. . . . . . . Johnny Gage MEGA PING . . . . . . .
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Posted on 01/20/2003 8:44:12 AM PST by AFA-Michigan
HICKORY, N.C. -- When James R. Glenn, a 19-year-old Marine private, began a four-year tour of duty at Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, he never imagined the events that would unfold shortly after his arrival on Oct. 10, 1941.
Glenn’s company was on guard duty Dec. 7, 1941, a day he remembers clearly. His company was standing in the street, wearing pressed khakis, "spit" shined shoes and carrying empty rifles, with 15 rounds of ammunition in the guardhouse. The first Japanese plane flew over.
A sergeant who had served in China recognized the Japanese planes.
"We rushed to the guardhouse and got what little ammunition they had," Glenn said. "We went back out and started shooting at planes."
The ammunition soon ran out and the young Marines couldn’t find anyone with a key to the armory.
After using a pickup truck to break down the locked door to the armory, they quickly returned to the street and spread out to fire at Japanese aircraft flying low overhead.
"We could see planes going down, and smoke and explosions from the ships," Glenn said. "I think everybody wondered if troops were going to land; we were apprehensive of another attack."
Glenn’s unit later received a presidential citation for downing a Japanese aircraft with rifle fire.
Each year in early December, Glenn recalls the horrific events of that day. This year was different.
Glenn received a personal invitation from Rear Admiral Robert T. Conway Jr., Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, to attend a Memorial Service commemorating the 61st anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
"I had been to Hawaii several times, but never for a memorial service," Glenn said. "We were treated like celebrities. There were less than 20 survivors there."
The memorial service was held aboard the USS Arizona, now a memorial. Each survivor was allowed to take one guest aboard; Glenn took his son, Gary.
"Our wives were invited to another function," Glenn said with a smile.
Glenn said there were four seats to a row, and he and son sat in the row with a Marine Brigadier General and his wife.
For Glenn, the service held some unforgettable moments, such as the ships passing in review, missing man fly over, rifle salute, and the commemorative address.
The most meaningful part of the ceremony was the presentation of the wreaths over the side of the Arizona, into the water.
Glenn was amazed, on the barge ride out to the ship, to meet Steve C. Laws from Hickory.
"That was quite a surprise to meet someone from Hickory," Glenn said. "He is national commander of the Sons of the American Legion and during the memorial service, he threw a wreath representing the SAL into the water."
A non-profit group, "Stand Up for America," presented Glenn with a certificate of appreciation for his service on Dec. 7, 1941.
While in Hawaii, one of the admiral’s aides took Glenn on a tour of the Navy yard.
"I stood in the exact spot I was in when I fired at the planes 61 years ago," Glenn said quietly.
Glenn also visited Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, where his 17-year-old basic training buddy, Robert Peak is buried. Glenn and Peak had done to a movie in Honolulu on Saturday night; the next morning, Peak was killed on the Oklahoma.
This is only one of the sad and painful memories Glenn experienced on his eight-day visit.
The Arizona is the final resting place of more than 1,100 sailors and Marines, something Glenn remembers with reverence and respect, saying the visit was a "bittersweet" one.
"After 61 years, oil keeps coming up to the surface from the ship; I saw it and smelled it," Glenn said. "I’ll never forget."
. . . . . . . Johnny Gage MEGA PING . . . . . . .
Freep mail me if you want off my list
The guide was well into his spiel when he mentioned that The Detroit, a Destroyer, was the first ship out of the harbor after the bombing started and that they had chased the planes and fired upon them from the deck with anything the men could get their hands on. The Detroit was commended for showing bravery during chaos and leading the other ships to safety that were able to get underway. Several family members turned and looked dumbfounded at my uncle because he had never told this story in all the years that had passed since the War. He was sitting there (a big, brawny, strong man) quietly weeping.
Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack two years ago, so he cannot be here to tell us how he changed from a cocky high school kid to a man in one hour on Dec. 7, 1841.
I love those WWII guys, watching them drop off one by one has been more difficult than I had imagined.
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