Pages: 1

Pearl Harbor Survivors Meet for Last Time

(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Hardlyworkin

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Dec. 8) -- Survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor paid what for many might be their final tribute to fallen comrades in a dockside ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the incident that thrust the U.S. into World War II.

"Will all Pearl Harbor survivors please stand as able," implored Capt. Taylor Skardon, commander of Naval Station Pearl Harbor, at the end of the ceremony Thursday.

The veterans, most in Hawaiian aloha shirts and Pearl Harbor survivor caps, were honored with prolonged applause at the solemn ceremony near where some of the sunken ships remain rusting and moss-covered under the harbor's waters.

"It is because of you and people like you that we have the freedoms we enjoy today," Taylor told the standing veterans.

"It's getting hard to do this. Age is starting to creep up on us," said Bob Jensen, 82, of Sun City, Arizona, who was aboard the USS Maryland on Dec. 7, 1941. He and his family had attended the 25th, the 45th, the 55th and the 60th anniversaries.

Asked if he'll make the 70th, Jensen said, "I don't think so. We're getting up to that age where we live a day at a time."

More than 3,500 people assembled on Kilo Pier, overlooking the shining white Arizona Memorial that sits atop the sunken USS Arizona, a grave to most of the 1,177 who died aboard the ship in the attack.

In all, 2,390 Americans died in the attack. Japan lost 185 men, mostly on dive-bombers, fighters and midget submarines.

Twelve U.S. ships sank in the attack and nine vessels were heavily damaged. Over 320 U.S. aircraft were destroyed or heavily damaged by the time the invading planes were done sweeping over military bases from Wheeler Field to Kaneohe Naval Air Station.

Several old Japanese pilots attended the ceremonies Thursday, along with a delegation from the Japanese Religious Community for World Federation, a Buddhist group that has been brining Japanese prayers to the annual ceremonials for 25 years.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies, one by one, aging survivors from ships hit in the harbor placed wreaths under life preserver rings honoring each ship.

Nearly 500 survivors bowed their heads at 7:55 a.m., the minute planes began bombing the harbor in the surprise attack that drove the United States into World War II.

"America in an instant became the land of the indivisible," said former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, the author of "The Greatest Generation" who delivered the keynote address at shoreside ceremonies. "There are so many lessons from that time for our time, none greater than the idea of one nation greater than the sum of its parts."

The USS Russell sailed past during the ceremonies. Sailors lined up along one side for aging Pearl Harbor survivors who returned their salute and the other to salute the Arizona.

Douglas Lentz, National Park Service superintendent in charge of the Arizona Memorial's visitor center, said that most survivors express concern that what happened 65 years ago will be forgotten.

"Let me say, the nation, our military and the National Park Service will not let that happen," Lentz said.

Hawaii National Guard planes flew over in a missing-man formation, with a gap for a missing aircraft representing those lost in the attack.

A priest gave a Hawaiian blessing and Marines performed a rifle salute.

"Sixty-five years later, there's not too many of us left," said Don Stratton, a seaman 1st class who was aboard the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941. "In another five years I'll be 89. The good lord willing, I might be able to make it. If so, I'll probably be here. I might not even be around. Who knows. Only the good Lord knows."


Posted by: forwardone

Quote:
"Sixty-five years later, there's not too many of us left," said Don Stratton, a seaman 1st class who was aboard the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941. "In another five years I'll be 89. The good lord willing, I might be able to make it. If so, I'll probably be here. I might not even be around. Who knows. Only the good Lord knows."

I always think it`s so sad to hear expressions such as this as the inevitable creeps up.


Posted by: Hardlyworkin

As a Vuetnam veteran I can realate to their situation. Eventually the Korean vets will be next and then my era.



eXTReMe Tracker