Hawaii Marines and sailors remember December 7, 1941

Photo By Kristen Wong | Marines and sailors stand at attention during the annual Kaneohe Klipper Memorial Ceremony outside of Hangar 101, Dec. 7. At 7:52 a.m., on Dec. 7, 1941, then-Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Navy prior to the larger attack on then-Pearl Harbor Naval Station. For many years, MCB Hawaii has commemorated the attack with the Kaneohe Klipper Memorial Ceremony. On that day, 18 service members and two civilian contractors from NAS Kaneohe Bay were killed. Many honored guests attending the ceremony this year included family members and friends of the 20 fallen, as well as veterans who served during the attacks. The ceremony included guest speaker David Griffin, grandson of Navy Lt. Daniel Griffin, who was killed on Dec. 7, 1941 while stationed aboard NAS Kaneohe Bay. The ceremony also included guest speaker retired Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Smith, who spoke about Medal of Honor recipient John W. Finn prior to unveiling a plaque dedicated to the former chief aviation ordnanceman who played a significant role in countering the Japanese attack of Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Dec. 7, 1941.  

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, UNITED STATES

12.07.2011

Story by 1st Lt. Diann Rosenfeld 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINE CORPRS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii - Marines and sailors honored 18 sailors and two civilian contractors who died here on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Oahu.

On that day in 1941, aircraft of the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay. At 7:52 a.m., eight minutes before the attacks at Pearl Harbor, the quiet peace of a Sunday morning was shattered by the sudden rattling of strafing machine gun fire and the explosions of bombs. Two waves of Japanese Zero aircraft assaulted the runway and hangars of the air station, destroying 27 of the 33 PBY Catalina aircraft on the ground.

The events of Dec. 7, 1941, were detailed during the ceremony, which opened with Col. Brian Annichiarico, base commanding officer, welcoming all in attendance.

Guest speaker Dr. David W. Griffin, the grandson of Navy Lt. Daniel Griffin, who was killed during the attack, spoke of the heroism of his grandfather and the sailors and civilians who witnessed the events that infamous Sunday morning.

Dr. Michael Smith, a retired Marine master gunnery sergeant, recounted the morning of Dec. 7, as told to him by Medal of Honor recipient and retired Navy Lt. John Finn. Then-Naval Ordnance Chief Finn manned a .50-caliber machine gun in a completely exposed section of the aircraft parking ramp. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man his gun and returned the enemy’s fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy’s strafing and bombing attacks.

A memorial plaque in honor of Finn was unveiled during the ceremony, and the plaque will be placed at Hangar 103, where Finn’s office was located.

During the ceremony, three platoons of Marines and sailors stood in formation along with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Band. Keeping with tradition, a wreath was presented in honor of those who lost their lives, and Marines and sailors saluted as the names of the 20 men who died here were read aloud. A three round volley rifle salute and the playing of taps concluded the ceremony.

After the ceremony, retired Lt. Cmdr. Cass Phillips, a former radioman with Patrol Squadron 11 at NAS Kaneohe, took guests through the hangar and recounted the events of Dec. 7, 1941. After a walk through the hangar, he visited the scarred building’s exterior and cement pad that is riddled with shrapnel and patched bullet holes from the attacks.

• Date Taken: 12.07.2011
• Date Posted: 12.07.2011 21:36
• Story ID: 81034
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US