Photo By Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich | Members of the Hickam Honor Guard perform flag detail during the 74th attack on Hickam...... read more read more
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The 15th Wing hosted the 74th Remembrance Ceremony at 7:55 a.m., Dec. 7th, in commemoration of the attack on Hickam Field in 1941.
Survivors and their family members attended the ceremony, which honors the men and women who lost their lives on Hickam Field during the two waves of attacks launched by the Imperial Japanese Navy on Dec. 7, 1941.
“I am both honored and humbled to speak to you on this historic day, the most important day in Hickam Field’s history,” said Col. Randy Huiss, 15th Wing commander, while addressing the crowd. "On 7 December 1941, the lives of everyone stationed at Hickam Field changed forever. Stories of [heroism], duty and sacrifice during this attack bring us back to a time when the ground shook with enemy bombs.”
During the ceremony, the heroic stories of the men and women stationed on Hickam Field during the attack were shared with the attendees.
“These stories help us understand what happened and how the greatest generation stepped up and braved great hardships to defend our nation and its allies,” Huiss said.
One survivor story was that of. Durward Swanson, who was a Staff Sgt assigned to security forces during the attack.
That day in 1941 Swanson finished his shift guarding the main gate and headed to eat breakfast and sleep when the Japanese attack occurred. He quickly sprang into action on his motorcycle to guard the gate. Swanson was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and has dedicated much of his life to speaking to schools across the United States telling his story and educating the next generation.
“It has been wonderful coming back,” said Swanson. “I can’t describe what my feelings are. I feel like I am back home. We plan on coming back next year for the 75th ceremony.”
In addition to honoring Swanson, the ceremony honored men and women whose lives were forever changed that day.
Retired Col. Andrew Kowalski was a First sergeant at the time of the attack. He was awaken by loud explosions and immediately reported for duty at the Wing headquarters, where his job was to answer the phone and maintain the official list of Hickam casualties. A few months later, he was recommended for Officer Training School. Kowalski celebrated his 101st birthday this past August.
Also in attendance was Mrs. Sylvia Phillips, the widow of Maj. Claude Phillips, a Silver Star recipient, attended the ceremony in honor of her late husband. On Dec. 7, then TSgt. Phillips operated a damaged B-17’s machine gun shooting down a Japanese aircraft.
Mr. Matthew Trovinger, grandson of the late Staff Sgt. Clayton Wedel, was also in attendance. On 7 Dec. 1941 his grandfather was assigned to the 23rd Materiel Squadron here at Hickam Field which suffered numerous casualties. During a Hickam Historical Tour, Trovinger received confirmation that his grandfather was assigned to Hickam Field the day Japan attacked.
After a morning of remembrance, Col. Huiss ended his speech with a challenge.
“As you leave this ceremony and go about the business of your lives, please take a moment to remember the stories of that fateful day,” he said. “Seek out our history, listen to those who have seen and done incredible things for our nation, because the stories link us to the past. They are how we remember and how we learn the lessons written by the sacrifices of those who came before us.”
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2015 17:38 |
| Story ID: | 184029 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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