LAKEPORT ? Lake County”s Jim Harris celebrated his 17th birthday one month before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In fact the average age of those who served was 23. Harris saw D-Day and the shores of Normandy, all by the age of 19.
A remembrance held at Library Park in Lakeport on Tuesday at 9 a.m. honored survivors and those who lost their lives during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack.
The Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team, American Legion Post 194, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 951, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2337, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015, Disabled American Veterans and the Sea Scouts all participated in commemorating the day in Lake County.
Shannon Kimball-Auth presented the invocation and Steve Davis served as master of ceremonies on a chilly morning before a crowd of approximately 100 people.
Davis quoted Tom Brokaw, calling those who served, “the greatest generation.” He said he was humbled and honored to speak.
The Lake County Sea Scouts performed the flag ceremony.
Harris led the Pledge of Allegiance as the flags at the memorial site waved at half-mast.
Typically the remembrance takes place at 9:55 a.m. to signify the time of the attack. In the interest of protecting the health and well-being of the survivors, the remainder was held indoors.
The ceremony moved to Lakeport City Hall, where Davis introduced Survivors Henry Anderson and Jim Harris and Vanya Leighton, “Sweetheart,” a widow of a Pearl Harbor survivor. He presented them with the 21 spent rounds from the Military Funeral Honors Team that rendered three rifle volleys in commemoration of the day.
Bill Kearney, owner of North Lake Medical Pharmacy, was the guest speaker at the remembrance ceremony. “I”m honored and humbled to be here. I don”t pretend to be of the magnitude of these guys,” Kearney said. “These guys are real heroes to me.” During his speech at Lakeport City Hall, Kearney said, “They literally saved the world in their early 20s, returned and lived in small towns like Lakeport.”
Faith Hornby, 14, Miss Lake County, Outstanding Teen, sang the National Anthem. Hornby said, “I actually went to Pearl Harbor a few years ago. It”s very emotional to be here today.”
Brad Onorato, district representative for Congressman Mike Thompson, presented survivors with pennants and certificates that verified the pennants were flown over the Capitol on Nov. 29 at the request of Thompson.
Survivors Bill Slater and Walter Urmann and sweetheart Alice Darrow were not in attendance at this year”s commemoration. Instead, they were in Pearl Harbor, attending a reunion of survivors. They were accompanied by Ronnie and Janeane Bogner, who have kept many informed of the happenings in Hawaii via e-mail. There will be many tales to tell upon their return.
The annual luncheon followed the remembrance ceremonies. This year”s festivities took place at TJ”s Downtown Bar and Grill in Lakeport, with about 50 in attendance. Sweetheart Flora Lucchesi of Sonoma County also attended. Her husband, Mario Lucchesi, had served on the USS Tennessee.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors had been in session during the morning, but spent its lunch break with the survivors, their friends and families.
The usual “ships and stations” tradition had taken place, wherein the survivors speak of their assignments during their time in the Navy, and especially at Pearl Harbor.
Following that, Steve Davis posed the question as to what did these then young men do after “saving the world” and returning home.
Henry Anderson said, “I became a building inspector and everyone loves the building inspector. So, I was well-loved.” His remarks got quite a chuckle from the crowd. He then became a bit more serious, saying he took great pride in his work, learned it well and was proud to be a fair and just inspector.
Bud Boner declined to speak about his past, simply saying, “I”m just glad to be here.”
Jim Harris said he wanted to talk about today”s military and the support it needs. He said, “Today”s veterans face things we never did. You have to look to take care of them. You can”t ignore what they”ve been through.”
After visiting, handshakes and hugs, everyone departed, most certainly feeling honored after having spent time in the presence of men. The survivors say that the heroes are their comrades who did not return. But just listen to them speak and you will find they have earned that title too.
The attack on Pearl Harbor killed or wounded 3,500 Americans.
The events that led up to the attack began in September 1940 when the U.S. placed an embargo on Japan by prohibiting exports of steel, scrap iron and aviation fuel to Japan, because of Japan”s takeover of northern French Indochina.
In April 1941, the Japanese signed a neutrality treaty with the Soviet Union to help prevent an attack from that direction if they were to go to war with Britain or the U.S.
From June 1941, through the end of July 1941, Japan occupied southern Indochina. Two days later, the U.S., Britain, and the Netherlands froze Japanese assets. This prevented Japan from buying oil, which would, in time, cripple its army and make its navy and air force completely useless.
At year”s end, 1941, with the Soviets weakened, Japan tried to take the oil resources of Southeast Asia. The U.S. wanted to stop Japanese expansion but the American people were not willing to go to war to stop it. The U.S. demanded that Japan withdraw from China and Indochina, but would have settled for the withdrawal and a promise not to take more territory.
Prior to December 1941, Japan pursued an attempt to get the oil embargo lifted and to obtain the territory it wanted.
General Tojo Hideki secretly set Nov. 29 as the last day Japan would accept a settlement without war.
The United States broke the Japanese diplomatic code and knew an attack was imminent, but not the location or the date. A warning was sent from Washington, but it arrived too late.
Japanese planes were spotted by radar before the attack, but they were assumed to be a flight of American B-17s coming from the West Coast.
On Dec. 7 1941, the first wave of Japanese airplanes left six aircraft carriers and struck Pearl Harbor a few minutes before 8 a.m.
For two hours Americans were killed and wounded. In all, 18 ships were sunk or damaged.
The attack hurled the U.S. into the war on Dec. 8.
