RHT447 pointed us to the memories of this Pearl Harbor survivor (video) in comments:
A 93 year old “great American,” Robert Greenleaf of Westfield, shares his memories to commemorate the day:
“I was a student at the Pacific fleet machine gun school operated by the Marine Corps for the Navy. We were on the beach and behind us on both sides was (sic) trees, so we could hear what was going on in Pearl Harbor. But the trees kept us from seeing it,” …
“One of them was the Arizona blowing up and the other was the U.S.S. Shaw, which was at dry dock with all of its ammunition aboard. It got hit and the forward part of the ship just vaporized. Those sounds were a lot different from regular bomb sounds,” he recalled.
Greenleaf cautioned Americans to be more aware. He said “the Japanese were as successful as they were because the U.S. was not alert. He also pointed out a difference that could make us much more vulnerable after the enemy attacks…division in our ranks. After the Japanese hit Pear Harbor, he maintains, the nation came together and remained unified and worked together to the end. That’s what makes them a generation to revere and emulate.
As we continue to face the current evil challenges to our lives, our freedoms and our sovereignty may God continue to bless America!
The Punchbowl and the AZ Memorial are places one should not miss when visiting Oahu in Hawaii. There’s also a catamaran tour that takes you around the island where many ships were anchored on Dec 7th.
Powerful stuff!
Here’s the video link I posted—
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hCRZNhcdZM#t=1390
Thanks RHT447, I should have included that when I posted the story.