Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 5:00 pm
To the editor:
In reference to the letter published by Hanley Hemmingson in the Lebanon Express on 23 July 08, it seems out of order. He is very fortunate to be living in freedom in this country.
If he would read back in history to 1941, Dec. 7th, he would be surprised to discover how close he would come to be living under the flag of Japan.
When Pearl Harbor was bombed the USA was unprepared for any part of war. Our main battle groups were in shatters on the bottom of Pearl Harbor. My brother (Stan) was in training at Ft. Lewis, Wash., as part of the 41st Division. They had no guns and their tanks were trucks and autos to train with. The Army asked civilians to hand over their guns and ammo. They asked for any hunting rifles, including the 30-30 hunting rifle was in great demand.
If the Japanese govt. had known of our situation at the time, they could have walked into the West Coast with ease. So you see your little tirade has no meaning, only to yourself.
Ernest G. Anderlik
USN retired
US Navy 1941-62, WWII, China Revolution and Korea
Salinas, California
Formerly of Lebanon