To most people, history began the day they were born. There are always threads from the past to today.
The Rams bombed the Redskins 24-0. It’s worth remembering that 73 years ago today, the Empire of Japan did the same to the United States of America.
President Roosevelt did not attend the Eagles-Redskins game that infamous day, December 7, 1941, but a number of America’s leaders were enjoying their day off at Griffith Stadium.
The Japanese struck military and naval bases in Hawaii at 7:55 AM local time. It was 1:55 PM in Washington. The Japanese must have launched their attack planes around kick-off.
Fans wore church clothes to the game because, in those days, you did not skip church to go to a game. Many of our leaders were not at home to receive the first calls.
Here’s how Rich Tandler tells the story in his book, The Redskins Chronicle*:
“just as the game got underway, word of the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor was beginning to filter through Washington. While the news was not announced over the public address system, the stadium announcer was quite busy, raising suspicions that something was up. Page after page came over the PA system asking all manner of VIPs, many with military titles, to call their offices. As the Eagles scored in the first quarter, marching 89 yards in 11 plays to a short touchdown run by Jack Banta, word came to the press box, ‘The Japanese have kicked off war now!’ was the Washington Post’s message to its reporters covering the game. ‘Keep it short,’ the message continued, meaning that little space would be devoted to game recaps in the next days’ edition.”
The Redskins won that game 20-14 on two fourth-quarter Sammy Baugh to Joe Aguirre touchdown passes. It was Washington’s sixth win of the season. They finish third in the NFL East in 1941. Baugh and company won the NFL championship in 1942.
The story shows how deeply embedded are the Redskins to Washington’s cultural roots. The old folks told the story for years.
Since then, Japan has become as staunch a U.S. ally as Britain has been since the Revolution.
I wish Daniel Snyder would tell the story. It is part of the narrative of what the brand means to fans. Snyder makes vague references to Redskins tradition and honor without weaving tales like this to show how deeply embedded the team is to Washington’s cultural roots.
Hog Heaven wonders if he even knows the story. Or, did history begin for him the day he bought the team.
Image: USS Arizona at sea in the 1930s. Courtesy U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command
* Tandler, Rich (2009), The Redskins Chronicle, A Journey Through the History of the Washington Redskins 1937-2008, Midlothian, Virginia, Game by Game Sports Media. Available on Amazon.
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My father told me that the most commonly asked question asked by Americans when they heard the news over the radio was, “Who is Pearl Harbor?”. Most people were not so well informed about geography. Americans in 1941 were vaguely aware that the USA held an exotic possession in Hawaii whose capital was Honolulu. Not as many knew Pearl Harbor was a place and not a person.
Want to know more? Visit the Pearl Harbor page at HISTORYnet.com.
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