From Picnic To Peril: How A Young Couple’s World Was Shattered By Japan’s Attack On Pearl Harbor—
The following is an excerpt from the book “At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, And An Amazing Horse” by Walt Larimore and Mike Yorkey (Knox Press, April 19, 2022).
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OnSaturdayevening,December6,1941,“Phil,”asMarilyncalledhimandashenowlikedtobecalled,tookheroutfordinnerattheBungalow,apopularseafoodrestaurantinBiloxi,Mississippithatoverlookedthecalm,brownwatersoftheMississippiSound.Themenuhadsomethingforeverytaste:freshseafood,choicesteaks,Southernfriedchicken,Cajunspecials,andevenChinesedishes.Afterenjoyingthesurf-and-turfspecial,theyoungcoupledecidedtogotothecinema.
Marilynhadwantedtoseetheromance,JohnnyEager,starringLanaTurnerandRobertTaylor.Incontrast,PhilhadayearningtowatchTarzan’sSecretTreasure,starringMaureenO’Sullivanalongsidehisfavoritemoviestar,JohnnyWeissmuller,oneoftheworld’sfastestswimmers.TheycompromisedwithBallofFire,starringGaryCooperandBarbaraStanwyck.
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