On that infamous day my late father was living in Glen Ellen, Illinois. When the news broke out he asked a buddy if he was going to sign up for the military, to which he said he wanted to join the Marines. On Dec. 8 they went to the main Marine Recruiting office in Chicago and found the line stretched for many, many blocks. My dad's friend said "Look at this line! What do you want to do?" My dad said, "Hell, we ain't going to wait in a long line. Let's join the navy. Their line must be shorter.'

The line for the Navy Recruiter was indeed shorter, but little did they understand that you always wait in long lines when you're in the service. By war's end my dad was a navy chief. I joined the navy Seabees in 1962, and we have a son in law in the navy who is a full Commander. I guess we're proud of of our military.