Remembrance Day~Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941 the US Naval base, Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), was attacked by the Japanese. This would cause the US to declare war on Japan the very next day which resulted in them entering WW2.

Today marks the anniversary of Pearl Harbor so I thought I would make a tribute thread to those who lost their lives or were wounded.

The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from influencing the war that the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia, against Britain and the Netherlands, as well as the U.S. in the Philippines. The base was attacked by Japanese aircraft (a total of 353, in two waves) launched from six aircraft carriers.[7]
Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and all of the four other battleships present were damaged. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship[8] and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed, 2,402 personnel were killed[9] and 1,282 were wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light, with 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d639e4cb65a9.jpg[/atsimg]
Photograph from a Japanese plane of Battleship Row at the beginning of the attack. The explosion in the center is a torpedo strike on the USS Oklahoma

photo courtesy of wikipedia photo source


There were 2,000+ men and women who lost their lives and 1200+ were wounded on the attack at Pearl Harbor. Just a normal Sunday turned into tragedy and a day that will not be forgotten.

Paul Urdzik's account of that day

Paul Urdzik remembers.

USS Vestal - AR 4

I had just finished breakfast and had one leg up getting into my center bunk, ready to settle down with the local Sunday newspaper when General Quarters sounded.
Everyone started cussing and grumbling about, "What a hell of time to hold a drill". I headed for the engine room.
At the well deck, someone shouted, "Get back! Here they come, strafing the ship." We ran back into the passageway and about four of us tried to squeeze into a corner behind a water fountain.
As I started back across the well deck, I noticed Lionel Baker, Pharmacist Mate - Second Class, kneeling over and tending to one of the wounded and several other lying about the deck.

go to this link to read the rest of his account of Pearl Harbor Paul Urdzik remembers


James Evans - GnySgt, (Ret)

On December 7, 1941, I was stationed at the NAS Kaneohe Bay. At the time of the attack, I was a Private First Class, waiting in the barracks for the guard truck to take me to the main gate, where I was to stand the 8:00 to 12:00 watch.
We heard what sounded low flying planes and explosions, but as the air station was still under construction, didn't really pay attention to it, though someone commented on the fact they were working on Sunday. Suddenly someone came running into the barracks yelling, "we're being attacked by the Japs." Panic prevailed as we scrambled for our rifles, ammunition was another story. The storeroom was locked, and it took a few minutes to find the supply sergeant and get him to issue ammo without the proper authority.

for the rest of his account of this day go here James Evans

For other accounts Pearl Harbor personal stories


Charles Byrd
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/abffc8b85e75.jpg[/atsimg]

He remembers local newspaper accounts of his demise.

Now at age 86, he is a member of a select company of surviving U.S. veterans who served in Hawaii during the surprise attack that pushed the United States into World War II.

There were reasons for the confusion, of course. Byrd, 17 at the time, was serving as seaman second-class on the USS California, a battleship which took two torpedoes from the Japanese aerial attack that day.

The ship eventually sank to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. One hundred crew members lost their lives from the bullets and bombs raining from the skies.

Byrd was knocked flat by a bomb that hit the mess hall he had left minutes earlier. He jumped into the water when sailors were ordered to evacuate and swam to Ford Island, located in the middle of Pearl Harbor.

From there, he witnessed the destruction of the battleship USS Arizona, one of five battleships sunk that day.

Charles Byrd




USS Arizona memorial

The final resting place for 1,102 (75 were recovered) crewmen of the U.S.S. Arizona who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. They are still entombed within the Arizona herself. The sunken battleship is commemorated by a 184 foot-long memorial structure that spans its mid-portion. No part of the edifice touches the ship.

for more information USS Arizona Memorial

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f6354e72f5be.gif[/atsimg]


This is just a small account of a few men who were there and experienced this tragic day. I can only imagine how they felt and what they dealt with the rest of their lives.


For other accounts or information on Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor accounts
Witness to history, Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day


Thank you to all those who have served, are currently serving or have lost their lives serving their country. You are all wonderful in my book to do something so many wouldn't even begin to do. You are all heroes



Please no bashing anyone in the service or war in this thread, this is not why I did it so if you don't agree with anyone who serves please move a long.

This almost brings tears to my eyes. My wife and I visited Pearl Harbor in August, 2009. The thing that struck me the most was the silence. Hardly a word was whispered by anyone the entire time we were standing over the Arizona. It is a humbling experience. Being a veteran myself, I get no greater joy than talking to veterans of WW II and listening to them share their experiences. I am amazed at how the war still affects them even today. As a Registered Nurse I had a patient whom had fought in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. I still remember him saying that if I needed to take vitals or give him meds to please call his name rather than touch him if he was sleeping. He said, "I still suffer from nightmares from the war and I would never want to hurt anyone, so please let anyone who takes care of me know this." Now I consider myself a tough guy, but after he said this, and after seeing the pain in his eyes I had to walk into the medication room, dry my eyes, and gather myself. We lose approximately 6,000 WW II veterans everyday in America. It saddens me to think that someday soon they will be gone. They truly are the greatest generation this country has ever had, and I for one, will miss them when they are gone.

A day that will live...
yet totally ignored by Google.

I as many believe that america provoked the japanese into attacking. It was far from a surprise. Even the Hawaii newspapers predicted the attack by the Japenese in their headlines.

dottal.org...

One thing I've always found fascinating about the Pearl Harbor was the sinking of japanese mini subs. The base still was not put on alert?

www.soest.hawaii.edu...

Originally posted by Alxandro
A day that will live...
yet totally ignored by Google.

You know what? Until I read what you wrote, I hadn't realized it, but you are absolutely right! I find it funny how google can advertise the mystery van on halloween, but not remind people of this.

Mblah, this is a really nice thread you've made. Very good work.

Originally posted by Alxandro
A day that will live...
yet totally ignored by Google.

I saw that!! Yet they have every single other lame day remembered in their name. Heck even the Flintstones were remembered by google, yet this day is not? I was surprised it wasn't there when clicking on google.

Originally posted by mayabong
I as many believe that america provoked the japanese into attacking. It was far from a surprise. Even the Hawaii newspapers predicted the attack by the Japenese in their headlines.

dottal.org...

One thing I've always found fascinating about the Pearl Harbor was the sinking of japanese mini subs. The base still was not put on alert?

www.soest.hawaii.edu...

I think I remember saying if you are going to argue over what happened that day please don't post. I am not arguing this. I posted this to remember those who were there and died, not to argue over who provoked who. You obviously didn't read what I posted.

Originally posted by mblahnikluver

Originally posted by mayabong
I as many believe that america provoked the japanese into attacking. It was far from a surprise. Even the Hawaii newspapers predicted the attack by the Japenese in their headlines.

dottal.org...

One thing I've always found fascinating about the Pearl Harbor was the sinking of japanese mini subs. The base still was not put on alert?

www.soest.hawaii.edu...

I think I remember saying. I am not arguing this. I posted this to remember those who were there and died, not to argue over who provoked who. You obviously didn't read what I posted.

I didn't see that part of your post. All I saw is this and figured I wasn't breaking your rules.

"Please no bashing anyone in the service or war in this thread, this is not why I did it so if you don't agree with anyone who serves please move a long. "

Unless I missed something, I see nothing where you say " if you are going to argue over what happened that day please don't post".

EDIT: for the sake of not arguing just let this pass. I'll leave your thread.

Thank you for this post. We need to remember that day and all those that were lost there. This was a very tragic day in America's history. The movie Pearl Harbor documents what happened that day and the inhumane bombing raid of the Japs. My friend's grandfather was killed there. May we never forget.

There will be people that post and try to argue why it happened. I hope this don't turn into an American bashing thread because of the topic. Please everyone, for those who died, let's try to keep this thread clean. Thanks again OP.

Never forget 12/7/1941. Here's a salute to the US servicemen and civilians that were killed that day . More than half of those who were killed that day were US Navy sailors and US Marines from the USS Arizona. Something like only 300 out 1,400 USS Arizona crewmembers survived the attack.


I think im going to go home and watch Tora, Tora, Tora this afternoon. IMO the best Pearl Harbor movie hands down.

Originally posted by kennylee
Thank you for this post. We need to remember that day and all those that were lost there. This was a very tragic day in America's history. The movie Pearl Harbor documents what happened that day and the inhumane bombing raid of the Japs. My friend's grandfather was killed there. May we never forget.

There will be people that post and try to argue why it happened. I hope this don't turn into an American bashing thread because of the topic. Please everyone, for those who died, let's try to keep this thread clean. Thanks again OP.

Thank you for your reply.

Is that you in your avy?

Yeah anyone who tries the arguing thing I will remind them that is not what this thread is for. If someone wants to argue over who started what they can make a separate thread on it. I just wanted to remember those who served and lost their lives that day.

My grandfather, not immediate, likes to tell his stories of WW2. He is so cute and honestly I like hearing his stories. He has alzheimers now and sometimes thinks he is there and I am one of the people there. I had to remind him who I am and where he was. It's sad but he is a very happy content old man who still likes to tinker on cars and take things apart. He no longer lives in the same state where I could visit him like I did before when my Nana was still alive and here. He use to talk about his war stories for hours and boy could he talk.

I was just about to make a thread on today when I was like Oh I better check and make sure there isnt already one here. I didnt see one all day!!


Lets always remember those who lost their lives on this day.

Thought I'd bump my thread considering today

Originally posted by Alxandro
A day that will live...
yet totally ignored by Google.

You are so right! Again today, nothing....


Why does everything else get a google nod? Today should, it's a major day in our history. I know being recognized on google isn't all that important but it makes you wonder why today isn't honored yet Les Paul's Birthday is?