From the Dec. 6, 2014, Whidbey (Washington) News-Times "Story of Pearl Harbor survivors to be shared Dec. 7" by Janis Reid.
Gayle Vyskocil will share her late husband's story as part of the annual Pearl Harbor of the Pearl Harbor remembrance at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, December 7th in the chapel at Ault Field. She will be the keynote speaker. She will be delivering a speech written by her late husband James Vyskocil.
The cascade chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association has lost many members in the last several years and is now down to just a few.
James Vyskocil was a signal man third class at the attack and retired as a lt.-cmdr. after thirty years. He not only fought in World War II, but also the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Mr. Vyskocil was on duty at the naval shipyard tower that morning, Dec. 7, 1941, and watched as Ford Island was bombed and ship after ship exploded. He and his shipmates gave the first warning alert of the attack and remained on duty on the open platform of the 90-foot tower until the next day.
They came down and then helped recover bodies.
Later in the war, he saw combat at five major sea battles and survived three aircraft crashes.
Gone, But Not Forgotten. --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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