Saluting The Greatest Generation
Survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack gather officially for the last time, to be honored by Tom Brokaw
By Chad Pata
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A Marine rifle detail fires a salute at the USS Arizona
Memorial
As the Pearl Harbor survivors, many in their late 80s and early 90s, gather for their 65th and final official reunion, they will be honored by legendary newsman and de facto leader of the World War II generation, Tom Brokaw.
He was first here for their 50th commemoration, serving as the only national anchor to make the trip and honor their memories. The experience of meeting these heroes had an indelible effect on the man.
“I have always attributed that trip and the anniversary of D-Day to the reason for writing the book,” says Brokaw.
The book is The Greatest Generation, the 1998 book Brokaw wrote depicting the people of America as they survived the Great Depression, fought World War II and returned to build America into the power it is today.
The book sparked such national interest that he was compelled to print another book the following year named The Greatest Generation Speaks, made up entirely of letters and stories he received in response to the work.
Pearl Harbor historian Daniel Martinez worked closely with Brokaw on his first broadcast from Pearl Harbor and sees Brokaw as an inspiration.
“Tom has become a spokesman for World War II veterans,” says Martinez, who made the arrangements to bring Brokaw out here. “He has bestowed upon them the term ‘the greatest generation’that will last throughout time.”
Brokaw’s speech will be the culmination of a week’s events centered around the facts and stories of this seminal event in American history. The symposium, “A Nation Remembers,” will be held Dec. 2-5 featuring everything from documentary films to black-tie galas.
Two items that have piqued interest are the appearance of Japanese pilots who flew those runs that day and a confession from historians that they have had some basic facts from that day wrong for 65 years.
Zenji Abe and Takeshi Maeda flew into Pearl Harbor that ill-fated day and will relate their experiences from the other side of the conflict. The juxtaposition of their views with those of the survivors should help give the public a better view of what exactly happened that morning, which is something historians are still trying to figure out.
This admission by historians that they have had basic facts wrong on the history of that “Day of Infamy” comes with some chagrin, but they plan to unveil it at the symposium nevertheless.
James Leavelle manned the guns on the USS Whitney on
Dec. 7 and will be a featured presenter at the 65th
Anniversary Symposium
“There will not be any smugness in these revelations,” says Martinez. “We have been looking at these photos for 25 years and just looking right past the evidence.”
The commemoration will be held on the Kilo Pier at 7:40 a.m. on Dec. 7, featuring a wreath presentation, a missing man flyover and a speech from Brokaw. The ceremony is open to the public, but space is limited so there will also be seats available in the National Park’s two theaters, and KHNL will broadcast the entire ceremony live for those stuck at home.
A military color guard at Pearl Harbor
As for Brokaw, he is looking forward to addressing these survivors one last time, but he is not revealing everything he has to tell them.
“I don’t want to give it all away, but the basic theme is that this generation never stopped participating in the public arena. They were very public-minded and public-spirited,” says Brokaw.
“They came back and joined school boards and church wardens, and their wives were the same way. They ran for Congress and legislatures, and I find them in their
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