Today marks the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. "A Day That Will Live In Infamy" Our world was turned upside down. So many brave souls died on that day, and in the days, months, and years it took to win the war on two fronts.
I had the honor in high school to meet a Pearl Harbor survivor. Not only did LCDR Johnson survive the attack, he inspired so many of us in school. You see LCDR Johnson was not an officer then but a seaman aboard the USS Nevada. He was one of the ships helmsman, in fact it was he who beached the big battleship on hospital point after the Japanese pilots saw that the ship was underway and making for open water, They attacked her again.
My biggest rugrat in life is that we the student body of our high school did not record any of the talks LCDR Johnson gave of having lived through that day. LCDR Johnson spent his whole Navy career in the Pacific. LCDR Johnson was our senior instructor in Navy JROTC at Lakewood High, Lakewood Ca. Thank you for your service and to for the motivation you gave so many of us students. R.I.P. Sir
Stay Safe and Warm My Friends.
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6 comments:
Thanks to all who fought for our country. Don't lose hope. There are many "younger" folks like me who appreciate your sacrifices; who appreciate America, and the freedom your sacrifices secured for us.
Again; thank you from the depths of my soul...
I had the honor of meeting two Pearl Harbor survivors in 2010, the first time I visited. One was an Arizona survivor (he swam ashore, partially covered in burning oil) and one was stationed at Ft. Shafter that day, but went to the harbor - along with many others - to help with recovery after the attack. I've never felt so humble & insignificant as I did when I shook their hands.
I was just talking to our oldest tonight about the attack, and what it must have been like 75 years ago tonight on that base, The guys on the ships that were still trapped and in the homes of all the families that were state side. I could not imagine the not knowing.... Thinking about it all just infuriates me all over again
I don't think such sacrifices could happen today.
They are all true hero's.
LCDR Johnson family did not know if he had surivied the attack until months later when Life Magazine published photos of Pearl's damage, and he was in one of them. He had the magazine still, his mom saved it for him, and he showed it to us.
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