Remembering dark days of World War II

To the editor:

Thank you for your Wednesday editorial, “Pearl Harbor.” It is the closest thing I have seen to capturing the frustrations of the generation who lived and fought through those dark days, but were shoved aside for the more gory details.

The destruction of our deteriorated and sleeping Pacific fleet by the “inferior” Japanese forces, followed by the trampling of Corregidor and the inhumanity of the Bataan Death March, most certainly produced a common fear, courage and awakening throughout the world’s remaining free peoples.

Your wrote that “the news was full of withdrawals and defeats, when America was so unprepared for war the East Coast wasn’t even blacked out, allowing U-boat captains to enjoy gleeful target practice on American tankers and merchant ships outlined against the bright lights of the cities and towns of Florida and North Carolina.” That doesn’t begin to tell the full story. It was the entire East Coast, not just those two states.

Our own small Subron 5, consisting of the USS Griffin AS13, and five S-boats (S22, S30, S33, S43, S47 and the USS Mackerel SS204) were in battle formation in the cold, cruel North Atlantic, guarding a convoy of ships loaded with lend/lease supplies for the British when the Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor. In spite of suddenly restricted communications, we immediately found ourselves returning to base for new orders. The final night of our return found us floundering in the darkness while feeling for the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal, even though we could see cars with blazing headlights running up and down the highway.

The Griffin and the S40 class boats left New London Feb. 14 with orders to proceed directly to Coco Solo, avoiding any outside contact even for humanitarian assistance. The sightings along the way were sickening and demoralizing, but we were following explicit orders.

We departed Panama on March 5, 1942, with all six of those boats built in 1920 and 1921 (S42 to S47) ready to battle the entire Japanese fleet if encountered (we were still under restricted communications and had no knowledge of what might be left afloat in the Pacific Ocean). Following an overnight stop at the French Protectorate island Bora Bora, we arrived in Brisbane, Australia, April 15.

We finally began to prove our worth by joining in with everything (and anything) the Australians and Americans had to offer in stopping any further advancement of the Imperial Japanese Army through Tulagi and Port Moresby with the Coral Sea Battles of May 4-8, 1942.

Capt. Christie’s Subron 5 quickly grew. Along with tending her brood (and the occasional surface ship), the Griffin started building a submarine base at New Farm Wharf — which would, in time, become one of the largest and most elaborate submarine facilities in the world. The old S-40 boats, along with the newer SS Class boats, made many patrols, inflicting damage to the Japanese fleet when they could.

One final notation: For our short period of meeting the enemy in the North Atlantic prior to Dec. 7, 1941, we few are entitled to wear a “bronze A” or “bronze star” on our American Defense Service Medal.

Richard E. Law

Las Vegas

Middle class

To the editor:

According to press reports, President Obama is obviously testing the waters with a new re-election strategy in which he touts himself as a hero of the middle class. This is somewhat of a unique approach, as unemployment figures were on the rise, for the most part, during his first term. Before trying to make alliances that he hopes will bring votes his way, he should establish guidelines as to who is in the middle class.

The middle class have seen more of their tax dollars wasted in government ventures and fewer job opportunities due to the unnecessary demands placed on businesses, causing layoffs and a reluctance to expand.

Our debt is at an all-time high with no relief in sight as long as the administration spends as it does.

How about those who benefited from the Department of Energy loan guarantees? I suspect the employees at Solyndra who lost their jobs were middle-class, but was Obama campaign contributor George Kaiser?

Is Diana Taylor — girlfriend to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and director of a company receiving a loan guarantee of $135.8 million to build windmills in New Hampshire — considered middle-class?

Maybe the management of Fisker automotive company, much of whose $529 million guarantee is being used to build cars in Finland, are middle-class. Jeffrey Immelt, adviser to Mr. Obama, closed a General Electric facility in Wisconsin to expand in China, is probably not.

There are several main financial regulatory agencies (including the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with a $200 million annual budget) with well over 200 regulators with six-figure salaries. Are they middle-class?

These are some of those benefiting from Mr. Obama’s policies. It seems that Mr. Obama is looking for potential votes, rather than helping the middle class.

Mr. Obama also seems to be trying to align himself with the Occupiers. I suggest they try to occupy the White House, as that is where most of our current economic policies started or expanded. If they wish to carry their protests there, however, I suggest they wait until next year, when its main residents return from their million-dollar, taxpayer-subsidized vacation.

Robert Latchford

Henderson