Photo By Justice Vannatta | Eric Kimura, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility Nuclear...... read more read more
If you could walk a mile in someone’s shoes, in whose shoes would you walk?
As Shipyard workers, we walk every day in the shadows of the men and women who forged the path for us, defending our nation in extraordinary ways.
On Dec. 7, 1941, and the critical days that followed, the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the men and women of our Shipyard (then known as the Navy Yard at Pearl Harbor) performed heroic acts that ultimately contributed to the winning of World War II in the Pacific. Those Navy Yard Sailors, Marines and civilian employees were ordinary people who did extraordinary things on what they thought would be a normal day. Now, 75 years later, we stand on the shoulders of those greats, defending our nation through our own extraordinary acts of selfless dedication.
The Learning Organization Steering Group (LOSG) Joint Leadership Venture (JLV) team has recognized the value of sharing the heroic actions of our heroes of yesterday with our workers of today. By relating these remarkable stories, the current generation of employees can understand and embrace the great history of the shipyard, and be inspired to carry this rich legacy forward.
In support of this vision, Eric Kimura, Code 2350 Nuclear Quality Division Head and Shipyard history buff, developed a “Shipyard History Walk.” This hour-long tour brings to life the stories of the Navy Yard’s people and the role they played on the fateful morning of Dec. 7, 1941. As a former naval officer, Kimura has had a long interest in the history of Pearl Harbor. His passion for history and for mentoring employees is well captured in his eye-opening tour of our waterfront.
During the history walk, Kimura gives Shipyard employees a unique perspective on the acts of heroism and bravery that were displayed by their predecessors. Featured in the walk are historical markers detailing what happened on that day to USS Helena, USS Oglala, USS Pennsylvania, USS Cassin, USS Downes and USS Shaw. Kimura uses these markers to tell the incredible stories of shipyard heroes such as George Walters and Julio DeCastro.
“Participating in the walk gave me ‘chicken skin’!” remarked Nomana Angelo, Code 990 Temporary Services Shop Superintendent. “I was speechless, I could actually visualize the attack happening right in front of me.”
Kimura, who is currently sharing the walking tour with first line supervisors, said he will expand its availability to all interested Shipyard workers in the near future.
Much like our predecessors, each of us may be called upon to serve our nation and Shipyard in extraordinary ways. As workers have done throughout the Shipyard’s history, more recently, on the repairs of USS Denver, USS San Francisco and the support of Operation Tomodachi we will continue to answer the call to defend our Nation. Every day, we walk in the shadows of our predecessors, upholding their legacy and forging our way into the future, as they did, by keeping the ships and submarines of the U.S. Pacific Fleet “Fit to Fight”!
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2021 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 410743 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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