Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

8-23 December 1941 A.D. U.S. Marines at Wake Island


8-23 December 1941 A.D.  U.S. Marines at Wake Island

8 December 1941: Japanese aircraft attacked Wake Island within hours of the fateful attack on Pearl Harbor. Marines of the 1st Defense Battalion and Marine Fighting Squadron 211 resisted Japanese invasion attempts for over two weeks before finally succumbing to an overwhelming force.

23 December 1941: Japanese forces launched a predawn landing on Wake Island and Wilkes Island, while their carriers launched air strikes against Wilkes, Wake, and Peale islands in support of the landing force. After nearly 12 hours of desperate fighting, the three islands were surrendered



December 23, 1941 is the day Wake Island fell to the forces from the Imperial Japanese Navy. The battle began on December 8, 1941, which was December 7, and Pearl Harbor. Wake Island was on the other side of the international dateline. Japan launched simultaneous attacks on many islands in the Pacific to secure their foothold in the Pacific.

Almost as soon as the Wake Island Defense Force learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the attack on Wake Island began. The Garrison consisted of 450 US Marines, a handful of U.S. Navy personnel and approximately 1200 civilian contractors working on construction projects on the island. At that time, wake Island wasn't even on the maps. It was however a stop off and refueling point for the China Clippers. The island had strategic value to the Japanese and to the US and the Marines were told to hold Wake Island until reinforcements arrive.

Of all the mistakes that were made in the early days of the Pacific war. The decision to not reinforce the Marines on Wake Island is perhaps the most infamous. Adm. Pye, who was interim Commander-In-Chief Pacific forces until Adm. Chester Nimitz could arrive and take over, Adm. Pye was afraid to engage the superior Japanese force for fear of losing more assets. This decision has been analyzed, second-guessed and armchair admiraled and no consensus can be reached whether or not Pye made the right decision. One thing is certain, the United States Marine Corps to this this day has not forgiven Adm. Pye for this decision.

The music track accompanying this presentation is from a gentleman named Oscar Brand, folksinger active during the 40s, 50s and 60s. He made a career out of taking military songs, both official and made up and recording them. Most are hysterical and document historical events in both World War II and Korea. I hope you enjoy it.

Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if you bought the album's either. They are available on Amazon.com and iTunes.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank The Orchard Music, who administers Mr. Brand' s music and I hope they will continue to allow the use of the song, Wake Island..






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