I vividly remember hearing the announcement of the Pearl Harbor bombing on a car radio Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, while enroute with college friends from Tacoma to a party in Seattle.

I’ve been re-reading World War II stories, specifically Max Hastings’ “Inferno,” a huge volume, thanks to a loan from retired historian Derold Wax of Wenatchee.

The magnitude of that awful time still resonates; memories of it still motivate political action in some countries.

Hitler and Stalin were the largest figures, both sadists with no regard for human life. Stalin finally learned to listen to his generals to some degree; Hitler did not.

Our sacrifices are small compared to those of other countries, but we cannot forget them. In that regard, I have just received a coffee-table book about the B-17s of World War II from Don Hayes of Walla Walla, a retired Air Force major.

“Splendor in the Skies” is a compilation of stories of the 8th, 12th, and 15th Air Force campaign against Germany. For those who have personal recollections of those days, it is a treasure.

Hayes’ address is P.O. Box 3398 in Walla Walla.