Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Memories of Pearl Harbor dimming

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000 | 8:39 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@ lasvegassun.com

If there is one thing I have learned in this process of attaining senior citizen status, it is to realize that what seems to be a catastrophe today will be a fading memory tomorrow.

Case in point: Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day.

President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed it "a date which will live in infamy." Maybe so, but that seems to be only in the minds of those of us who were around at that time. That a foreign nation dared to mount a sneak attack on U.S. forces was unbelievable.

But that was a long time ago. Nevertheless, I was dismayed by the scant attention paid by the media. My colleague, Mike O'Callaghan, wrote a poignant column, but that was about it.

I recall the fear and horror that grasped our nation as the news of the attack was announced on radio. Friends and relatives anxiously awaited word of their loved ones who were stationed at Pearl Harbor.

Lest we forget, 360 planes from six cruisers, battleships and destroyers made up the attack force from Japan.

Five of the eight U.S. battleships in the harbor were sunk, one severely damaged, two others hit; two destroyers sank and nine other ships were out of commission; 140 aircraft destroyed and 80 damaged. Two thousand, five hundred military personnel were killed and more than a thousand wounded. Hundreds of civilians were killed or wounded.

The attack came at the same time Japanese diplomats were in Washington, D.C., presumably seeking solutions to ongoing problems between the two nations. There are many of us, still on this good Earth, who recall the courageous words attributed to a Navy chaplain and incorporated in a song, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition."

I haven't seen the new Preparation H commercial that features a department-store Santa with hemorrhoids, but one Colorado woman is offended and fearful that children, seeing the ad, might not want to sit on Santa's lap for fear of hurting him. She also believes the commercial cheapens Santa's message. The ad features a cranky Santa, itching to get out of his chair.

Preparation H spokesmen say the company hasn't received any other complaints -- not even from Santa.

This bright bit of information comes as a welcome respite from the tiresome daily news stories.

Celebrating the holiday season with a wedding is appropriate, especially if it is a longtime commitment.

Which brings me to the celebration planned by Texas Station.

On Dec. 28, at Texas' new 220-seat wedding chapel, 50 couples will be honored. These won't be just ordinary married folk. It's only for couples who have been wed for 50 years or more.

The first 50 couples to qualify will be invited, along with two guests of their choice, to a gala including entertainment, food and drinks. For those who wish, wedding vows can be renewed. Photos will be provided. Couples who would like to participate should call Stacy Gold at 253-0344.

An invitation with unusual appeal is that of Sunrise Hospital's Gamma Knife Center to show guests how surgeons can perform brain surgery without an incision.

I can hardly wait.