The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-12-07

stride in their war efforts people OF
Waterbury today commenorated
the second anniversary of Pearl
Harbor with an increased sense OF
determination as they engaged In
their daily tasks without Interrupt
ton.
Aware that by their efforts Amer
icas preparation had now reached
its maturity, local residents took up
their duties today with a sure sense
of confidence not possessed by them
two years ago today when the forces
of the Japanese Empire so savagely
and cruelty attacked our possessions
without warning or formal declara-
ton.
Local war factories maintained
their high production standards
during the day while news Of local
men fighting on all fronts Of the
globe continued to pour in.
"Day OF Infan1y"
December 7. 1941-"A day which
will live in infany" as declared by
President Roosevelt-was q grim
and solemn day for the people Of
Waterbury as well as the entire ma
ton. The first reports Of the at
tack on Pearl Harbor were heard by
many WaterburianS while listening
to an account of professional
football game or the Sunday SYM
phony concert. Rapidly the report
spread around the town, until local
residents, like other about the en-
tire nation, all sat before their
radios in shocked and incredulous
disbelief at the reports that con-
tinued to pour In, retelling of the
destruction of part of our great Pa
cific fleet and the cold blooded
slaughter of thousands of Americas
soldiers and sailors.
A special meeting Of the city's
War Council was called by the late
Mayor Vincen, A. Scully at which
he grimly told of the tremendous
and grave task that faced the city.
Preparations for immediate emer-
gency stating of all local warning
and defense centers were put into
effect.
Heads of local protective services
as police, fire, civilian defense, wa
ter system and the like reported i'm
mediately to the Mayor that fateful
day and instantaneous steps were
taken to put into action all the pro-
tective measures of these commun-
ity services.
Special police squads were detail
ed to all local war factories to stand
guard against possible sabotage.
Fire and police squads all were put
on an alert basis. while the Aircraft
observation posts and the chief
warning centers swung into imme-
date action on "a hour basis.
Immediate orders were issued to
the local National Guard to be in |
readiness for mobilization. Many Of |
these boys are now in the Far Paci- |
flc being one of the first groups
called up for active service.
Slow Realization
It was still difficult for most Wa
terburians to accept the finality of |
what that day represented. For |
with Japan had been strained to a
point and for more than
two years a conflict raging in CEN
trail Europe threatened almost daily |
to spill over and scar the United
States; yet Waterbury like most OF !
America could not, In its first reac-
tons, accept the finality of war.
Daily thereafter the fact was
brought home with in more severe
intensity. Draft boards received
Immediate Action" notices calling
up all available Ia men. The men
Of Waterbury poured into Navy and
Marine recruiting centers eager to
avenge the Infamous act' of Pearl
aarbor. The Army recruiting center
IN Waterbury was re-opened and
factories FASTENED completion OF
heir plans to go on 7-day week
schedule.
Men, women and youngsters
offered their volunteer services to
he various civilian defense services
'apidly being installed within the
;ity, and the call went out daily for
more and more industrial workers
Is the male youth of the city res
,onded to the call Of Selective
One year later, December Z, 1912,
he city had begun to hit its stride
n its about effort to insure sue
essful prosecution Of this war. We
we're combined with Britain, Rus
Ia and other allies now in a great