US Dept of Navy: Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941

Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center ^ | December 7, 2005

[bd476]

Yep. Sniff. When my Dad was still living, I tried to help him recall the names of his ships. I heard some good detailed stories, but sadly never figured out the names of any of the ships he was on.

[M. Espinola]

Additional photos of Dorie Miller at Great Lakes naval training center where my father trained as well.

Photo, Dorie Miller speaking

Talking with three other sailors and a civilian, during his visit to the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, January 7th, 1943.

[bd476]

It's one thing to read about this in a History book, but quite another to read the actual individual stories of bravery, some of which are beyond comprehension.

Imagine seeing a huge wall of fire yet you have to get by it, while your ship has taken on water. Yet you must stay on board, in one case orders came from yet another ship across the way.

The USS Tennessee's Captain or surviving most Senior Officer ordered all personnel to remain on the USS West Virginia until they received further orders.

Meanwhile you're firing a machine gun for which you received no training and more fire is heading towards your ship on oil trails spreading across the water from a sinking ship. Bombs continue dropping all around you from the overhead enemy planes.

But you were in the Army and it's not hard to imagine that you have your own harrowing memories gathered while serving our country.

Thank you for your service to our country.

[M. Espinola]

Many of those war memories our father's had I believe they really wished never happened, and it became difficult to recall certain time frames due to the disturbing nature.

[bd476]

Somewhere I have a great photo of my Dad in a foxhole while he was on some island somewhere in the South Pacific. When I was very young, I heard a frightening story about that scene. But when I asked him a few years ago, the subject was changed.

I'm not sure he'd want me to dig much deeper.

[bd476]

It seems like just about everyone in the Navy who were from the Midwest went through Great Lakes Naval Training Center. I wonder if your Dad and mine were there at the same time.

[M. Espinola]

It's very possible both were there training during the same time. My father took the train from Boston. It was in Chicago where my father met my mum.

[bd476]

Cool postcards.

The middle postcard looks very familiar.

[bd476]

Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941

A Marine rifle squad fires a volley over the bodies of fifteen officers and men killed at Naval Air Station Kanoehe Bay during the Pearl Harbor raid. These burial ceremonies took place on 8 December 1941, the day after the attack.

Note sandbagged emplacement atop the small hill in the right middle distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives

[bd476]

"Farewell to Thee"

Following Hawaiian tradition, Sailors honor men killed during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Naval Air Station Kaneohe, Oahu.

The casualties had been buried on 8 December. This ceremony took place sometime during the following months, possibly on Memorial Day, 31 May 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

[M. Espinola]

oPPS I forgot to list the link for those postcards. Scroll down for the Great Lakes photos.

link

Great Lakes Naval Museum Great Lakes History

[dreamspyrt]

Don't miss the History Channel documentary that offers material for (unbiased and non-political) thought on both sides of this question.

History Channel: Conspiracy
Wednesday, December 7

The attack on Pearl Harbor shocked the nation. To many, the official explanations of misguided assumptions and missed clues did not account for the enormity of the catastrophe. We examine "alternative" theories that arose soon after the attack. Was a plot hatched in Washington to solve FDR's "problem"--convincing a reluctant country to fight the Nazis? Did FDR send a secret cable just days before the attack ordering Pearl Harbor chiefs to stand down? Did US intelligence intercept a message from Tokyo asking its spies in Hawaii to map the harbor for an imminent air attack? More than six decades later, the controversy boils under the surface of recent US history, igniting heated debates over collusion, intrigue, and thousands of American dead. (put in search terms)

http://www.historychannel.com/thcsearch/thc_search.do

Conspiracy?: FDR and Pearl Harbor.
Wednesday, December 07 @ 5pm ET

Examine the evidence and decide for yourself.
Filled with riveting footage and survivor testimony.
Hear why some people believe that the attack was not a surprise.

The attack on Pearl Harbor shook the nation to its roots. But to some, official explanations of misguided assumptions and missed clues did not account for the enormity of the catastrophe. CONSPIRACY examines alternative theories about the events leading up to December 7, 1941.

Was a plot hatched in Washington to solve FDR's ""problem"" of convincing a reluctant country to fight the Nazis? Did FDR send a secret cable just days before the attack ordering Pearl Harbor chiefs to stand down? Did U.S. intelligence intercept a message from Tokyo asking its spies in Hawaii to map the harbor for an imminent air attack? More than six decades later, the controversy still bubbles, and our experts probe for substance beneath the sensational assertions.

Conspiracy?: FDR and Pearl Harbor DVD
http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=73190&browseCategoryId=&location=&parentcatid=&subcatid=

[IonImplantGuru]

Your father and mine both served with honour in the Pacific.

As did mine, Aviation Machinest's Mate W. L. Parker, Pearl Harbor Survivor (USS Louisville).

Heard on the radio this morning that in 1991 there were still 19,000 Pearl Harbor Survivors. Today there are only 5,800. The average age of the Pearl Harbor Survivors is 86 so age is catching up with them.

[RetiredArmy]

While I served in a combat division in Vietnam, was shot at, experienced combat, was wounded, I still don't think I went through anything like those men on those ships, standing there on those decks as sitting ducks on a pond, trying their best to defend their ships at anchor, while hundreds of airplanes came down on them, dropping bombs and torpedoes at them. To stand there in the open decks, firing away, man THAT IS HEROISM AT ITS BEST. I honor each and everyone one of them.

Here in WA state, there is a tag that the Pearl Harbor folks can have on their autos. It says: Pearl Harbor Survivor. That is exactly what they did, somehow, they managed under that hail of fire, to survive. There are a few of those tags around. But, you rarely see one now days, as most of those brave souls have left us.

[sneakers]

bump!

[stumpy]

I have been aquainted with two men who were survivors of Pearl Harbor. One, Ken Kriesse was on a destroyer that was not hit, but to this day he says he is haunted by the japs strafing the burned sailors in the water. The other Lee embry was on one of the B-17s flying unarmed into Hickam Field as the attack was going on. He leaned out a waist gunners position with his "brownie" box camera to take a picture of the jap zero on their tail as it was about to shoot them down.. Apparently the jap pilot thought he was manning a waist gun (left in San Franciso to save weight), and instead of shooting the B-17 down veered off, allowing them to land.

I'll be seeing Ken at the special dinner at our V.F.W. Post tonight to honor the Pearl Harbor and W.W. II Vets.. Semper Fi.

[M. Espinola]

You are with two men which are in effect living history. It's so true that generation is sadly passing on as my father did during the Spring.

What your friend stated concerning the Jap planes strafing our burned sailor's while attempting to save themselves in the water, is something which shall never pass. While your other friend in the B-17 was very fortunate they were able to land.

Some Americans today do not realize how much our servicemen sacrificed to keep them free.

Semper Fi.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Another day America will never forget.

Say what?

I challenge you to do an interview with your local high school students. American History is no longer taught. They spend all day debating whether they want Sally Slut of the Sisters for Vaginal Awareness to be their next speaker at the next assembly, or should it be the local spokesperson for the Socialists of America against US Imperialism.

Then the bell rings and school is done for the day. No science, no math, and certainly no American History for the day. Just more debate on the next school assembly speaker.

Today's kids don't know the significance of Pearl Harbor nor of Boston Harbor. But, they do get tot watch fellow students have sex with each other in the hallways.

[M. Espinola]

You know in retrospect our fathers which served in World War Two had so many stories to tell some very painful some best forgotten, but never-the-less all were America's hereos and shall remain so forever.

Thanks for that updated data concerning the 5,800 Pearl Harbor Survivors still living.

[Last Exit]

I was thinking of posting it as "real America will never forget" but I decided against it.