A merry and happy day it wasn’t in 1941 when America was attacked by the Imperial Japanese navy at the USA naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii.
Advertisement
“Oil and slime were all over their bodies”, said Doyle, 92, and one of two Colorado Pearl Harbor survivors honored Monday at a ceremony at the Leyden-Chiles-Wickersham American Legion Post 1.
“Everything seemed to stop in its place, we had classes dismissed on Monday so we could listen to President Roosevelt declare war on Japan”, says Hamilton. “As those who were alive at the moment passed on, the subsequent events stole the attention of those who remained”, said Jim Bloom, a retired U.S. Navy captain and spokesman for the tribute.
“Wakes some people up, you know what I mean…I think they should have more of these, because a lot of people are coming up, youngsters, they don’t realize what went on 40, 50 years ago…I’m glad, even to this day, that I served”. “It was a bad day”.
Pearl Harbor survivors tossed a wreath over the USS Midway at exactly 7:55 Hawaii time, that’s when the attacks began.
More than 2,400 American service members died during the surprise attack, including 58 sailors and soldiers from Wisconsin.
The attack on Pearl Harbor is what brought the United States into World War Two, changing the nation’s history forever.
Survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor gathered to remember 74 years after the attack. “But I’m very proud of him”.
“Just unbelievable”, said WWII Veteran Philip Meeks. His family will also attend the interment ceremony expected to get underway at 4 p.m.
Advertisement
“As we commemorate this day, let us re-dedicate ourselves to delivering to future generations the same gift of security and peace that was purchased for us by those who sacrificed so much in defense of our freedom seven decades ago”, Harris said.
