The Morning Brew: Memories from the brink of World War II

by Juliana Keeping

Published: Wed, December 7, 2016 5:00 AM Updated: Wed, December 7, 2016 8:18 AM

Wednesday has arrived. Drink in the news.

Memories from the brink of World War II

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But the War Department had come calling even before Dec. 7, 1941.

The Oklahoman's Matt Patterson interviewed Oklahomans who served the country and explored the ways upheaval impacted Sooners.

Read the piece.

As 22-year-old Dow Meek stood on the deck of the USS Saratoga sailing off to war on Dec. 8, 1941, his mind carried him to dark places.

Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

“I thought that was just about the saddest day of my life when I watched that California coast disappear,” said Meek, now 97 and living in Rush Springs. “I knew it was going to be rough, and it was.”

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Related Photos

Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

Inside the Champions Center at the University of Colorado, the 1994 Heisman Trophy for former Colorado running back Rashaan Salaam is adorned with a memorial flower Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, after Salaam's body was found Monday evening at a park, in Boulder, Colo. The Boulder County coroner's office said that it was still investigating the cause of the death of the 42-year-old Salaam. Police say foul play was not suspected. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-ba4308172ea605cd821370e1e32f45f7.jpg" alt="Photo - Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman" title="Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-e1cf1332c77253e378709fbbd55cf742.jpg" alt="Photo - Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman" title="Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. He recently received a photograph taken before his departure of he and his shipmates. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-f1ea2b7689fe4afa23c2edf34cb227c8.jpg" alt="Photo - Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman" title="Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-7d6766803aa53ba21b15f6d4cbd5f1c3.jpg" alt="Photo - Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman" title="Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Dow Meek, a 97-year-old Navy veteran of the Pacific theater, talks about his experiences in WW2 on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 in Rush Springs, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-329d84d2e46837244abb732fea17fd33.jpg" alt="Photo - Amelia Molitor in the offices of The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, Thursday July, 15 2016. Amelia is the OU student who was struck by Joe Mixon in 2014. Photo By Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman" title="Amelia Molitor in the offices of The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, Thursday July, 15 2016. Amelia is the OU student who was struck by Joe Mixon in 2014. Photo By Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Amelia Molitor in the offices of The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, Thursday July, 15 2016. Amelia is the OU student who was struck by Joe Mixon in 2014. Photo By Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-bb760107d1b60534f907b3afe992b3d4.jpg" alt="Photo - Inside the Champions Center at the University of Colorado, the 1994 Heisman Trophy for former Colorado running back Rashaan Salaam is adorned with a memorial flower Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, after Salaam's body was found Monday evening at a park, in Boulder, Colo. The Boulder County coroner's office said that it was still investigating the cause of the death of the 42-year-old Salaam. Police say foul play was not suspected. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)" title="Inside the Champions Center at the University of Colorado, the 1994 Heisman Trophy for former Colorado running back Rashaan Salaam is adorned with a memorial flower Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, after Salaam's body was found Monday evening at a park, in Boulder, Colo. The Boulder County coroner's office said that it was still investigating the cause of the death of the 42-year-old Salaam. Police say foul play was not suspected. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)"><figcaption>Inside the Champions Center at the University of Colorado, the 1994 Heisman Trophy for former Colorado running back Rashaan Salaam is adorned with a memorial flower Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, after Salaam's body was found Monday evening at a park, in Boulder, Colo. The Boulder County coroner's office said that it was still investigating the cause of the death of the 42-year-old Salaam. Police say foul play was not suspected. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)</figcaption></figure>

Juliana Keeping

Juliana Keeping is on the enterprise reporting team for The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com. Keeping joined the staff of The Oklahoman in 2012. Prior to that time, she worked in the Chicago media at the SouthtownStar, winning a Peter Lisagor Award... Read more ›

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The Morning Brew: Memories from the brink of World War II