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Btw you mentioned different places of history & times of events . One place stood out is fire arms factories and munitions plants be great covers all wars from revolution up to current since both love guns . Also since you're doing Pearl Harbor effect on public like in Civil war and other places
"The US placed an oil embargo on Japan" but why? If you were to mention the embargoes the US currently has on Iran and Russia and North Korea you'd probably say what prompted them. Is WWII still hush-hush?
Great video. I have an uncle whom I was never able to meet. He was assigned to the Arizona. He’s still there. I brought my mother over so she could say goodbye to her oldest brother. I’ll never forget that.
I have a distant cousin who was a fireman second class on the Arizona. His duty station was below decks in the boiler room area. He was never identified or recovered & is still there also. I remember FM2 John Morgan Turnipseed every year on this day.
18 year old S1C T. Simmons had written his mother telling her he was looking forward to spending the day at the beach when his watch was over that Sunday. He was on the California. His body was not identified, he had been listed as Missing since the attack. T's remains were identified in November 2021. He was returned home and interred alongside his mother and father in June, 22.The remains of a number of Oklahoma crew members have also been identified recently.
I am humbled to this day to have had the first-hand account of one of the sailors on the USS Tennessee (if I remember right) that day. Jim Dryden, now passed, manned one of the gun turrets loading the gunpowder charges. I recall him specifically mentioning the heat, how that alone damn near killed them but the kept on going. Don’t recall precisely when, but as he was exiting the ship or was somehow on deck, the noise was so horrendous that he just stopped with his hands over his ears, frozen for the moment. He was quickly compelled to get a move on when he saw a chunk of metal blown between his braced apart legs! This was a man who became a builder up in Alaska and built our family house when we moved up there in 1976. He and his wife became family friends and would at times take us out on their boat in the Prince William Sound outside of Whittier for fishing. On one of those trips only my parents were on, they brought their boat abroad another and had dinner with one of Jim’s friends. It was only after sharing the meal and heading away that Jim informed them that the fellow was Capt Taylor, one of the two pilots who got into the air on Dec. 7th! They regret they didn’t know beforehand so they could acknowledge that specifically, but the DID shakes hands with him! He was, as you might expect, Taylor was a very humble man.
Elvis Presley was the largest contributor to make the Arizona Memorial. In 1961 he gave a concert where every penny went to the fund to make this happen. This truly is the greatest video ever! Thank you so much for doing this.
Elvis also requested that his name be taken off of the Plaque on the Arizona Memorial listing all the contributors to its construction. The Arizona Memorial committee was surprised with Elvis's request. He explained that he did not want the memorial to be about Elvis Presely but the focus should be on the men who died serving America....
Just stepping off the boat and onto the Pearl Harbor Memorial is a life changing experience. The overwhelming feelings just engulf you. The sense of loss, pain, anguish, bewilderment, confusion, bravery, pride, but most of all gratitude. Gratitude that so many gave their all that I may live free in the greatest country in the world! Thank you so much to those whose loved ones who have served to protect our freedom and our lifestyles! If possible, visit this tribute to those who have paved our way. God Bless their Souls!
23:39 Leo and Rudolph Blitz were only 17 years old when they enlisted in the U.S. Navy They were 20 when they were assigned to the USS Oklahoma and on Dec. 7, 1941, the twins were killed during the Japanese attack on their ship at Pearl Harbor. Their remains were finally conclusively identified by forensic anthropologists working on behalf of the USS Oklahoma Project and returned to Lincoln Nebraska for proper burial in 2019. Only one family member still alive with first hand memory of the brothers was there to mark the occasion and that was their 93 year old younger sister, Betty. In a letter written by a shipmate of the brothers to the Blitz family following the attack, the fellow crewmember recalled that 'when they(superiors) told us to evacuate he (Rudolph) said, 'I'm not leaving without my brother.'
Hey JD, Please stop apologising for any possible lack of content. Your presentations are always informative, respectful, and thought-provoking. The muisc background always suits all presentations. As with this presentation, you film where so many of your countrymen (and other nations) lost their lives. You treat these people with the dignity they deserve. It is a beautiful, poignant presentation that carries no need for any apology.
my grandfather was on the USS California waiting topside to go on shore leave when the attack happened, he was shot and had jumped in to the water and swam to Ford Island, he had survived the attack. In 1984 to 85 I was stationed in the Army at Schofield barracks I had visited Pearl Harbour many times, Wheeler Airfield and had been to Hickam base also, at hickam air base I was in the back of a army 2 1/2 ton truck and looked at a building and was wondering why they did'nt cut the vines or growth away from it buildings and as we got closer it was'nt vines but it was bullet holes uncovered from the attack on Dec 7th, they had left it untouched. There are many things to see involving the attack on Dec 7th 1941.
I had teacher that her bother died on the Arizona she knew I was on history and reading about the attack she tried to talk about him and the attack it bother her so much even 40 years later
My Grandfather William was part of an Aircraft carrier crew who helped to chase the Japanese Fleet back out of Pearl Harbor after the attack & start forcing them back toward Japan; he used to tell me stories when I was growing up about his crew trying to help rescue sailors from ships like the Arizona & others as well as the trip he made to the Arizona memorial years later & how he would still hear the banging of sailors still trapped inside the ship trying to get out & how it haunted him for the rest of his life
My uncle was there on that day fortunately for him he was stationed at schofield barracks I believe they only had 4 deaths there. I visited pearl harbor 20 years ago what a experience that was. I didn't realize the missouri was there at the time I thought that was a perfect place for her. Pearl harbor was the beginning of the Pacific war and the Missouri represents the end. Great experience! Man you have been half round the world this year. Busy man providing great commentary along with your videos!
Hard to keep a dry eye when it comes to the Arizona… like the Angle at Gettysburg or the beaches of Normandy… Brave men fought and died there.. very solemn
I visited the memorial with my teenage daughter, after watching the movie, we then were able to walk on ship's platform. When we were able to walk around, my daughter started to cry, she cried the whole time. Finally when we started for home, she stated she would honor our military and never forget what our freedoms mean. How so many died to make sure she had them. It's been many years since we visited the memorial, now as an adult, she has talked about out trip, telling her friends to visit the memorial. Telling them that they will finally understand why WW2, has had a profound impact on our lives today.
I got to visit the Arizona memorial with my great grandfather who raised me when I was in about the first grade. I can remember us reading the wall to find his friend from his hometown who died on the ship. He was also a Ww2 navy veteran and it was the best experience and probably one of my first really vivid memories.
Eventually the events and the people that died will be gone from living memory, and so by making these short films you are doing a great job making history easy to understand and paying tribute to the fallen at he same time.
Thanks for this. My Grandpa served on the Arizona for 3 years and left 4 months before the attack. When he was alive I was fortunate to be with him three times to see this sacred place. He knew many of the names on the wall and obvious to say it was very close to this heart. It is a shame that this attack is not taught as it once was in United States schools.
I couldn't agree more. Patriotism, in general, isn't taught in school. Taking pride in our great country, being thankful for our freedom, and how it is bought and paid for in blood!
I had a cousin who worked for Naval Intelligence and he was a radio operator underground at Pearl Harbor the day of the attack; I wasn't born then. My cousin was always mostly deaf because of the bombs blowing up overhead where he was operating the radios. He sent the message to the mainland about the bombing that day. He passed away in the mid 1960s. In the 1980s I knew a man who was on the Nevada that day; he is gone also now.
If he worked for the intelligence, then he mostly lied to you (intentionally or unintentionally) Have you heard of Kermit Tyler and the US radar signal that picked up the Japanese planes coming to Pearl Harbor? Check here his and the entire WW2 story : czcams.com/video/toJQIuPRJrU/video.html
I am always emotionally moved every time I visit the Arizona and Pearl Harbor. You just can't describe it in words. The black tears from the Arizona just keep coming.
I’ve been to Pearl Harbor several times while on active duty with the Navy. The USS Arizona has always left me with a lump in my throat. Hallowed ground for sure. Humbling experience to visit it first-hand. Thanks for the wonderful and respectful reminder of this “Day of Infamy”. Great job JD! Thanks for sharing!
I got to visit Pearl Harbor while I was in the Marine Corps during 87 -90. I was at Kanahoe MCAS. There are holes in the chow hall wall , they look like either MG or 20 mm cannon.
As I've said before JD- you have something very special here in this channel. Your ability to translate what we are seeing is second to none on CZcams. Keep up the awesome work. Don't stop- you are telling stories that should not be forgotten. Victory or Valhalla.
My uncle served on the Akasgi as a chief engineer. He survived the battle of Midway and two other subsequent vessels which were torpedoed duringvWWII only to pass away at home when he fell on the steps of his home. No one on our family knew of his service during the war. On the opposing side, my other uncle served in the 442nd and received a Purple Heart. He passed late in life.
families have always been separated by, and often been on opposing sides of the same conflict... American Civil War, Both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam...... My family was split over fascism and Mussolini. We escaped Italy in 1924 never to return.
As an Army Armor Veteran of the Cold War and WWII history buff, Pearl Harbor is number one on my bucket list and years ago, pledged money towards the restoration of the tower at Ford.It brought tears to my eyes of the footage you shared with us. Thank you. As a side note, Elvis Presley spearheaded ( sorry, tanker talk) the fund raising for the memorial at the Arizona. God speed and bless them all.
I started to have an interest in the military and it’s history at a young age. Being from a military family and born here in America it’s always something I find myself learning about and being humbled from. I’m 21 years old now and these stories still bring tears to my eyes. “Wars do not make men great, but they do bring out the greatness in good men”. “Hooyah” Sailors WE WILL NEVER FORGET 🇺🇸
Just think, those guys were, in many cases, younger than you are now, or your age. So young, so much life yet to live but they gave it in service to the country. It's always stunning when you read the names, and ages. All of these boys were from all over, most never traveled more than 10 miles from home until that ride to basic and the trip to Hawaii. Can you imagine being there now, with that going on? Truly the greatest generation.
I’ve been there and it’s one of the most spiritual places I’ve ever been. They say the oil is the Arizona bleeding and I totally agree with them. I’m so glad you have the chance to visit the Arizona it’s like Gettysburg once you visit you’ll never forget it. Amazing video as alway thank you. ♥️😊
I'm from West Virginia, the story of the USS West Virginia has always made me proud. She was the only battleship hit at Pearl and present at the surrender in Tokyo Bay.
My daughter is slowly becoming interested in history and we watch these videos together. She's amazed at how little they learn in school about these events. Thank you for these videos.
I am from Hawaii and happy that you finally got to visit Pearl Harbor. Not sure if you know this but the Pearl Harbor Memorial itself has an internal 21 gun salute: there are 7 window openings on each side and 7 window openings on top. When the Memorial first opened Elvis Pressly put on a benefit concert to help with the financing of it.
I understand the reverence when you're standing over her out there on the memorial. It is something that moves your soul. When I got back on the island I found a bench and had a quiet cry.
My dad served in the European theater so I have never been as interested in Pearl harbor as I should have been. Until watching this video I always assumed the ships were bombed. Never knew they were dropping torpedoes. Thanks for the enlightenment.
I couldn’t even imagine what would have happened, how differently the war would have went if our carriers were there when the attack happened. Very powerful, very moving video, JD. Thank you.
I have visited the Arizona Memorial twice. Our son who was 11 at the time sat intently and listened to one of the park rangers and survivor of December 7, 1941. He later joined the US Navy and was assigned to patrol Ford Island, so he was reminded on a daily basis what took place there. All of Pearl Harbor is a somber remembrance. Thank you for the revisit and glad you were able to visit.
RIP to my fellow Oklahomans and all who lost their lives on that day. I understand the need to just stand and take in everything. I felt the same way when I went to Normandy. I didn’t take nearly as many pictures and videos as I intended to, because there are those moments when you just need to be still and pay respect to the sacrifices of these men and women . I’ve had that feeling on many Civil War battlefields as well. To stand in a spot where thousands died in a few short hours, in defense of the freedoms we enjoy today, is both chilling and humbling. Well done. I was so looking forward to this video series, and you did not disappoint. Looking forward to the next one.
My uncle was on a submarine in the Pacific during WWII and stationed at Pearl. He watched the entire attack from where he live at Diamond Head. He suffered nightmares for years from that and also had severe ear damage from all the crash Dives in the submarines.
I had the honor of visiting the USS Arizona. It was a very humble experience. To see all the names on the wall brought me to tears. I layed a wreath there. I said a prayer to all the brave men who sacrificed their lives. From a Navy Vietnam Veteran. I am 71 years old. I would give anything to be able to go back and pay my respects to these brave men.
Another incredible video!! I worked with a man that was on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. I was young and dumb at the time and never took advantage of having someone that I could have talked to about his experience. He was very nice and wasn’t afraid to talk about what he saw and the things that he had gone through. He lost his brother that day…. If only I could go back and talk with him, and really appreciate the living history that I had right there next to me for so many years.
2nd LT’s Welch and Taylor were in the 47th pursuit squadron who took off on December 7th ‘41 to down six total Japanese aircraft. Today I am in the 47th Fighter squadron which was once the 47th pursuit squadron. What a sad day this was in our history. Amazing to share squadron lineage with these two hero’s. May we never forget the sacrifice these men and women made on this date in history.
I've been blessed to visit Oahu five times. Each visit isn't complete without going to Pearl. Emotional, moving experiences each time. Thank you for sharing Pearl in your special/unique way.
My wife & I visited Pearl in 1981. While we were on the Arizona Memorial visitors were speaking in subdued conversation and being quite respectful. During our stay a a tour launch of visitors from Japan pulled up to the memorial. The noisy lack of respect shown by the majority of these tourists was absolutely appalling.
My wife and I went there on our honeymoon in 1995. I was appalled at the lack of respect by the Japanese tourists in the theatre, particularly when the Arizona was hit. Some yelled out ‘Banzai’! Again on the boat to the Arizona, they had to be told repeatedly to be quiet. They were laughing and speaking extremely loudly. And utter disgrace. I’m amazed no one punched them!
I was in the Hiroshima museum and the Japanese kids were extremely loud and uninterested. It may be surprising to some, but Japanese school kids are extremely loud.
Wow. This is amazing. My parents were both U.S. Navy, Korea. They were both stationed in Pearl when they met and married. My dad was on a cruiser, mom was a tag maker (dog tags and toe tags). Mom went back with my younger son when he was in his teens and they went to the museums and memorials. Mike was Navy R.O.T.C. in high school and actually went into the Navy but got sent home on a medical, which about six months after he got back was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic. My mom talked a lot about being out there and seeing the guys who survived coming out to pay their respects. It's hard to think that most, if not all of those guys have joined their brothers in heaven, their last sail completed. Thank you for doing these.
I was able to visit Pearl Harbor some years ago for work. While I was unable to go to the Arizona Memorial I was able to walk around Ford Island, we stayed at the Navy Lodge. Just standing there and looking around took my breath away. If I never make it back at least I experienced it once.
My Grandfather was stationed on the USS St Louis. That was one of the ships which made it out of the harbor after the attack and has a very interesting history.
I was fortunate enough to have visited The Arizona Memorial recently for the first time. My feelings were very similar to yours. Just to stand there and soak in the aura of the site was very moving. Thank you for your providing your video of this experience for others to appreciate.
Stationed at Barbers Point NAS with the Coast Guard I had the privilege to visit the Arizona Memorial 3 times. Each time I had the same reaction, a tightness in my throat and a tear in my eye. I also obtained my private pilot’s airplane certificate while stationed there and while being checked out in the tail wheeled airplane, made 3 solo takeoff and landings on Ford Island 🏝. That is a memory I shall never forget and was very humbling.
Again...a great video! Such a pity that so many souls were lost and so many lives were changed on that day. Even now, after so many years, the controversy still lingers over so many aspects of what happened that day and how events and decisions led to the result. May we learn out of those mistakes and not forget those who had to pay the ultimate price for those mistakes. Keep up the great work!
I had a book "Descent into Darkness" about the Navy salvage divers who went into the sunken vessels attempting to find live crewmen, recovering corpses, documents, other items of significance, as well as patching hulls to refloat the vessels. It was very macabre... especially the part of First Lady Elenor Roosevelt actually being present and watching much of the recovery, and being a pest to the divers... All in all not a job for the faint of heart.
Great Video, JD. I love that you have able to go and see Pearl Harbor. very impressed by what you showed us, and also that you took the time to reflect off camera at the USS Arizona. A very moving tribute to the fallen of 7th December 1941.
We had the honor of going to Oahu and staying with family at Pearl. Due to his rank we were allowed to see and do things most people don't. The feeling at the USS Arizona is hallowed ground, you can feel it all the way to your core. The war is long over but the memory and the lives are still there and alive. We couldn't take pictures of a few places we went and things we seen. All I could bring back were the feelings, the strength, the bond of brothers. That is more than the words that can't be formed. It's more emotional than visual
One thing I regret about my year living in Hawaii is not going to some of these sites. I've seen some of the damage at Schofield because that's where my husband was stationed and where we were living. And I've been at Hickam and Wheeler visiting friends. The only thing we did and it was only because we were waiting for our friends NOAA ship to dock, was to visit the actual harbor. But even that was such a powerful thing to be there, thinking about what happened all those years before.
My last visit there was in 2003 and still resonates emotions. Did an entire tour of places impacted during the attack and was surprised they kept bullet holes in place. Only exception was the harbor masters tower which was inadvertently repaired. Ft Shafter still has holes in sidewalks and buildings. Standing in the Arizona memorial was quite moving to say the least, especially seeing a drop of oil rise to the surface.
No matter how many Tribute Videos are done on Pearl Harbor, I become enthralled with such a somber attention to remember this "Day of Infamy". As usual a grateful Thank you is given.
My dad was stationed at Wheeler Field from ‘62-‘65. The Museum opened while we were there. I was six years old at the time but still remember visiting there. Went back several years ago. What a somber place. Still so sad.
Thank you for sharing J.D. Very humbling experience. Over the years I had several male friends who were at Pearl Harbor and would share their experiences of tragedy and it was horrendous. Correct me if I'm wrong but I read where the U S. S. Tennessee received damage from torpedo's as well as shrapnel from the U. S. S. Arizona. While damaged she still went on to serve and was it then Battle of Okinawa. She was decommissioned in 1959 for scrap. There is a museum with memorial in Huntsville TN dedicated to her. Have a blessed Sunday.
I have stood above the Arizona on that hallowed ground and will never forget what I felt. Thank you for this wonderful video and the chance to live it again.
I know I'll never get there but I really enjoy watching all history on Pearl Harbor. My younger brother was stationed there the last 3 years of his Navy service. He was in awe being there.
I have told you before that your history videos on the Civil War are outstanding. I have been following your WW2 videos as well. I must say you continue to knock it out of the park. I have been lucky enough to visit Pearl Harbor. Your video brings back my visit very vividly. Thanks for keeping history alive.
Japan's 48 percent hit ratio was insane, and showed just how devastating Pearl Harbor was. Compare that with the 27.5 percent hit ratio by U..S pilots at Midway. How lucky were we that the carriers were out to Sea that morning.
Yes, I agree but they also made a lot of mistakes as well and targeting the wrong ships or the same ship multiple times. It could have been much, much worse.
@@dannyboyle5610 Me too. I don't believe i any conspiracy that we knew they were going to attack Pearl Harbor but i do believe we knew they were going to hit us somewhere. Hence why our newest most capable ships happened to be at sea that weekend...we knew a hit was coming, but where? The Philippines, Guam, the West Coast of America? Roosevelt wanted us in the war and the easiest way was to back Japan into a corner by demanding she pull out of China or we would pull our resources {oil,scrap,rubber etc}.Japan had two choices...leave China and face world humiliation or fight the USA.
I loved the video. Thanks for your posts. Over 30 years ago my wife and I were in Oahu. She wanted to go to the beach. I said I can go to many beaches but Pearl Harbor is only here. So we went to the Arizona Memorial. As we were standing over the ship looking forward at the oil coming to the surface. I had tears running down my face. I looked at her and she had tears flowing. I said are you glad you came today. She said yes thanks. I have not been back but will remember that day for the rest of my life. I would like to go back and see the Missouri standing guard. She was not there when we went.
My heart cries for all the men & women who suffered and died that day, their families and the horrendous memories those people had to live with their whole lives. God Bless you all, and comfort you. For all the Japanese who had to participate, There is such a heartbreaking loss of life for both sides. God we pray for Peace around the world. Please bless us Amen.😥❤️🙏
Thank you very much for posting this video. The map footage is extremely helpful and really gives the viewer the "big picture" of the harbor and the attack. I have a story you might find interesting. My father was a junior gunnery officer on the USS Phoenix (CL-46) during the attack. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June of 1940 and was assigned to the Phoenix which, at the time, was assigned to Admiral Hart's Asiatic Fleet, then operating out of Manila Bay. Sometime around Thanksgiving, 1941, Admiral Kimmel, sensing something big was in the works, decided that he wanted all his capital warships back at Pearl, so he ordered Hart to transfer three of his four cruisers back to Pearl. Admiral Hart fought like hell to keep some semblance of a surface force in Philippine waters, so they split the difference and two of Hart's cruisers were sent back to Pearl, the Phoenix being one of them. They pulled in on the evening tide on Friday evening, December 5th and moored over at C-5, about 1000 yards astern of the Arizona. Of course, we all know what happened on Sunday morning. Now, as a junior gunnery officer, my father's general quarters station was up in Sky Forward, commanding the starboard AA battery, which was comprised of five 5"38's. Dad also had 20-15 vision (they called him the "human range finder" at Annapolis). From his vantage point up in Sky Forward, he had an unobstructed view not only of the Japanese torpedo bombers as they made their way down South East Loch, but also of the horizontal bombers that made their way in groups of three along the length of battleship row. Dad, realizing that the horizontal bombers poised a greater threat to the whole of battleship row as a opposed to the torpedo bombers which had a very limited attack vector, kept directing his battery onto the horizontal bombers, only to be repeatedly countermanded by the ship's gunnery officer to redirect fire onto the torpedo bombers. The 3-plane v-formation of horizontal bombers that got the Arizona seemed to have caught a lot of people's attention. I heard my father once say that everyone seemed to sense that that formation was going to do some harm. I don't know why. Perhaps it was the tight formation, or the way the formation lined up perfectly along battleship row's longitudinal axis, but for whatever reason, a lot of people held their breath. Now, my father's nickname was "Bud". The Navy is kinda funny in some ways (I can personally attest to its quirks and eccentricities, having served from 1979-1991 as an Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Technician), and so I guess someone back at Annapolis thought it would be convenient, or funny, if my father and the only other guy in his class who was also nicknamed "Bud" roomed together during their first-class (senior) year. So dad's roommate, Bud, was also a junior gunnery officer and like Dad, his general quarters station was in Sky Forward....on the Arizona. When the Arizona forward magazine blew-up, Dad said he watched a fore-plate assembly from one of the forward turrets sail across the harbor like a cork out of a giant pop-gun (I think you can see it at 20:15. A much better view of the event can be observed in the 8mm film that was taken by a doctor who filmed the explosion from the deck of the USS Solace). All my Dad could do was thank God he wasn't in Bud's shoes and maintain a steady rate of fire.
Pearl Harbor is on my bucket list of places to see and has been for 55 years. Thank you JD for bringing this to us. I'm hoping you will share more about Pearl, her ships, her lost souls and the air bases around the harbor. Be safe in your travels. ~~ Lynne
Thank you for your video presentation of the Pearl Harbor attack and showing the many names of people, so many innocent people lost their lives, thousands upon thousands of families. My father was on the USS Missouri from 1944 through 1952. It was a world where harsh reality was in your face 24x7. Blessed are the peacemakers, but there comes a time when tyrants and mass murderers give you no other choice. Safe and happy travels. 👍
I had two great uncles there. Both survived. Thank you for sharing. I had goosebump through the entire video. I wonder how anyone could have survived that.
Very beautifully done. A friends father was in Pearl Harbor. He said his father told him that yhe Japanese flew so low that he could see the pilots. His son didn't believe him till he saw a documentary. I am astonished at how low they had to fly to drop the torpedoes. I wondered why the Arizona was the only ship with a memorial now I know about the Utah and other info
Wow JD, this was amazing. I've always wanted to go to Pearl Harbour, but am still yet to get there. Thank you for taking us along with you through your CZcams channel 👌😊
Very well done. Thank you. Several years ago now, my wife and I visited Pearl Harbor. She was somewhat interested but came more because of my interest. When we left she very somberly said to me "There is no way you can see this and not be moved and affected." We went back again a couple of days later. Note: I was surprised at how many Japanese visitors there were.
I'm not surprised how many Japanese visit PH. They still feel pride at being the "winners" that day by their cowardly sneak attacks! They should be visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki to honor their own dead when America retaliated...
This was a moving visit when I was there in 1991 and it just was again. I'm grateful to you for sharing. After my visit I almost joined the Navy. Whew, close call 😊
Maybe one day I will get there but as the years go by, who knows? Thank you for giving us a glimpse of such an historic site. Much bravery on that day, some was witnessed, some not. I think of those poor sailors trapped inside Oaklahoma and with no way to get them all out. Finally the tapping stopped nearly 3 weeks after the attack. May the Lord have mercy on them and those who lost their lives. The flag over the Arizona Memorial is situated right where Arizona's mainmast was located and is right where the flag was flown from that mast. If the Japanese had come back and attacked the oil storage tanks, submarines and repair facilities things would have been delayed even further, but sparing the submarines allowed the fleet to strike back and in a way, helped seal their fate. Not knowing where the carriers were, I can understand the Japanese withdrawing after the attack. Admiral Yamamoto afterward said that they had awakened a sleeping giant, but I had heard he had said, 'We have kicked a rabid dog" Either way, revenge was going to be a terrible thing and he knew it.
Brought back the memories of my trip to Pearl back in 2002. The Arizona is a powerful and emotional place to stand. Will always remember watching the oil. The ship still bleeds.
OMG! I've been waiting for you to get to the Pacific and see what you would do with those places that most of us have only heard of. I hope that you have the time to do a series from Pearl Harbor. That would be awesome. There is an arial photo taken from one of the Japanese aircraft that shows what looks like a wake from a torpedo that some think may have been launched from one of the minisubs that had never been heard from after the attack. It's not a real clear picture but I'm convinced that it is what they say it is. Also, I can't wait for you to be able to get to the Philippines and do a series from there after all the travel restrictions are lifted. That would be awesome too.
My dad was on the USS Richmond CL-9 (Omaha Class Light Cruiser). My understanding is it had left Pearl about a week before the attack. I did notice on one of the maps the Detroit CL-8 and Raleigh CL-7, sister ships of the Richmond were anchored on the other side of Ford Island. I enjoy all your videos but the ones at Pearl Harbor brings back memories of my dad.
Really appreciated your standing in the Harbor and orienting us from the ground level. I don't think I have ever seen it from that angle. Very well done JD!
I was 5 1/2 years old when my father received orders to go to Hawaii and we lived there for a total of 8 years and just watching the ferry going to the Arizona memorial I remember going there several times. As I got older whenever we went out to see the Arizona memorial it was serene and solemn. We lived at Wheeler Field on our first tour and at Hickam Field on the second tour. My mother commented how Hawaii was the most beautiful place that she has ever seen. Thank you for the memories.
One of your best, JD. Loved that you incorporated archival footage. I was only 16 when I first saw the Arizona Memorial . Even at that young age, I knew it was a sacred place. Glad you finally got there!!
Thank you for this video. My daddy was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was on a minesweeper called the USS Swan. They were in dry dock, but started firing on the Japanese planes 8 minutes after the attack started. They were in the water fighting by 1:15 pm. He remembers pulling bodies and rescues out of the ocean. At some point, he was shot twice. Once by his eye, and once in the back. He received a purple heart for that, and several other medals for his service. I wish I had them, but they went to his longtime girlfriend at the time of his passing. He used to have night terrors of that day, and when I was little, he didn't talk about it much. But that changed when he grew older, and felt it was important to educate the newer generations on what happened, to help prevent it from happening again.
I missed an opportunity some years ago to join a trip to the Pacific on a pretty luxury trip that would include stops at a few islands, Iwo Jima being one (I think Peleliu was on the list and maybe Guadalcanal as well). It was sponsored by the National WWII museum and a US Pacific vet AND a Japanese vet were along for the ride. It was very expensive and I did not want to go alone so I skipped it. I could have afforded it at the time and I regret not joining to this day. Pearl is very moving and I found the movie before joining the boat ride over to the wreck to be the most impactful part, believe it or not. The Missouri was special and standing in the battle station behind God knows how many inches (feet?) of armor was unreal. Visiting the spot where the surrender papers were signed was cool. I wish I had been able to walk around some of Hickam to see the bullet holes still present.
At 29:58 there is a rainbow on the right side of the video. Thank you for sharing this. My brother was stationed at Hickam Field after the war. Even in the 50s when he was there there was a lot of recovery and rebuild going on. I appreciate you taking the time to show us what people don't normally see.
I had the same view as you approaching the Arizona Memorial. This is a piece of history that I always wanted to see. A very solemn experience that brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for the wonderful video..
Thank you Thank you JD. My uncle was on the USS ARIZONA. He is actually still there because those who go down with their ship are still serving. Thank you so much.
A very sad day in History. Love that you took time to visit Pearl Harbor. The Japanese won that day. But they paid dearly for that sneak attack. Thank you for sharing this.
They sealed Japan's fate on her homeland that day. Two atomic bombs killed so many of their citizens and destroyed their homeland, all because of this cowardly attack.
As of writing this, there's only one survivor of the USS Arizona today. Lou Conter was near the #3 turret, where you filmed, and was knocked down by the blast. The order came to abandon ship. Conter helped the wounded onto a boat. He continued to serve in the Navy through WWII and into Korea and into the 1960s. He retired a lieutenant commander.
"I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve" --- Yamamoto He was 110% correct , he awoke the greatest generation and felt our wrath .
@@VloggingThroughHistory Hmm very interesting, i was always taught he had said this but you are right after further research there is nothing written down to prove it .. Very interesting thank you for your reply i appreciate it.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing history. I was there in May of 2012. It is the most heart wrenching place I have ever seen. Unfortunately so many visitors showed no respect to the men who lost their lives here on December 7th, 1941.
Bravo, JD, Bravo! Excellent episode.. I have a brother who served our Country and several nephews who have served, and I want to say how much I appreciate the respect you show our servicemen. From the Civil War episodes to the WWII episodes, in every episode when you discuss our war history you show your respect. Thank you!
Very well done! My wife and I have been to the Hawaiian Islands three different times. Each time, we always go to Pearl Harbor. Looking out into the harbor and just thinking what these people saw and felt was difficult to imagine. We went to Ford Island as well. They have a hanger with bullet holes still in the glass. Walking on the USS Missouri was very interesting. I wish every American could go to see Pearl Harbor and the memorials honoring these men. They are very well done. Unfortunately, these men are being forgotten since most of our schools won't take the time to teach about this tragedy.
Visiting Pearl Harbor is much like visiting Gettysburg. When you enter, you can feel the presence of something unknown and a wave of emotion runs over your body. I experienced it at both places. You can feel that something great and terrible happened there.
This is one of the places on my bucket list to visit. Many movies on World War II also have scenes that recreate the attack. Shortly after this and President FDR's message to declare war on Japan, Chester Nimitz (which also has a carrier USS Nimitz named in his honor) was named Chief of the Pacific Fleet. Actor Woody Harrelson who played him in the 2019 version of the movie "Midway" was interviewed and it amazed me on how much information he gave on Chester Nimitz.
I have been watching your videos a lot lately and really enjoy them. I had thought about my time living in Hawaii and that would have been cool if you had come out while I living there. I went around seeing a bunch of the sites like the shot up buildings on hickam, the different bunkers, the radio tower at the top of the stairway to heaven, and the air strip in Haleiwa where two pilots took off from and shot down zeros over the island. If you haven’t looked into that story, you should. It’s interesting. Great job and keep putting out content.
If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out.
Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!!!
Btw you mentioned different places of history & times of events . One place stood out is fire arms factories and munitions plants be great covers all wars from revolution up to current since both love guns . Also since you're doing Pearl Harbor effect on public like in Civil war and other places
You all ways earn it! 😁
"The US placed an oil embargo on Japan" but why? If you were to mention the embargoes the US currently has on Iran and Russia and North Korea you'd probably say what prompted them. Is WWII still hush-hush?
@@greg5023 i suppose it was that they didnt want to embolden the japanese war effort,,,,It pissed them off though
@@greg5023 the oil embargo was placed on Japan supposedly, to curtail Japanese aggression. Didn't work, did it?
Great video. I have an uncle whom I was never able to meet. He was assigned to the Arizona. He’s still there. I brought my mother over so she could say goodbye to her oldest brother. I’ll never forget that.
Wow
I have a distant cousin who was a fireman second class on the Arizona. His duty station was below decks in the boiler room area. He was never identified or recovered & is still there also. I remember FM2 John Morgan Turnipseed every year on this day.
18 year old S1C T. Simmons had written his mother telling her he was looking forward to spending the day at the beach when his watch was over that Sunday. He was on the California. His body was not identified, he had been listed as Missing since the attack. T's remains were identified in November 2021. He was returned home and interred alongside his mother and father in June, 22.The remains of a number of Oklahoma crew members have also been identified recently.
I am humbled to this day to have had the first-hand account of one of the sailors on the USS Tennessee (if I remember right) that day. Jim Dryden, now passed, manned one of the gun turrets loading the gunpowder charges. I recall him specifically mentioning the heat, how that alone damn near killed them but the kept on going. Don’t recall precisely when, but as he was exiting the ship or was somehow on deck, the noise was so horrendous that he just stopped with his hands over his ears, frozen for the moment. He was quickly compelled to get a move on when he saw a chunk of metal blown between his braced apart legs! This was a man who became a builder up in Alaska and built our family house when we moved up there in 1976. He and his wife became family friends and would at times take us out on their boat in the Prince William Sound outside of Whittier for fishing. On one of those trips only my parents were on, they brought their boat abroad another and had dinner with one of Jim’s friends. It was only after sharing the meal and heading away that Jim informed them that the fellow was Capt Taylor, one of the two pilots who got into the air on Dec. 7th! They regret they didn’t know beforehand so they could acknowledge that specifically, but the DID shakes hands with him! He was, as you might expect, Taylor was a very humble man.
What an experience Brad!! Thanks for sharing. Wish we had more fighters in the air that day.
@@RubyBandUSA Beautiful story sir...
Elvis Presley was the largest contributor to make the Arizona Memorial. In 1961 he gave a concert where every penny went to the fund to make this happen. This truly is the greatest video ever! Thank you so much for doing this.
Elvis also requested that his name be taken off of the Plaque on the Arizona Memorial listing all the contributors to its construction. The Arizona Memorial committee was surprised with Elvis's request. He explained that he did not want the memorial to be about Elvis Presely but the focus should be on the men who died serving America....
Thanks for sharing. I've never known this.
Just stepping off the boat and onto the Pearl Harbor Memorial is a life changing experience. The overwhelming feelings just engulf you. The sense of loss, pain, anguish, bewilderment, confusion, bravery, pride, but most of all gratitude. Gratitude that so many gave their all that I may live free in the greatest country in the world! Thank you so much to those whose loved ones who have served to protect our freedom and our lifestyles!
If possible, visit this tribute to those who have paved our way.
God Bless their Souls!
23:39
Leo and Rudolph Blitz were only 17 years old when they enlisted in the U.S. Navy
They were 20 when they were assigned to the USS Oklahoma and on Dec. 7, 1941, the twins were killed during the Japanese attack on their ship at Pearl Harbor. Their remains were finally conclusively identified by forensic anthropologists working on behalf of the USS Oklahoma Project and returned to Lincoln Nebraska for proper burial in 2019. Only one family member still alive with first hand memory of the brothers was there to mark the occasion and that was their 93 year old younger sister, Betty.
In a letter written by a shipmate of the brothers to the Blitz family following the attack, the fellow crewmember recalled that 'when they(superiors) told us to evacuate he (Rudolph) said, 'I'm not leaving without my brother.'
Hey JD,
Please stop apologising for any possible lack of content. Your presentations are always informative, respectful, and thought-provoking. The muisc background always suits all presentations.
As with this presentation, you film where so many of your countrymen (and other nations) lost their lives. You treat these people with the dignity they deserve.
It is a beautiful, poignant presentation that carries no need for any apology.
my grandfather was on the USS California waiting topside to go on shore leave when the attack happened, he was shot and had jumped in to the water and swam to Ford Island, he had survived the attack. In 1984 to 85 I was stationed in the Army at Schofield barracks I had visited Pearl Harbour many times, Wheeler Airfield and had been to Hickam base also, at hickam air base I was in the back of a army 2 1/2 ton truck and looked at a building and was wondering why they did'nt cut the vines or growth away from it buildings and as we got closer it was'nt vines but it was bullet holes uncovered from the attack on Dec 7th, they had left it untouched. There are many things to see involving the attack on Dec 7th 1941.
your grandfather was lucky! awesome story. Thanks for sharing
Thank you and you’re grandfather for your service.
He was lucky you can see a lot of stuff even metal that they cut off the ships are scattered around the harbor
I had teacher that her bother died on the Arizona she knew I was on history and reading about the attack she tried to talk about him and the attack it bother her so much even 40 years later
They are reminders of that fateful day
My Grandfather William was part of an Aircraft carrier crew who helped to chase the Japanese Fleet back out of Pearl Harbor after the attack & start forcing them back toward Japan; he used to tell me stories when I was growing up about his crew trying to help rescue sailors from ships like the Arizona & others as well as the trip he made to the Arizona memorial years later & how he would still hear the banging of sailors still trapped inside the ship trying to get out & how it haunted him for the rest of his life
Thank you for you Grandfather Williams service, and sharing. God Bless
God bless him. That had to be aweful to live with🙏💖
There were none to chase. They returned to their carriers and all subs sank or grounded
My uncle was there on that day fortunately for him he was stationed at schofield barracks I believe they only had 4 deaths there. I visited pearl harbor 20 years ago what a experience that was. I didn't realize the missouri was there at the time I thought that was a perfect place for her. Pearl harbor was the beginning of the Pacific war and the Missouri represents the end. Great experience! Man you have been half round the world this year. Busy man providing great commentary along with your videos!
Fortunate for you, too!
Hard to keep a dry eye when it comes to the Arizona… like the Angle at Gettysburg or the beaches of Normandy… Brave men fought and died there.. very solemn
I visited the memorial with my teenage daughter, after watching the movie, we then were able to walk on ship's platform. When we were able to walk around, my daughter started to cry, she cried the whole time. Finally when we started for home, she stated she would honor our military and never forget what our freedoms mean. How so many died to make sure she had them. It's been many years since we visited the memorial, now as an adult, she has talked about out trip, telling her friends to visit the memorial. Telling them that they will finally understand why WW2, has had a profound impact on our lives today.
I got to visit the Arizona memorial with my great grandfather who raised me when I was in about the first grade. I can remember us reading the wall to find his friend from his hometown who died on the ship. He was also a Ww2 navy veteran and it was the best experience and probably one of my first really vivid memories.
Eventually the events and the people that died will be gone from living memory, and so by making these short films you are doing a great job making history easy to understand and paying tribute to the fallen at he same time.
Thanks for this. My Grandpa served on the Arizona for 3 years and left 4 months before the attack. When he was alive I was fortunate to be with him three times to see this sacred place. He knew many of the names on the wall and obvious to say it was very close to this heart. It is a shame that this attack is not taught as it once was in United States schools.
I couldn't agree more. Patriotism, in general, isn't taught in school. Taking pride in our great country, being thankful for our freedom, and how it is bought and paid for in blood!
I know Navy stuff can be a bit harder to cover but this Sailor is thankful you covered one of our most sacred places beautifully.
I had a cousin who worked for Naval Intelligence and he was a radio operator underground at Pearl Harbor the day of the attack; I wasn't born then. My cousin was always mostly deaf because of the bombs blowing up overhead where he was operating the radios. He sent the message to the mainland about the bombing that day. He passed away in the mid 1960s. In the 1980s I knew a man who was on the Nevada that day; he is gone also now.
If he worked for the intelligence, then he mostly lied to you (intentionally or unintentionally)
Have you heard of Kermit Tyler and the US radar signal that picked up the Japanese planes coming to Pearl Harbor? Check here his and the entire WW2 story : czcams.com/video/toJQIuPRJrU/video.html
I am always emotionally moved every time I visit the Arizona and Pearl Harbor. You just can't describe it in words. The black tears from the Arizona just keep coming.
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I’ve been to Pearl Harbor several times while on active duty with the Navy. The USS Arizona has always left me with a lump in my throat. Hallowed ground for sure. Humbling experience to visit it first-hand. Thanks for the wonderful and respectful reminder of this “Day of Infamy”. Great job JD! Thanks for sharing!
I got to visit Pearl Harbor while I was in the Marine Corps during 87 -90. I was at Kanahoe MCAS. There are holes in the chow hall wall , they look like either MG or 20 mm cannon.
As I've said before JD- you have something very special here in this channel. Your ability to translate what we are seeing is second to none on CZcams. Keep up the awesome work. Don't stop- you are telling stories that should not be forgotten. Victory or Valhalla.
Thank you 🇺🇸
My uncle served on the Akasgi as a chief engineer. He survived the battle of Midway and two other subsequent vessels which were torpedoed duringvWWII only to pass away at home when he fell on the steps of his home. No one on our family knew of his service during the war. On the opposing side, my other uncle served in the 442nd and received a Purple Heart. He passed late in life.
families have always been separated by, and often been on opposing sides of the same conflict... American Civil War, Both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam...... My family was split over fascism and Mussolini. We escaped Italy in 1924 never to return.
As an Army Armor Veteran of the Cold War and WWII history buff, Pearl Harbor is number one on my bucket list and years ago, pledged money towards the restoration of the tower at Ford.It brought tears to my eyes of the footage you shared with us. Thank you.
As a side note, Elvis Presley spearheaded ( sorry, tanker talk) the fund raising for the memorial at the Arizona. God speed and bless them all.
Never had the honor of visiting Pearl Harbor.. someday. Very moving and powerful. What a horrific day for our country. Well done!
I started to have an interest in the military and it’s history at a young age. Being from a military family and born here in America it’s always something I find myself learning about and being humbled from. I’m 21 years old now and these stories still bring tears to my eyes. “Wars do not make men great, but they do bring out the greatness in good men”. “Hooyah” Sailors WE WILL NEVER FORGET 🇺🇸
Just think, those guys were, in many cases, younger than you are now, or your age. So young, so much life yet to live but they gave it in service to the country. It's always stunning when you read the names, and ages. All of these boys were from all over, most never traveled more than 10 miles from home until that ride to basic and the trip to Hawaii. Can you imagine being there now, with that going on? Truly the greatest generation.
I’ve been there and it’s one of the most spiritual places I’ve ever been. They say the oil is the Arizona bleeding and I totally agree with them. I’m so glad you have the chance to visit the Arizona it’s like Gettysburg once you visit you’ll never forget it. Amazing video as alway thank you. ♥️😊
I'm from West Virginia, the story of the USS West Virginia has always made me proud. She was the only battleship hit at Pearl and present at the surrender in Tokyo Bay.
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BB-48, almost Heaven. Lost my uncle on that day. Charles D Brown, RIP.
My daughter is slowly becoming interested in history and we watch these videos together. She's amazed at how little they learn in school about these events. Thank you for these videos.
I am from Hawaii and happy that you finally got to visit Pearl Harbor. Not sure if you know this but the Pearl Harbor Memorial itself has an internal 21 gun salute: there are 7 window openings on each side and 7 window openings on top. When the Memorial first opened Elvis Pressly put on a benefit concert to help with the financing of it.
Interesting!
I understand the reverence when you're standing over her out there on the memorial. It is something that moves your soul. When I got back on the island I found a bench and had a quiet cry.
Quite the place.
My dad served in the European theater so I have never been as interested in Pearl harbor as I should have been. Until watching this video I always assumed the ships were bombed. Never knew they were dropping torpedoes. Thanks for the enlightenment.
I couldn’t even imagine what would have happened, how differently the war would have went if our carriers were there when the attack happened. Very powerful, very moving video, JD. Thank you.
I have visited the Arizona Memorial twice. Our son who was 11 at the time sat intently and listened to one of the park rangers and survivor of December 7, 1941. He later joined the US Navy and was assigned to patrol Ford Island, so he was reminded on a daily basis what took place there. All of Pearl Harbor is a somber remembrance. Thank you for the revisit and glad you were able to visit.
Wow! That is amazing.
RIP to my fellow Oklahomans and all who lost their lives on that day. I understand the need to just stand and take in everything. I felt the same way when I went to Normandy. I didn’t take nearly as many pictures and videos as I intended to, because there are those moments when you just need to be still and pay respect to the sacrifices of these men and women . I’ve had that feeling on many Civil War battlefields as well. To stand in a spot where thousands died in a few short hours, in defense of the freedoms we enjoy today, is both chilling and humbling. Well done. I was so looking forward to this video series, and you did not disappoint. Looking forward to the next one.
My uncle was on a submarine in the Pacific during WWII and stationed at Pearl. He watched the entire attack from where he live at Diamond Head. He suffered nightmares for years from that and also had severe ear damage from all the crash Dives in the submarines.
I had the honor of visiting the USS Arizona. It was a very humble experience. To see all the names on the wall brought me to tears. I layed a wreath there. I said a prayer to all the brave men who sacrificed their lives. From a Navy Vietnam Veteran. I am 71 years old. I would give anything to be able to go back and pay my respects to these brave men.
Another incredible video!! I worked with a man that was on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. I was young and dumb at the time and never took advantage of having someone that I could have talked to about his experience. He was very nice and wasn’t afraid to talk about what he saw and the things that he had gone through. He lost his brother that day…. If only I could go back and talk with him, and really appreciate the living history that I had right there next to me for so many years.
2nd LT’s Welch and Taylor were in the 47th pursuit squadron who took off on December 7th ‘41 to down six total Japanese aircraft. Today I am in the 47th Fighter squadron which was once the 47th pursuit squadron. What a sad day this was in our history. Amazing to share squadron lineage with these two hero’s. May we never forget the sacrifice these men and women made on this date in history.
Well done! You did a great job of highlighting the important points of December 7th.
I've been blessed to visit Oahu five times. Each visit isn't complete without going to Pearl. Emotional, moving experiences each time. Thank you for sharing Pearl in your special/unique way.
Quite the place. 🇺🇸
My wife & I visited Pearl in 1981. While we were on the Arizona Memorial visitors were speaking in subdued conversation and being quite respectful. During our stay a a tour launch of visitors from Japan pulled up to the memorial. The noisy lack of respect shown by the majority of these tourists was absolutely appalling.
My wife and I went there on our honeymoon in 1995. I was appalled at the lack of respect by the Japanese tourists in the theatre, particularly when the Arizona was hit. Some yelled out ‘Banzai’! Again on the boat to the Arizona, they had to be told repeatedly to be quiet. They were laughing and speaking extremely loudly. And utter disgrace. I’m amazed no one punched them!
Asians say, “Stop Asian Hate”. They brought it and bring it on themselves.
@@jazzmusician46 they are just returning the favour of how American tourists behave in japan
I was in the Hiroshima museum and the Japanese kids were extremely loud and uninterested. It may be surprising to some, but Japanese school kids are extremely loud.
@@jazzmusician46 - What a violent thought. A very American thought.
Wow. This is amazing. My parents were both U.S. Navy, Korea. They were both stationed in Pearl when they met and married. My dad was on a cruiser, mom was a tag maker (dog tags and toe tags). Mom went back with my younger son when he was in his teens and they went to the museums and memorials. Mike was Navy R.O.T.C. in high school and actually went into the Navy but got sent home on a medical, which about six months after he got back was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic. My mom talked a lot about being out there and seeing the guys who survived coming out to pay their respects. It's hard to think that most, if not all of those guys have joined their brothers in heaven, their last sail completed. Thank you for doing these.
I was able to visit Pearl Harbor some years ago for work. While I was unable to go to the Arizona Memorial I was able to walk around Ford Island, we stayed at the Navy Lodge. Just standing there and looking around took my breath away. If I never make it back at least I experienced it once.
Quite the place.
My Grandfather was stationed on the USS St Louis. That was one of the ships which made it out of the harbor after the attack and has a very interesting history.
I was fortunate enough to have visited The Arizona Memorial recently for the first time. My feelings were very similar to yours. Just to stand there and soak in the aura of the site was very moving. Thank you for your providing your video of this experience for others to appreciate.
Stationed at Barbers Point NAS with the Coast Guard I had the privilege to visit the Arizona Memorial 3 times. Each time I had the same reaction, a tightness in my throat and a tear in my eye. I also obtained my private pilot’s airplane certificate while stationed there and while being checked out in the tail wheeled airplane, made 3 solo takeoff and landings on Ford Island 🏝. That is a memory I shall never forget and was very humbling.
Again...a great video! Such a pity that so many souls were lost and so many lives were changed on that day. Even now, after so many years, the controversy still lingers over so many aspects of what happened that day and how events and decisions led to the result. May we learn out of those mistakes and not forget those who had to pay the ultimate price for those mistakes. Keep up the great work!
I had a book "Descent into Darkness" about the Navy salvage divers who went into the sunken vessels attempting to find live crewmen, recovering corpses, documents, other items of significance, as well as patching hulls to refloat the vessels. It was very macabre... especially the part of First Lady Elenor Roosevelt actually being present and watching much of the recovery, and being a pest to the divers... All in all not a job for the faint of heart.
Oh wow. That sounds interesting.
@@TheHistoryUnderground Drachinifel has a 3-part video series on the topic.
Great Video, JD. I love that you have able to go and see Pearl Harbor. very impressed by what you showed us, and also that you took the time to reflect off camera at the USS Arizona. A very moving tribute to the fallen of 7th December 1941.
Thank you 🇺🇸
We had the honor of going to Oahu and staying with family at Pearl. Due to his rank we were allowed to see and do things most people don't.
The feeling at the USS Arizona is hallowed ground, you can feel it all the way to your core.
The war is long over but the memory and the lives are still there and alive.
We couldn't take pictures of a few places we went and things we seen. All I could bring back were the feelings, the strength, the bond of brothers. That is more than the words that can't be formed. It's more emotional than visual
One thing I regret about my year living in Hawaii is not going to some of these sites. I've seen some of the damage at Schofield because that's where my husband was stationed and where we were living. And I've been at Hickam and Wheeler visiting friends.
The only thing we did and it was only because we were waiting for our friends NOAA ship to dock, was to visit the actual harbor. But even that was such a powerful thing to be there, thinking about what happened all those years before.
My last visit there was in 2003 and still resonates emotions. Did an entire tour of places impacted during the attack and was surprised they kept bullet holes in place. Only exception was the harbor masters tower which was inadvertently repaired. Ft Shafter still has holes in sidewalks and buildings. Standing in the Arizona memorial was quite moving to say the least, especially seeing a drop of oil rise to the surface.
No matter how many Tribute Videos are done on Pearl Harbor, I become enthralled with such a somber attention to remember this "Day of Infamy". As usual a grateful Thank you is given.
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Great video. Still sad to hear about even after all these years. How sad for all the families back home who thought their boys were safe.
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My dad was stationed at Wheeler Field from ‘62-‘65. The Museum opened while we were there. I was six years old at the time but still remember visiting there. Went back several years ago. What a somber place. Still so sad.
Thank you for sharing J.D. Very humbling experience. Over the years I had several male friends who were at Pearl Harbor and would share their experiences of tragedy and it was horrendous. Correct me if I'm wrong but I read where the U S. S. Tennessee received damage from torpedo's as well as shrapnel from the U. S. S. Arizona. While damaged she still went on to serve and was it then Battle of Okinawa. She was decommissioned in 1959 for scrap. There is a museum with memorial in Huntsville TN dedicated to her. Have a blessed Sunday.
I have stood above the Arizona on that hallowed ground and will never forget what I felt. Thank you for this wonderful video and the chance to live it again.
I know I'll never get there but I really enjoy watching all history on Pearl Harbor. My younger brother was stationed there the last 3 years of his Navy service. He was in awe being there.
I have told you before that your history videos on the Civil War are outstanding. I have been following your WW2 videos as well. I must say you continue to knock it out of the park. I have been lucky enough to visit Pearl Harbor. Your video brings back my visit very vividly. Thanks for keeping history alive.
Japan's 48 percent hit ratio was insane, and showed just how devastating Pearl Harbor was. Compare that with the 27.5 percent hit ratio by U..S pilots at Midway. How lucky were we that the carriers were out to Sea that morning.
That’s no lie.
Japanese torpedoes were hands down superior to those of the US Navy.
I’m having a hard time believing it was luck that our carriers were not in port.
Yes, I agree but they also made a lot of mistakes as well and targeting the wrong ships or the same ship multiple times. It could have been much, much worse.
@@dannyboyle5610 Me too. I don't believe i any conspiracy that we knew they were going to attack Pearl Harbor but i do believe we knew they were going to hit us somewhere. Hence why our newest most capable ships happened to be at sea that weekend...we knew a hit was coming, but where? The Philippines, Guam, the West Coast of America?
Roosevelt wanted us in the war and the easiest way was to back Japan into a corner by demanding she pull out of China or we would pull our resources {oil,scrap,rubber etc}.Japan had two choices...leave China and face world humiliation or fight the USA.
I loved the video. Thanks for your posts. Over 30 years ago my wife and I were in Oahu. She wanted to go to the beach. I said I can go to many beaches but Pearl Harbor is only here. So we went to the Arizona Memorial. As we were standing over the ship looking forward at the oil coming to the surface. I had tears running down my face. I looked at her and she had tears flowing. I said are you glad you came today. She said yes thanks. I have not been back but will remember that day for the rest of my life. I would like to go back and see the Missouri standing guard. She was not there when we went.
My heart cries for all the men & women who suffered and died that day, their families and the horrendous memories those people had to live with their whole lives. God Bless you all, and comfort you. For all the Japanese who had to participate, There is such a heartbreaking loss of life for both sides. God we pray for Peace around the world. Please bless us Amen.😥❤️🙏
Thank you very much for posting this video. The map footage is extremely helpful and really gives the viewer the "big picture" of the harbor and the attack. I have a story you might find interesting. My father was a junior gunnery officer on the USS Phoenix (CL-46) during the attack. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June of 1940 and was assigned to the Phoenix which, at the time, was assigned to Admiral Hart's Asiatic Fleet, then operating out of Manila Bay. Sometime around Thanksgiving, 1941, Admiral Kimmel, sensing something big was in the works, decided that he wanted all his capital warships back at Pearl, so he ordered Hart to transfer three of his four cruisers back to Pearl. Admiral Hart fought like hell to keep some semblance of a surface force in Philippine waters, so they split the difference and two of Hart's cruisers were sent back to Pearl, the Phoenix being one of them. They pulled in on the evening tide on Friday evening, December 5th and moored over at C-5, about 1000 yards astern of the Arizona. Of course, we all know what happened on Sunday morning. Now, as a junior gunnery officer, my father's general quarters station was up in Sky Forward, commanding the starboard AA battery, which was comprised of five 5"38's. Dad also had 20-15 vision (they called him the "human range finder" at Annapolis). From his vantage point up in Sky Forward, he had an unobstructed view not only of the Japanese torpedo bombers as they made their way down South East Loch, but also of the horizontal bombers that made their way in groups of three along the length of battleship row. Dad, realizing that the horizontal bombers poised a greater threat to the whole of battleship row as a opposed to the torpedo bombers which had a very limited attack vector, kept directing his battery onto the horizontal bombers, only to be repeatedly countermanded by the ship's gunnery officer to redirect fire onto the torpedo bombers. The 3-plane v-formation of horizontal bombers that got the Arizona seemed to have caught a lot of people's attention. I heard my father once say that everyone seemed to sense that that formation was going to do some harm. I don't know why. Perhaps it was the tight formation, or the way the formation lined up perfectly along battleship row's longitudinal axis, but for whatever reason, a lot of people held their breath. Now, my father's nickname was "Bud". The Navy is kinda funny in some ways (I can personally attest to its quirks and eccentricities, having served from 1979-1991 as an Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Technician), and so I guess someone back at Annapolis thought it would be convenient, or funny, if my father and the only other guy in his class who was also nicknamed "Bud" roomed together during their first-class (senior) year. So dad's roommate, Bud, was also a junior gunnery officer and like Dad, his general quarters station was in Sky Forward....on the Arizona. When the Arizona forward magazine blew-up, Dad said he watched a fore-plate assembly from one of the forward turrets sail across the harbor like a cork out of a giant pop-gun (I think you can see it at 20:15. A much better view of the event can be observed in the 8mm film that was taken by a doctor who filmed the explosion from the deck of the USS Solace). All my Dad could do was thank God he wasn't in Bud's shoes and maintain a steady rate of fire.
Pearl Harbor is on my bucket list of places to see and has been for 55 years. Thank you JD for bringing this to us. I'm hoping you will share more about Pearl, her ships, her lost souls and the air bases around the harbor. Be safe in your travels. ~~ Lynne
I held my first re-enlistment on USS Arizona Memorial in 1986. My brother served on USS Missouri during the first Gulf War.
Thank you for your video presentation of the Pearl Harbor attack and showing the many names of people, so many innocent people lost their lives, thousands upon thousands of families. My father was on the USS Missouri from 1944 through 1952. It was a world where harsh reality was in your face 24x7. Blessed are the peacemakers, but there comes a time when tyrants and mass murderers give you no other choice. Safe and happy travels. 👍
I had two great uncles there. Both survived. Thank you for sharing. I had goosebump through the entire video. I wonder how anyone could have survived that.
Very beautifully done. A friends father was in Pearl Harbor. He said his father told him that yhe Japanese flew so low that he could see the pilots. His son didn't believe him till he saw a documentary. I am astonished at how low they had to fly to drop the torpedoes.
I wondered why the Arizona was the only ship with a memorial now I know about the Utah and other info
Wow JD, this was amazing. I've always wanted to go to Pearl Harbour, but am still yet to get there. Thank you for taking us along with you through your CZcams channel 👌😊
Great stuff again buddy. Not everybody can go see these historical places, so I really like you bringing the places to people :)
Glad you like them! Thank you.
Very well done. Thank you. Several years ago now, my wife and I visited Pearl Harbor. She was somewhat interested but came more because of my interest. When we left she very somberly said to me "There is no way you can see this and not be moved and affected." We went back again a couple of days later. Note: I was surprised at how many Japanese visitors there were.
I'm not surprised how many Japanese visit PH. They still feel pride at being the "winners" that day by their cowardly sneak attacks! They should be visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki to honor their own dead when America retaliated...
This was a moving visit when I was there in 1991 and it just was again. I'm grateful to you for sharing. After my visit I almost joined the Navy. Whew, close call 😊
Thank you for all you do to keep History Alive !!
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Maybe one day I will get there but as the years go by, who knows? Thank you for giving us a glimpse of such an historic site.
Much bravery on that day, some was witnessed, some not. I think of those poor sailors trapped inside Oaklahoma and with no way to get them all out. Finally the tapping stopped nearly 3 weeks after the attack. May the Lord have mercy on them and those who lost their lives.
The flag over the Arizona Memorial is situated right where Arizona's mainmast was located and is right where the flag was flown from that mast.
If the Japanese had come back and attacked the oil storage tanks, submarines and repair facilities things would have been delayed even further, but sparing the submarines allowed the fleet to strike back and in a way, helped seal their fate. Not knowing where the carriers were, I can understand the Japanese withdrawing after the attack.
Admiral Yamamoto afterward said that they had awakened a sleeping giant, but I had heard he had said, 'We have kicked a rabid dog"
Either way, revenge was going to be a terrible thing and he knew it.
Brought back the memories of my trip to Pearl back in 2002. The Arizona is a powerful and emotional place to stand. Will always remember watching the oil. The ship still bleeds.
OMG! I've been waiting for you to get to the Pacific and see what you would do with those places that most of us have only heard of. I hope that you have the time to do a series from Pearl Harbor. That would be awesome. There is an arial photo taken from one of the Japanese aircraft that shows what looks like a wake from a torpedo that some think may have been launched from one of the minisubs that had never been heard from after the attack. It's not a real clear picture but I'm convinced that it is what they say it is. Also, I can't wait for you to be able to get to the Philippines and do a series from there after all the travel restrictions are lifted. That would be awesome too.
We’ve got some more Pearl Harbor content on the way. Would love to see the Philippines at some point.
My dad was on the USS Richmond CL-9 (Omaha Class Light Cruiser). My understanding is it had left Pearl about a week before the attack. I did notice on one of the maps the Detroit CL-8 and Raleigh CL-7, sister ships of the Richmond were anchored on the other side of Ford Island. I enjoy all your videos but the ones at Pearl Harbor brings back memories of my dad.
Really appreciated your standing in the Harbor and orienting us from the ground level. I don't think I have ever seen it from that angle. Very well done JD!
I was 5 1/2 years old when my father received orders to go to Hawaii and we lived there for a total of 8 years and just watching the ferry going to the Arizona memorial I remember going there several times. As I got older whenever we went out to see the Arizona memorial it was serene and solemn. We lived at Wheeler Field on our first tour and at Hickam Field on the second tour. My mother commented how Hawaii was the most beautiful place that she has ever seen. Thank you for the memories.
One of your best, JD. Loved that you incorporated archival footage. I was only 16 when I first saw the Arizona Memorial . Even at that young age, I knew it was a sacred place. Glad you finally got there!!
Thank you for this video. My daddy was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was on a minesweeper called the USS Swan. They were in dry dock, but started firing on the Japanese planes 8 minutes after the attack started. They were in the water fighting by 1:15 pm. He remembers pulling bodies and rescues out of the ocean. At some point, he was shot twice. Once by his eye, and once in the back. He received a purple heart for that, and several other medals for his service. I wish I had them, but they went to his longtime girlfriend at the time of his passing.
He used to have night terrors of that day, and when I was little, he didn't talk about it much. But that changed when he grew older, and felt it was important to educate the newer generations on what happened, to help prevent it from happening again.
I missed an opportunity some years ago to join a trip to the Pacific on a pretty luxury trip that would include stops at a few islands, Iwo Jima being one (I think Peleliu was on the list and maybe Guadalcanal as well). It was sponsored by the National WWII museum and a US Pacific vet AND a Japanese vet were along for the ride. It was very expensive and I did not want to go alone so I skipped it. I could have afforded it at the time and I regret not joining to this day. Pearl is very moving and I found the movie before joining the boat ride over to the wreck to be the most impactful part, believe it or not. The Missouri was special and standing in the battle station behind God knows how many inches (feet?) of armor was unreal. Visiting the spot where the surrender papers were signed was cool. I wish I had been able to walk around some of Hickam to see the bullet holes still present.
At 29:58 there is a rainbow on the right side of the video. Thank you for sharing this. My brother was stationed at Hickam Field after the war. Even in the 50s when he was there there was a lot of recovery and rebuild going on. I appreciate you taking the time to show us what people don't normally see.
Another great history teaching. It's hard to talk about. Thanks
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I had the same view as you approaching the Arizona Memorial. This is a piece of history that I always wanted to see. A very solemn experience that brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for the wonderful video..
I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.
Isoroku Yamamoto
Thank you Thank you JD. My uncle was on the USS ARIZONA. He is actually still there because those who go down with their ship are still serving. Thank you so much.
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A very sad day in History. Love that you took time to visit Pearl Harbor. The Japanese won that day. But they paid dearly for that sneak attack. Thank you for sharing this.
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They sealed Japan's fate on her homeland that day. Two atomic bombs killed so many of their citizens and destroyed their homeland, all because of this cowardly attack.
Don’t hate.
As of writing this, there's only one survivor of the USS Arizona today. Lou Conter was near the #3 turret, where you filmed, and was knocked down by the blast. The order came to abandon ship. Conter helped the wounded onto a boat. He continued to serve in the Navy through WWII and into Korea and into the 1960s. He retired a lieutenant commander.
"I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve" --- Yamamoto He was 110% correct , he awoke the greatest generation and felt our wrath .
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I don't know if he actually said those historic words. I was told that he didn't but it is a good though
It’s a fitting quote but no evidence Yamamoto ever said it.
@@VloggingThroughHistory Hmm very interesting, i was always taught he had said this but you are right after further research there is nothing written down to prove it .. Very interesting thank you for your reply i appreciate it.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing history. I was there in May of 2012. It is the most heart wrenching place I have ever seen. Unfortunately so many visitors showed no respect to the men who lost their lives here on December 7th, 1941.
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Bravo, JD, Bravo! Excellent episode.. I have a brother who served our Country and several nephews who have served, and I want to say how much I appreciate the respect you show our servicemen. From the Civil War episodes to the WWII episodes, in every episode when you discuss our war history you show your respect. Thank you!
Very well done! My wife and I have been to the Hawaiian Islands three different times. Each time, we always go to Pearl Harbor. Looking out into the harbor and just thinking what these people saw and felt was difficult to imagine. We went to Ford Island as well. They have a hanger with bullet holes still in the glass. Walking on the USS Missouri was very interesting. I wish every American could go to see Pearl Harbor and the memorials honoring these men. They are very well done. Unfortunately, these men are being forgotten since most of our schools won't take the time to teach about this tragedy.
Very moving/solemn place in history. The room with the names touches your heart! A room full of heroes! Another great video!
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Visiting Pearl Harbor is much like visiting Gettysburg. When you enter, you can feel the presence of something unknown and a wave of emotion runs over your body. I experienced it at both places. You can feel that something great and terrible happened there.
The rainbow at the end is very appropriate. Another gem JD.
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Thank you for sharing this with us! This is such a wonderful video! The Arizona is just a beautiful place to visit.
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This is one of the places on my bucket list to visit. Many movies on World War II also have scenes that recreate the attack. Shortly after this and President FDR's message to declare war on Japan, Chester Nimitz (which also has a carrier USS Nimitz named in his honor) was named Chief of the Pacific Fleet. Actor Woody Harrelson who played him in the 2019 version of the movie "Midway" was interviewed and it amazed me on how much information he gave on Chester Nimitz.
I have been watching your videos a lot lately and really enjoy them. I had thought about my time living in Hawaii and that would have been cool if you had come out while I living there. I went around seeing a bunch of the sites like the shot up buildings on hickam, the different bunkers, the radio tower at the top of the stairway to heaven, and the air strip in Haleiwa where two pilots took off from and shot down zeros over the island. If you haven’t looked into that story, you should. It’s interesting. Great job and keep putting out content.
Thank you J.D for making this so powerful for the people who may never get to visit this powerful memorial of our U.S history.
Glad to share the experience.