Remembering Pearl Harbor
 

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My uncle (dad's sister's husband, so no blood relation) was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked and was always very involved with the PH Marine reunions. Even though he's now passed, my aunt is still involved with the group. He once wrote an account of his experiences that I had a chance to read, so that helped make the event more real to me. Otherwise, I'm sure most people from our generation just think of it as something from their American History class.

Does your aunt go on the annual Pearl Harbor Reunions? If so, she probably knows my mother's cousin's wife. Her cousin was stationed at Pearl Harbor, swam through the flames to avoid dying, and ended up with years of plastic surgery. The Captain passed away about five years ago, and they planted a tree in his memory at George Mason University (he taught there after retiring).

But he made "that day wil live in infamy" more real to me than anyone else ever could. We really need to get as many Oral Historys done on our older people soon, or we're going to lose the realistic touch, and become numb to what has happened to our servicemen in the name of freedom!

I grew up knowing about Pearl Harbor because my grandfather had very strong feelings about it; I think that may have even been the reason he joined the Army. He had a pretty strong dislike for the Japanese until the day he died, but interestingly enough, he didn't mind the Germans even though those were the ones he fought. One time in middle school we had to write an essay about Pearl Harbor, and the teacher about went through the roof when she saw that I had written "Japs" in my paper, but that's what I had always heard them called!

Anyway, so even though I've known about Pearl Harbor for as long as I can remember, it didn't seem "real" to me until I actually went there this past summer. The memorial was the saddest, most unbelievable thing. I can't even imagine what it must've been like. There's a man in my hometown who has scars all up and down his arms from the attack, and he'll talk about it if you ask him. I keep meaning to go and talk to him, because there are getting to be fewer and fewer Pearl Harbor veterans around all the time.

I pass the Arizona Memorial on my way to work and on my way home every day. This morning at 7:55 I could see the group that gathered atop the Arizona Memorial.

Every year they show footage of the Pearl Harbor rememberance ceremony on the news..and every year the group of survivors gets smaller and smaller.

Sometimes there are Japanese veterans who come here to commemorate December 7th. I have so much admiration for our American veterans who have learned how to forgive, who are able to stand next to an enemy to remember their dead comrades. :(

I've visited the Arizona Memorial twice. It's a very emotional experience, I must say.

I've never been - I've seen pictures of it, but it just seems almost too moving.

My parents did go, and they said that almost everyone had tears in their eyes, or a "stone face" as they left.

on our local news this morning a lovely 91 year young woman was featured. she was a nurse at hickham when pearl harbor was attacked. she did not know if her sweetheart had survived for several days, until he wandered into the hospital. they were married and went back each year that the reunions were held. she did not go this year because her husband died in september, but she is already planning her trip for next year. she was truly inspiring and i wish the piece had been longer.

I've been to the Arizona memorial once... but I'll be honest it wasn't as poigant for me, because of the lack of national or personal connection. However all that aside it was impactful for me on the level of imagining what they went through on the day of the attack (the seamen in the USS Arizona and other stricken ships).

Of course today marks the "quite" 8 hours before the battle of Hong Kong WW2...

When you arrive to the visitors center (which is sinking, I might add and I am so not joking!), they have exhibits and displays chronicling everything about the attack. They even have a short film with actual footage from that morning that you can watch. But that doesn't compare to the feeling you get once you step off that ferry that takes you to the Arizona Memorial.

When I last visited the memorial with my great uncle, I remember being at the observation portion, and right after we had thrown our leis in the water, a big glob of oil rose to the surface. It's a haunting feeling, knowing that it's been there all this time...just like the men who died that morning.

And no words can express the feeling when you walk into the shrine room. Just sadness and gratitude for all these men who died defending the country. :(

While Pearl Harbor happened 3 months befor My birth, it did affect me as My Father had to go into the War. My Uncle was in The Marines and fought in the Pacific and got 13 purple Hearts.

As FDR Said, This is a Day Of Infamy and led us into a War that was very bad. The whole world was at War then.:(

It led Us into the Nuculear Century whether good or bad.

The People in this War Should never be forgotten on both and all sides.

Tomorrow morning marks the 65th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. With only 8 remaining survivors able to reunite in Hawaii for the festivities, this probably marks the final time they'll be holding major festivities to remember the event. :(

Tom Brokaw will be the keynote speaker at tomorrow morning's ceremony. If you want to watch it live, KHNL News 8 will be broadcasting live on the Internet starting at 7:30 A.M. Hawai`i time. In the meantime, if you click on the Pearl Harbor: A Nation Remembers graphic, it'll take you to some interesting news video you might want to see. :)

My late eye Doctor was the Gunnery Officer on the DD USS Paterson.
Was just around the bend from Battleship Row.
The little was spoke of it then now makes we wish we had spoken more about it.
Two things that I do remember him telling me:
Per the bean counters in DC:
In surface combat, the life expectancy of a DD was 10 minutes. His crew to a man and by themselves swore that if the 11th minute came up that they would take down the biggest SOB near them with them.

And per DC, my Doctor was senior US Navy officer in terms of combat time. Again, I do now know I missed a lot.

And to see and try to understand just some of the thoughts and mentality of the fighting men of that day, read " The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors".

When I was in high school one of my friends lived with her grandfather, who was a Pearl Harbor survivor. Every year he'd come to the school and talk with the junior u.s. history classes and tell his story. He wasn't on the Arizona but one of the other ships. He managed to get blown off the ship and into the water. He swam through the flames and got to shore and found a home to take cover in. He was curled up and hiding when the family found him. He was naked as a jay bird. The explosion had blown off his uniform.

He definitely made it real. But it gave me the heeby jeebies to think of my friends grandpa putting the image of him young and naked in our heads.

I have only been in this group about a week...and this thread reaffirms what a class act it is! Monday morning....after the horrific Sunday 7th my Dad jumped up and enlisted and he was a squadron commander in the Pacific flying spy bombers around Australia...but that was the kind of patriotism our parents had back then...so when USA started their "cutesy" ads for the showing of PEARL HARBOR this past weekend, my daughters got furious..."not only were they great fighters...but they were great lovers..how romantic Pearl Harbor was...before...." they emailed the USA network but the spots were never pulled....God, I hope we never get that immune to the horror of 9-11 that our grandkids hear that kind of ads when in about 20 years it runs more frequently!!

As for me, reading your insights makes me feel there are still some real people out there...had kinda felt the flame had gone down a bit...not much interest in Nov 22nd anymore...but for me, saw two pieces of the 47th floor from the World Trade Center at the Smithsonian in Sept...the tears just streamed down my face...and two kiosks over, was a draft of FDR's December 7th speech...some genius had edited it...changed one word...from "history" crossesd out in pencil and wrote INFAMY..the power of that one word!!