To thank our Veterans.
Fort DeRussy Museum
We were fortunate to be on Oahu for the Pearl Harbor Veterans events held at Fort DeRussy the afternoon of December 7th. The former army stronghold on Waikiki Beach is now an excellent museum (U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii) which took a couple of hours to tour. This museum is as well put together as any Smithsonian we have visited in Washington, DC. It’s free, so make sure to leave a donation to help keep it going.
One exhibit was, “America’s Secret Weapon: Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service” about Nisei—the second generation Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. military intelligence during the war. This is a story well-worth reading and learning about.
Other exhibits include a replicated shell magazine, an overview of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and an area about the Vietnam War. There was an exhibit about General Eric K. Shinseki, who rose to be the Army Chief of Staff (1999-2003) after many other life achievements. The displays are well arranged with adequate write-ups that provided an education.
- US Army Museum of Hawaii
- The Disappearing Gun
- A reason it still stands
- Medals
Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary
There were over 20 World War II Veterans at the Infantry Divisions Flying V ceremony with several mentioned in particular for being in the Army on that infamous day.
The crowd was respectful and comprised a wide variety of people. From the second floor of the bunker, we tried to snap pictures of the men as they arrived. My heart melted a little (more) with each one who walked, perhaps a hand on the arm of a young solider, perhaps with a cane. But they walked, every single one of them, and made their way from vehicle to chair.
- Walking with a walker
- Veteran with soldier
- A humble man
- Three Veterans
- Texas Veteran
- Four Veterans
- Bending – not broken
- Arriving in style
- A stroll for him
- Escorting a Veteran
- Arriving in vintage Jeep
- Our Veterans
- Walking with a new friend
- Just a bit of help
- He’s doing great
- A helping hand
After the celebratory events, which were well-hosted, including a 21-Howitzer salute and a group of soldiers performing the Ha’a Koa (traditional dance of the warrior), visitors had the opportunity to visit with the men. A few looked dazed by the attention and the thanks being bestowed.
For a moment, one soldier stood by himself so I took the opportunity to say hello and ask a bit about him. Captain Jerry Yellin is an author and is currently seeking funding for a film project about his life, Last Man Standing. One of his books is, “Of War and Weddings,” which tells the true story of his son marrying a Japanese woman whose father was a Kamikaze pilot. In our brief minutes together, Mr. Yellin conveyed the impact this had on his hostile feelings toward the Japanese. Mr. Yellin has the distinction of being the fighter pilot who flew the last combat mission of the war.
In walking from the Fort to the stage area for Gary Sinise’s pre-parade events, I had a hard time keeping pace with this 93-year-old. He’s fit, trim, and obviously a man with a purpose. Or several of them. He said that he’d lost his wife of 65 years the previous year and I asked how he stayed married for that long. He had three pieces of advice: respect each other, give space to your partner, and provide support. Sounds good to me.
Please visit his website, read his blogs and assist his current work.
Gary Sinise Foundation
Gary Sinise was the Grand Marshall for the parade and gave a brief and humble speech. I learned that one of the reasons he created his foundation was that in addition to his dad, he had two uncles in the military. If you want to understand more about the vast reach of this foundation (nine different programs!), please watch the YouTube Video and check out the foundation’s site.
- Gary Sinise
- Lt Jim Downing @ 103 years old
We say thank you and hear…
Something that strikes me when I meet our World War II Veterans or watch an interview with them is that in response to our thanks they frequently respond, “I wish I could have done more.”
We who haven’t served know that they have already done so much.
- Veterans visiting
- Veterans in great shirts
- Veterans (sorry it is blurred)
- Veteran with a slight smile
- Veteran saying hello
- Veteran JC Alston
- Veteran – hat states it all
- He looks serene
- Expression from the Vet on the right
And finally,
Lovely Pictures dear, especially the one with Captain Jerry Yellin 🙂
Thank you, Rose Mary, for sharing the pictures of the gathering loved to know about it
I’ve started Mr. Yellin’s, “Of War and Weddings,” and am enthralled. He is a good story teller.
Hi Rose, how fortunate for you that you ended up at Pearl Harbor for the 7th anniversary. It is such a moving experience to begin with, so being there for anniversary and able to speak with veterans most have been especially meaningful. Mr Yellins story is inredible.
I’d like to hang out with these Veterans for, oh, a month or so, Susan. What a treat to know them–even for an afternoon.
Your article and photos are wonderful and such a lovely way to honor our veterans.
Thanks, Jamie. I wish your Dad were here to read it and tell us his stories.
I love the photos! It sounds like it was a great experience. Perhaps one day I will get to visit as well.
I hope that you do, Cheryl. as I work on an upcoming post about the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, I think it’s vital that we keep remembering and teaching our children about the 1940s. World War II was like no other–as Ken said in the comments.
How wonderful RoseMary! I’ve been to the Arizona Memorial but never the museum. Many years ago when I worked at the Inter-Continental in Wailea we hosted several groups of Pearl Harbor survivors – and sister, I could tell you some stories! Thanks for sharing this very special occasion with us.
I’m jealous that you got to meet many Veterans, Marquita! So many of these folks have a zest for living and laughing–oh not taking themselves (or us) too seriously. What a joy that must have been for you.
How nice to be a part of this wonderful celebration marking the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbour. I am sure everyone was in high spirits.
I cannot quite fathom that Jerry is 93 years old! How sweet of him to take a photograph with you.
I just received Jerry’s Of War & Weddings book, Phoenicia, so I’ll be learning more about this remarkable man. I think all of these Veterans have stories to tell–far beyond the confines of the war.
Thanks for sharing the pics of the WWII veterans. As the years go by, it becomes that much more special when there are gatherings like this. You never know when it will be the last year when you will have veterans with which to commemorate the day. And I love hearing stories about those who experienced such danger and trauma so young in life, and went on to live long, happy lives. They really are heroes, on many levels.
Erica, the book I mentioned to Ken has so many of those stories–it is very humbling to read. I’d love to sit down with many of these fellows over coffee and a drink and just hear about their lives.
It must have been inspiring to be there on Dec. 7. WWII seems so much less ambiguous than the wars we’ve been involved in since. My dad was a World War Two vet. He was in the Navy stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. He never talked about it, which I respect. I never asked him why. We weren’t ever that close.
Big inspiration, Ken. I’m sorry that you weren’t close with your dad. I’m reading, “The 100 Best True Stories of World War II” published in 1945 and almost two-thirds of the book are about the Pacific part of the war. It’s full of amazing stories of the men and women who were there.