Service for Nevada's Last-Known Pearl Harbor Survivor: Ed Hall

From the November 11, 2022, Las Vegas Review-Journal by Mark Credico.

Dozens of people gathered on Veterans Day at the Las Vegas  Masonic Memorial Temple to pay tribute to Ed Hall who died November 2 at age 99.

In 2017, Mr. Hall received his high school diploma.  He had not gotten it earlier because he enlisted in the Army at age 16.  He was 18 when Pearl Harbor was attacked..

He was cleaning  a frying pan in the mess hall at Hickam Field when the attack came.  After he was pulled to cover and regained his wits, Hall commandeered a pickup truck and drove around the base for hours with a medic to rescue as many wounded as he could find.  At one point, multiple bullets came through  the cab of the truck, missing them, but shattering the windshield.

Hall lost a lot of friends that, something that he never forgot.

Hall's ashes will be interred in the Punchbowl Memorial Cemetery on  Hawaii.

--GreGen

Nevada's Last Pearl Harbor Survivor Dies: Ed Hall, 99

From the November 5, 2022, Daily Mail by Andrea Cavallier.

Ed Hall, 99, died November 2 at the North Las Vegas VA Center.  He was just 18 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

In 2020, he had said he was saddened to know that he was believed too be the last Pearl Harbor survivor in Nevada.

On that fateful day, he was an Army private and on kitchen duty cleaning a frying pan when he heard what he thought to be a malfunctioning  air compressor.  But when he walked outside  the mess hall at Hickam Field he saw a full-blown attack going on.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor David Payne Turns 100-- Part 2: No Time to Fear... At First

Being stationed in Hawaii before December 7, 1941, was fun and exciting.  But, that morning, he woke up and looked outside the window of his third floor barracks at Hickam Field.

"The battleship Arizona was parked only about a half mile  from where I was.  I seen this torpedo plane heading towards  the, the ship," Payne explained.  "I probably saw the  torpedo that sank the  Arizona.  The loudest sound I ever heard."

At that moment, he didn't know what was going on, it was all happening so fast.  He didn't even have time to be afraid.  Then it came to him what was going on.  "Except when they were.    I was out there on the ground when they were shooting at me.  I was scared then.  I was praying then," Payne said.

He was one of the many men who rushed outside  and tried to save the planes at the base as the Japanese planes flew low, just 20 feet overhead.

"I'd lay down.  I'd see a plane coming, I'd lay flat , figured I'd be a smaller target..  Ans when he got over me, I'd rise up and shoot at him with a .45 pistol.  All I had was a .45 pistol,"  Payne said, laughing.  "1,000 to 1 I'd probably hit him, but at least I was throwing lead at him."

--GreGen

Effort Underway to Identify 'Unknown' World War II Troops Buried in the Philippines

From the January 5, 2020, Navy Times.  AP

They were buried in the Philippines and now have been sent to Hawaii for identification. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recently conducted an  "honorable carry" ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for 40 sets of  unidentified remains. They were exhumed from the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.  They will be examined for DNA at a lab at Hickam.

The agency, which has an annual budget of $169 million and hundreds of personnel in Hawaii, investigates, recovers and identifies American military personnel from past wars.

--GreGen

Two Pearl Harbor Survivors To Speak At WW II Round Table

From the November 29, 2017, Press & Journal (Pennsylvania)  "Pearl Harbor survivors to speak at local World War II Roundtable event December 7."

Richard "Dick" Schimmel of Allentown was at a radar station at Fort Shafter where he worked a s a plotter and switchboard operator.

William Bonelli was an aircraft mechanic with the Army Air Corps at Hickam Field

The Central Pennsylvania World War II Roundtable meets at the Grace United Methodist Church in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.

I Sure Wish We had a WW II Round Table Around Here.  --GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor Remembered in New Hampshire

From the February 27, 2017, New Hampshire Union-Leader  "Pearl Harbor survivor from Rochester remembered" by Kimberly Haas.

Roland "Sonny" Dagon, 97, a Purple Heart recipient, died February 24, 2017.  He was at Hickam Field with the Army Air Corps, that day.  he remembered the Japanese planes flying in low and ducked under a nearby trailer until he realized the paint shop a few yards away was on fire.

He fled and was wounded by flying shrapnel.

He enjoyed sulky-racing until the age of 88.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Veteran Laid to Rest

From the February 16, 2016, KOLO News ABC.

Fernley, Nevada.

One of the last Pearl Harbor survivors in northern Nevada, Roland Peachee, 99, has died.

He was a petty officer 1st class on the USS Rigel and going about his duties as a butcher when the attack came.  He came through the attack unscathed, but the Navy sent a telegram to his foster family in Indiana saying he was missing..

They were greatly shocked when they saw him again.  According to Mr. Peachee, "They said, 'It can't be you,' I said, 'Well, why not?' 'Well, you were reported dead at Pearl Harbor.'"

Also in attendance was his friend of thirty years, Robert Lloyd, 94, the last remaining northern Nevada Pearl Harbor survivor who was at Hickam Field.

In an update, it was learned there is another northern Nevada survivor, Richard Laubert, 94, who was stationed at the Naval Hospital during the attack.  He retired from the Navy after 20 years service.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor's Children, Grandchildren Carry Out Final Request

From the June 28, 2016, DVIDS by Johans Chavarri.

William F. White, 87, joined the Navy in 1938 and served on the USS Beaver, Sperry, Bushnell, Submarine Base Midway Island and the USS Matthews.

He was at Hickam Air Force Base waiting for his Navy discharge on Dec. 7, 1941.  He had been sleeping with his weapon and gear getting ready to turn them in when he heard the distant explosions.

According to Jim Taylor, Pearl Harbor survivors' liason, "When he realized the loud noises were bombs exploding, he and another sailor dived beneath the same desk and they banged heads.  It was his only injury for the entire war."

Of course, his discharge was cancelled.

He asked to have his ashes scattered at the USS Utah Memorial in Pearl Harbor.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor Max Baker Dies: "That Damn Navy, They're Even Practicing on Sundays"

From the June 23, 2016, Topeka (Kansas) Capital-Journal "Pearl Harbor survivor from Topeka dies at age 94" by Phil Anderson.

Max Baker, 94, died June 11, 2016,. During the attack he was in the U.A. Army Air Corps based at Hickam Field.  The native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, said he had his obituary printed in at least two Pennsylvania newspapers in the days of confusion that followed the attack.

He was in his bunk thinking about getting breakfast when he heard explosions.  "My first thought was 'That damn Navy, they're even practicing on Sundays."

Running out of the barracks, he helped get ammunition and machine guns into two of the few undamaged B-17 bombers at Hickam Field.  A bomb struck his barracks and destroyed his bunk and all of his possessions except his Bible.

He served 52 consecutive months with the 31st Bomb Squadron in the Pacific Theater and moved to Topeka after the war.

--GreGen

Relic of the USS Arizona Finds New Home at Pearl Harbor-Hickam Field Joint Base

From the June 3, 2016, Ho' Okele Pearl Harbor-Hickam News "Relic of the USS Arizona finds a new home at Joint Base."

An anchor cross made from salvaged metal from the sunken battleship USS Arizona that was crafted by retired U.S. Navy Captain Charles Swanson in the early 1970s has been given to the Pearl Harbor-Hickam Joint Base.

It had been kept for many years at St. George's Episcopal Church in Hawaii, which has since closed.

--GreGen

North Texas Pearl Harbor Survivors Mark Anniversary

From the Dec. 8, 2015, Dallas Morning News.

A ceremony was held at the Dallas Veterans resource Center.  These three survivors attended:

Robert Tanner, 94, an Army Air Corps pilot stationed at Hickam Field.

John Edward Lowe, 95, on the fleet oiler USS Neosho.

William Hughes, 94, USS Utah

--GreGen

Death of Pearl Harbor Survivor Jack Carson, 92

From the Nov. 24, 2015, Kansas City Star "Kansas City area  Pearl Harbor survivor dies" by Brian Burnes.

Died Monday at 92.

Was a member of U.S. Army Air Corps with a tow target detachment at Hickam Field.  Was awakened by a droning noise and went to his balcony and saw a Japanese plane pass overhead.

He never talked much about it until he attended a survivors commemoration in Pearl Harbor in 2006 and then became very active.

Born 1923 in Keokuk, Iowa and retired fro Air Force after 30 years.His death leaves just three Kansas City area survivors.

--GreGen

McHenry County's First World War II Casualty

From the May 29, 2012, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Il.) "First WWII casualty in McHenry County remembered decades later" by Stephen D. Benedetto.

On December 7, 1941, Private Joseph Nelles of Woodstock was preparing the altar for Mass at the makeshift chapel at Hickam Field.  He had dreams of becoming a priest and was an assistant chaplain.

He was at first thought to be missing but later was confirmed among the dead from that day.His body was found near the base of the altar.

His watch had stopped at 7:50.

He is buried at Diamond Head Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu.

In 1995, the current Air Force Base Chapel was named after him.

--GreGen

Death of Pearl Harbor Survivor in 2012

From the April 11, 2012, Panama City (Fl) News Herald:"Update: Pearl Harbor survivor dies."

Ronnie Everitt, 93, died April 11, 2012.

He was an Army radar technician at Hickam Field on Oahu and was having breakfast.  he thought the Marines were having exercises.

After the attack, day and night, he manned a machine gun in  a pit along with others spaced every 50-100 yards apart.

--GreGen

Michigan's Upper Peninsula At Pearl Harbor-- Part 1

From the Dec. 6, 2013, Iron Mountain (Mich) Daily News "Dec. 7 a day to rememember."

According to Larry Chabot of Marquette, author of "U.P. Goes to War: Upper Michigan and Its Heroes in World War II," these 12 U.P. residents died in the first hours of the war.

Saturday, I gave one name in each of my blogs but will list them all here:

MANFRED C. ANDERSON of Hancock, 18th Bombardment Group, Hickam Field.

JOSEPH BARAGA of Channing on USS Arizona.

DONALD CLASH of Iron Mountain on USS Arizona. Later in the war, his brother JAMES was killed in Germany March 1945.

KENNETH COOPER of Iron Mountain on USS California.

FRANCIS A. CYCHOSZ of Bessemer on USS Arizona. His brother RAYMOND was later severely wounded in Italy while a member of the famed 10th Mountain Division.

WILLIAM M. FINNEGAN of Bessemer and Dollar Bay on USS Oklahoma. Survived by his wife and five children. Later in the war, a U.S. Navy ship was named for him.

--GreGen

Manchester, New Hampshire's Pearl Harbor Connection

From the Dec. 5, 2013, New Hampshire Union Leader "Family wants remains of Swanzey sailor at PH returned for NH burial" by Paul Feely.

A ceremony in 2009 named the bridge across the Merrimack River into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge. About 18 Pearl Harbor survivors from New Hampshire attended it.

Four Manchester natives were killed in the attack: Seaman 2nd Class JOE ROZMUS died on the USS Arizona. Army Sergeant MAURICE ST. GERMAIN and Private JOSEPH JEDRYSIK died at Hickam Field. Seaman 1st Class CROSSETT was shot twice by a Japanese plane as he headed to the crow's nest of the USS Utah.

There will be a memorial service today at 11 AM at the New Hampshire Veterans Home and another at 9 AM at Arms Park on the Merrimack River in Manchester.

-- GreGen