Tuesday, December 7, 2010


President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it "a day which will live in infamy."  He, of course, was talking about the attack by the Japanese Empire on the United States territory of the Hawaiian Islands of December 7, 1941. 

The surprise attack cost many American lives and did extensive damage to the United States Pacific Fleet.  The most important consequence of the attack was the declaration of war by the United States on Japan.

This declaration was requested by President Roosevelt before a joint session of Congress on December 8, 1941.  

US entry into WWII would prove to have a significant impact on the Kennedy family.  JFK's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. had been Ambassador to Great Britain but was recalled by FDR because of some remarks he made to a reporter saying that he believed "democracy was finished" in Great Britain and perhaps in the United States.  

It was the biggest political blunder of his career.  From that point, he began to devote his money & energies in the support of his sons.

Joseph Kennedy, Jr. served in the United States Navy and was a pilot serving in Great Britain.  Joe Sr. had plans for his one day getting into politics & becoming President of the United States but Joe, Jr. would lose his life in the war.  

JFK also joined the Navy & served in the PT boat squadron in the South Pacific.  He was captain of the PT109.  The 109 was struck by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands resulting in the deaths of two of the crew.  JFK, although injured, was able to lead his crew to be rescued.  He won the Purple Heart & Navy & Marine Corps Medals for his heroism.

My father, Roy G. White, was drafted into the United States Army where he served in the Hospital Corps.  He was sent to the South Pacific as well.  He ended up in the Philippine Islands and while on leave in Sydney, Australia met Mavis Green.  After the war, Mavis came to the United States & married my Dad.