Stop me if you have heard this one. The Coffee machine stands ready for the order. One could almost hear the click of heels as the coffee was promptly delivered. One sip and the clock came to mind.
The setting is 1941, and the location is Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii. The time is 7:55, and the duration is 110 minutes. The plunger is pulled, and we find ourselves on the deck of the battleship USS West Virgina. It is a beautiful Sunday morning, and in the distance, we can see what looks like a whole squadron of airplanes returning to Hickam Field on the island.
These are not American planes returning but 353 Aircraft – 40 torpedo planes, 103 level bombers, 131 dive-bombers, and 79 fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy with the intent of sinking the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.
These Japanese aircraft were launched from the Japanese fleet north of Hawaii, which consisted of 67 Ships: 6 heavy aircraft carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 35 submarines, 2 light cruisers, nine oilers, 2 battleships, and 11 destroyers.
In about one hour and fifteen minutes, Japanese planes destroyed or damaged 19 US warships and 300 aircraft and killed over 2,400 US servicemen.
As the West Virginia settles to the bottom of the shallow harbor, the alarm goes off, and we find ourselves back on the couch.
There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “Stop me if you’ve heard this one.” Write whatever comes to mind when you think of the prompt. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/12/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-7-2024/
Today marks the 83rd anniversary of the attack and a day that should be remembered. We are not going to the pub today but will be thinking of those who lost their lives.
Fiction Favorites 
This story can not be told often enough. May we all remember!!
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I agree, GP. Thanks. I feel the memory is slipping.
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Yes, it is.
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😊
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Thank you for commemorating the lives lost at Pearl Harbor.
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I felt it was time.
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Excellent story, John, and well told. Thanks for reminding us.
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Thank you, Dan
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Didn’t expect Pearl Harbor with that opening. Though, I’m feeling like it’s seen more as a distant event that almost a myth. Mostly because that seems to be the mentality that 9/11 (guess my generation’s Pearl Harbor) has fallen into.
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I agree, Charles. The greatest generation is almost gone and since my father was part of that generation and served in combat I just wanted to bring a reminder forward since my generation is getting close to that line as well.
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It’s good to remember how Japan got America into World War II. Thanks for the reminder, John.
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This event is fading from collective memory so I thought it might be time. Thanks, Tim.
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It’s so important we remember this and the amount of lives lost.
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Those that were there are getting fewer and fewer. The memory of the event is fading.
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A horrific event that I sense is being lost from memory, except for the recollections of us somewhat older folks.
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I was born in that year and my parents remembered but those after us not so much.
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I was born on the day that Hemingway ‘liberated’ the bar at the Ritz in Paris after the Nazis surrendered!
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A great day for sure.
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Excellent reminder and tribute, John.
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Thank you, Deborah.
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A reminder of why countries need to arrive at peaceful solutions to their problems to avoid a major catastrophe.
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So true. Thanks, Pete.
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Wonderful post. Living memory of this event is almost gone, but all my elders remembered it and where they were at the time.
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The generation is almost gone so the memories become dimmer.
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Great post, John. Thank you for honoring those who served and gave their lives for all of us. 🩵
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Thank you Gwen. That generation is fading away so maybe the next needs to keep the reminder going. 😊
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A sad day that will live in infamy. 😢
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At least it should.
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A fine tribute, John.
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Thank you, Jo.
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Thank you for sharing this historical day and your reverence for those who lost their lives on that day. 🙏🏻
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The greatest generation fought that war so that we could continue on. Most of them are gone and I felt that before the next generation slips away there should be more said. Thanks you for your lovely words, Michele.
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🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
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🤗
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🤗🙏🏻
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😊 I get the last comment cause I’m older.
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It is a great reminder and tribute. It is certainly a day we should not forget.
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I agree. The generation that fought that war is fading fast. The memories will follow if left alone. Thanks, Thomas.
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Yes, we should never forget that freedom and liberty come with a heavy cost. Nice post, John.
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Thank you, Steve. The memories of this event are fading away and should be revitalized in honor of the greatest generation.
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I agree. Very little mention in the local fish wrapper.
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Bird cage liner too.
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I put my flag out but I might have been the only one.
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Yeah, I’ll bet.
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A sad, sad day in history.
Thanks for the chronicle, John!
Stop me if you’ve heard this one!
“There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free.” – Walter Cronkite
⛓X O⛓
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I so agree with Walter. I like the 100% free choice. 🦅O 🦅O
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O🦅 O🦅
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🏆
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What a fateful day. I had a childhood friend who was born on Pearl Harbor Day and her brother two days later and several years.
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Would be hard to forget a birthday then. Thanks, Traci.
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Hi John, I learned a lot about the attack on Pearl Harbour when I read To Wake the Giant by Jeff Shaara. When I read about all the deaths from burning oil and explosions, I gained a lot of understanding about why people in America felt the way they did about Japan.
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The fact that the attack was unwarranted caused those feelings. The same feelings surround the Twin Tower attacks on 9/11.
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Yes, of course I understand. I’m in Japan and the people are exactly how I expected them to be. Yay for reading 🥹
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The Hiroshima memorial makes no mention of the culpability of the government.
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Well told John, another of the atrocities of war that should never ever be forgotten. Thank you for this thoughtful piece 💜💜
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Thank you, Willow.
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💜💜
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😊
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A poignant tribute, John.
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Thank you, Marc.
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Never forget!
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My motto exactly. 😊
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🇺🇸
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😊
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[…] Favorites: Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Stream of Consciousness – Stop Me If You Have Hear… Stop me if you have heard this one. The Coffee machine stands ready for the order. One could almost […]
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Thank you, Traci for the link.
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