A Witness to History B y : Je n n i f e r S a g o n- Ta e z a , E du c a t i o n S p e c i a l i s t , P a c i f i c Historic Parks and Amy Ogasawara, Education and Vo lu nte e r P ro g ra m C o o rd i n ato r , P a c i f i c H i s to r i c P a r k s
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e was born on the shores of Pearl Harbor and would play on the train tracks near his family’s farm near Ford Island. On December 7, 1941, when he was 11 years old, James Hoy Sau Lee, known to family and friends as Jimmy, saw planes fly over his home. He ran to those train tracks. The military would practice often, but that hardly ever happened on a Sunday. When the explosions began, he wondered, could it be a movie. It didn’t take long to realize that something wasn’t right. He ran back home. His father grabbed him and the family ran up to the mountains. Jimmy’s father told him they were under attack by the Japanese and they needed to hide. Life on the farm would never be the same. Jimmy Lee had just become a witness to history. Growing up in the wartime years, Jimmy experienced what it was like to follow strict Martial Law rules, such as abiding by curfews times, lights out and rationing. After attending Aiea Elementary School and graduating from Iolani School, he began a 42- year federal career that including serving in the Army Reserve. Jimmy spent his retirement years sharing his stories with visitors and students from around the world as a volunteer with the National Park Service and Pacific Historic Parks. He believed this was a way to educate youth about the attack on Pearl Harbor in hopes that our history would live on for future generations. Students and educators appreciated his willingness to openly share his experience, his fears, and his hopes. He encouraged students to see the good in their peers, be thankful for their family and to instill peace, love and forgiveness in the world. We were fortunate Jimmy volunteered to visit schools and educate all ages at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, near his birthplace and the scene of the fateful day World War II began. He exemplified the true meaning of education. Jimmy Lee passed away on November 25, 2019 at the age of 89. He will forever be missed. WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG
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