[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 176 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR--75 YEARS LATER

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2016

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the sun was lazily rising on the 
horizon over the islands of Hawaii. It was around breakfast time on a 
stunning Sunday morning. It was quiet, peaceful, calm. People felt 
secure. There was a small tropical breeze as the American flag was 
being raised on a nearby flagpole. On December 7, 1941, America was at 
peace and unprepared for war.
  Suddenly, large formations of aircraft swarmed the blue Hawaii sky. 
The rising sun was darkened by hundreds of Japanese planes as they 
strafed and bombed Pearl Harbor. The Japanese unleashed a fury of 
deadly, devastating bombs and torpedoes on the small island. The first 
attack of the Second World War on American soil was underway. It was 75 
years ago today when Luke Trahin, a 22-year-old sailor from Beaumont, 
in southeast Texas and his fellow sailors, soldiers, and marines saw 
war unleashed upon America.
  Until that moment World War two was a far-off conflict. America 
watched silently, abstaining from the violence. But the days of 
innocence were over. America was under attack.
  The Japanese had caught America by surprise and took advantage of an 
unprepared nation. And after the smoke cleared on that morning of 
madness, 98 Navy planes and 64 Army aircraft were destroyed. Luke's 
unit, Patrol Wing One, lost all but three of its 36 aircraft. 2,471 
Americans, servicemen, and civilians were killed by this unwarranted 
invasion of terror from the skies.
  The pride of the United States Navy, the battleships--West Virginia, 
California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Maryland, Nevada, and Arizona--
were trapped in the harbor. They made easy targets for the Japanese 
pilots. The sailors onboard these battle wagons fought with the courage 
of entire legions of warriors when they were attacked by a skillful, 
fanatical, and tyrannical enemy. All of these fierce U.S. Navy 
battleships were sunk or damaged. Their guns, Mr. Speaker, are now 
silent.
  The hull of the USS Arizona became the sacred graveyard in the 
peaceful Pacific for more than 1,177 American sailors and marines. Luke 
Trahan and his Navy buddies in Patrol Wing One quickly got organized, 
prepared, and waited for two days for the expected land invasion of the 
Japanese. It never came. But America was at war.
  World War II had long been raging before America officially entered 
into the conflict. Spreading from the Pacific to Europe all the way to 
Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
  The Japanese, then the Nazis; seemed undefeatable. But even the 
Japanese were concerned about the spirit of America. The Japanese 
commander of the Pearl Harbor invasion remarked that what Japan had 
done was wake a sleeping giant. Millions served in uniform overseas; 
millions served on the home front; all sacrificed for the cause of 
America. The nation woke from a somber sleep of neutrality and, with 
our allies, defeated the tyrants that would rule over the world. That 
was a time when Americans put aside all differences and united to 
defend freedom in our Nation. When the war was won, over 400,000 
Americans had given their lives for this nation.
  Until September 11th, this was the deadliest attack on U.S. soil. 
``December 7, 1941, a date that will live in infamy,'' were words 
spoken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that became forever embedded 
in the minds of patriots across our land, igniting and launching a 
nation into the fiery trenches of battle throughout the world.
  Those of that Greatest Generation proved that when the peace of this 
nation is threatened, our people will stand up and fight back, bringing 
the thunder of God upon our enemies. Defending freedom and liberty was 
the battle cry of the sailors and soldiers that died 75 years ago at 
Pearl Harbor. We must continue to remember December 7th, 1941 and the 
Americans who stood tall and kept the flame of America glowing 
brightly.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________