Thank you for that nice introduction. My mom and dad would have been very proud!
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is an honor and privilege to speak to you on this important occasion – “remember- ing Pearl Harbor on it’s 75th anniversary”. My thanks to the SubVets, Gold Country Base, for inviting me.
It is a beautiful morning here maybe similar to that Sunday in Hawaii 75 years ago, but probably much cooler. No one was expecting the Japanese to conduct a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on our naval fleet there, but it happened to devastating effect–
- 8 battleships were heavily damaged – two were a total loss – USS ARIZONA and USS OKLAHOMA. In all 18 ships were sunk or destroyed
- 167 S. aircraft were destroyed and 159 damaged
- 2403 military personnel and civilians killed. Another 1178 wounded “it was terrible in every respect”
On December 8th, the day after the attack, President Roosevelt, in a joint session of congress stated and I quote “yesterday,
December 7, 1941, a date that will live in infamy—the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan…..no matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people will, through their righteous might, win through absolute victory…..with confidence – in our armed forces, and with the unbounding determination of our people – we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God. I therefore ask the congress to declare that since that dastardly and unprovoked attack by Japan on Sunday…. a state of war has existed between the United States and Japanese Empire”… unquote. Congress concurred with the war declaration.
Today, we remember that attack.
The response from our nation was unbelievable. Almost overnight, the United States mobilized and turned its tremendous industries to war production –
- Automobile makers became manufacturers of tanks, ar- mored vehicles, trucks, jeeps
- Aircraft makers grew in size and numbers, producing bombers, fighters, transports
- Shipyards grew and ships of all types were built for the war effort
- The entire nation went to work for the war and life changed significantly for everyone
It is often noted that Japanese Admiral Yamamoto was quoted as saying, – “I feel all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with terrible resolve!”
World War II was relatively short (four years) when com- pared with wars since then, particularly the Cold War, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, but during those four years, Americans sacrificed immensely and produced incredible results with their industrial might.
- 310,000 aircraft were built
- 120,000 ships including, carriers, submarines, destroy- ers, and small supply ships
- 2,400,000 vehicles
- 12,500,000 rifles and carbines
- 100,000 tanks and armored vehicles
And that is but a few examples!
I would question whether we could do that today since we have shifted a large percentage of our industrial and manufactur- ing capabilities overseas
At the same time, the American people had to live without many of the things they had before the war. A system of rationing was implemented throughout our nation.
It was a costly war for the United States and millions served in our military – over 12 million men and women were in uniform when the war ended. In addition, over 400,000 U.S. military were killed and another 670,000 wounded. However, that is a small part of the estimated 50 – 80 million who died worldwide
The people of the United States who served in the military or worked in support of the war are now known as “the greatest generation” and rightfully so. However, I believe that the generations that have followed them are just as strong because they stand on the shoulders of the “greatest generation”. They stand on a sturdy foundation of sacrifice and accomplishment. We will always be indebted to and never forget the “greatest generation”.
A few personal thoughts or remembrances that I have learned in my life.
When the Pearl Harbor attack occurred, I was just over 3 months old (now with a little math, you will know my age today!!) We lived in Cleveland, Tennessee, a small town next to the Georgia state line and 30 miles east of Chattanooga. My dad was 27 years old and was a short order cook in a small diner that had about 20 stools. He had grown up in the hills of Tennessee north of Knoxville and was from a relatively poor family. He quit school at age 16 and went to work on farms and a lumber mill. Eventual-ly, he did return to school and graduated from SGT York high school, Jamestown, TN at age 21, with high grades. I know this because I have his report card!!
Shortly thereafter, he took a bus to Cleveland and got a job in a small diner.
After the events at Pearl Harbor, he joined the navy but only after he had ensured that my mom and I were taken care of. Mom worked in a chair factory. An older couple from our church moved into our home and with the sharing of resources, we lived reasonably well. My dad became a torpedoman in the navy but because of an eye sight problem spent the next years until the war ended in August 1945 building torpedoes at the Mare island shipyard in Vallejo, CA. Although I don’t remember many details from this era, I do clearly remember my dad sending a suitcase home that was filled with goodies such as candy, gum, and other hard to get items. I remember that suitcase being in the family for many years after the war.
After the war, dad often talked fondly about his navy years as I grew-up saying that he would have stayed in the navy except they just didn’t pay enough to support a family. He was a great influence in my making the navy my career. He was a wonderful dad, very humble and considerate, who went on to be very successful in the restaurant business running his restaurant for over 44 years in Fort Myers, Florida. Opening in 1949, it was the first air conditioned restaurant there. At the same time, he became an important and well respected leader in the community. He was a good example of a man who willingly served in the navy, loved his country, appreciated what god had given him and always took care of his family.
I’ve just told you about a man that did what he could to serve his country, a man of honor that cared for his family and community, and I reflect on those that lost that same opportunity on one Sunday morning in Hawaii. My dad, and men and women, like him, made it possible for me to pursue all our nation has to offer. A full career in the navy that included being the Commander Submarine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet 1996-1998.
Being COMSUBPAC was certainly a highlight of my career. Rosemary and I lived in quarters “K”, our home on Ford island about 75-80 yards from the USS ARIZONA memorial. Our home called Hale Loa, long house was built in the 1930’s over a gun emplacement that had been constructed in the early 1900’s. The guns had been removed but the various rooms associated with the emplacement created the basement of our home. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, the basement served as a bomb shelter for many of the people living nearby. In fact, it also was a place to which several severely injured men on the USS ARIZONA crawled up the beach and into the gun turrets where they received medical help. Unfortunately, many died. I could never forget that story and the sacrifices that were made by the men on ARIZONA. During the time we lived there, there was no causeway or bridge from the mainland to Ford Island. People took a ferry that ran back and forth throughout the day and most of the night. The normal mode of transportation for COMSUBPAC was to be picked-up each morning and brought home in the evening by the Admiral’s barge which was a nice boat of approximately 30 feet in length. Each morning, I would walk out to the end of the pier and there would be two sailors all spiffy in their uniforms who would take me to my office across the harbor. Each time we passed the Arizona memorial, I had them stop a few yards from it and we would silently salute the battleship memorial and say a little prayer for the hundreds that are still entombed in the ship as it sits on the bottom of the harbor. I will forever remember this Pearl Harbor tragedy and the thousands that were lost in the attack. May God bless their souls.
Today, we remember Pearl Harbor and the horrific bombing attack. We remember those who were lost or injured, and we remember our veterans from that war, those that are still living and those that have left us. But, really, we remember all veterans alive or deceased who voluntarily serve our nation whether in the military, in law enforcement, in emergency response, in our fire departments, and all others that provide us security. They keep us safe and free from harm and allow us to live a life of freedom and liberty. All of them continue to serve us very well and we are blessed to have these dedicated men and women, many of them are with us today.
The United States is an incredible and beautiful nation. Yes, we have a few faults, but, overall, we are clearly the best nation in the world – let us keep it that way!!!
Thank you for the opportunity for Rosemary and me to share this day of remembrance with you. God bless you and our veterans from all branches of our military and those that provide service to our nation, and God bless the United States of America.
Let us always remember Pearl Harbor and our veterans and the sacrifices they made
Thank you.
