Photo By Lance Cpl. Suzanna Lapi | The rifle detail stands at parade rest as service members and civilians gather to...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Dec. 7, 1941, marks a “day of infamy” and a day to never forget the sacrifices of many.
Service members and civilians gathered to remember the Japanese attacks on Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay during the Kaneohe Klipper Memorial Ceremony at the base flagpole, Dec. 6.
Marines and sailors with Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay and Headquarters Battalion stood in formation during the ceremony. Other service members, civilians and veterans of foreign wars listened as details of the attack and the lives that were lost were recounted.
Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay was the first of several U.S. military installations on Oahu to be attacked by Japanese Imperial Fleet aircraft in 1941. Eighteen sailors and two civilian contractors were killed during the days events.
Col. Brian P. Annichiarico, commanding officer of MCB Hawaii, gave opening remarks, welcoming everyone to the ceremony and introducing Mike Wenger, a military historian who has co-authored a book on the Japanese attacks.
Wenger discussed the history and impact of the day, as well as recounting the actions of the men who lost their lives.
“Aviation machinist mate Raphael Watson ran to Hangar One where he mounted a defense of the station and laid down machine-gun fire against the attacking Japanese,” Wenger said. “Stricken with multiple gun shot wounds in the chest and right shoulder, he died in the hospital that afternoon. He left behind his grieving wife and two young sons.”
“Whenever I am in this holy place, I find myself overcome with a deep gratitude,” Wenger continued. “God bless those boys and what they did for us. May God bless you and grant you rest.”
Annichiarico was joined by Cmdr. Stephen Platt, commanding officer of Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in laying a wreath on the Kaneohe Klipper Monument. The monument was dedicated Dec. 7, 1981. In the years since, representatives from the Kaneohe Klipper Association and patrol squadrons who served here in 1941 return to the monument and honor their fallen comrades.
After the wreath was placed, the names of the men who perished were read and a bell was rung after each name was mentioned. At the end of the ceremony, the rifle detail fired a three-round volley and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Band played “Taps,” “Anchors Aweigh” and the “Marines’ Hymn.”
“It means a lot to me to be able to honor these men,” said Samuel Moyer, a veteran and member of the Marine Corps League Hawaii Aloha 363 Detachment. “To hear the stories of their deaths this morning makes it all the more profound. I have a deep appreciation for what they went through.”
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.13.2013 14:22 |
| Story ID: | 118197 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Kaneohe Klipper Memorial Ceremony, remembering Dec. 7th attack, by LCpl Suzanna Lapi, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT