campaign for liberating France was underway at last, with thousands drowning or machine-gunned on the beach, but others with the freedom of the world within their reach. ~ Bataan Peninsula, a march to death, eleven-thousand U.S. men. The breadth of the assault, the inhumanity, was equal to the Nazis. Certainty of Japanese attacks on U.S. soil demanded special measures. We recoil from mention of internment, Japanese- Americans imprisoned to appease an anxious public, but in retrospect it seems a fair precaution to protect our safety. Payback would be coming soon, with Jimmy Doolittle. His own "High Noon" was "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," which shocked the enemy. His cameo appearance ushered in "The Miracle at Midway," probably the critical event, as bombing raids on Japanese command allowed Americans to seize momentum. Iwo Jima - bloody fight - and Okinawa followed, and the sight of Kamikaze runs occurring here made Truman's atom bomb decision clear. |