Sunday morning, Joyce and I took Brett to work in the islands interior. During this trip we did a quick drive onto Wheeler Army Air Field to check it out. I scaned the buildings for any signs of battle damage, but I could not see any. At the front gate stood a lone P-40 Tomhawk sentry. On the morning of the attack, P-40 and P-39 were the only front line fighters to rise to meet the challange of the Japnese. The one example on display looked in serious need of a full restration but was still a proud warbird.
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I came to shoot as much has possible in 35mm, but Saturday's weather was very overcast and rainy which made the Arizona shoot difficult, but seemed strangely appropriate for me. The rain made the day very moody and dramatic. Such was the case during my tour of St. Augustine, Florida with my family in 1979, the decommissioning cermony of the USS Lexington ( ATV-16 ) and my visit to the USS North Carolina.
On Sunday, however, I couldn't have asked for better weather and lighting conditions to shoot with. Bright and sunny day, some clouds in the sky, it was like I had the blessing of the crew of the USS Arizona with me. Since total victory and the end of World War II was signed on board the Missouri, the end of the war was bright and sunny.
We toured many of the berthing spaces on the main deck, and then skirted back out to the weather deck to view the starboard side 5 inch secondary battery, were I tried to remember the mark and cailber of the 5 inch guns in video. We walked past the suicide deck where on 11 April 1945 a Japanese plane crashed into the thick side of Missouri. I did some video work on the aft end of the flight deck and then walked to the mess desks where I am writing this entry for my own adventure journal.
For St. Patrick's Day I toured the USS Arizona and then on Sunday the USS Missouri.
What did you do today?
After the ships tour, we returned home, changed our attire drove to have dinner at the Officer's Club on Hickam Air Force Base. As we drove on base, we could easily see the battle damage on many of the buildings. They never repaired the bullet and cannon holes inflicted during the attack. I wish that I had taken my camera to dinner, but I had shot so much film onboard the Missouri that I wanted to cut down my load for a few hours. The scars visible on many of the buildings really makes the point that the fifiteth state of the union was paid for in blood.
Joyce's Church group had a annual dinner that evening, so we dined at this incredible open air portion of the club overlooking an inlet that ships pass enroute to Pearl Harbor. Joyce and I were inlisted, so we both enjoyed dinning at the officers club. Dinner was excellent prime rib, cut by the chef. This really is the most common main course that I've seen served at Officers' Clubs when my Air Force Dad took our family out many times to dinner at Eglin or Maxwell Air Force Bases back home in the south.
My thoughts as I spent the weekend aboard two American battleships:To be on board both the Arizona Memoral and USS Missouri showcased the advancement of technology in naval architecture. Across the harbor stood the proud and powerful lines of the Arleigh Burke class Aegis destoryer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) and the Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Port Royal (CG-73) The firepower in both ships could easly shoot down the entire Japanese strike force. Modern warships rely much more on advanced technology and missiles to fight and survive in combat. Ships that served in both World Wars were built to be very rugged, with the ability to by-pass damaged sections and keep fighting. I'm not saying that modern ships can't do the same, but warships that fought in World War II, battleships in particular, could take enormous damage and stay in the fight.
Pearl Harbor and Taranto Harbor showed that any ship in port could be destroyed. One fact that is frequently overlooked is that Pearl Harbor was the only time in history that American battleships were sunk from enemy action. After December 7, no American battleships were ever lost. However, Japanese would cost the U.S. Navy eleven carriers. One additional flat top was torpedoed in the Atlantic by a German U-boat. Click here for more info.
Only the Arizona and Oklahoma were total losses. The rest of the battleline was raised and modernized to fight another day - including the last battleship on battleship duel in history, the Battle of Surigao Strait during the epic sturggle at Leyte Gulf. Once engaged, the battleships performed magnificently, as ships of the line, protectors of the priceless carriers and to bludegon shore installations with their unmatched firepower.When the war ended it was the battleship that sailed into Tokyo Bay, while the carriers were kept at sea out of concern from last minute treachery. The battleships could fight their way out a trap. The USS South Dakota ( BB-57) and USS Washington ( BB-56) had the best combat records which would have made them both good choices to have the surrender cermony aboard, but Harry S. Truman ( a native Missouri resident ) intervened and ordered that USS Missouri recive the Japanese deligation for the surrender cermony. There is probably no higher honor for a warship to have then to be hostship for the signing of the instrument of peace.
Well, the trip has be wonderful but too short, I will definitely return to this island paradise again.
The flight over the Pacific has been rather bumpy so far, serveral times the flight crew has had to suspend cabin services in order to see to their own safety.The flight out was on a big Lockheed L1011 TriStar, but the return leg is on a Boeing 767-400, which to me seems a bit more cramped. My seat on this flight is one of the best I've ever had, 33D, which is right next to the emergency exit aft the port wing. This give me a crosswalk at my feet with unlimited leg room.
Trip overview:I can't get over just how spectacular the island of Oahu. I've seen some gorgeous places in my short 32 years, but Hawaii has all the tropical greenery to rival the southern states of the Union, but is punctuated by stark steep volcanic mountians of the Pacific rim which is breath taking beyond description. It is easy see why this is a vacation paradise. I'm here in March which is the rainy season but you don't mind. Hawaii makes Southern Califorina look like an arm pit.
The weekend is a culmination of years of dreaming to visit Pearl Harbor, and finally getting to visit one of the most important places that has captured my attention for as long as I can remember. My one lasting impression that I will take home with me is that I've never been here, but I've always been here. Its like I've already been to Pearl Harbor in some past life. The moment that my airliner broke throught the clouds it on Friday is I instanatlly knew what I was looking at. I knew every feature of the harbor and the Arizona memorial is instantly recognizeable at ten thousand feet. I've studied the attack my entire life, eximaned the black and white photos from the attack, and it definitely influenced my decison to serve in the US Navy. I deffently felt a reverence on board the Arizona Memorial, like past voices were touching me to remember them and to honor their supreme sacrifice.It is vital for our government and all Americans to be aware of the changing, complex global political situation. Our attention must be viligent to the world around us, lest we suffer another Pearl Harbor, or a bombing of the U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut, Kobar Towers or USS Cole attack in the future.
Never forget December 7, 1941 and the significence it has for our nations's history. Thomas Jefferson wisely warned us that "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Never allow this to happen again America.
Peace, Duty and Honor, -Wright Sublette
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