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?”
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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…
sight not site
“japs” not maps
Damn auto correct / spell check
My mom was twelve when the Pearl Harbor attack happened. Her next door neighbors lost their son, Jack Hazelip Stevens, when he went down with the USS Arizona.
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
My old buddy 3-PUTT has a birthday today and has always referred to it as “The day the Japanese Imperial Navy F**ked up his birthday party!
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.
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.
Someone pointed out that it’s the same amount of time ago as it was from the Civil War to Pearl Harbor.
Interesting…
BTW, has the president* claimed he sunk a jap submarine that day and that’s how he got a Purple Heart?
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)
There are fewer and fewer of the greatest generation every year. An important part of history is slipping away.