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Static Line - Three Winds of Death

December 1991
"Upon my command, you will execute BY THE; NUMBERS!" I would be willing to wager a fairly large sum of the coin of the realm that all of you who read this column will have heard those words spoken. Numbers have a fascinating place in our scheme of doing things. Some numbers are extremely significant in their connotations for instance, "13" is an "unlucky" number. Nobody would have wanted to be the last man in a 13-man stick. The number "7," on the other hand is considered by many people to be a "lucky" number. Some authors believe that the associated good of this number stems from early civilization when there were seven major celestial objects, seven heavenly gods if you will, which included the Sun, the Moon, and five Known wanderers called planets. This number "7" also gained significance of both a "good" and a "bad" nature in a gambling game, which used a pair of dice, commonly referred to as "craps." The good or the bad nature of the appearance of the number "7" depended on the time it occurred. On the initial throw it was a winning "natural," but on subsequent throws, it could be a losing "craps." This game developed in the very early days of civilization. 

Also, for some reason or reasons unknown to me, certain numbers become significant in the practice of chronological remembrance. The number "23" is not one of them, nor is the number "37." For this aspect of our lives, we seem to like the numbers "5," "10," "15," "20," "25," "50," "100," etc. It almost sounds like a Russian "five-year plan." Or perhaps they just put our human numbering preferences into practice. 

Anyhow, all of this stuff about numbers and their significance in our mental processes leads directly to the fact that for this month only we can combine the significant numbers of "7" and "50." As all of the people of our generation can recall the great "day of infamy," as declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, happened "50" years ago on "7" December. As I write this column in October I am aware that there have been elaborate and special plans made to mark this significant "50th anniversary." And by the time most of you have had a chance to read this those remembrances will have followed the initial attack into history. The first bombs fell about 7:40 a.m. Honolulu time and it was about 10:40 a.m. on the Pacific coast and about 1:40  p.m. on the eastern coast of the United States with other sections of the country in-between depending on their time zones. Do you remember where you were? Historians tell us this is one of the most remembered times in the minds of those Americans who can recall this event.  

The Japanese attack not only directly affected the lives of the members of the 503rd PRCT but changed the world; for eternity. How many of us at that time would have believed today's relationship, 50 years later, between the United States and Japan? When the military leaders of Japan "threw the dice" at Pearl Harbor in 1941 did they throw a "natural" or did they "crap out?" Numbers are fascinating. While on the subject of the attack on Pearl Harbor I want to pass on to you a little piece of information I acquired from an article written by Richard Monipelier in World War II magazine. At 7:40 a.m., Lt. Cmdr. Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the first of two planned strikes, soared over Oahu and gave the signal to prepare to attack. Fuchida survived severe injury in the later Battle of Midway (a significant U. S. victory) and after the war became a Christian convert, a Protestant minister — and a U. S. citizen! 

And speaking of numbers I also have some for you which contain information about upcoming "mini-reunions." The Deep South Chapter will hold its Corregidor reunion on 29 Jan.-2 Feb. 1992 in Orlando, Fla. Those of you desiring more information call "Cracker" Atkins (904) 378-9104. The Middle Atlantic Chapter will hold its Corregidor reunion on 13-15 March 1992. The place has not been determined at the time of this column. For further information call Jesse Gandee at (304) 346-9278. The Northeast Chapter will hold its Corregidor reunion on 7 March at Stouffer's Hotel in Valley Forge, PA. For more information call Ken Lyle at (215) 584-4436. 
I pass this information on to you from an article by Karen Jowers in Army Times about tips for planning your reunion: How to Locate Anyone Who Is Or Has Been In the Military, by retired Lt. Col. Richard S. Johnson. (1990; Military Information Enterprises, Box 5413, Burlington, N. C. 27216; 96 pages: $16, including postage and handling). You're on your own on this one. Throw the dice if it suits your fancy.
  
MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CANOPY ABOVE YOUR 
HEAD!   

Call me or write me!  
John D. Reynolds
"D" Co. 503rd PRCT 
718 Towne Center Drive, Joppa, MD 21085 
PH (301) 679-8979
Static Line - Three Winds of Death

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