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REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR
Today is December 7, 1991. Fifty years ago today, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I’m going to try and tell my story, the best that I can remember, of the events that occurred on that day to me.
I was attached to the USS Medusa AR
Thank you for your family Pearl Harbor story and the link to your
father’s December 7th story which I found fascinating. My father
was also in the Navy, stationed in Long Beach, CA at the time of
the attack. His ship was sent immediately to Pearl Harbor and I
heard many stories of his Navy experiences during WWII, including
the sinking of his ship in the South Pacific – the USS Perry, a
minesweeper. My father was a proud 1st Gunner’s Mate and both my
parents are buried at Arlington National Cemetary because he was a
purple heart recipient.and he wanted to take advantage of that
opportunity offered by the Navy….he was so proud of his service
to our Country, On this day, I think it is important to remember
our parents’ experiences and dedication to our Country, and it is a
great reminder of all the sacrifices made by our proud servicemen.
Thank you for not forgetting them and reminding us how special they
are.
Jan Dean, Suncoast MLS, Clearwater, FL
Thanks for the story and remembering today, it is 3:54 and i have
not seen nor heard mentionin the local paper or networks early this
moring. I did see the flags were up downtown along the mainstreets
in New Braunfels, TX along with the Christmas decorations. The
flags are put up every holiday by the American Legion. Thanks
again, for your family story.
Jerry Sonier, New Braunfels, Texas
Not many people know that Manila was bombed on the same day as
Pearl Harbor. Because of the International Date Line it was already
Dec. 8th there. I was 9 years old and was with my 7 year old sister
at my cousin’s First Communion celebration. Mom and Dad were at a
wedding. A woman left the affair early only to return shortly
afterwards, screaming that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.
Everyone scrambled to leave. Our driver was outside waiting for us.
We drove to the wedding reception to pick up our parents. By the
time we got home, the planes were in the air bombing military
installations and the ships in the harbor. We crawled under the
dining room table with mom to pray the rosary. Dad stood at the
door and watched the “dog fights”. With tears streaming down his
face he told mom that the Americans were ill prepared to defend us
and that he feared the Japs would invade soon. The Americans
retreated to Bataan and Corregidor, and the Japs marched in and
took our city and our liberty away. I’ve written a book: A CHILD IN
THE MIDST OF BATTLE http://tinyurl.com/9b8y3
Thanks for your post Evelyn. You are right that most probably do
not know about Manila and the bombing there. It is important that
people remember the struggles of all in a time when the world was
in a very difficult way.
Saul
I’m just taking the epro course and getting acquainted with the Module Digest. I saw your post of Pearl Harbor. Thanks for sharing your family history o f Pearl Harbor. I’m from the Philippines and the Japanese bombed Manila on Dec. 8 right after Pearl Harbor. I was not born yet at that time. My parents did not marry till two years later. The Philippines played a big role during World War II and I’m always fascinated of the Pacific Theater and read as much as I can about it. It’s important that we remember that Day of Infamy and the sufferings of those people that day and those at the Bataan March.
Thank you for the post regarding the Medusa. I read this with great interest. My mother and father were both at Pearl Harbor. The first part of your story is almost identical to my fathers who is now deceased. Mom and Dad lived in Honolulu on Brittania street, I believe, and Dad, an officer, had one of the few cars available on the island. When Dad was called on the phone about the bombings because he was the chief mechanic at the time on the Medusa, my mother ran around to the other cottages they lived in and yelled at the other Sailors to get ready they were leaving soon. They threw some breakfast at them and they were off in Dad’s car down the open road to Pearl Harbor. A stray Japanese fighter came along and straiffed them. Dad said he pull the car over into the ditch and they all dived out and hid while the plane went past. Funny thing he remembered about that was, even though he didn’t remember doing so at the time, he had turned the car off and put the key in his pocket. Mom is stil alive at 94 so I’ll have to ask her if she remembers the names in the story. She said she didn’t see my Dad for about 10 days also. I know he got to the ship because they needed him to get the engines started in case they were going to make a run for the ocean. My father was Willard Edward Adams and I know he was an officer at the time. Mom is Dorothy Adams and she worked next door to Kimmel’s office on the data machines that they used for decoding intercepted messages. Dad received the Medusa flag when he accompanied the ship to Bremerton, WA to decommission it.
Sorry, make that flag comment a boo-boo. Dad received the flag to the Makin Island not the Medusa…
Wow, what a story, thanks for sharing. My father was at Pearl Harbor, approximately a week prior to the bombing but the Marines sent him to the Philippines, where he because a prisoner of war for 4 years(Bataan death march). The stories made me feel very sad for these young men. My father was a survivor and passed away 6/5/2004.
thanks for your story, i came across it while looking for information about my grandfather, Raymond Wesley Carder, who was also on the medusa.
George Santayana said it best, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” In our age of political correctness we sometimes loose sight of the sacrifices made as the price for our freedom. Today is Pearl Harbor Day and next year it will be 60 years.
Hi Saul – I live next door (up the hill) from Debbie. Every Dec 7, I try to find and read your Dad’s story and every year I cry. I met Marcus and Lani quite a few times and immediately fell in love with both of them. Heck, who couldn’t love a man who plays a ukulele? You, Debbie & Maile are very lucky to have a great parents & a story like this to pass down through the years.
Hi Saul – I live next door (up the hill) from Debbie. Every Dec 7, I try to find and read your Dad’s story and every year I cry. I met Marcus and Lani quite a few times and immediately fell in love with both of them. Heck, who couldn’t love a man who plays a ukulele? You, Debbie & Maile are very lucky to have a great parents & a story like this to pass down through the years.
so amazing, I am sharing it with all the family.
I have a first cousin who is still on the USS Arizona who was due to get married 12/21/41. Even though I never met him I think of him especially on this horrible anniversary.