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thedrifter
12-08-06, 07:05 AM
At Pearl Harbor, a Solemn Remembrance
500 WWII Veterans Mark 65th Anniversary in Gathering That Could Be Last for Many

Associated Press
Friday, December 8, 2006; A19

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Dec. 7 -- One by one, survivors from ships sunk 65 years ago Thursday in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor laid wreaths under life-preserver rings honoring their ships.

Nearly 500 survivors bowed their heads at 7:55 a.m., the moment when planes began bombing the harbor in a surprise attack that thrust the United States into World War II.

"America in an instant became the land of the indivisible," said former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, the author of "The Greatest Generation," who spoke at the shoreside ceremony. "There are so many lessons from that time for our time, none greater than the idea of one nation greater than the sum of its parts."

The veterans, most in Hawaiian shirts, were honored with prolonged applause at the solemn ceremony near where some of the ships remain in the harbor, rusting and covered with algae.

"It is because of you and people like you that we have the freedoms we enjoy today," Capt. Taylor Skardon said after relating each ship's story at the end of the ceremony.

A priest gave a Hawaiian blessing, and Marines performed a rifle salute.

Many veterans were treating the gathering as their last, uncertain whether they would be alive or healthy enough to travel to Hawaii for the next big memorial ceremony, for the 70th anniversary.

"Sixty-five years later, there's not too many of us left," said Don Stratton, a seaman 1st class who was aboard the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941. "In another five years I'll be 89. The good Lord willing, I might be able to make it. If so, I'll probably be here. I might not even be around. Who knows? Only the good Lord knows."

Stratton and other survivors were boarding a boat to the white memorial straddling the sunken hull of the Arizona, where they were going to lay wreaths in honor of the dead.

"We thank those who lost their lives 65 years ago, and we honor the survivors and their families who are with us here today," said Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (R).

The Arizona sank in less than nine minutes after a 1,760-pound armor-piercing bomb struck the battleship's deck and hit its ammunition magazine, igniting flames that engulfed it.

More people were killed on the Arizona that day than on any other ship. In all, 1,177 servicemen perished, or about 80 percent of the crew.

Altogether, the attack killed 2,390 Americans and injured 1,178.

Twelve ships sank, and nine vessels were heavily damaged. More than 320 U.S. aircraft were destroyed or heavily damaged by the time the invading planes were done sweeping over military bases from Wheeler Field to Kaneohe Naval Air Station.

Japanese veterans who participated in the attack as navigators and pilots will also pay their respects, offering flowers at the Arizona memorial for the Americans and Japanese who died.

Ellie

thedrifter
12-08-06, 07:08 AM
American Legion post commemorates Pearl Harbor attack
December 08,2006
Chrissy Vick
Daily News Staff

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joe Rigby described the day well.

It started as a typical December day 65 years ago when the newspaper was delivered on time and the troops in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii were going about their normal business. It ended as one of the single bloodiest days in American history.

“No one who served at Pearl Harbor will ever forget what President (Franklin D.) Roosevelt called the next day — ‘A day of infamy,’” Rigby said.

“Over 2,400 died that day. Mere words can’t convey what that day was like — only the survivors know.”

But for the first time in its nine-year history, there were no Pearl Harbor survivors present Thursday morning at the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony, hosted by the American Legion Post 265, to tell of it. When Rigby, the event’s guest speaker, asked the survivors to stand, the large open building held nothing but silence.

“Last year we had five survivors and none of them could attend this year,” adjutant Judy Henninger said. “I suppose they’re too sick or just not feeling up to it.”

Most survivors would now be in their 80s or 90s, like retired Marine Tom Craigg, who fought in the Pacific when he was stationed in the Philippines. He is one of few who survived the Bataan Death March in 1942, when thousands of prisoners of war were forced to walk 62 miles to a prison camp.

Tuesday, he walked with Rigby to lay a red, white and blue wreath in memory of those who died. He was the closest the American Legion could find to fill the position as a Pearl Harbor survivor.

And he said it was an honor to fill the slot.

“I did it to pay my respect to those who paid the ultimate price for the service of this country and freedom,” Craigg said. “We all enjoy that freedom today.”

A number of local residents, veterans and active-duty service members gathered around Craigg after the ceremony to shake his hand and pay their respect to a man with deep memories of war. Among them was Margo Schmidt, wife of a local pastor, who attended the ceremony with her 4-year-old daughter.

“I just want to show thankfulness,” Schmidt said just before shaking Craigg’s hand and thanking him. “I just wanted to be here.”

Henninger has been a part of the ceremony for the nine years it has been held in Jacksonville. And she says she will be one of the first to see that it goes on long past the remaining survivors.

“We’ve seen the support of the community and local veterans grow over the years,” Henninger said. “The first year we had about 10 (Pearl Harbor) survivors and widows. This year, none. But we will continue despite that because we still have to remember those who gave their lives.”

During the ceremonies, Henninger always fades back in her mind to the two trips she made to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. The thing that she and other veterans said would never leave them as their boat approached the memorial was the silence.

This year’s silence symbolized the diminishing ranks of those who were there.

Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.

Ellie

thedrifter
12-08-06, 07:52 AM
Survivors honor Pearl Harbor victims with moment of silence, wreath laying in Hawaii

By: AUDREY McAVOY - Associated Press

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Nearly 500 survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor bowed their heads for a moment of silence Thursday to remember those who died in the surprise attack 65 years ago that pulled the United States into World War II.

The survivors, among several thousand others, including relatives and military leaders, bowed their heads at 7:55 a.m., the minute planes began bombing Pearl Harbor.

"We thank those who lost their lives 65 years ago, and we honor the survivors and their families who are with us here today," said Gov. Linda Lingle.

Many veterans were treating the gathering as their last, uncertain whether they would be alive or healthy enough to travel to Hawaii for the next big memorial, the 70th anniversary.

"Sixty-five years later, there's not too many of us left," said Don Stratton, a seaman 1st class who was aboard the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941. "In another five years I'll be 89. The good Lord willing, I might be able to make it."

Stratton and other survivors were to board a boat to the white memorial straddling the sunken hull of the Arizona, where they will lay wreaths and lei in honor of the dead.

The Arizona sank in less than nine minutes after a 1,760 pound armor-piercing bomb struck the battleship's deck and hit its ammunition magazine, exploding in flames that engulfed the ship.

More people died on the Arizona than any other ship -- 1,177 servicemen, or about 80 percent of the crew, perished.

Altogether, the surprise attack killed 2,390 Americans and injured 1,178.

Twelve ships sank and nine vessels were heavily damaged. Over 320 U.S. aircraft were destroyed or heavily damaged by the time the invading planes were done sweeping over military bases from Wheeler Field to Kaneohe Naval Air Station.

Japanese veterans who participated in the attack as navigators and pilots will also pay their respects, offering flowers at the Arizona memorial for the American and Japanese who died.

Some Japanese veterans and American survivors have reconciled over the decades.

Japanese dive bomber pilot Zenji Abe apologized to American survivors for the sudden attack, saying he was ashamed his government failed to deliver a declaration of war in time for the assault.

The Japanese aviators who carried out the attack thought the declaration had already been made by the time they started bombing, Abe said.

Ellie