Pearl Harbor Day, From the Family Oral History

Pearl Harbor Day, From the Family Oral History.

Every Dec 7, I think about this story passed on down to me via my family.

It is around 3 PM, Sunday afternoon.  4 (out of 5) of the Ramsay boys and their wives have gathered at Ginna and Charlies house for a game of pinochle and dinner in Paoli, Pa.  The game is moving along, the ladies working on dinner, and the radio is playing music. 

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this important bulletin. . . The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor Hawaii by air, President Roosevelt has just announced. The attack also was made on all military and naval activities on the principle island of Ohau." 

Silence around the table.  Finally broken by a bid, "23", then "24", followed by a couple of passes.

The game continued and was concluded, the winning score announced.  Then, the four men got up, and put on their coats.

Elanor, Howard's wife, asked "Where are you going?"

Howard replies, "We are at war.  We're are going to enlist."  And with that, the men went out the door.

Upon reflection, I cannot imagine what went through the ladies minds, as all their husbands just up and left.

And about two hours later, returned.  

"What happened", asked Mame? 

With some chagrin, Charles replied, "It's Sunday, everything was closed."

Over the next few weeks, all 5 of the Ramsay boys enlisted.  Howard was rejected as too old.  Of the remainder, Arthur fought in the Pacific onboard a nameless PT boat, while Robert served onboard a Pearl Harbor survivor, the USS Phoenix,  Charles in the coast guard, and "Babe" in the Army, marching across France.  All came back.

The Greatest Generation.