Once Upon a Time on a Sunday…

…the main stream media and the entertainment industry wholeheartedly supported the United States military. They wrote the truth, good and not-so-good, made terrific movies (or so AHM says, 'cause we can't see movies real well, 'specially those oldies she's addicted to), and wrote special songs about special heroism. Songs we know somethin' about. Ya' haven't lived until you've heard us accompanyin' Kate Smith singin' "God Bless America."

[And they won't live afterward, either!—AHM]

[You just don't appreciate our unique style!—Harrison]

To continue…

One special story picked up by the entainment industry was about Chaplain ("sky pilot") Howell Forgy stationed on the U.S.S. New Orleans. As another sailor remembered:

"I turned and saw Chaplain Forgy walking toward me along the line of men. He was patting the men on the back and making [a] remark to cheer them and keep them going. I know it helped me a lot, too."….

Word got around about what the chaplin said that day, and the press started writin' about it. 'Course their sources weren't much better then, I suppose, 'cause they kept namin' the wrong chaplin—not to mention the wrong sequence of events.

Frank Loesser even wrote a catchy little tune about it…

"Down went the gunner, a bullet was his fate
Down went the gunner, then the gunners mate
Up jumped the sky pilot, gave the boys a look
And manned the gun himself as he laid aside The Book,…"

…which most people don't remember. To be fair, they sorta' remember the title…



Oh, yeah That Sunday event that so rudely interrupted the Chaplin's mornin' service?…

The Day That Will Live in Infamy. December 7, 1941.

posted by Harrison at 12:06 PM