It's Pearl Harbor remembrance day - NEVER Forget
- Thread starter EasTexRIII
- Start date
Boog
Traveling Story Teller
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As a sailor, I have floated by and flown over the USS Arizona memorial. It is very moving to witness the whole place today and think back to what it was like back then. War is hell no matter where one finds it. Remembering it may help delay the next one...
Navigator
Living Legend
My wife and I were fortunate to have been stationed in Hawaii in he late 60s and then from 1999-0ct 2002 while I was stationed on the staff of the Commander, Pacific Fleet. I was privileged to have presided over a number of services on the Arizona Memorial, one where a recently deceased had his urn of ashes placed within the ship by Navy divers. Another we buried at sea outside Pearl Harbor per his wishes because, as a Pearl Harbor attack survivor, he did not feel worthy to be interred with those who died there. Since burials at sea had become prohibited, I had to obtain special permission from the Fleet Commander to get a destroyer underway for the service. His son brought his ashes out from South Carolina.
These are some of the Pearl Harbor survivors and their families who traveled to Hawaii for a remembrance ceremony one year.
Some in the audience were nurses at the Navy Hospital where many of the wounded were brought. It is now a Cryptologic command for special mission support. The building was strafed by Japanese aircraft and still shows the scars.
Below is the USS Missouri (Big Mo) and the Arizona Memorial. I took this pic on the way out to the memorial, escorting some visitors from the mainland for a Remembrance Tour. The land mass is Ford Island on which the damage from strafing runs can still be found.
USS Utah memorial on the other side of Ford Island from where Big Mo is tied up.
What is interesting is that my wife and I were there for the filming of both the movie Tora Tora Tora our first tour and Pearl Harbor during our second. Our Navy house on Pearl Harbor Channel is used in the Pearl Harbor movie. It was the house in which the nurses live, Kate Beckinsale being one of them.
These are some of the Pearl Harbor survivors and their families who traveled to Hawaii for a remembrance ceremony one year.
Some in the audience were nurses at the Navy Hospital where many of the wounded were brought. It is now a Cryptologic command for special mission support. The building was strafed by Japanese aircraft and still shows the scars.
Below is the USS Missouri (Big Mo) and the Arizona Memorial. I took this pic on the way out to the memorial, escorting some visitors from the mainland for a Remembrance Tour. The land mass is Ford Island on which the damage from strafing runs can still be found.
USS Utah memorial on the other side of Ford Island from where Big Mo is tied up.
What is interesting is that my wife and I were there for the filming of both the movie Tora Tora Tora our first tour and Pearl Harbor during our second. Our Navy house on Pearl Harbor Channel is used in the Pearl Harbor movie. It was the house in which the nurses live, Kate Beckinsale being one of them.
Navigator
Living Legend
I thought I'd post a few more. And believe me but I get misty whenever I view all the photos in my library.
The beautiful ladies in the below pic were all Navy nurses at the hospital during the attack and who tended the wounded and the dying as the Japanes fighters strafed the hospital. And they were INCREDIBLE ladies. There is a set of twins in the pic, both who were there. What energy these ladies had and I don't think any of them were over 5'2" tall.
Punch Bowl National Cemetary where many were laid to rest. Ernie Pyle's grave is on the left side the main road going up to the memorial. As I recall, his grave is flanked on either side by "Unknowns". Back in in the 60s when I was Enlisted, on my days off I used to go up to the memorial and sit and read a book, it was so peaceful, and at times overwhelming, being there with our nations fallen. One time a bus full of Japanese tourists pulled up to Ernie Pyle's grave and discharged the passengers, taking pics of each other standing on his grave. I went down and politely but firmly told them not to stand on the grave and move along. The bus driver spoke English and translated. They made apologies and moved onto the road.
The beautiful ladies in the below pic were all Navy nurses at the hospital during the attack and who tended the wounded and the dying as the Japanes fighters strafed the hospital. And they were INCREDIBLE ladies. There is a set of twins in the pic, both who were there. What energy these ladies had and I don't think any of them were over 5'2" tall.
Punch Bowl National Cemetary where many were laid to rest. Ernie Pyle's grave is on the left side the main road going up to the memorial. As I recall, his grave is flanked on either side by "Unknowns". Back in in the 60s when I was Enlisted, on my days off I used to go up to the memorial and sit and read a book, it was so peaceful, and at times overwhelming, being there with our nations fallen. One time a bus full of Japanese tourists pulled up to Ernie Pyle's grave and discharged the passengers, taking pics of each other standing on his grave. I went down and politely but firmly told them not to stand on the grave and move along. The bus driver spoke English and translated. They made apologies and moved onto the road.
Stephen McMullen
Old Rocket Man
LEST WE FORGET and you guys in the states saved us Thanks USA
1olbull
Riding Motor Since 1950
WOW!
How cool was that?!
Thanks!
