A day in the life of World War 2: Following President Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" speech

“As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defence.”

The voice of President Roosevelt, emitted from the radio, echoed around the bar and caused tiny reverberations in our beers.

Richard stared down into his drink and asked, “Do you think he really means it?”

President Roosevelt answered that question for me. “I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”

“Oh man,” Richard murmured, then I had not heard the rest of his sentence. I was thinking of my son in some part of the world defending our country.

I was almost certain he'd die.

A personal response to war: descriptive essay

1) I felt dull spikes poke against my uniform as I crept across the field of rubble. Ahead and behind me was the dull grey of the broken concrete, with a smattering of orange from the fallen roof tiles. My comrades ahead of me looked like green specks on a sheet of ash. There was a charred stench in the air, echoed by the thud of the last pieces of rubble falling from the ruined homes. There was a bloody taste in my mouth, which tasted bitter and sweet and sour. I pulled out my camera.