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Pearl Harbor Survivors Welcome New Boat To Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum
Posted On Dec 13 2015
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At 110 years old, he’s the oldest living World War II veteran.
Harry Gunter Jr. remembers standing in an airplane hanger in San Diego, drinking a cup of coffee, and hearing the news that Pearl Harbor had just been attacked.
The Hoga fought fires for 72 consecutive hours after the attack, including fires from the battleship USS Arizona, which sunk with 1,177 of its crew killed, 23 of those being from Arkansas, according to the website pearl-harbor.com.
Few Americans remember the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
“I was on duty in the dining room”, Loyd said. The attack killed more than 2,000 people and led to the US entering World War 2.
“We’re talking about a generation that left us a country I think we can all be proud of”, Montesano said.
He was attending Sunday school the day Japanese fighters attacked the United States military base.
“When they bombed Pearl Harbor I mean it was a bad thing because it was a sneak attack”, he said.
The U.S. Navy and National Park Service are hosting a ceremony Monday in remembrance of those killed on December 7, 1941. It’s a day Paredes would rather not remember, but he takes the time to honor the friends he lost during that historic day 74 years ago. On Monday Snyder called the effort to preserve the Hoga “an incredible opportunity”, but also “a responsibility” to remember USA veterans and to retell history.
“I want them to be reminded that there are those of us that give the ultimate sacrifice and it’s always good to pay homage to those and this is how we do it”, said Erson.
The 94-year-old was assigned to the USS Phoenix on the day Japanese planes dropped bombs on the USA naval base and other military installations on Oahu.
Jake and Harriett each have different memories of that day 74 years ago. The National Park Service operates the memorial, part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. “We’re going to tell everyone about Pearl Harbor and so that they will not be forgotten”.
