California Packing Corporation in DeKalb Gets Achievement "A" Award

From the February 27, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"DeKalb plant of the California  Packing Corporation was one of the six midwestern canneries to awarded the Achievement "A" award of the War Food Administration.

"This is the highest honor paid to members of the food industry as a reward for excellence and cooperation in the war effort in the food processing field."

--GreGen

Naval Wreckage Found Off Philippines: Might Be the Wreck of the Destroyer USS Johnston (DD-557)

From the November 1, 2019, Archaeology publication.  U.S. Naval Institute News "World War II-Era wreckage  found in the Philippines."

Discovered over 20,000 feet deep in the Philippine Sea and may be all that is left of the destroyer USS Johnston (DD-557) which was sunk during the Battle of Samar on October 25, 1944.

It was found by a team of researchers from Vulcan Inc, a company founded by the late philanthropist Paul Allen.

During the battle, four Japanese battleships surprised the Johnston and other U.S. ships supporting troop landings on Leyte.  Only 141  of the Johnston's crew of 327 survived.

The wreckage includes unidentifiable pieces of twisted metal, a gun deck and a propeller shaft.  It will be necessary to find part of the ship's hull with the identification number or crew personal effects in order to positively id the ship.  Another Fletcher-Class destroyer, the USS Hoel (DD-533) was also in the area at the time of the battle and sunk.

There was a lot of confusion at the battle.

Always a Great Thing to Locate One of the Sunken Warships.  --GreGen

Sycamore Honor Roll To Be Posted At Park in 1944

From the February 27, 2019, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"Sycamore's uptown park, at the corner of State and Sacramento Streets, will be the site of the honor roll for veterans of World War II.

"This large monument in honor of the men and women who are serving or who have served  in the present World War will be the gift to the city by seven patriotic organizations of the Sycamore Elks, Moose, the American Legion, Masonic order, Odd Fellows, Vikings and the Sycamore  Sportsmen's club."

--GreGen

A New Supply of Surgical Dressings in Malta in 1944

From the February 20, 2019, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"Mrs. Hallie  Elliott of Malta has received a new supply of surgical dressings to be folded for the Red Cross.  The classes, which have not met for the past few sessions will meet again at the Malta Township Library."

--GreGen

Flying Old Glory in Sycamore in 1944

From the February 20, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"By using some old material found at the Sycamore Preserve Works, the place now has  a flag pole and Old Glory floats in the breeze each day at the canning plant.

"J.W. Thuma has been endeavoring to erect  a flag pole at the plant for some time but priorities on piping made it impossible, until some boys employed there rigged up one that will answer the purpose until the war is over."

--GreGen

William J. Hoffman and LeRoy Weber at Pearl Harbor-- Part 2

The West Virginia was soon engulfed in flames and it wasn't until the next day that they were extinguished.It sank in shallow water, but was later raised, repaired and essentially rebuilt and rejoined the war later.

William J. Hoffman had a lot to do with the reconstruction of many of the damaged vessels.

After the huge salvage project at Pearl Harbor, he received another  commendation for his 'successful handling of the largest dry-docking program ever undertaken,' having supervised repairs on 139 dry-docks in his charge  in September 1944.

His first citation which he received several days after the attack  read "for extremely efficient  action and unusual presence of mind and disregard of personal safety during the attack on Pearl Harbor."

Weber enlisted in the Navy in 1939 and stayed in until 1945 and never forgot how close he had come to losing his life that day.  "The Phoenix was in an awful lot of battles," he said.  "But somehow, I made it through."

--GreGen

William J. Hoffman and LeRoy Weber at Pearl Harbor That Day-- Part 1

From the December 9, 2019, Wicked Local "Shore Lore:  Outer Cape to Pearl Harbor" by Don Wilding.

Two men from Eastham and Orleans, Massachusetts, (on Cape Cod) were lucky to survive that day.

William J. Hoffman, of  Eastham, was a civilian  in Naval service where he was the leading man  shipwright in the navy yard docks.  He received a citation after the battle from Secretary of the Navy Frank  Knox, reading in part that Hoffman "in on his own initiative, manning a rowboat and making repeated trips back and forth across the harbor under fire of bombers and machine guns bringing men from abandoned ships to  to the docks in the Navy Yard."

Prior to the attack, LeRoy Webster, from Minnesota at the time, but later a resident of Orleans,  was waiting on the deck of the USS Phoenix for a boat to carry him to the battleship USS West Virginia for church services.

"When the attack began, I was standing there waiting," said Weber. "If the boat had come to get me five minutes earlier, I would have been blown to bits."  The West Virginia was hard hit.

He saw the planes approaching, but, "I didn't realize it was the real thing until I got to my battle station.  I heard firing and bombs -- an then the West Virginia blew up."

--GreGen

Some More Pearl Harbor Headlines on the 78th Anniversary

**  And, now you know:  The day after Pearl harbor.

**  'Hard act to follow':   Pearl Harbor veterans  become rare gems as ranks thin 78 years after the tragedy.

**  Remembering the Montanans killed in Pearl Harbor attack.

**  Granddaughter proud of legacy of one of Cabell's last Pearl Harbor survivors.  (He was on the USS Maryland.)

**  78 years later, efforts continue to identify Pearl Harbor service members.

**  Nick in the AM:  78 years after  Pearl Harbor, LaSalle Countian's remains returning home.

**  Oak Forest vets welcome home WW II Marine killed in action.  (Marine Corps Pfc Marley R. Arthurholtz, 20, killed on USS Oklahoma.)

**  Pearl Harbor attack victims and other casualties remembered in ambitious project in Milwaukee.

**  Bernard Weber, 1918-1919   (On USS Oklahoma during attack.)

**  Five things to remember about Pearl Harbor.

--GreGen

The USS Arizona on the 78th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

These were headlines from yesterday's newspapers from around the country.  Pearl Harbor has definitely not been forgotten.

**  Pearl Harbor survivor will return to the USS Arizona a final time.    And he'll be the final one.

**  USS Arizona survivor remembers Pearl Harbor.

**  Luciano:  One of just three left, USS Arizona survivor recalls attack on Pearl Harbor.

**  Pearl Harbor Day:  USS Arizona videos.

**  Last remains of a Pearl Harbor survivor to be interred  on USS Arizona.

**  Honoring Pearl Harbor:  Youth learn about realities of war at 'Sacred Steel' exhibit in Mesa.

**  'Sacred Steel' exhibit opens on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, honoring the USS Arizona.

**  Sailor who helped rescue people from the USS Arizona recalls an emotional experience.

**  Camera explores inside the USS Arizona.

**  On the anniversary of Pearl Harbor,  just 3 survivors of the USS Arizona remain.

Not Forgotten.  --GreGen

A Whole Lot of Pearl Harbor Photos

The December 6, 2019, Winston-Salem (NC) Journal has probably 25 photos from the attack.

"Photos:  Attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

The Tulsa World also has a whole lot of photographs.

Augustan Shivers' Pearl Harbor Story

From the December 6, 1941, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle "Editorial:  How could Pearl Harbor be forgotten?"

Augustan Quentin Shivers was having his 21st birthday December 7, 1941.  he had just sat down in the officers' quarters to write a letter when the young Marine heard "a couple rumbles" which drew him to a window where he looked out across the harbor

He could see his vessel, the USS Pennsylvania on the far side.

"And the first thing I saw was an airplane way up on high just on fire-- just spiraling down on fire, just like you see in a  movie."

Unable to leave his post to get a rifle, sitting racked in his quarters, he said, "I just watched the Arizona blow up and watched everything go to hell."

Shivers died at age 96 in 2016, the year that it was estimated that there were still 2,000 to 2,500 Pearl Harbor survivors still alive.  That number dwindles every year and soon will dwindle to zero.

USS Arizona Survivor Lou Conter Arrives for Pearl Harbor Ceremony-- Part 2: Other Pearl Harbor Survivors

Lou Conter was quite surprised by the Red Carpet treatment he received on the way over and on arrival.  The crew of the plane were all Hawaii National Guard.  When he arrived, he was piped by whistle down two long rows of current Pearl Harbor sailors, something usually reserved for  high-ranking officers.

Triple Ace retired Colonel Clarence "Bud" Anderson, who had more than 16 kills  in Europe in his P-51 Mustang arrived on the same flight. and was similarly honored.

Tom Berg, who helped light the boilers of the USS Tennessee during the attack also was expected to arrive on Tuesday.

Other Pearl Harbor survivors are expected to arrive on Wednesday.  Stuart Hedley was on the USS West Virginia and Don Long was at Kaneohe Bay naval Air Station.

Ira J. Schab is the last of 22 bandmates from the  USS Dobbin and was getting ready to play morning colors when the bombs began to fall.  Jack Holder was in a hangar on Ford Island.

--GreGen

USS Arizona Survivor Lou Conter Arrives in Hawaii for Commemoration

From the December 4, 2019, Military.com site "Pearl Harbor survivors gets hero's welcome as he arrives to mark attack's anniversary" by William Cole.  Honolulu Star Advertiser.

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter flew in on Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321 from Sacramento, California, along with fifty family members.  The plane was welcomed at Hawaii's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport through a watery arch formed by two fire trucks.

Mr. Conter was on the Arizona's stern that day in 1941 when a Japanese  aerial bomb pierced the bow of the battleship, igniting a million pounds of gunpowder.  He helped badly injured men get off the ship after that.

A total of 1,177 men were killed on the Arizona that day.  Today, Mr. Conter is one of only three survivors of the ship still alive.  He is in Hawaii partly for the internment aboard the Arizona of shipmate Lauren Bruner who died September 10 at age 98.

"We have to bury Lauren Bruner on Saturday, so [I] had to come back," Conter said sitting in his wheelchair.  "I'll come out every year I can until I'm gone.  I'm only 98," he added with a laugh.

--GreGen

One of the WW II Survivors Is Expected to Be USS Arizona Survivor Lou Conter, 98

Lou Conter, age 98, is expected to be in attendance.  He is one of just three of that ship's survivors still alive.

This past year, Lauren Bruner, another Arizona survivor, died and his ashes will be interred on the wreck of the USS Arizona in a sunset ceremony.

***********************************

The morning ceremony will include a pass and review of the destroyer USS William P. Lawrence, a flyover by  the Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 fighters and remarks from the Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, retired Admiral Harry B. Harris.

Following the ceremony and associated events, public programs at the USS Arizona Memorial will begin.  Thankfully, the memorial itself has reopened.

--GreGen

More Than Two Dozen WW II Vets Expected at Pearl Harbor for 78th Anniversary Commemoration

From the December 4, 2019, Honolulu Star Advertiser by William Cole.

The 78th anniversary of the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is expected to include more than two dozen World War II veterans.  The theme is "Glimmers of Victory" and will also focus on the Doolittle Raid,  Battle of the Coral Sea and Midway.

The National Park Service and U.S. Navy will honor National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Saturday at the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center at 1 Arizona Memorial Place.

The ceremony will begin at 7:50 a.m.  and will commemorate the service and sacrifice of American service members and civilians who fought and died  during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oahu.

--GreGen

78th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

This Saturday will mark the 78th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which caused the United States to enter World War II, which had already been going on since 1939.

In commemorating it, I will write about it in this blog starting today and for the next several weeks.  On December 7, Saturday, I will write about it in all eight of my blogs.

It Won't Be Forgotten.  --GreGen

My sign off name by the way, GreGen, is short for Greatest Generation, of which, the Pearl Harbor people belonged.

Yep, Even Popcorn Is Regulated

From the February 20, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"Farmers in this district are in some cases in violation of the popcorn regulation in taking the processors mark-up while performing only one function of the processor, according to the announcement of the district OPA director.  A seller must perform all the duties of the processor as defined in the popcorn regulation to be allowed the mark-up.

"A processor means one who fully cleans, tests and grades popcorn.  There is no provision in the regulation for one who has this service performed for him on a custom basis, to be a processor.  No producer may qualify himself as a processor unless he actually performs all the processing functions himself."

Well, I imagine people making popcorn understand this better than I do.  OPA stands for Office of Price Administration which set price controls during the war.

It's Greek to Me.  --GreGen

The Hemp Crop Is In DeKalb County

From the February 6, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago,

"According to E,E, Houghtby, all hemp growers in the area of the Shabbona mill have completed their part of the  1943 growers contracts.

"The first load of straw passed over the scales  on October 26, and the last load was delivered to he mill on January  119, 1944.  Hemp growers in  Kirkland and Shabbona areas are to be highly commended for the excellent job that was done even in the face of great handicaps.  Growing hemp was an extra load at a time when labor was extremely scarce."

GreGen

"Meatless Tuesdays "At DeKalb Restaurants in 1944

From the January 16, 2019, MidWeek   (DeKalb County, Illinois)   "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

" 'Meatless Tuesday' greeted those eating at DeKalb restaurants today and menus found at various eating establishments were quite out of the ordinary.  Chicken, turkey and other fowl are on most menus as they may be purchased without ration stamps, the idea of meatless Tuesdays being to refrain from from serving meat which had to be purchased with ration stamps.

"Fish and eggs, also highlighted many of the menus, and from all indications there was no possibility of anybody having to go hungry."

--GreGen

A Navy Plane Made In DeKalb in 1943

From the October 10, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Employees of Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation and the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company witnessed the flight of the first plane to be produced at Interstate's DeKalb plant.  Hundreds cheered as the plane took to the air for the first time.

"Russell Whitesell and Carlton Darneal, Interstate pilots, thrilled the crowd and townspeople  with an exhibition of stunt flying used by planes built at Interstate's coastal plants.  Navy officials, other than those stationed at the plant flew into DeKalb for the demonstration.  Don P. Smith, president of the company was also present and expressed his appreciation of the speed with which the DeKalb plant was put into production."

--Cooter