Pearl Harbour vets gave ‘gift of freedom’
UNITED STATES: Thousands of people observed a moment of silence before fighter jets streaked across the sky during a ceremony yesterday at Pearl Harbour marking the 75th anniversary of the attack that plunged the United States into World War II and left more than 2300 service people dead.
The crowd bowed their heads at the precise moment decades ago when Japanese planes began their assault on the harbour’s US naval base. And they stood and clapped when survivors joined active-duty servicemen and women and National Park Service rangers in dedicating wreaths to those killed.
Attendees also gave a lengthy ovation to Admiral Harry Harris of the US Pacific Command when he spoke in favour of standing for the national anthem.
The anniversary is a tribute to ‘‘what freedom does when it is faced with fascism’’, said Paul Hilliard, incoming chairman of the board of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
‘‘I suspect the Americans of today would do the same thing,’’ said Hilliard, a Marine veteran and one of several dignitaries and officials who presented wreaths for the fallen at a memorial over the sunken hull of USS Arizona. ‘‘America went abroad to gain freedom for millions of other people. We are an exceptional nation.’’
The ceremony started with the USS Halsey sounding its whistle to mark the start of the moment of silence at 7.55am. F-22 fighter jets then flew in formation overhead.
Harris told the crowd the servicemen attacked at Pearl Harbour ‘‘engaged the enemy as best they could’’, and there is sorrow for those who died.
‘‘Yet we are also inspired by their great gift to the world - the gift of freedom itself,’’ he said.
Harris also said: ‘‘You can bet that the men and women we honour today’’ never failed to stand for the national anthem. The crowd erupted in cheers.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others have knelt through the anthem in recent months to protest police brutality and the treatment of minorities, drawing criticism and acclaim.
The ceremony wrapped up with Marines firing a gun salute and the Pacific Fleet band playing taps.
Laura Stoller accompanied her adoptive grandfather and Pearl Harbour survivor Stan Vanhoose of Beloit, Wisconsin, to the event. Vanhoose, 96, served on the USS Maryland.
Stoller was pleased to see people jostling for autographs and photos with survivors. ’’All of these men who for so long didn’t get the recognition they deserve - they’re soaking it up. And it’s such fun to see,’’ she said.
Survivor Jim Downing of Colorado Springs, Colorado, said he returned to Hawaii for the anniversary commemorations to be with his shipmates.
‘‘We get together and have a great time and compare our stories,’’ he said.
Downing said fear, anger and pride overcame him as Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbour. Then a newlywed sailor, he recalled a Japanese plane flying low in his direction as he rushed to his battleship from his home after learning of the attack.
‘‘When he got the right angle, he banked over, turned his machine guns loose,’’ Downing, now 103, said. ‘‘He didn’t bank far enough so it went right over my head.’’
The next aviator might have better aim, Downing remembers thinking. And with nowhere to hide, ‘‘I was afraid’’, he said.
His ship, the USS West Virginia, was hit by nine torpedoes.
‘‘We were sinking, and everything above the waterline was on fire,’’ he said.
Downing said he felt proud while watching sailors balance the capsizing ship by allowing water to seep in. The tactic let the giant battleship slide into mud below.
The West Virginia lost 106 men. Downing, who also served as the ship’s postmaster, spent two hours fighting fires and checking the name tags of the dead so he could write their families personal notes about how they died.
Pearl Harbour events took place across the country yesterday. -AP