As we prepare for the upcoming Holiday Season make sure to pause this Friday Dec 7th to remember our shipmates lost at Pearl Harbor. Search out a Pearl Harbor survivor and listen to his stories. Their numbers are rapidly decreasing.

MMCM(SS) Greg Peterman USN Retired

Day of Infamy Speech

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mmcmss,

While on my SSN, I was sent to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and got to tour the Arizona. It was probably the most sobering and moving experience of my life.

My ship, the USS Hunley AS-31 stopped at Pearl in March 1973. The Navy was still in charge of the Memorial then and had their own liberty boat shuttle to the Memorial. A friend of mine from the Hunley went with me to see the Memorial and we took the Navy boat. When the sailors operating the tour found out we were active duty Navy we were offered to stay behind on the Memorial when they took the civilians back and they would pick us up on the next trip. Walking the Memorial listening to the water and no tourists around was one of the most moving experiences in my life. I heard somewhere that the National Park Service gives tours there now.

I do believe its run by the Park Service, however, those operating the boats are active duty Navy. It was two BM3's that were on my shuttle boat when I went. That is an experience I hope to never forget.

May the souls of all those who gave their lives that day rest in peace.

I will be at a memorial service in my VFW hall.

It is a day that should never be forgotten. I think the government should have flags at half-staff.

It was also on this date that the Seabees went from idea to reality. By March 5, 1942 the Bees were born.

Carl M. Ploense III

My salute to those that gave their last full measure on 7 December 1941. May they never be forgotten.

I always remember the pictures I've seen about that attack and the significance of that day in our country's history. I also think about the rest of the men in the Pacific in the Philipines and Wake and other islands that were taken at the beginning of the war.

Time to pick up The Greatest Generation and read it again. I'll be thinking about my Dad and Uncles and Father in Law who all fought in that conflict. They are all gone now but hardly forgoten.

Rest in Peace.

All
Watched the History channel today, relived the event and was as touched today, as the day I visited the Site before the Memorial was built. The USS Arizona flag flew on the staff, coming out of the water. Oil was still emptying from her tanks then and I guess still is.
There are a lot of Unsung Memorials around the globe from Sailors who have given their lives for our freedom. Many in sea graves and island strips forgotten but for the ghosts who stand watch.
May they rest with thier Shipmates in peace.
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I was serving on the USS Honolulu SSN 718 during the 50th anniversary. I got to meet some of the vets and give them tours of my boat. I also had the privledge to hear some of their stories.

A hearty hand salute to all of those brave vets. Those that survived and those that did not. Or as we say in the Submarine Community: Those that are on eternal patrol.