Photo By Lt. James Griffin | Lt. Cmdr. Howard Lee, U.S. Navy retired, a native of Memphis, Tenn. and Pear Harbor...... read more read more
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MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Sailors and civilians at Navy Recruiting Command had the opportunity to relive a moment in naval history and honor an American hero during an all-hands call, Jan. 8.
As a World War II veteran and survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lt. Cmdr. Howard Lee, United States Navy retired, is a living representation of the fighting spirit of the Navy. Lee told his story as the guest speaker at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Millington, Tenn.
On the morning of the attack, Lee, a Navy photographer’s mate at the time, had just come above deck to observe colors. He was with a small group on board the USS Neosho for a few days while waiting to go on leave.
“When you stand there and see all those ships raise their colors at the same time … it always brings a tear to my eye,” said Lee. “If it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, you’re in the wrong business.”
When the attack began, Lee and his buddies were unsure of what to do at first. Not being part of the ship’s crew, they did not have assigned battle stations to report to.
Lee remained light-hearted throughout his remarks, recalling his young and reckless rush below decks to retrieve the engagement ring he had just bought for his girl back home in Memphis.
“Gosh golly, I paid $60 for that ring and I wasn’t going to lose it,” said Lee.
Lee saw firsthand the devastation suffered that day. The USS Neosho, a refueling tanker, was sitting on battleship row between the USS Oklahoma and the USS California.
Sitting on a ship full of aviation fuel, Lee was well aware of the danger he was in, but the Japanese pilots seemed to ignore the unfamiliar vessel completely.
“I think the only thing that saved us on the Neosho was the accuracy of Japanese dive bombers,” said Lee.
He later described the mood of the evening after the attack as dark and tense. There were absolutely no lights that night save for the burning of the USS Arizona. The Arizona was burning for three days, said Lee.
Lee joined the Navy in 1938 at the age of 20 in Indiana. Before enlisting, he spent a year at Purdue University studying engineering.
“I was in engineering school and I wanted to get into aviation. Well, that didn’t work out worth a darn,” said Lee. “I wasn’t cut out to be an engineer. Higher math killed me.”
College isn’t the only option. The Navy offers lifetime benefits that can’t be found anywhere else in the civilian world, said Lee.
Lee’s advice to sailors today is to be patient. His patience was rewarded when he was selected to become an enlisted pilot and eventually retired from the Navy in 1960 as a lieutenant commander.
“You’re never going to be in a perfect squadron or a perfect organization,” said Lee. “Be patient, your boss is not always right, in your mind, but he’s got a reason for what he’s doing.”
Even in retirement, Lee still manages to fill his calendar. He helps elementary school children every morning cross the street to the school, attends WWII meetings in Germantown and has traveled with Forever Young Senior Wish organization to Pearl Harbor in both 2012 and 2013.
“I love to do it!” said Lee when asked about coming to speak to sailors.
“We’re sitting here today, Mr. Lee, because of what you did,” said Rear Adm. Annie B. Andrews, commander, Navy Recruiting Command, during his introduction.
“I was just amazed to see him still at the top of his game,” said Hospital Corpsman Chief Rosario Esquivel, Medical Corps HSCP/HPSP Program Manager for Navy Recruiting Command. “He could remember every little detail and we really were fortunate to be able to hear his story.”
It’s the service of men and women like Lee that secured the freedoms we enjoy in America today and as sailors.
“I salute you!” said Andrews.
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.10.2014 12:15 |
| Story ID: | 119022 |
| Location: | MILLINGTON, TN, US |
| Hometown: | MEMPHIS, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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