Pearl Harbor Day, 2024 -- December 7, 2024

USN - Official U.S. Navy photo NH 95815001 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command

83 years ago today, a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank or damaged much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

The light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) was hit by a Japanese torpedo during the attack. She was not mortally wounded, so after temporary repairs at Pearl Harbor, she steamed under her own power to Mare Island, where she was repaired and modernized. She seerved in the Guadalcanal campaign, she was hit by multiple tordoes and sunk during the Battle of Kula Gulf.

Nickname #20 -- November 15, 2012

Lewis "Chesty" Puller was the most-decorated member of the United States Marine Corps, with five Navy Crosses and many other awards.  He rose from Private to Lieutenant General during his long distinguished career.  He missed combat during World War One, but spent much of the inter-war period fighting in the Caribbean and Central America.  During World War II, he led Marines on Guadalcanal and other islands in the Pacific.  When the Korean War broke out, he was at Inchon. 

He earned his nickname because of his barrel chest and his aggressive posture.  Marines in boot camp end their day with a shout of "Good night Chesty Puller, wherever you are!"

A famous quote which General Puller may have said at the Chosin Reservoir:  "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things."

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I was happy to learn that Buster Posey is the National League Most Valuable Player.