When I was young Sailor, I had the privilege of getting stationed in Pearl Harbor, HI. It was always very humbling being in this historical place.
For three years I lived in Hawaii.
When I was a kid I could have only dreamed about visiting Hawaii. Eventually mother-Navy assigned me onboard USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70), a mighty American warship – at the time – home-ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. We were moored very close to the USS ARIZONA Memorial. When I was in boot-camp I could have only dreamed of one day be able to visit such a solemn place – I remember vividly when our Recruit Training Commander taught us the history behind it during training. Suddenly, I was going to reside in the island of Oahu and pay my respects to the the brave same souls who forever live in the depths of the harbor.
© Marcelo Baqueroalvarez / HLC | USS ARIZONA Memorial view from the Pier in Naval Station Pearl Harbor. 26SEP2007 Pearl Harbor, HI-USA.
My U.S. Navy.
December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor suffered a surprise military strike from by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. That was the last day many of my shipmates saw the light of day, yet their gallantry will forever shine. The United States entered World War II (WW II) the very next day. Japan surrendered onboard USS MISSOURI BB60 at the end of WW II. The ship is moored at Ford Island in the vicinity of the ARIZONA Memorial. Somebody says that we live on the shoulders of those men and women who put everything in the line for our freedom. It is an honor and a privilege to wear a military uniform. For some of us who have worn the cloth of our Nation, we understand this bond transcends all time. I won’t go into the history of the attack to Pearl Harbor in this article or WW II, but rather make a couple of highlights of what it means to me as person who served more than 60 years in the very site which was the epicenter for the attack.
Lessons Learned
Unity, valor, survival, teamwork in the face of adversity. Every person can only hope they don’t have to go through the horrors of war. During the day of the attack, war came looking for our Sailors early in the morning – while many of them where still sleeping during their holiday routine. How many Sailors perished without even having the opportunity to fight for their lives? Sailors are taught to always be vigilant, but it is a non-sequitur if your vital recovery time is violently betrayed. I won’t go through all the historical blunders leading to the attack – there were many – but I will assert that it is impossible for any single human being to be alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
That’s why teamwork is vital, being in the Navy, or even as a civilian. We all have blind spots, we are all vulnerable to make mistakes, none of us knows everything. However, as a team we can lean on each other’s intrinsic and acquired strengths to make us a mighty force, capable of sustaining challenges, improving our chances of emerging victorious – as a team, with every member contributing to the greater cause. There might be set-backs along the way, but as a team you will know somebody is guarding your sleep, or give you an early warning to join the fight as prepared as you can be.
Teamwork was what ultimately helped gain control over the chaotic events of that day – just as it helped on other crucial events in our history. People stepping up to assume duties and responsibilities to help the common cause. There is always that common denominator that makes us more similar than different. When we can hone it as a team, we can reach up to unimagined plateaus. My tour in Pearl Harbor was an amazing experience in so many levels. I served along some of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet.
Many of those with whom I served along remain Sailors to this day, some left the uniform adventure, but the bond will forever link us as military Brothers and Sisters – because they all earned the privilege of wearing a U.S. Navy uniform. For Sailors, this will forever link to our Shipmates past and present. HLC