PEARL HARBOR

[the ringo kid]

I just watched the end of the televised memorial on Oahu. The benediction of the Chaplain, the warbirds, the 21 gun salute, the special guests and 'echo' taps played with two buglers.

This turned me from 'It's Pearl Harbor Day' to 'It's a REAL Pearl Harbor day. I'm really glad I watched that. It's the top of the page on CBSnews.

Speaking of Chapels--the very first service at NAS-Corpus Christi--was on Dec 7th 1941. We have two men from here who were killed at Pearl, both were on the U.S.S. Arizona.
1) W. J. Sherrill-who was a Chaplains Assistant and who was setting up for Church services when they attacked. He was killed fulfilling his duty to the Lord, and to us. We have a park here named after him.
2) W.J. Brownlee. He's only remembered by a street named after him.

William Joseph Sherrill:

William J. Brownlee:

 

[zzzippper]

There was discussion in this or another thread that was about which ships were permanently sunk or damaged. I hope this link works because it lists the 13 of 16 ships that were put back in service.
These 13 U.S. Navy Ships Rose from the Dead After Pearl Harbor

One of my hobbies is philately (it means stamp collecting you perverts!). One of my themes is stamps from ships that were in Pearl that day. I have one from every ships as large or larger than a destroyer and some of the smaller auxiliaries.

 

[the ringo kid]

We are getting a new memorial--which will be placed at Sherrill Park. This one is the upper hull to the recently retired submarine-the U.S.S. Corpus Christi. I wish they'd have managed to get it whole but--at least were getting part of it back.

 

[bluetopper]

Japan had things going their way up until 12-7-41. I still don't know why they felt they needed to bomb Pearl Harbor and stir up the U. S. Was just simple conquest the reason?

 

[sheepdawg]

Japan wanted the oil in the East Dutch Indies and the United States was the big dog in the Pacific.

 

[lrrifleman]

Sheepdawg is correct. The attack on Pearl Harbor was designed to reduce our ability to militarily re-enforce our economic sanctions against the imperialistic adventures of Japan in the Pacific. Disney is as much to fault as our misdirected educational system for the diluted lessons our children are learning about WWII.

 

[Murphy's Law]

One of the main highlights of my 22 year Naval career was the honor while pulling into Pearl aboard ship and have the opportunity (all hands manning the rails) to salute the USS Arizona. Trust me when I say, not a dry eye in the group for our falling shipmates.

 

[16thVACav]

As bad as 12/7/41 was, it would have been catastrophic if the Pacific carriers were in port at the time.

 

[PALADIN85020]

As bad as 12/7/41 was, it would have been catastrophic if the Pacific carriers were in port at the time.

Another stroke of luck for us was that the Japanese did not bomb the fuel dumps on Oahu. We thus had fuel for our remaining ships, including the carriers they did not get. There was to be a third wave attack, but Yamamoto called it off, figuring they had done enough damage, and a third wave might be more costly to them, since we would be on full alert. Had he launched a third attack, the fuel dumps would have been the likely targets. This was a major tactical blunder.

John

 

[tlawler]

One of the main highlights of my 22 year Naval career was the honor while pulling into Pearl aboard ship and have the opportunity (all hands manning the rails) to salute the USS Arizona. Trust me when I say, not a dry eye in the group for our falling shipmates.

I fondly remember doing that also. We would render honors to the Arizona whenever we deployed or returned. Where ever you were in the ship, even below decks, you would stop what you were doing and stand facing in the direction of the memorial.