ONLY FIVE PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS LEFT
Jim Hite

Jim and Joyce Hite are shown on a recent trip to Hawaii with Alfred Rodriquez, one of the last five survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Photo contributed)

With Christmas less than one week away, it would seem obvious that this column would be about that holy day, holiday celebration.

But, please let me digress for just a few paragraphs.

Joyce and I were most fortunate to have been in Honolulu, Hawaii, for almost two weeks at the end of November and the beginning of December. We were there as delegates of the Georgia Association to the USA Track and Field national convention. Also, the trip provided Joyce the opportunity to run the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 9.

As you can see from the dates, we were in Honolulu on Dec. 7.

I remember that day from 66 years ago. Or rather, I remember the day after. I remember coming into the kitchen where the radio was on. My parents would not speak to me. When I asked what was wrong, my dad told me very succinctly: "It's war!"

As a second grader, I did not know what that word meant. But like many of you, I learned.

The one place I wanted to visit while in Honolulu was Pearl Harbor. And while a vicious storm just about shut down the island of O'ahu and closed Pearl on the day we were scheduled to tour, we did make it the next day.

Of course, the newspaper was covering the events surrounding the remembrance. On Dec. 4, the Honolulu Advertiser headlined a picture this way: "And now there are only 5 left."

The reference was to the five volunteers who mingle with visitors, five survivors of the attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor, the event that brought the United States into World War II.

Ten years ago, there were 15. A few years ago, there were 10. Now, there are five.

Our tour driver called Joyce and me over to meet one of the five. Alfred Rodriguez, 87, born in Kapa'a, Kaua'i, stood up and extended his hand. After a short introduction, he asked if we'd like to have our picture taken with him. Our driver took our camera and snapped history!

I find it difficult to put into words what I felt. As with many of you, many in my family fought in World War II; some did not return home. But all are now deceased. Here I stood with a man who lived through the attack given a name burned in my memory: Pearl Harbor! In school, we would sing: "Let's remember Pearl Harbor, as we did the Alamo. Let's remember Pearl Harbor, as we go to meet the foe. Let's remember Pearl Harbor, and go on to victory!"

Pearl Harbor! Battleship Row! USS Arizona! USS Oklahoma! Ford Field!

Visiting the Arizona Memorial was a sobering experience. Every person on the launch and on the memorial was silent or spoke no louder than a whisper. I had a difficult time with the flood of emotions and memories I did not realize would hit so hard.

But above all, it was shaking the hand of Alfred Rodriquez and having his hand on my shoulder that meant the most. Even at my age, I could meet history. I had a connection to that "Day of Infamy" which was followed by the day my dad said the word: War!

I had a marvelous experience at Pearl. I wish all of you could do the same.

When these living survivors are gone, will we remember? Will you?