The sun was shining and the cool ocean breeze felt amazing on my face, taking a drink of my Cola while watching fellow Sailors, Marines and other Personal enjoying their day.
Back in September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany after the Invasion of Poland, By 1940 France flee to the Germans but France continue to fight as Free France.
The United States remained neutral only sending weapons to her allies, last time America got in involved as 1917 so not everyone wants to join the War but a lot of wanted to fight so some Americans went to Britain and joined the fight.
I enlisted by 1940 and got stationed in Oahu, Hawaii as a member of the Marines, not sure if I am going to see combat but from what I heard over in Europe, Africa and Asia the fighting is brutal.
China is struggling but holding against Japan while Britain and France fighting in parts of Africa. "Hey Jackson!" I turn to see a few of my friends getting up and walked to them.
"Tony!" I said smiling then entered the Jeep sitting with Tony and a Captain as they begin driving. "Well lads things are getting quite heated I just orders from Command that Japan is becoming more aggressive so the United States joining the fight could become a reality" The Captain said.
"Hey as long as it's away from home" Tony begin laughing, Tony was from Brooklyn and a great friend of mine during training.
"Hey take a look at that" Tony said pointing a Plane flying by, "Might be a trainee" I said.
Suddenly the Plane dropped something destroying a Hanger, fire and metal went up in the air.
"Holy shit!" Tony shouted, The Captain started turning the Jeep around and drove faster. I held my head down looking at the skies with fear gripping my heart.
"Look at those meatballs on that one!" Tony said pointing at another Plane which swoop down firing it's Machine Guns, luckily we weren't hit.
The Jeep stopped and we ran for cover while Planes screamed in the air and people were running. I looked up again this time seeing our Planes flying taking on the enemy.
"All Military personal this is not a drill! all Military personal we are being attacked! All pilots get to your planes, all active personal man the guns and evacuate civilians and wounded!" The Radio Command shouted.
Tony grabbed me as we and the Captain ran inside of a Hanger where Pilots rushed to get into their planes. Tony threw me a B.A.R rifle while he held a Thompson.
"Come on! let's follow the Captain!" He said as I nodded and ran with him. Outside it was a nightmare.
Ships guns were firing in the air with AA guns trying to down as many planes as possible. One of the Attacking Planes burst into flames crashing into the Ocean.
"God..." I said then ran for cover, one of the Planes was flying low firing it's guns so I begin firing my B.A.R at it. I watched some smoke came out of it forcing the pilot to pull up.
"Help! someone!" I turned to see a Sailor with his leg bleeding so I ran to him and carried him on my back.
"Medic!" I shouted, Tony waved to me to a nearby Medic so I begin running unsure if I had a Plane aimed at me. Once I reached the Medic and put the Soldier down, Tony and I ran with our Captain again til we reached a boat.
I jumped onto it and ran to the nearest guns while Tony did the same and the Captain drove it. "Keep those damn planes off of us!" He said.
I was breathing heavily then moved the guns around and the moment I saw red spots on the Wings I begin firing.
The machine guns ripped into the first plane it spun for a bit before crashing into the Ocean then another appeared and I fired into it.
This one simply blew into pieces, Tony up front firing another Machine Gun as he downed one of the Planes.
"Come on you bastards! your messing with the wrong Country!" He shouted, one of the ships which was Station begin to burst into flames then begin to fold on itself.
"Love of God!" I shouted, "That was the Arizona!" Captain said. The fighting went on til the Planes begin to leave the boat stopped and I just held the rails of the boat in disbelief.
Not only that we survived but what we just witnessed, just watching as our remaining ships filled with holes and crew members battled the fires.
I didn't sleep that night out of fear of another attack, none of us slept. It was hard to believe an attack was so close to home.
"Hey Jackson?" I looked over to Tony who handed me a drink as we begin to talk. "Those bastards are going to pay for this..." He said with a hiss.
I held my head as my eyes felt wet, Tony looked at me and held me tightly. In the morning during Breakfast we were told that President Roosevelt and Congress have officially declared war on Japan.
Training continue mentally preparing us to be send out to fight the Japanese. Propaganda painted them out as bloodthirsty and savages, sometimes we were told of the atrocities they commuted.
I'm only in my early twenties and I've experienced my first attack on U.S. Soil, even received news the Philippines Islands were being attacked by Japan so training hurried as the Military wanted us prepared and ready to be shipped out.
I was being shipped to Guadalcanal, the Japanese have laid claim to lot if Pacific Islands and we're being sent to take them back.
I remember sitting down on my bed with a few other Marines, we had to be prepared for what we were going to face.
I never met a Japanese who wanted me dead but I believe I was about to, we got into Higgins Boats we were sent out of the ship as the boat made it's way for shore.
My B.A.R rifle felt heavy in my hands and to my side a fellow Soldier puked over the side. "Alright listen up! When we hit the beach we'll be facing a lot of Tojos...I want each group of at least five men! when you see the enemy do not let up! fire and kill those sons of bitches!" Our Sarge said.
The waves were crashing into the boat and once the boat and ram dropped we ran out. I gripped my B.A.R tightly when I ran with my group.
Corner of my eye one of the Marines dropped to the ground after being shot then more gunshots ran out and we begin firing.
I lay on my belly and begin firing my rifle at the Japanese troops. Sometimes I could see them and sometimes they were hiding behind the trees and bushes.
I wasn't sure if I was hitting any of them then my Sergeant shouted for us to move up so I got up and ran.
We searched the area finding a few dead Japanese troops, Tony was laughing then kicked one of the bodies.
I looked at the corpse and just thought either I'm lucky he's dead or he's unlucky.