In Memory of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941

[TerryMiller]

The link below has likely been here before, but I'm going to bring it back. While they weren't at Pearl Harbor during the attack, all the uncles on my dad's side of the family joined the Navy and served in the Pacific because of that attack. So, this is to honor all the vets, and especially my now departed dear uncles.

For the Navy, "Fair Winds and Following Seas."

For the Marines, "Semper Fidelis."

For my fellow Army brethren, as well as all the others, thanks for the freedoms I have.

Denver Post Plog: The Pacific and Adjacent Theaters in WWII

 

[dennishoddy]

My dad served in the navy on a floating dry dock in Tsingtao China, repairing ships that had been damaged during the war.

There have been recent reports of how the US intelligence reported, and the president ignored the Japanese fleet getting too close to Pearl. Way too many people lost their lives.

 

[TwoForFlinching]

My grandpa was there. Lied about his age and joined when he was 15, schooled at Norfolk and made Shipfitter first class. Survived the attack at Pearl, helped weld/patch the broken ships back into working order. Fought in every major battle in the Pacific except Guadalcanal, said the only time he took off his preserver was to shower as he never learned to swim. His camera went everywhere with him, and the pictures he left me when he died are wild. It's still fun to see him as a jackass kid having fun in terrible times with his shipmates. The night time firing of the big 16" guns are insane.

 

[dennishoddy]

My grandpa was there. Lied about his age and joined when he was 15, schooled at Norfolk and made Shipfitter first class. Survived the attack at Pearl, helped weld/patch the broken ships back into working order. Fought in every major battle in the Pacific except Guadalcanal, said the only time he took off his preserver was to shower as he never learned to swim. His camera went everywhere with him, and the pictures he left me when he died are wild. It's still fun to see him as a jackass kid having fun in terrible times with his shipmates. The night time firing of the big 16" guns are insane.

We need to see those pics

 

[TwoForFlinching]

We need to see those pics

They're in a safe in PC... I might dig 'em out again at xmas. One of these days, I'll hi-res scan them in to the pc and recolor them in my spare time. Make it awesome.

 

[AKguy1985]

My great uncle robert was a corpsman in the pacific theatre. Supposedly, so the story goes they were on an island and robert was standing next to an officer. He seen a jap sniper in a tree and pulled the officers pistol and shot the sniper. The officer wanted him court martialed but it didnt happen.

 

[briarcreekguy]

My Grandad wasn't at Pear Harbor, but joined the Navy after the event. He was assigned to the Destroyer Escort, the USS Raymond. They fought in the South Pacific. He was aboard his ship at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and was one of the ships ordered to attack the Japanese fleet, while the rest of battle group attempted to steam away. He said that the ships commander got on the PA and basically told them it was a suicide mission. They charged the Japanese fleet and eventually fired all their ammo on board. They miraculously were able to escape. He lived to a ripe old age, and never really told many details of the battles he was in. After he passed away a few years ago, I purchased a book about the battle of Leyte, called The last stand of the Tin Can Sailors. It gives a sense of how dire the situation was. I can't imagine being a young kid, half way around the world from rural Oklahoma, doing what they did.

 

[Jon3830]

my great uncle was at Pearl for the attack I don't really know any details about it I never met him he died the year I was born, I do know he ended up on a sub and left service in 1946 as a TM3. when the attack happened my grandad was a few months shy of being old enough join and the Navy told him no and I guess the Army said welcome to the Army, here is a picture of my great uncles ribbons and medals I have only be able to figure out one of them.

 

[ultimase]

In a war to safe the world, these men were cut from a different cloth.

 

[TerryMiller]

My grandpa was there. Lied about his age and joined when he was 15, schooled at Norfolk and made Shipfitter first class. Survived the attack at Pearl, helped weld/patch the broken ships back into working order. Fought in every major battle in the Pacific except Guadalcanal, said the only time he took off his preserver was to shower as he never learned to swim. His camera went everywhere with him, and the pictures he left me when he died are wild. It's still fun to see him as a jackass kid having fun in terrible times with his shipmates. The night time firing of the big 16" guns are insane.

We need to see those pics

Oh, WOW!! I agree with Dennis on wanting to see those pictures. Who knows what kind of history could be gleaned from those. I really hope you have the time to do the scanning at least.