Subscribe
The crew of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) gathered on the mess decks of the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF) to take part in a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony, Dec. 7.
George Washington’s Heritage Committee hosted the event to not only reflect on an important day in history, but to remember the shipmates who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Heritage Committee members share the story of the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, allowing Sailors to have a better understanding of the attack, and why it is important for Sailors to never forget that day in history.
“I learned a lot about Pearl Harbor because of this event, which I didn’t know before,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Garcia, the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) leading petty officer assigned to the George Washington. “Out of all the events I have been to that the Heritage Committee has hosted, this by far had the biggest turnout, and was one of the most impactful for the Sailors at our command.”
According to Navy History and Heritage Command, at 6:00 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, six Japanese carriers launched the first wave of 181 planes composed of torpedo bombers, dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. The attack ended less than two hours after it began. The American forces paid a fearful price. Twenty-one ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were sunk or damaged. Aircraft losses were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged, the majority hit before they had a chance to take off. American dead numbered 2,403, including 68 civilians. There were 1,178 military and civilian wounded.
“It is important that we remember the attacks on Pearl Harbor because it was such a significant day in our history,” said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Dante Pestello, a member of the George Washington Heritage Committee. “It was the United States' real provocation to get involved in World War II, and it opened up a two-front war, which meant that the entire nation had to be a part of the war effort.”
According to the history page of the U.S. Census Bureau website, the United States did recover—and quicker than Japanese Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto could have imagined. After only six months, the U.S. carrier fleet dealt a decisive blow to Yamamoto’s navy in the June 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers. After this U.S. victory came the start of an island-hopping campaign and the eventual defeat of the Japanese Empire in August 1945.
“Pearl Harbor is a reminder that we always need to be training and preparing for war,” said Pestello. “I think as the largest Navy in the world, we have a responsibility to be ready to fight wars and defeat the enemy, whether it is the tyrannical Empire of Japan or the evil Nazi Germany. This is proof that we should always be getting better as a fighting force.”
Sailors interested in joining the heritage committee can contact Chief Interior Communications Electrician General Livingston, a member of the heritage committee and the command climate specialist aboard the George Washington, or attend a heritage committee meeting. Dates and times for the meetings are located on the ship’s green sheet.
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2018 10:00 |
| Story ID: | 304049 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, George Washington Hosts Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony, by PO3 Michael Botts, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT