Hickam commemorates 66th anniversary of attack

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Robert Burgess
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  Survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Hickam Air Field, and their family members descended upon Hickam Air Force Base for a commemorative ceremony to pay tribute and remember those who paid the ultimate cost.

With the Courtyard of Heroes Eternal Flame burning in the background, Chaplain (Maj.) David DePinho, 15th Airlift Wing, provided the invocation as the clouds parted for a brief moment to allow those from above a view of Atterbury Circle and the Courtyard of Heroes.

As guests and family members filed into the Courtyard of Heroes, they commented on the pockmarks and shell holes still visible on the outside of Pacific Air Forces headquarters building, a constant reminder for Airmen to stay vigilant.

The commemoration is a time-honored tradition but attendance is steadily decreasing. Each year there are fewer survivors.  Most simply can't make the trip and others are joining their fallen comrades.  Survivors for this year's ceremony were: Col. Andy Kowalski, 14th Squadron; Capt. Colin Jones, 26th Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Ellsworth Jung, 26th Squadron; and Tech. Sgt. Ralph Naslund.

Placing wreaths during this year's ceremony were: Sergeants Jung and Naslund on behalf of the survivors of the Dec. 7th attack; Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback, 13th Air Force commander, and Col. J.J. Torres, 15th Airlift Wing commander on behalf of the 15th Airlift Wing; Col. Mark Luiken, PACAF director of staff, and Chief Master Sgt. Tony Bishop, PACAF command chief, on behalf of PACAF; Donald Cook on behalf of the Military Society of Purple Hearts; Mr. Newton Wong on behalf of Friends of Hickam; and Debra Straight on behalf of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The commemorative ceremony is usually held at the base flagpole.  However, because of inclement weather, the ceremony was moved inside. 

Several surviving members from the 11th Bombardment Group and their families attended a breakfast sponsored by the 15th Airlift Wing.

During the breakfast, Colonel Torres thanked the survivors for their service and talked of the importance of being a veteran.

"A veteran, whether active duty, retired, National Guard or Reserve, is someone who, at some point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, for an amount of up to and including my life," said Colonel Torres. "That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."
The colonel went on to thank them for their service and emphasize that current military members are guardians of that history.

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