My grandfather (Japanese American) was living in California with family that day. They had just moved from Hawaii a week before. He was 17 years old and he reacted as any angry 17 year old boy in that day and age would. He went to the nearest recruitment center and signed up that day. He served as a Japanese-English translation specialist through the entire Pacific Theatre of WWII
He lost family that day, but he always shudders and talks about how much worse it could have been had it been a week earlier
He was actually spared the Japanese American camps because of joining up, and his sisters and mother were never questioned because of it. His best childhood friend was at Pearl with his dad that day
He's 81 years old, and you can't find more of an embodiment of human dignity, compassion, and wisdom. He's the ONLY member of my father's side of the family that accepts me as I am, and I love him dearly
He demands silence as a remembrance and it seems that even the noises of nature around him dim
I talk to him as often as possible online. The only way I have of contacting him at all, and I will pass on that those that come after him and his generation appreciate what they did for us
My own grandfather was on one very special ship, serving as a Petty Officer 1st class on the decks of the USS Lexington when word hit the airwaves. He would tell me later it was one of the most terrifying moments of his life, to know he had escaped almost certain death by pure chance.
Although he would never speak of those he lost in the attacks, He would always talk about the good times he had had on station in Hawaii in those days. He told me, not long before he died, that he was glad to have lived to see the WW2 Memorial being built in DC, even though he knew he would never see it finished, and that we should have no regrets in our lives, no matter what. We should take what life gives us, and enjoy it the best we can.
He was consigned to the sea by the remains of the USS Arizona, where I have often believed many of his friends remained, in the winter of 2002.
"Never in the course of Human History has so much been owed by So many, to so few."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 11:18 am (UTC)Lest We Forget
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 12:52 pm (UTC)He lost family that day, but he always shudders and talks about how much worse it could have been had it been a week earlier
He was actually spared the Japanese American camps because of joining up, and his sisters and mother were never questioned because of it. His best childhood friend was at Pearl with his dad that day
No one talks to my grandfather on December 7th
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 12:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 01:13 pm (UTC)He demands silence as a remembrance and it seems that even the noises of nature around him dim
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 02:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 02:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 02:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-07 02:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-09 07:55 am (UTC)Although he would never speak of those he lost in the attacks, He would always talk about the good times he had had on station in Hawaii in those days. He told me, not long before he died, that he was glad to have lived to see the WW2 Memorial being built in DC, even though he knew he would never see it finished, and that we should have no regrets in our lives, no matter what. We should take what life gives us, and enjoy it the best we can.
He was consigned to the sea by the remains of the USS Arizona, where I have often believed many of his friends remained, in the winter of 2002.
"Never in the course of Human History has so much been owed by So many, to so few."