Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Johans Chavarro | 160628-N-IU636-041 PEARL HARBOR (June 28, 2016) Retired Master Chief Yeoman Jim...... read more read more
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Sailors, friends and family members of White, who passed away at the age of 87, attended the event, which overlooked the sunken USS Utah.
Jim Taylor, Pearl Harbor survivors’ liaison, who presided over the ceremony, gave an overview of White’s life and spoke about his experiences on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.
White joined the Navy in 1938 and served aboard USS Beaver, USS Sperry, USS Bushnell, Submarine Base Midway Island, and USS Mahews.
According to Taylor, White was at Hickam Air Force Base, waiting to be discharged from the Navy to return to civilian life on the morning of Dec. 7th. White had been sleeping, with his weapon and gear already turned in, when he began to hear distant explosions.
“When he realized the loud noises were bombs exploding, he and another Sailor dived under the same desk and they banged heads,” said Taylor. “It was his only injury for the entire war!”
With his discharge cancelled, White went on to serve on several ships throughout the duration of the war. It was during his time in the service that White met his wife, Bobbie.
Bobbie had been working alongside White’s father when he requested Bobbie write White a letter. From the exchange of those letters, White went on to marry Bobbie and build a life with her.
“Earlier I referred to [White] as a hero,” said Taylor. “I would guess he would say he was not a hero, he was just doing his job, doing what he was trained to do. I differ with that thinking – to me, all those who wear the military uniform to defend our country are heroes.”
At the end of the ceremony, White received full military honors for his dedication and loyalty to service, including a rifle salute by the Joint Base Honors and Ceremonial Guard and the playing of Taps by a Navy bugler. White’s oldest child, Diane Lage was presented with the national ensign.
White and Bobbie requested their ashes be scattered in the ocean. With their children and grandchildren present, their ashes were scattered at the USS Utah Memorial in honor of White’s military service.
| Date Taken: | 06.28.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2016 15:01 |
| Story ID: | 203036 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 180 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Children, Grandchildren Carry Out Final Request, by PO2 Johans Chavarro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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