USS Pearl Harbor Commemorates Pearl Harbor Attack

Since 12-08-05

From: Waspscpo@aol.com [mailto:Waspscpo@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 4:15 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: USS Pearl Harbor Commemorates Pearl Harbor Attack

The Source for Navy News




Official U.S. Navy file photo of USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).

View Larger                                     Download HiRes


USS Pearl Harbor Commemorates Pearl Harbor Attack


12/8/2005 7:00:00 AM
By Cryptologic Technician 3rd Class (SW) Karen Moore,

USS Pearl Harbor Public Affairs
ABOARD USS PEARL HARBOR,
Persian Gulf (NNS) --

In remembrance of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) observed a day of reflection to pay tribute and respect to the sacrifice of the Sailors and Soldiers killed in the historic attack.

Pearl Harbor Sailors started the day with a training scenario to simulate the events that Sailors aboard USS Arizona (BB 39), USS Utah (BB 31), and USS Nevada (BB 36) faced 64 years ago.

Following the training scenario, Pearl Harbor Sailors held a ceremony to commemorate the watershed moment in American history. Sailors read a timeline of events of the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, and observed a moment of silence. The ship’s honor guard then lowered the flag to half mast, and the ship closed the tribute by firing a 21-gun salute.

At 7:55 a.m. on the fateful morning of Dec. 7, 1941, 350 Japanese aircraft descended upon the island of Oahu, attacking Navy ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. At the time of the attack, there were 86 U.S. Naval vessels moored in Pearl Harbor. By the end of the attack at 9:45 a.m., 18 warships were sunk or capsized, and 2,403 military personnel and civilians were killed.

Pearl Harbor Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jonathan Harnden spoke to the crew about the importance of remembering the day, which, as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, would "live in infamy."

“They were just like you - 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds who were from all parts of America,” Harnden said. “They had a job to do.”

Harnden also stressed the significance of a special link to Pearl Harbor’s history - the Pearl Harbor Survivors' Association (PHSA).

Since the PHSA began meeting in 1958, the group's vision has always remained constant: “Remember Pearl Harbor, Keep America Alert. Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty.” The group has always played a special role in the activities that the ship has observed. Whether on a port visit to Pearl Harbor or while in Pearl Harbor’s homeport of San Diego, the ship has always welcomed these heroes aboard to share a day with the crew.

Gas Turbine Systems Technician 3rd Class Ryan Barnhart of Amphibious Craft Unit (ACU) 5, attached to Pearl Harbor, felt a special connection to the day’s events. Barnhart’s grandfather served in World War II in the Army and retired after 20 years of service.

“Today is a day to remember our fallen heroes and those who have gone before us,” Barnhart said. “We are learning from them.”

Pearl Harbor, which was commissioned in 1998, is the only ship in the fleet named for the historic event. According to Harnden, the events of that day should not be remembered as a naval defeat, but rather as a rallying call that drew all Americans together for the cause of defending freedom and liberty.

Pearl Harbor is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, conducting maritime security operations (MSO). MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

For related news, visit the Expeditionary Strike Group 1 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/esg1/. E-mail this story to a friend | Send a comment about this story