Tuesday, Dec. 7, will long live in memory, especially for those who were around that Sunday 71 years ago when news reached the mainland that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and virtually destroyed this country’s Pacific Fleet.
Carriers being out of the harbor at the time was the saving factor that gave the United States time to rebuild and come out victorious after four years of World War II. Today, the Japanese are among our greatest partners in the Far East.
Most of those military personnel who won and survived the conflict are no longer with us, but their families have memories of their being a part of the world and realize the sacrifice they made.
Reminders coming
The media will not forget the event, digging back in morgue and news files to bring that bright afternoon long ago back into focus.
There were those of us around at the time who were assembled at the Music Store waiting for a Saturday afternoon movie. We went ahead into the Ozark Theater on the southside of the square to attend the flick.
Also in the audience were Civilian Conservation Corp personnel from Roaring River, soon to become part of our fighting forces. Personnel who had been at the area facility eventually were assigned to fight a small enemy force in the Alaskan Islands.
Family reunion
Thanksgiving accorded our family with the closest thing to a family reunion that we have enjoyed in a number of years. Here for short visits were the Andy Parsons and Sean Mitchell clans that straddled the holiday with their presence.
Regardless of the two-days of each trip it was great to see both families, even for the short period of time.
I reminded them the table set by Shelley and Dennis was a close resemblance of those holiday get-togethers of old that were held in the Brown or Ray family dining room on or before holidays.
It was short and sweet on both visits as Sean’s group had other stops to make in the state. Sean, Carrie, Talon and Claire were the first to arrive on their way to Springfield to visit her sister and family. That group is deeply involved in the Springfield schools.
Sean is a Master Sergeant in the Air Force. His squadron operates satellites for Ground Positioning Systems and NOAA weather. Carrie is an assistant principal in a junior high school.
Talon is a high school freshman with sights set on becoming an architect. Claire, a second grader will probably be a dancer.
Carrie is an honor graduate from Assembly of God Collage and Sean likes Springfield and the Ozarks, so, who knows they might land in the region one of these days.
Sean is Bruce’s first born, coming into this world at Whiteman AFB in Central Missouri.
Rented car for trip
Existing transportation for the Parsons family includes an electric car and pickup, neither ideal for a trip from San Diego. So a rented vehicle provided wheels for their long drive.
Andy, Shelley’s son, is a Navy doctor, holding the rank of Commander. He is currently at Balboa Naval Hospital as chief of the anesthesia department. Janna, a native of the San Francisco Bay area, is a Registered Nurse, who was tempted to go back to work during the height of the pandemic. But with three busy youngsters, two dogs and a cat, she decided to stay at home to manage kid and volunteer activities.
Gasoline prices in CA, are responsible for the vehicle she drives.
About the youngsters
Henry Mitchell Parsons is an eighth grader with intense interest in math and technology. A couple of years ago he was tested and was doing math problems on a college sophomore level.
Kate, a fifth grader is a club soccer player and avid dog lover. Her interest in sports began a few years ago with her speed on the track. She was fast enough that she said no one could catch her.
Ellie, a first grader, is following her big sister’s interest in soccer and is quite the swimmer. After listening to her conversations with adults in the room, she might well develop as a news anchor one day.
Weather changing In addition to December signaling the winding down of the year, the twelfth month also welcomes the official beginning of winter. The cold mornings and shortened length of sun during the day are a daily reminder of weather conditions ahead.
Anyone want to guess where 2022 has gone? If there is anyone out there with the answer, let me know.
Fishing predictions
Those who receive fishing equipment as gifts this year and choose to brave the weather that might confront them, these are the Almanac recommended dates to hit the stream or lakes: December 9th, 10th, 27th, 28th are the best ones for an outing, good ones are 6th, 8th, 18th through 20th and the day after Christmas.
A reminder Beginning today, there are 18 days until Christmas! Just so happens the observance of Jesus’ birth falls on Sunday this year.
Bob Mitchell is the former editor and publisher of the Cassville Democrat. He is a 2017 inductee to both the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame and Missouri Southern State University’s Regional Media Hall of Fame.
