Meeting Pearl Harbor vets
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:10 pm
When I first moved to Zhills a few years ago I went to the Military Museum and met 4 Pearl Harbor vets. I listened to them tell their stories and was amazed at how humble they all were.
Hadn't been back until today. Sadly, Mr. Kaas, who was a charm to talk to had passed away about a year after I had met him.
Needless to say, today I got to the ceremony late but was able to chat with Mr. Earl, who is 94 ears old and a hoot!!! He was on the USS Curtiss and described that day like it was yesterday!
Surprisingly, he told me (of the many tales...some involving "alcohol and women" ) that his biggest battle was in the Panama Canal. He said his ship there, as well as many others, took a severe beating as the "Japs" (his words!) would strafe their boats parallel and cause some pretty horrific damage.
Another surprise was when he told me, out of everything he's been through, his most feared near-death experience was stateside, coming back from a night of drinking with the crew. He had just bought a 1931 Chevy and, after tying one on, he let his friend drive them back to base. He said he had opened his eyes to see his friend passing a truck, on a hill, into a curve, on a two-lane, and a bus coming right at them! He said he closed his eyes and when he opened them, the bus was in the rearview!
Anyway, I didn't get a photo op as he had to go and I was jawing with him as we walked out to his car. But what a nice man! Sad to know there's so very few left in this world. They were, literally, world-changers!
Hadn't been back until today. Sadly, Mr. Kaas, who was a charm to talk to had passed away about a year after I had met him.
Needless to say, today I got to the ceremony late but was able to chat with Mr. Earl, who is 94 ears old and a hoot!!! He was on the USS Curtiss and described that day like it was yesterday!
Surprisingly, he told me (of the many tales...some involving "alcohol and women" ) that his biggest battle was in the Panama Canal. He said his ship there, as well as many others, took a severe beating as the "Japs" (his words!) would strafe their boats parallel and cause some pretty horrific damage.
Another surprise was when he told me, out of everything he's been through, his most feared near-death experience was stateside, coming back from a night of drinking with the crew. He had just bought a 1931 Chevy and, after tying one on, he let his friend drive them back to base. He said he had opened his eyes to see his friend passing a truck, on a hill, into a curve, on a two-lane, and a bus coming right at them! He said he closed his eyes and when he opened them, the bus was in the rearview!
Anyway, I didn't get a photo op as he had to go and I was jawing with him as we walked out to his car. But what a nice man! Sad to know there's so very few left in this world. They were, literally, world-changers!