Navy Coming to Town for Special Remembrance

There is a great joy in learning that the U.S. Navy will be visiting Santa Monica on July 31st., for the first time in twenty years. Credit is due to councilman Robert Holbrook. During World War II Santa Monica was a hub of military activity and productivity in the prosecution of the war, with our navy service men and their comrades intercepting the Japaneese fleet at Midway after Pearl Harbor; which was an enormous achievement for the protection of the western American coastline.

Douglas Aircraft was on a 24/7 shift operation and those war planes and their pilots contributed to our growing air superiority over the Axis powers. Manpower had to be replaced with women in the workplace in large numbers for the first time in our history. Thus "Rosie the Riveter" was born in Santa Monica, and many more "Rosie's" were to spring up around the country emulating Santa Monica's example until the successful end of the war.

Growing up in Santa Monica it was my honor to have known and appreciated many veterans who were likewise Santa Monicans. Imagine one veteran I knew had parachuted into Normany as the invasion of France began, while another lifetime Santa Monican and city employee of that era Vern Grosscup  stormed the beaches of France at Omaha Beach. The parachutist had seen so much death during the war that he became a traveling circus clown when he returned home. I watched him as he shared his delight in telling me how he loved to make children laugh and it brings tears whenever I think of it. Vern Grosscup returned to Santa Monica city service retiring in 1976. I never tired of listening to Vern when he occasionaly spoke of the war, but remarkably he would also tell me of Civil War veterans he himself had met while a boy at the VA. Vern passed at age 93 in 2009. He was a gem and a great son of Santa Monica. The late Richard Lord who was like a dad to me was wounded at Iwo Jima, and later was the guard over Tojo and the other war criminals in Tokyo before their trials and executions. Richard opened a small business in Santa Monica after the war and passed in 1995. Phil Grossman was on the staff of famed General George Smith Patton and when he returned to our city Phil became a pharmacist. Finally my work on the Third Street Promenade had me cross paths with the long retired famed General Jimmy Dolittle. The General would walk his dog every morning and be friendly to all of the city employees and critique our efforts. I was fortunate to be in the path of history and now to be part of that history.

Yesterday, July 20, was also an important day for the world. On July 20, 1944, only sixty-seven years ago Count Claus Shenk Von Stauffenberg attempted on behalf of several plotters to assassinate Adolph Hitler in operation "Valkyrie". Recently Tom Cruise did a great job in the movie portrayal of that event. The plot was unfortunately unsuccessful and that murdering partially mad monster Hitler went on killing for another ten months. 

I am proud of being a Santa Monican and I am also filled with pride that a beloved city like this one could produce such fine selfless great human beings. They reflected the finest flower of our American character. Welcome U.S. Navy!