Pearl Harbor

Remembering December 7th

admin Aviation, Blog

Today is a very important day in history. 72 years ago we were attacked by Japanese aircraft at Pearl Harbor. The mission was to destroy our battleships and carriers stationed at Honolulu. Several ships were hit, four battleships sunk, the most famous being the USS Arizona. What’s left of her is seen here. The day went down as the day of infamy but sparked this nation into an action so great that it has never been seen since. From neutral to at war over night, we pledged to bring an end to the devastation of the time. As such we officially declared war on Japan and were thus thrust into the bloodiest conflict ever seen, WWII. Let us remember the men that died that day and how it forever changed this country as well as others.

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Remembering This Day 71 years later

admin Blog, Holidays, MainSlider

71 years ago today marks the anniversary of the “day that lives in infamy” when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and ultimately united the people of this country into the involvement of the second War to End all Wars. On this day thousands of men were killed and many more wounded by the surprise attack. Back in 2011 I had the opportunity of visiting the sites on Ford Island, Barbers Point, Hickam Field and of course the Arizona Memorial. There is an presence about the place whilst standing over he sunken ship that cannot be described.

Let us remember today what happened over seven decades ago, what the people of this country lost and what we as a nation have achieved in the years to follow. Our appreciation goes out to all those that helped to end that conflict.

In the Camera Bag:
Nikon D3, AF-S 24-70 f/2.8, on Lexar UDMa Digital Film

Some Days Aren’t Forgotten

admin Holidays , ,

Seventy years ago an attack was made that unified this country like nothing that had ever been seen or has it since. Most of us don’t know what that was like, others will never forget. Last March I was fortunate to go to Pearl Harbor and see the Arizona Memorial. It was hard to picture what it was like without the busy city behind it. Despite the noise of the cars and planes flying around, the place was eerily quiet.

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December 7th, 1941 was the day that a Japanese carrier force launched a surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. While demonstrating the power of Naval Airplanes it lead way to the end of the might of battleships. It was the day that ratified the people of this country to join in one of the bloodiest and most costly wars we had ever seen. They fought at home and on foreign fronts for our safety, our rights as individuals, and our freedom. May people remember what happened that day December 7th, 1941, the lives that were lost and the families hurt. May we never forget what happened in that War so history doesn’t repeat itself.

Images Captured with Nikon D3, AF-S 24-70, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

The Depths of Pearl Harbor

admin Blog, FlyBy Shots , , ,

It’s spring break again, that lovely time of the year when the college flock to the beaches to escape the mundane world of homework, tests, and teachers. Even though I’m not i college at the moment but merely on my year off, i likewise did the same. This past Sunday the folks and myself headed down to Hawaii for another exciting adventure in DLWS history. That is of course this next week, this week we are spending our time enjoying some sight seeing and learning more about our nations history. What better place to start then with Pearl Harbor. I had never been here before, nor did i know the much about the place. Before coming here i had only known a little bit about the memorial and a fair amount of Pearl Harbor. This is of course actual knowledge not just from movies like “Pearl Harbor” and “Tora Tora Tora.”

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After spending a little time at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island, we went over to the lineup area for the boat ride over to the Arizona Memorial. What got me about the whole harbor was how small it seemed and yet how filled it was with stuff. There wasn’t many Navy ships left at anchor but the whole place still felt filled. It was hard wrapping my head around what it must have been like back then without the bridge, the multitude of homes, and everything being on fire. Looking up the American flag was quite visible through the marble openings. Looking towards the stern the third gun turret was the only part of the ship still above the water. Even that wasn’t complete. The top section was cut away, unknown where it ended up only rumors now. The ship rests on the bottom of the harbor seventeen feet below that point. There’s an odd feeling there of sadness and bewilderment. I guess it’s one of those things that is just hard to truly understand in todays world, symbolic as it is, there’s just no way to truly know what it felt like to be there.

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Images captured with Nikon D3, AF-S 24-70 f2.8, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

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