Bob Fernandez, a 100-year-old Pearl Harbor Navy veteran, reflects on his experience during the attack on December 7, 1941, when he was just a 17-year-old high school student serving in the U.S. Navy. Fernandez, along with another survivor, had planned to return to Pearl Harbor for the 83rd anniversary of the attack but had to cancel due to health issues.
The attack on Pearl Harbor killed over 2,300 U.S. servicemen, with nearly half on the USS Arizona, where the remains of more than 900 crew members are still entombed. A moment of silence is held each year at the time the attack began, with aircraft in missing man formation flying overhead to mark the occasion.
Despite being lauded as heroes, Fernandez humbly sees himself as just an ammunition passer during the attack. He recalls the fear and chaos on his ship, the USS Curtiss, as they scrambled to return fire on Japanese planes. The ship lost 21 men and nearly 60 were injured during the attack.
After the war, Fernandez led a humble life, working as a forklift driver at a cannery and raising a family. His wife of 65 years passed away in 2014, and he has outlived two of his children. Despite the passage of time and the decline in survivors attending Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremonies, Fernandez still cherishes the memories of his service and continues to enjoy music and dancing.
Fernandez’s story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by individuals like him during one of the most significant events in U.S. history, the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Source
Photo credit abc7.com