Of Windmills and War (20 page)

“Stay
out of this, Betty. I’ve lost one son. I’m sure as hell not going to lose
another.”

“Dad,
we don’t know that Joey’s—”

“Of
course, we do. If he was alive, he would’ve called your mother by now. You know
it and I know it.”

“That’s
not true!” Danny shouted, closing the gap between them. “He probably couldn’t
get a call out even if he wanted to! After something like this? It may be days
or weeks before we find out anything. So don’t say . . . if you
can’t . . . just keep your mouth shut, Dad!”

“Fine. Live
in your fairy dream land. Think whatever you like. But the sooner you accept
that your brother died in that attack today, the sooner you get over it.”

Danny lost
his temper, letting a string of expletives fly as he stood toe to toe with his
father. When he finished, his chest heaved from the outburst as he stared into
his dad’s darkening face. Dad narrowed his eyes as he clenched his teeth
together, but he didn’t say a word. Finally, he hobbled off, cursing under his
breath as he went downstairs to the basement.

He
turned to his mother who held a handkerchief over her mouth. “Mom, I’m sorry
you heard that. I just couldn’t take it. Not now. Not when we don’t know
anything yet.”

She
composed herself and gave him a hug. “Don’t mind him, Danny. You can’t let him
get to you like that. He doesn’t know how to handle things like this. You know
that.”

“Yeah,
so we all just keep making excuses for him? Wouldn’t you think after everything
that happened to him, he would’ve learned something? If nothing else, to at least
keep his mouth shut at a time like this?”

“Hush, Danny.
Let it go.”

They listened
to the radio long into the night, clinging to any special bulletin that updated
the news coming out of
Hawaii
. Details remained sketchy, but
there was no question about the overwhelming destruction at
Pearl
Harbor
.
Some reports mentioned ships already sunk in the shallow bay, others capsized.
The loss of life would be beyond any of their imaginations.

His
mother had asked him to pray with her around ten. As they knelt beside the
sofa, he listened as she poured her heart out, asking God to protect Joey and
keep him safe through the night. Danny fought the nagging traces of his
father’s earlier remark.
The sooner you accept that your brother died in
that attack today, the sooner you get over it.
No matter what his father
thought, Danny chose to cling to his mother’s faith. She trusted God to watch
over Joey; so would he.

Later,
after his mother finally drifted off to sleep on the sofa, Danny heard the
radio station sign off for the night. As the troubling images continued parading
through his imagination, he too gave in to the fatigue and fell asleep.

28

11:30
Central Standard Time

Chicago
,
Illinois

December
8, 1941

“Yesterday,
December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America
was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of
Japan. The
United States
was at peace with that nation,
and at the solicitation of
Japan
, was still in conversation
with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in
the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced
bombing in
Oahu
, the Japanese ambassador to the
United
States
and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a
recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to
continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint
of war or armed attack.

“It
will be recorded that the distance of
Hawaii
from
Japan
makes
it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks
ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately
sought to deceive the
United States
by false statements and
expressions of hope for continued peace.

“The
attack yesterday on the
Hawaiian islands
has caused severe
damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have
been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high
seas between
San Francisco
and
Honolulu
.

“Yesterday,
the Japanese government also launched an attack against
Malaya
. Last
night, Japanese forces attacked
Hong Kong
. Last
night, Japanese forces attacked
Guam
. Last
night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, Japanese
forces attacked
Wake Island
. This morning, the Japanese
attacked
Midway
Island
.

“
Japan
has,
therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific
area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the
United
States
have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the
very life and safety of our nation.

“As
commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be
taken for our defense. Always we will remember the character of the onslaught
against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated
invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to
absolute victory.

“I believe
I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we
will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain
that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist.
There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our
interests are in grave danger.

“With
confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounding determination of our people—we
will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.

“I ask
that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by
Japan
on
Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the
United
States
and the Japanese empire.”

As the
roar of applause punctuated President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to
Congress, Betty McClain motioned for Danny to turn off the radio. Like most
Americans, they’d waited anxiously that Monday for the president’s speech,
needing reassurances and hoping to hear his declaration of war. They weren’t
disappointed.

Danny’s
father had remained downstairs in the basement for most of the night, returning
there after a silent breakfast the next morning served by his wife. After he
disappeared downstairs, Danny and his mother listened to the ongoing radio
broadcast. Earlier reports had already confirmed the massive damage of the
Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor
. When the announcement was
made that eight Navy battleships and more than 100 planes had been damaged or
destroyed in the attack, Danny reached for his mother’s hand. The death toll,
including military and civilians alike, was predicted to be substantial.

“There’s
to be a special church service at
1:00
this
afternoon,” she said. “I think we should go.”

“Sure,
Mom. Will Dad—?”

“No,
I’m afraid not. I think it’s best we let him be. But when we return from the
service, I want you to catch the El
and go back
to school.”

He
locked eyes with her as he shook his head. “No. Not yet. Not until we know.”

“Sweetheart,
that could take weeks. You can’t miss your classes, and more important, you
can’t miss finals.”

“How
can I possibly concentrate on finals with all this going on? Everything’s changed
now. Who knows, maybe they’ll cancel school for the rest of the semester.”

“I
doubt that. Go back and throw yourself into your studies. If —I mean,
when
we hear something, I’ll call you immediately. I promise.”

He
released her hand, raking his fingers through his hair. “I suppose that makes
sense. I guess.”

“Of
course it does. Now go put your suit on. I don’t want to be late to church.”

Later,
as they walked the five blocks to church, they were shocked to find a steady
stream of cars and pedestrians all headed in the same direction. Along the way,
American flags waved in the brisk breeze, on one front porch after another.
Turning the corner, they were stunned to see a long line of people all trying
to get into the church building.

“Look
at that, son. And don’t ever forget what you see. The
United
States
may be many things, but we are above all a nation that loves and trusts God.
When we are troubled or worried, we come together and ask for God’s mercy and
protection.”

In the
days following the tragedy at
Pearl Harbor
, Americans slowly began
learning details of the unprecedented attack by the Japanese. On November 26,
just six days after Americans celebrated Thanksgiving, the massive fleet had
left its home base in the waters of
Tankan
Bay
back
in
Japan
.
Aboard six aircraft carriers—
Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Shokakus, Soryu,
and
Zuikaku
—hundreds
of planes were transported on the quiet ten day voyage to the waters just shy
of the
island
of
Oahu
. Under
strict order of radio silence, the fleet sailed under the command of Vice
Admiral Chuichi Nagumo at the directive of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander
in Chief of the entire Japanese fleet and architect of the attack on
Pearl
Harbor
.

Around
7:00
on the
morning of the attack, two young Army privates on duty at the Opana Point Radar
Station in
Oahu
reported seeing a large group of planes on
radar heading their direction. When the morning duty officer informed them it
was probably a squadron of B-17s that were due in that morning, the privates
relaxed and ignored the large blips on their screens.

By
7:30
, the
first squadron of Japanese fighter planes flew over
Oahu
,
circling the island as they waited for the rest of the 183 planes in that first
wave. They struck their first target on
Pearl
’s
naval base and the nearby air base at Hickam Field at
7:53
. The
second wave of attacks began dropping their bombs at
8:55
. Many
civilian areas of the island, including
Honolulu
, were
also targeted. By
10:00
that morning it was all over.
The Japanese, having successfully achieved the ultimate element of surprise,
headed back to their aircraft carriers some 200 miles off the coast of
Oahu
. In
the end, the entire Pacific fleet was gutted, and
America
hungered
for revenge.

Not
knowing Joey’s fate was excruciating. With each passing day, Danny and his
parents grew more frustrated at the inability to find out if Joey’s ship was
one of those sunk or damaged, and whether or not he was still alive. They’d
tried calling, they’d sent telegrams, they’d contacted their elected
representatives. But
America
was in a state of mass
confusion, and so they waited.

Listening
to radio reports and reading newspaper stories only added to the confusion.
Stories were told as fact only to be retracted later as false. News and radio
sources in
Hawaii
were immediately shut down after the
attack. Early on, it was reported that the Battleship
West
Virginia
had been sunk and the USS
Oklahoma
was badly damaged
and eventually capsized. Those reports were quickly flagged as false, but
caused tremendous anxiety for the McClains and the other families of those on
board those ships. Soon after, the Secretary of War issued a statement that
families would be notified first by letter or telegram. When such casualties
were made public, the Navy refused to list which ship the individuals had
served on, hoping to slow the rumors.

In a
radio address on the evening of December 10, President Roosevelt assured the loved
ones of those injured or killed in the attack on
Pearl Harbor
they
would be contacted as quickly as possible. Then he blasted those who gave out
“disinformation” in the form of half-truths, unsubstantiated reports, or blatant
rumors, while reminding the newspapers and radio stations of their “grave
responsibility” for the duration of the war:

“But in
the absence of all the facts, as revealed by official sources—you have no right
in the ethics of patriotism to deal out unconfirmed reports in such a way as to
make people believe they are the gospel truth. The lives of our soldiers and
sailors—the whole future of this nation—depend upon the manner in which each
and every one of us fulfills his obligation to our country.”

But
rumors continued to run wild. Some claimed
Japan
was
simultaneously attacking other Allied countries. Many believed
Washington
D.C.
would
be
Japan
’s next
target. Others warned that
Germany
would soon follow
Japan
’s
lead, including supposed sightings of swastikas on some of the planes that
attacked
Hawaii
. The mayor of
New
York City
told his citizens they could expect a visit from the Axis
bombers at any time, causing extreme panic throughout
the large metropolitan city. The entire west coast, fearful of Japanese attack,
sabotage, and infiltration, started immediate blackouts and began rounding up
Japanese nationals. These roundups would eventually spread across
America
,
placing these individuals and their families in immigration detention centers
or internment camps while all Japanese banks, businesses, and newspapers were forced
to shut down.

At the
same time, Americans united as never before and stepped up to serve however
they could. Nowhere was that more evident than the recruiting stations of the
various branches of the military. As early as the evening of December 7, these
offices began staying open around the clock to accommodate the huge numbers of
those wanting to enlist. Red Cross stations were swarmed with Americans wanting
to donate and help out however they could.