It’s a rare overcast, misty, rainy day that sets the tone for the remembrance of this day. Deeply honored to have been at the Headquarters of the Pacific Air Forces, with having fate intervene to meet one of the 26 survivors of the Pearl Harbor attacks in 1941 that made it back to the islands this week. At 95 years, with guardian angels and a glow upon him, Radioman Edward Stone was aboard the USS Pyro – an ammunition ship docked next to Battleship Row during the attack. His profound energy and love for life was abundant. On his ship that was built for WW I in 1918, manned with WWI weapons to fight a WWI fight, he maned his ship’s gun to watch and shoot as the first Japanese Zero came at him 100 feet off the water and banked around to Battleship Row to drop torpedoes. Never had he seen a plane like that nor a capability like that. A torpedo came within 12 feet of his ship and he kept his position gunning with futile weapons at the Japanese Zeros. 

Pure serendipity, pure fate that we came together under the American Flag that flew at Hickman Air Base on that day, in a building of the command of the Pacific Air Force that is still riddled with bullets holes and still stands today, same as Radioman Stone, that is a testament to our nation’s resilience to uphold our democracy. 

He is an American Hero. That is what our country is all about – self-sacrifice on behalf of others, with a humility and love of the life he has been given. Acknowledging his guardian angels, his lost shipmates, and this day of infamy in the history of the United States of America.

Love your country as it loves you.