Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, that was the scene of a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Just before 8 a.m. on that Sunday morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base, where they managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.

 

source

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor

 

 

On our way to the Tonkin Gulf, we had to do carrier qualifications in Hawaii. We went right past the Arizona memorial coming into Pearl. I was fortunate enough to be manning the rail. A solemn reminder of that day. 

Edited December 7, 20205 yr by lew

Thank you, Andrew for this thread.  I did not get to see it as I was flown to Honolulu on my way to Vietnam.  There were 279 folks on board our DC9 superstretch. We stopped there long enough to refuel.  

 

If memory serves correctly, we were told in Basic Training that the way the ships were tied up made it easy for the Japanese or anyone else to attack.  After that attack, it was policy until about 1985 to dock ships separately and each ship was to have its own finger pier to make it harder to cause damage and allow a ship to slip out.  To save money, we have now gone back to cross decking.  We just go in circles.  LOL

 

Thank you, Lew for your service and informing us of some of the conditions at sea.  I had the privilege after Honolulu, we flew into Wake Island for fuel again.  You could stand in the middle of the runway and see the ocean all around the little island.  There is a monument dedicated to the Marines who defended that island and I think there were many who died there to hold and protect it from enemy forces.  Wake Island and Guam and Somoa are still part of U. S. territories.  And, I get a bit aggravated when we have government leaders/officials who don't know this or where these places are.  Just a peave of mine.   :-)

Edited December 7, 20205 yr by FlGatorwood

Thank you Andrew!