Remembering Pearl Harbor
December 4, 2021
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By: Kaysey A. Richardson
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” –President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Eighty years ago, on December 7, 1941, a shocking surprise attack on naval base. Pearl Harbor took place, launching the United States into the Second World War. It was 8:00 AM on a Sunday morning when hundred of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base where they destroyed nearly twenty American naval vessels, eight battleships, and over three hundred airplanes. There were more than 2,400 American casualties including citizens and an additional 1,000 people who were wounded. This tragedy sent a shock through the entire country and will forever be one of the most devastating attacks in United States history. In memory of those who were there, here are the stories of four survivors:
Pat “Patsy” Thomson: Patsy was ten years old living in Oahu with her family, and her dad was in the Navy during the events of Pearl Harbor. As a child, Patsy loved music and dancing, and during this time, the jitterbug was the dance of the decade. The night of December 6, 1941, Patsy attended a jitterbug contest at Bloch Arena. As Patsy tapped her feet to the music, the emcee noticed and asked if anybody from the crowd would be her dance partner. A seventeen-year-old sailor named Jack Evans volunteered and danced with little Patsy—helping her to win a trophy for being the jitterbug champ!
The next morning, Oahu fell under attack, and Patsy went to her neighbor’s house per her dad’s instructions and watched the horrors of the attack. Later in her life, she married and started a family in San Diego. Although time went on for Patsy, she always wondered what happened to Jack Evans. Over the years, Patsy began to write letters to veterans’ newsletters to see if she could find Jack. Well, Jack responded and reached out to Patsy, leaving her a message on her answering machine, “If this is Pat Thomson, I’m the Sailor you’re looking for.” It turns out Jack and Patsy lived within 15 miles of each other for the last 40 years! In 2006, for the Pearl Harbor 65th anniversary, the two recreated their memorable moment. Patsy’s winning trophy is now on display at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
Jimmy Lee: Jimmy Lee was eleven years old when Pearl Harbor took place and his family lived on a farm on the shores of Pearl Harbor, less than a mile from Battleship Row. The morning of December 7, he and his brothers went outside to feed the pigs as the attack began. Jimmy recalled seeing planes fly overhead, “We thought it was like a show…we were not scared. We didn’t know. Once they told us ‘Don’t you know this is war?’…then we were scared.” He and his family then sought shelter and waited until the attack was over to headed home.
Jimmy’s best friend was named Toshi Yamamoto, a young Japanese child living in Hawaii with his family. Jimmy and Toshi were neighbors, classmates, and played together almost every day for three years. Upon returning from shelter, Jimmy rushed to Yoshi’s house to check on him…only to find his house empty and Yoshi and his family nowhere to be found. Like Patsy, Jimmy continued for many years to write letters and search for his friend Yoshi. Unfortunately, he did not have luck and eventually quit trying to find Yoshi in the 1990s. He uses this story to remind students that great friends are precious and to never take your time with them for granted. Jimmy is now a volunteer at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center on Wednesdays.
Joe George: Joseph George was 26 years old during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was a crew member aboard the USS Vestal, a repair ship that was moored right next to the USS Arizona. After the huge explosion on the USS Arizona, there were six sailors that were trapped in the control tower of the Arizona’s main mast and surrounded by widespread fires below. Although ordered to cut the line between the Vestal and the sinking Arizona, George saw them from the USS Vestal and threw them a line, saving all six sailors and allowing them to make it across to the Vestal alive. George passed away in 1996, before he was ever even recognized for his heroism. It would not be until 2017 that the United States authorized the posthumous award of combat medal to George.
Two men who were saved by George, Lauren Bruner and Don Stratton, petitioned for an honorable award to be dedicated to George for many years. Both ended up attending the ceremony in 2017. See their statements on George below:
“Joe George was never awarded anything for his bravery and going against a direct order from his Captain, who wanted to pull away from the Arizona and leave us all to die. He is no longer with us, but I believe his widow, in his memory, should be awarded the Navy Cross.” –Donald Stratton
“The six of us would not have survived except for his courage, in spite of being at high risk himself. He fully deserves high commendations for his actions. I feel he should be recognized for his courage and presented the Navy Star.” –Lauren Bruner
An Excerpt from an Oral Interview with Cecil Camp:
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“On the morning of December 7, 1941, I had relieved the watch in the port engine room [of the USS Utah]. I had been on watch about 20 minutes when the first torpedo hit the ship on the port side. It was about 5 or 8 minutes before I could hear someone hollering that the Japanese were attacking us. I ran up the ladder to the third deck. On the port side was our sleeping quarters, and water was already washing over my bunk. I went to the starboard side of the ship, went up to the second deck to our locker room and mess hall. There were several other men there. One asked if he should take his dress blue uniform with him. I told him he wouldn't be needing that for a good while. I grabbed an extra pair of dungarees, a carton of cigarettes, and went on top side. A friend and I sat down on the side of the ship and slid into the water. We swam to Ford Island where we were picked up by a party. They took us to the USS California to unload ammunition. That evening we were taken to an ammunition ship that was tied up at the docks in the shipyard. We spend the night there.” |
