Medals of Honor awarded for valor on Dec 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor is the most moving place I have ever visited. Every American should try to make it there once in their life and bring children, grandchildren, etc. And for a moment ponder the significance of the place and the events that occurred there!

quote:

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The smell of fuel oil coming off the Oklahoma to his day burned my eyes.

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USS Arizona?

Yes, from the Arizona.

To this day, the fuel from Arizona's tanks is coming to the surface, drop by drop. You can actually see the sheen from the oil on the water surface.

The memorial is literally erected above the Arizona. To realize you're standing above the last resting place of over 1,000 people is a feeling I cannot describe.

Unfortunately, the memorial is closed indefinitely because it has been declared structurally unsafe. I think they're working on repairs with an indefinite reopening date.

I know, I was about to say that but it's federal property so I'm quite certain the feds are in charge of any repairs.

Hawaii's infrastructure is so messed up it would require a miracle for any improvements.

I had the honor and great fortune of attending Dive School on Ford Island in 88'/89'. Every morning, for 6 months, my shipmates and I would take the Motor Whale Boat (ferry) over to the harbor island from Sub Base Pearl. No words spoken, solemn tribute to the memory of those interred. Only the sound of waves and a single diesel engine as we slowly moved by. It was a daily reminder in the morning darkness of those buried in BB-39. Very moving and memories I'll never lose or take for granted.

A couple of hours later we would ensure our class was near the Memorial during PT around 0800 for morning Colors. As we were getting mashed into ground by our instructors and many would want to quit the program, the USS Arizona Memorial and the events of December 7, 1941 would make the pain go away and everyone would dig just a little bit deeper. The Memorial instilled and anchored a heartfelt determination to keep going, "don't let those fallen sailors see you quit". "Fight on, fight for them."