Photo By Sgt. Jon Heinrich | The youngest service member from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard...... read more read more
Subscribe
Story by Staff Sgt. John Garver
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Hawaii government officials, community representatives, and retired and active service members from all branches of the military gathered on the U.S. Army Logistic Support Vessel 4, the Lt. Gen. William B. Bunker, for the 72nd West Loch Disaster Remembrance Ceremony here, May 20,
hosted by U.S. Army Pacific and the 8th Theater Sustainment Command.
During the remembrance, the LSV-4 crew transported distinguished guests across Pearl Harbor from Bishop Point to West Loch, where they conducted the ceremony.
"Today – here – we gather to reflect on the loss of those American Patriots,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Manfredi, chief of staff for Navy Region Hawaii. “This commemoration and floral tribute is a testimony of our commitment – to always remember the sacrifice during the War in the Pacific and to especially honor those who made the ultimate
sacrifice in the name of freedom.
On May 21, 1944, Army troops were loading ammunition, weapons and fuel onto vessels in preparation for Operation Forager, a World War II campaign on the Mariana Islands. Following an explosion, fire spread through the West Loch, which was a staging area for landing ships at Pearl Harbor U.S. Naval Base.
In the next 24 hours, six ships sank, 163 personnel died and 396 personnel were injured in what was the second largest tragedy of Pearl Harbor during the war. Nearly one-third of the casualties were from the Army's segregated African American 29th Chemical Decontamination Company.
Despite the devastation, the critical mission was only delayed one day, demonstrating the resolve and courage of the Sailors, Marines and Soldiers involved.
“Though the incident could have caused a significant delay in the upcoming invasion of Saipan, those who served at West Loch and Pearl Harbor showed remarkable resilience," Manfredi said.
For the ceremony, as a sign of respect and remembrance, the youngest Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman from active duty units in Hawaii laid a wreath in the same sacred waters where the individuals lost their lives.
“When the ceremony started -- hearing about what happened and then laying the wreath -- it is a moment I will not forget,” said Pvt. Monique Engman, 545th Transportation Company, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, one of the five service members who laid the wreath.
"Those of us in uniform understand and accept the risks associated with our profession,” Manfredi added,” risks that are compounded infinitely in time of war, when vigilance and readiness are our best friends, and chaos and confusion are always close at hand.”
The LSV remembrance was followed by another West Loch remembrance ceremony with military honors at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2016 20:32 |
| Story ID: | 198683 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, USARPAC/8 th TSC remember West Loch sacrifice, by SSG John C Garver, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT