80 Years Ago Today – Pearl Harbor Attack – IOTW Report

80 Years Ago Today – Pearl Harbor Attack


102-year-old Warren Upton is among the last remaining Bay Area survivors

Mercury News – At 102, Warren Upton’s memories of the attack on Pearl Harbor 80 years ago are still vivid.

There were the two torpedoes that rattled his ship, the USS Utah, as he reached for a shaving kit. The sounds of gunfire and the sight of a Navy destroyer ramming an Imperial Japanese submarine in the harbor. But one thing that still sticks out in his mind is a simple question: “Can you swim, Red?”

Read the rest HERE.

10 Comments on 80 Years Ago Today – Pearl Harbor Attack

  1. Had a gentleman in my e-mail group who flew right seat in the fire bombing of Tokyo. Was proud patriot and often mentioned they killed a damn site more “maps” that way than the atom bombs ever did.

    I miss Mr. Higgins…

    5
  2. I knew a guy at the turn of the century who had been a navigator on a B-17 during WWII. When we could coax stories from him, they were very interesting. RIP

    6
  3. My brother William was there in the Navy on Dec 7th, safe on the beach after a night out. Made it out alive. He always said 2 man subs did most of the damage he witnessed.

    5
  4. I worked with a guy whose boat fought their way out of Pearl that day; he was a ‘gunners mate’ serving a Bofors Gun. USS Nevada blocking the way out, so they had to turn and go out the other channel around Ford Island. USS Phoenix; the only surface ship sunk in wartime hostilities since WWII …known as the General Belgrano, Falklands Campaign.

    3
  5. My BFF”s Dad was at Pearl Harbor–survived that and was sent to Europe and was in the Battle of the Bulge. He died last year at age 100 and as a retired Command Sergeant Major. Besides my Dad (who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, CSM was the best man I ever knew. (my husband was pretty darn fantastic as well)

    5

Comments are closed.