A Horror Story

Most young people today won't notice that this is a special day.  Most in fact tend to view World War II as something they only know about because of history classes in school.  To them it isn't real.  In fact, to my generation it's only stories that our parents talked about (or not).  For some of us it is still a time to remember the horror of war and the many who died during that time.

My mother worked for the local electric company when I was young.  She and my dad became close friends with the lineman and his wife.  He was a kind, gentle man who always took the time to talk to a little girl.  Once, in December, when I was questioning the meaning of "Pearl Harbor Day" she told me his amazing story of Pearl Harbor.

The United States wasn't in the war but fighting was going on and tension was building up world wide.  Young Lewis decided to join the navy and see the world and perhaps be ready if his country needed him.  He wound up stationed in paradise, along with thousands of other sailors, in beautiful Hawaii.  They spent days enjoying the sunshine and showers, crystal blue waters, swaying palm trees, and colorful flowers.  In between enjoying the sunshine and beauty they went about their jobs of training and caring for their ships. 

December 7 dawned as another beautiful day.  Since it was Sunday Lewis and several of his buddies had been given shore leave to go to town.  They left early to enjoy a peaceful day in paradise.  That paradise was destroyed when the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the fleet anchored in the harbor.  Wave after wave of bombers flew over leaving destruction, devastation, and death behind.  Air fields, ships, houses, and buildings were on fire, wounded were being transported to hospitals by cars, carts and jeeps, air raid sirens blasted, men shouted and ran for their stations.  The chaos was indescribable. 

Lewis and his young friends were caught on shore during the beginning of the attack.  They immediately attempted to return to their ship.  No easy feat, with bombs exploding around them, transportation at a standstill, and their help needed in dozens of places.  When he finally reached the harbor he found to his horror that his ship was one of the ones that took a direct hit and been destroyed.  Unsure of what to do next he simply reported to the first group he found that needed his help and went to work.  For three days he did whatever was needed--whether it was initially attempting to fire back at the flying bombers or later in the struggle to restore order to the destroyed military. 

One of the more gruesome jobs he did was to attempt to locate bodies and identify them to be sent home to families.  This wasn't always as easy job since some bodies were blown to bits by the explosions.  His description has always stayed in my mind with a feeling of horror as he explained that, "we gathered up two arms, two legs, and a torso, and a dog tag and put them in a tarp.  Then we sewed it together and sent them to the morgue set up inland."  Literally thousands and thousdands of families suffered the pain of the loss of a son, husband, daughter (yes there were women serving as nurses), or relative.  Telegrams were sent night and day notifying the families of their loved ones deaths.

Little did Lewis know that his own family received one of these telegrams.  His ship went down with all the records on board and since in the chaos that followed his name had not shown up on any other ship, he was presumed to have been lost with his crew mates at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.  It was several days before Lewis finally was attached to another ship and his name began to circulate through the system.  In the meantime, his family mourned his loss, held a memorial service and placed his name on the memorial plaque in their little church.  I shudder to think of the heartbreak and pain that they endured.  It was probably equal to the joy and ecstasy they felt when the telegram arrived telling them that their son was still alive.  How does the heart endure such stress and joy?

It was due to events such as these that military personnel were to be classified as Missing in Action, presumed dead, until proof could be obtained. 

Wars are awful.  Period.  However, I am proud to know many such men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect our country and our way of life.  Thank you for your dedication and courage. 

May we never forget the sacrifices made for us.