USS Ward and the First Shots of Pearl Harbor

[ELB]

In honor of the defense of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, I'm posting an excellent little historical video by The History Guy on YouTube. The History Guy presents short (usually less than 15 minutes) videos on various historical events that may have slipped out of the mainstream of historical consciousness. His motto is "History that Deserves to be Remembered", and he is quite good at this. I recommend watching any and all of his videos.

The one he posted today was about the first skirmish during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. I never realized that the first shot fired American, and the first seacraft sunk was Japanese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcVnByFS7n8

Remember Pearl Harbor.

[ScottDLS]

In honor of the defense of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, I'm posting an excellent little historical video by The History Guy on YouTube. The History Guy presents short (usually less than 15 minutes) videos on various historical events that may have slipped out of the mainstream of historical consciousness. His motto is "History that Deserves to be Remembered", and he is quite good at this. I recommend watching any and all of his videos.

The one he posted today was about the first skirmish during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. I never realized that the first shot fired American, and the first seacraft sunk was Japanese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcVnByFS7n8

Remember Pearl Harbor.

Yesterday I saw an elderly gentleman in Starbucks with a WWII veteran ball cap on...I was trying to think of how to approach him and ask to shake his hand. There aren't many left... I turned away for a minute and he was gone...

[threoh8]

Here's another sidelight on Pearl Harbor: Niihau Incident.

Basically, a Zero pilot crashed on a small island. Islanders held him, but locals of Japanese descent helped him escape, destroy papers, and take hostages as he tried to make contact with the Japanese ships. The incident may have played a part in triggering Roosevelt's internment orders.

This could be made into an interesting movie. But probably won't.

[oljames3]

In honor of the defense of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, I'm posting an excellent little historical video by The History Guy on YouTube. The History Guy presents short (usually less than 15 minutes) videos on various historical events that may have slipped out of the mainstream of historical consciousness. His motto is "History that Deserves to be Remembered", and he is quite good at this. I recommend watching any and all of his videos.

The one he posted today was about the first skirmish during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. I never realized that the first shot fired American, and the first seacraft sunk was Japanese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcVnByFS7n8

Remember Pearl Harbor.

Yesterday I saw an elderly gentleman in Starbucks with a WWII veteran ball cap on...I was trying to think of how to approach him and ask to shake his hand. There aren't many left... I turned away for a minute and he was gone...

As long as you are polite, there is no wrong way to approach a veteran of any war, hot or cold. Every WWII vet I see, especially if I am with my children, gets a handshake, thanks, and an attentive listener. Don't hesitate; they are almost all gone.

[ELB]

Here's another sidelight on Pearl Harbor: Niihau Incident.

Basically, a Zero pilot crashed on a small island. Islanders held him, but locals of Japanese descent helped him escape, destroy papers, and take hostages as he tried to make contact with the Japanese ships. The incident may have played a part in triggering Roosevelt's internment orders.

This could be made into an interesting movie. But probably won't.

That's an interesting story, never heard about it before. Thanks for pointing it out.

ETA: You are right, this would make an excellent movie! Here's another account: https://www.damninteresting.com/inciden ... au-island/

[RogueUSMC]

In honor of the defense of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, I'm posting an excellent little historical video by The History Guy on YouTube. The History Guy presents short (usually less than 15 minutes) videos on various historical events that may have slipped out of the mainstream of historical consciousness. His motto is "History that Deserves to be Remembered", and he is quite good at this. I recommend watching any and all of his videos.

The one he posted today was about the first skirmish during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. I never realized that the first shot fired American, and the first seacraft sunk was Japanese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcVnByFS7n8

Remember Pearl Harbor.

Also, LtCmdr Outerbridge was the skipper of the Ward on Decemeber 7th. Three years later, he was the skipper of the USS O'Brien when the Ward had to be scuttled. The O'Brien opened up on the Ward with her main batteries until the Ward began to sink beneath the waves...