Pearl Harbor 2011

This man is one of my greatest hero's and while he was not part of Pearl Harbor 70 years ago today, he was certainly impacted by it. He like so many became a part of the forces to join and battle for our freedom. This isn't his Marine uniform of which he looked so handsome in but a time period photo. He spoke very little of his experiences in the war but I do know that he fought two times in the Pacific the last being on Okinawa.

My experiences here on Oahu have taught me a great deal about WWII and I am so grateful for that. I have learned to love to go to Pearl Harbor and show my respect, the movie never fails to teach me something or leave me in awe of that day. Today's 70th Memorial Anniversary is attended by 13 surviving Arizona members and they will dis ban the Society to keep them a survivors group because they are so old and feeble. Now they ask "Never forget", I will never forget them or any other troops who fight for our nation.
USS Arizona under attack

USS Arizona's fall into the harbor.

The newspapers headlines from that time.

Today's Star Advertiser. " Never Forget!"

The USS Arizona Memorial

My hero, my friend, my dad, Milton Ralph Smith.

(I had hoped to go to the ceremony this morning but because tickets were so limited and I would have to be there by 4:00 am to have a "chance" for public seating. I have been able to watch it live, I am glad that there are so many in attendance and can at least see the ceremony.)

Disbelief

While at dinner last night with Kerry these two young girls were talking very loudly and one of them said "it isn't 1945 anymore, the war is over why don't people just get over it." I never wanted to get up and shake someone so badly. Since it is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor there have been many articles in the paper about the few veterans of WWII that survive and how they worry that they will be a forgotten generation...I give thanks for them and all veterans since who sacrifice for us. Hopefully we won't just get over it! (This was a post on Facebook earlier today. Following are some of the responses. They touched me.)


Gayle Rogers Lewis Thank you Lauri, I feel that our very young adults don't get it. They have had it pretty easy. No WWII, No Korea, No Vietnam and their understanding of Iraq doesn't exist because it doesn't affect them directly. I worry about their reaction to many things.
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike


Janine Hiatt Mashburn Wow...I have no words...
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike


Kerry Stevenson The two great wars were globally tragic, but they created several generations of men and women for whom sacrifice was/is sacred. That is what is missing. A sense of purpose and shared sacrifice that makes service a sacred duty!
7 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1


Sharon Rogers Rankin This makes me so sad. Just another example of how some of the young people in this country think it's all about them. I know I won't forget all of those that sacrificed for us and I have done as much as I can to make sure my girls won't forget. My husband always says, "Not that I want another war, but it is the best thing that could happen to this country to make us come together and care about our country and our flag again." There is so little patriotism anymore.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike


Anne Tyson Gessel That makes me so angry! They need to talk to someone who lived through it! I know I didn't but my grandpa was a POW during that war and I will forever be grateful and never forget the past, present and future military servicemen and women! Let us please remember what happened on that horrible day and hope that history doesn't repeat itself.
3 hours ago · UnlikeLike · 1


Ken Jensen Its pretty sad. I can't say that I understand war any better than they do, but I do value life and value all the freedoms that I enjoy. Moreover I understand that the freedoms I enjoy were purchased with blood. I hope that I never under value that sacrifice. God Bless America and every soldier who has fought for it!
2 hours ago · UnlikeLike · 1


Brian Boyd Maybe they can go Occupy something.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike


Kerry Stevenson I can think of several things they could go Occupy.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike


Rachel Lunt That is horrible. Around 6% of the world population lost their lives in WWII. My kids had to write about what they value to graduate from nova (dare). One read his paper today and said he values and is thankful for those that serve their countr.
37 minutes ago · LikeUnlike


Rachel Lunt Country and have given their lives. He got very emotional and is so proud of his country. This from an 11 year old. I only hope it lasts. We should have that pride for our country and reverence for those that serve or served it!
36 minutes ago · UnlikeLike · 1

Compassion

We have officially been on the Island of Oahu again for a week. It has been a very different trip for obvious reasons. We finally made it over to the beach to see the sunset on Sunday afternoon and I took this picture of him. He told me to quit taking pictures of him that he would hate but I told him I was just documenting things. After my last trip here in July I knew things would be and feel different and it truly has.

One thing, however, that has been really sweet this time is the compassion that people have shown for Kerry. Everywhere he goes complete strangers ask if he is ok, and the voices are so tender. It is pretty amazing. Compared to home where people just look at him and look away. Not that he wants or needs the attention it is just sweet to see.

Loyal, Strong and True, wear the white and blue!

Anyone who really knows me knows that I am an avid BYU fan. ALWAYS, I am NOT a fair weather fan. BYU is more than athletics for me, it represents who I am, my values, my standards, my religion. BYU has taken some pretty nasty hits over the years and yet it still hangs in there.

During our travels to Honolulu over the last four years we have heard a lot of trash talk about BYU despite the LDS population on the island. When BYU was in the WAC years ago they played UH on a regular basis and in most cases BYU won easily. When you hear past players or coaches talk about BYU it is usually pretty nasty. We have heard a lot of it lately. We arrived here a week ago and the trash talk has been really bad. One particular show talked about the past rivalry and how big this game was for Hawaii.This game also determined if UH would go to a bowl game and possibly the current coach being let go. Naturally they talked about how they would beat BYU and relived the last victory etc. They talked about the big games were always against BYU...kind of reminds me of the U of U and all of their trash talk.


As soon it was announced that BYU here this year I told Kerry I really wanted to attend the game. It was great fun. We were sitting up really high, the sound system was horrid but the fans around us were a lot of fun. I worried about how we would be greeted after the way Rebecca and I were treated in Las Vegas last spring for the MWC tournament but that was in vain the UH fans were warm and gracious just like the Oregon State fans were. Maybe the Independence isn't so bad afterall.


The view from our seats, pregame.






The native Hawaiians did the Haka (sp) inside the circle of players, I was sad the entire team didn't do it but as the BYU players went inside just before the start the entire UH team faced them and did it to them.
The first half was ok but BYU came out in the second half after making some changes and quickly wrapped up the game. It was a lot of fun to be there. Attendance to the UH games have been down and there were a few more there because of the hype but there were almost as many there for the Cougars. We had a lot up in the area we were in and we all made a lot of noise and had fun.







Kerry and I were anxious to see the newspaper the following day after all of the negative stuff the previous week. It was great I couldn't resist putting it on here.

What a catch Hoffman made, especially when it looked like Riley Nelson was going to be sacked on this play!!!

The Stake that we attend here in Honolulu is led by President Uale so we have watched his son play with great interest. Sad he is a senior though.

The front of the sports section in the Advertiser.

Last best of all the headline.

GO COUGARS!!!

Kerry is here on the Island working again after his recent surgeries. I haven't been here since July and so I am here with him for two reasons

1. Because I can be with him and make sure he is being good and not lifting things he shouldn't.
2. Because I can and want to be with him.

One benefit to being here this time is because of the BYU/Hawaii football game. To say that the Hawaii team and fans are taking it seriously is a major understatement!!! The above picture seen in the paper at least twice this week might be an indicator. All I can say is BYU better be reacy and play a good game. I am not one of those fans who are fair weather, I am a cougar fan through and through, even if it has been an up and down season all I can say is GO COUGARS.

Another benefit is to be on the Island for the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. I don't know the plans yet but to be here for a part of history is kind of special to me. My time on Oahu has been a major educational experience for me as I have learned more and more about World War II.