Everything went Japan’s way for a few months.

I like to think, the morning of June 6, 1944, what do you suppose those German troops at Normandy thought when at first light they looked out to sea and the entire horizon was covered with ships. And the sky was filled with planes.

Any other ideas for who crapped their pants the most? For a narrow, specific instance: the crew of the Scharnhorst when they were running from the cruiser escorts of the attic convoy they were trying to attack. Suddenly a 14” star shell from Duke of York lit up the sky overhead. They’d had no idea a British battleship was there.

The British are considered the masters of understatement, but this part of his speech tops them all.

“But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone — the gallant fighting of our military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state and the devoted service of our 100 million people — the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest."

Today also happens to be the anniversary of my first marriage. It would have been 35 years today.