December 1941 (70 page)

The heroine of the South, Margaret Mitchell, authoress of
Gone with the Wind
, journeyed above the Mason-Dixon Line to attend the launching of the
USS Atlanta
, a new cruiser. Garbed in a Red Cross uniform, photographed at the Brookwood station, she looked happy for the entire world to see, though she was painfully shy.
¹¹

Incredibly, yet another American tanker was fired upon—and sunk—off the California coast. The 400-foot-long
Montebello
went to the bottom, though four life boats did make it to shore, but not before they too were fired upon by the submarine. The seamen cursed and yelled at the sub, wishing for their own weapons. “Sherriff Murray C. Hathaway said longboats and fishing craft trying to rescued (sic) survivors from the
Montebello
were [also] shelled and fired on by machine guns from the attacking craft.”
¹²

Another America ship, the
Larry Doheny
, was fired upon as well, though not sunk. “It was the eighth submarine attack on American freighters and tankers in nearby Pacific waters since opening of the war with Japan.”
¹³
Overnight, people along the coast around Morro Bay and Estero Bay heard loud gunfire and explosions.
¹⁴

Americans were getting jumpy and rightly so. An American freighter was making for San Diego under full steam, bellowing a thick trail of black smoke out of her stack. Thinking a naval battle was underway, nervous residents along the West Coast called the police and other officials.
¹⁵

The dribble of announcements of the dead or missing from Pearl and other battle scenes became a torrent. In San Diego, four young men, all city natives, were revealed to have been killed.
¹⁶
In Alabama, a seaman in his forties who had been called back to active duty in August of 1940 was missing in action.
¹⁷
In Los Angeles, the first of many of the sons of the city, Lieutenant Commander Charles Michael, who'd been lost on the
Utah
, was announced as among the dead.
¹⁸
Then two sons of an employee of the
Los Angeles Times
, Wesley Heidt, 24, and Edward J. (Bud) Heidt, 25, both firemen–first class on the
Arizona
, were both reported missing.
¹⁹

As part of a campaign to buck up American morale, the War Department made available some of the survivors of the attack on Pearl to give their firsthand accounts of what happened. “Graphic first-hand narratives of what happened at Pearl Harbor December 7 [were] told with dramatic coolness today by three naval officers who had leading parts in the titanic defense of giant warships against a sky full of Japanese planes that pounced on them suddenly ‘from out of nowhere.'” They told of the attacks, heroism, and tragedy. “During the early morning attack a marine said to an officer, ‘Pull this piece of metal out of my back.' It was a bomb splinter so hot the officer had to use a rag to remove it. The wounded marine returned to his machine gun and remained on duty until late that afternoon.”
²⁰
There were hundreds of such tales of can-do Americanism. This was the first of such revelations about the attack, though Washington officials were still guarded about the extent of the damage.
²¹

Another story from CBS radio told the story of Lt. Walter Cross, an Army Air Corps pilot whose aircraft had been hit by enemy planes. Cross bailed and hit the silk, as Japanese planes buzzed around him, taking turns shooting at him as he floated helplessly to earth. Miraculously, they failed to hit him, “and his only injury was a pair of blistered feet in an eight-day hike back to Manila through mountainous terrain inhabited only savage tribesmen.”
²²

Another pilot found himself in a similar situation. As he floated to the ground, natives waited. They were going to tear him to shreds. Their village had already been bombed by the Japanese, and to them all airplanes and pilots were alike. That's when the American flyer doffed his airman's cap. “This intruder definitely was not a Japanese—he had a shock of flaming red hair.”
²³

By now America thought it was immune to surprise. Who should show up for breakfast the morning of the twenty-third, but British Prime Minister Winston Churchill!

Only a handful knew of his and FDR's plans to meet in Washington and nary a word of it leaked out. Some reporters intimated that they knew in advance but knew such reporting was now verboten and writing about it before the prime minister completed his sojourn could get them into a lot of hot water. He'd actually arrived late Monday and went directly to the White House, getting there around 5:40 p.m.
²⁴

A brief statement was issued: “The British prime minister has arrived in the United States to discuss with the president all questions relevant to the concerted war effort. Mr. Churchill is accompanied by Lord Beaverbrook and a technical staff.”
²⁵
They had many things to discuss, large and small, from the size of the Allied army to how to handle Ireland and how to convince the Irish to allow Allied sub bases there. They would be later joined by Canadian Prime Minister Macenzie King. The Nazis believed Churchill had left London and suspected he was headed for conferences in the Middle East, but did not rule out Moscow or Washington.
²⁶

White House press secretary Steve Early knew, of course, but could not tell the press or confirm or deny that the historic meeting was forthcoming. Only until an announcement was made in Great Britain could he go ahead and tell the press corps. “Early's desk will never look the same. In the scramble for mimeographed statements a lamp was knocked over, a porcelain donkey was broken, gadgets and knickknacks were jumbled.” The
Boston Globe
noted, “Three days before the birth anniversary of the Prince of Peace two great leaders were deep in discussion of war.”
²⁷

It was the second time in six months that Roosevelt and Churchill had met, but this time he was already in the White House, deep in conversation over drinks and dinner with Roosevelt before the Americans knew “Winnie” was in the country. Their first meeting was about the
HMS Prince of Wales
in August of 1941, when they devised the Atlantic Charter. Churchill's mother, Jennie Jerome, had been an American, and had visited the U.S. four times before; the first in 1890, the second at the invitation of Mark Twain in 1900, and again in 1929 and 1931 on lecture tours.

FDR set an “all hands” conference for the next day at 6:00 p.m. On Tuesday, top brass and civilian leadership were to meet with the Prime Minister and the eighty political and military experts who had accompanied him on his boat trip across the Atlantic. Churchill's presence in the United States was a tonic to the country's morale and to FDR's morale.

Roosevelt so looked forward to seeing Churchill, he went by car to an unidentified nearby airport to meet his friend as he flew into Washington. Churchill arrived in a blue navy “pea jacket” and “dark yachting cap.” The uniform was that of the Trinity House Lighthouse Service, “a semi-governmental organization concerned with life-saving and the operation of lighthouses.”
²⁸
In his hand, he carried a cane, equipped with a flashlight for blackouts. Roosevelt was in a gray double breasted business suit whose pant legs, while cuffed, appeared too long. The snap brim of his fedora was turned up, befitting the style of the obliging nobles of the era. “The car slipped in through the gates of the southgrounds, then rolled up at the entrance looking out across the still-green lawn and to the towering Washington monument in the distance.”
²⁹

Churchill's trip—which had been his idea—had been risky to say the least, boarding a blacked out train in London, then a crossing over the war-torn Atlantic to Massachusetts, and then a flight into Washington. It took a number of days to complete and rumors floated around London and Washington as to his whereabouts. “The White House would neither confirm nor deny the reports, but issued warnings of the possible grave consequences of speculation or mention of the subject in any way.”
³⁰
Despite the arduous journey, Churchill looked in good health.

Upon arrival at the White House, they posed briefly for photographs and Churchill hid his cigar for a moment. FDR was using his leg braces, a cane in his right hand and his left hand was gripped on the arm of White House naval attaché Captain John R. Beardall.
³¹
“The sheer drama of the meeting on American soil . . . should have salutary psychological reactions. . . .”
³²
Just over their heads were parts of the White House that had been painted over to cover the scorch marks made by the fire the British had set to the White House in the War of 1812, nearly burning it to the ground. Then they were bitter enemies. Now the two countries were allies “forged” by a fire set in a different century.
³³

While waiting for Churchill to arrive, FDR had met that day with his fifth cousin, Teddy Roosevelt Jr., who was a brigadier general.
³⁴
Most of the day, he spent in the Oval Office, in one-on-one and small meetings with foreign dignitaries accompanied by Vice President Henry Wallace.

FDR also went through paperwork including sending a memo to John Franklin Carter, responding to an obliquely circuitous memo in which “Jack” (which FDR called him) discussed at length their concerns about security in New York. Carter, between the lines, was suggesting the creation of an independent security force comprised of individuals “now debarred by reason of age, formal education . . . .” He had already identified some willing to help and said they did not lack for “funds or facilities. The individuals . . . seem to be able, intelligent and know what they are doing.” He suggested to Roosevelt that in recruiting a certain kind of help in the New York area, that what was needed was “a relaxation of red tape, especially at the moment when rapid expansion of functions and activities is essential.”
³⁵

After darkness had covered Washington, he went to the south portico entrance and got into a car and went to meet Mr. Churchill.
³⁶
That evening, FDR and the British Prime Minister stayed up talking until 1 a.m.
³⁷

The next morning, the two world leaders, exhausted, slept in. “Both rose long after the White House staff was bustling with its duties of the day.”
³⁸

The rest of that Tuesday brought more unwanted news. Japanese forces had finally made a landing on Wake Island after a dozen or more strikes against the marines and navy seamen. But there was no word from the G.I.s that they'd surrendered or that they were still fighting. “The invaders landed Tuesday morning, the navy said. Information was not immediately forthcoming whether the ‘leatherneck' defenders were still resisting.”
³⁹

The Japanese had also made yet another landing on Luzon where the American forces were attempting to throw them back into the sea, and though the battered British garrison was holding on in Hong Kong, two top Canadian officers were killed there. Worse, the Japanese claimed they had taken over a thousand prisoners in Hong Kong. Many news reports on the situation in Hong Kong took note of the hour of the day, so as to keep a running story in perspective. It was reported that on Monday alone, “about 100 bombs fell on the island.” The tenacious Brits, Indians, and Canadians had destroyed a bridge and two enemy ships.
⁴⁰
If they were going down, they were going down fighting.

The Japanese had landed and taken Borneo, but found only burnt offerings left behind by the British. “Three men of the Royal Engineers said they began putting the torch to wells, pipe lines, pumping stations and refineries a few days after war broke out.”
⁴¹

The fighting on Luzon was described as “intense.” Douglas MacArthur was issuing hopeful statements, still saying he had things “well in hand” but his tanks and artillery were more useful in fighting off the enemy surge.
⁴²
Commanding the troops in the field under MacArthur was a capable man, Major General Jonathan M. Wainwright.
⁴³
U.S. forces had reportedly sunk “47 Nipponese Troop Transports” which was welcomed news. But Japanese planes had also bombed a civilian center on Luzon where many Filipino government officials were being housed. The Japanese had also landed a strong contingent at the Lingayen coast, some 150 miles north of Luzon, an apparent “pincer” move.
⁴⁴

In spite of his brave public statements, MacArthur was sending fraught telegrams to the War Department, pleading for reinforcements. “PURSUIT AND DIVE BOMBER REINFORCEMENT BY MEANS OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER STOP PRESENT ENEMY ENCIRCLEMENT PERMITS INTERRUPTION OF FERRY ROUTE TO SOUTH DUE TO DAY BOMBARDMENT MINDANAO FIELDS STOP EARLY REINFORCEMENT BY CARRIER WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM STOP CAN I EXPECT ANYTHING ALONG THAT LINE . . . IN THIS GENERAL CONNECTION CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY INKLING OF STRATEGIC PLANS PACIFIC FLEET . . . MACARTHUR.”
⁴⁵

Time
magazine wryly observed, “The U. S. had been reacting to ‘other peoples' war. It was now in its own war.”
⁴⁶
Between Hawaii, Guam, Wake Island, the Philippines, the waters of the West Coast and Midway, America knew all too well. Guam hadn't been heard from since the tenth. The last message from the navy said, “Last attack centered at Agana. Civilians machine-gunned in streets. Two native wards of hospital and hospital compound machine-gunned. Building in which Japanese nationals are confined bombed.”
⁴⁷