A PAC I F I C H I S TO R I C PA R K S P U B L I C AT I O N
SUMMER 2018
Diamond Head
Historical Military Coastal Defense
REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018 | 1
President & CEO Aileen Utterdyke
Board of Directors
Neil A. Sheehan, Chairman Alan Mattson, Vice-Chairman Clif Purkiser, Secretary Jeff Bell, Treasurer James M. Boersema Noel W. Bragg Alma M. Grocki Patricia A. Lucas Edward J. Lynch Mark Y. Matsunaga Alby L. Saunders George E. Sullivan James E. VanDerKamp Kwai S. “Sunny” Young
Contents
94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd. Waipahu, HI 96797 www.pacifichistoricparks.org (808) 954-8729 Toll-free: (888) 332-1941
Directors Emeritus James K. Sylva Geoffrey M. White
Legal Adviser
President’s Message.....................................................3 From Horseshoes to Hiking Boots: The Evolution of the Diamond Head Trail.......4-5 The Asan Ridge Trail Opening Ceremony........6-7 Restoration of the Visitor Center Theater at American Memorial Park...........................................7 Experience Pearl Harbor............................................8 Molokai Light Station at Makanalua Pennisula....9 Rendezvous with History.................................. 10-11 In Memorium: Capt. George Sullivan USN (Ret.)..........................12 Pearl Harbor Gram, Ray Emory, Prayer for the Dead...............................................................................13 You Make it Happen!.......................................... 14-15
Joachim P. Cox
Editor
Edean Saito
Editorial Advisers Aileen Utterdyke Gail Ann Chew Chandra Kim
Mission Statement
To support the USS Arizona Memorial and other Pacific historic locations through education and interpretive programs, research, preservation, and restoration, to perpetuate the memory of events and honor the people involved in these sites. Remembrance is published four times a year as a benefit to friends of Pacific Historic Parks. Cover and inside cover photos by: Joe DiRenzo 2 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018
Diamond Head Stairs These metal stairs at Diamond Head were added later to the historic hike to provide an additional route to/from the summit for visitors to enjoy the panoramic views. Our self-guided tour recommends that visitors take the 99 stairs and historic spiral staircase and climb through the military bunker to reach the summit, and then take , our approximately 80 stairs down once they re done.
President’s Message O
ne of the strongest threads that connects everyone associated with Pacific Historic Parks is our collective commitment to preserving, protecting and restoring the heritage of each of our Parks. In our fast-paced world, we are so often reminded to look to the future, to plan for tomorrow, to imagine new possibilities. Even so, we must never forget that it is our obligation and responsibility to ensure that our resources are protected so that future generations will have the opportunity to continue to learn from and appreciate these precious sites. Featured in this edition of “Remembrance” is Diamond Head State Monument, one of the most iconic and most visited sites in Hawaii. However, its place in military history is often overlooked. Since its purchase by the Federal government in 1904 through the end of World War II, it was an important military outpost. Military buildup on Oahu began shortly after the turn of the century and continued through World War II, and Diamond Head was a significant piece of the coastal defense and fortification of the island. Another pertinent trail within our Parks that we explore in this issue is the Asan Ridge Trail on Guam, which began as a Jeep trail during World War II, and is still used today by hikers to discover culture, plants and war history. Countless volunteers help maintain the trail and its flora and fauna for all visitors for years to come. The Molokai Light Station at the northern tip of Makanalua Peninsula has been an iconic site on Kalaupapa since 1909 and was very meaningful for the resident patients because the beaming light from the lighthouse was the first thing they saw when they arrived at the settlement. Patients changed, experiences changed, but the light beaming from the station never waivered. Being such an important structure for the
resident patients, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park is seeking funding for its restoration. Through our “Rendezvous with History” program, we meet Del Byler, who was a night fighter pilot with the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. The preservation and restoration of Diamond Head is important for the sake of continuity, memory, beauty, and all that links today with tomorrow. As with each of our Parks, ensuring access and providing a full, enriching visitor experience is critical for us to continue to preserve history, protect resources, and interpret the past for future generations. As this edition of “Remembrance” was going to print, our PHP Family was saddened to learn of the passing of our beloved former Chairman and Board Member, Capt. George E. Sullivan, USN (Ret.). To say that he will be sorely missed is an understatement. During his 17 years with our organization, he was a voice of strength, calm and vision. He was compassionate and generous. He was committed to the mission, vision and values of this organization, and he always encouraged us to never cease our efforts to Remember, Honor, and Understand. Fair winds and following seas.
Aileen Utterdyke
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FROM HORSESHOES TO HIKING BOOTS: THE EVOLUTION OF THE DIAMOND HEAD TRAIL BY EMILY HAUCK, INTERPRETIVE TECHNICIAN DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT
Mules were essential to the construction of
the trail to the summit of Diamond Head that was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1908-1910 as part of the military’s coastal defense system of southeastern Oahu. Today, thousands of people hike to the summit on the same path used by the mules and soldiers during its construction and operation in the early 1900s to experience one of the most breathtaking views overlooking Waikiki. The historic trail climbs up the steep interior face of the crater to the Fire Control Station (FCS) constructed at the summit. With its tunnels, underground command posts and camouflaging, the FCS was an engineering marvel of its time. The trail has been repaired and altered quite a bit over the years. Consider the description of a hike up the trail in 1909 by Anne Winslow, the wife of Army Colonel William Randolph Winslow who designed and oversaw the construction of the FCS: “This morning the expedition to the summit of Diamond Head came off… I don’t think you ever climbed one that was built of dust and ashes without a sprig of anything to catch hold of… To my mind it was a nightmare.”
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Diamond Head was purchased by the Federal government in 1905 and designated the Fort Ruger Military Reservation in 1909. Fortification within the crater began in 1908 with the construction of the gun emplacements and the Kapahulu Tunnel through the north wall of the crater. The FCS at the summit housed instruments and plotting rooms to direct artillery fire from several batteries, including Batteries Randolph and Dudley at Fort DeRussy in Waikiki and Battery Harlow on the outer slopes of Diamond Head crater. Although it was designed to defend Honolulu Harbor from attack by sea, no artillery was ever fired from Diamond Head during a war. The 0.8-mile long summit trail was cut into the interior slope of the crater wall and required the construction of switchbacks, tunnels, and stairs. The 3-foot wide dirt trail accommodated the Army soldiers building the FCS and the mules carrying supplies and tools. Metal railings were later added on the outer edge of the trail. Fort Ruger was decommissioned in 1950 and much of the crater was turned back to the State. In 1976, the public was invited into the crater and the trail became popular with hikers and visitors wanting to experience the panoramic views from the summit. As the number of people hiking the trail continued to increase, the challenges of preserving the trail as a historic site became evident. There were safety concerns at the FCS that resulted in the placement of metal stairs on the exterior of the FCS in 1981 to provide safer access to the summit. To address the extensive erosion of the trail surface due to the nature of the soft volcanic soil and the many feet hiking the trail, a major trail repair project was conducted in 1996. In an effort to maintain the historic character of the trail, this project involved the mixing of resin with soil and rock from the crater to fill-in the very eroded trail surface. Unfortunately, this material was
People gathering at the Waikiki bunker at Diamond Head, from the summit lookout. Today, this bunker has a triangle on top of the building to keep helicopters and other flight vehicles off.
unable to withstand the level of use and more permanent solutions were sought with the use of concrete on sections of the trail in 2010. By using color and texture on the concrete surface, State Parks was able to replicate the look of the original dirt surface. There have been numerous projects by State Parks to improve the visitor experience along the trail. A new loop trail was added in 2011 to increase traffic flow from the summit. The old walkway adjacent to the FCS was also widened at the narrowest area from 18 to 30 inches to decrease congestion in that area. Another phase of work was conducted in 2017 to stabilize the slopes along the trail. It involved rock scaling, placement of anchors, and constructing erosionresistant (shotcrete) surfaces. Again, the use coloring and texturing assisted in keeping the original look of the slope and maintaining the natural look of the trail. It has been over 100 years since the Diamond Head trail was constructed and State Parks continues to explore ways to protect and preserve this important historic site while making it accessible to a growing number of visitors. ď‚Ť REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018 | 5
The Asan Ridge Trail Opening Ceremony The Culmination of the Åmot yan Nengkanno’ Active Trails Project BY: AMANDA O’BRIEN, EDUCATION ASSISTANT WAR IN THE PACIFIC NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, GUAM “Thousands of naturalists, historians, archaeologists and other specialists are engaged in the work of revealing, to such visitors as desire the service, something of the beauty and wonder, the inspiration and spiritual meaning that lie behind what the visitor can with his senses perceive.” -- Freeman Tilden What began as a non-descript thing of necessity has been restored into a place of beauty, with a focus on nature, culture, and learning. At the Asan Beach Unit of War in the Pacific National Historical Park, the Asan Ridge Trail, as we know it today, began as a humble Jeep trail. It was most likely flattened, widened, and put to heaviest use during and immediately following the World War II Battle for Guam in July 1944. Over time, it evolved into an undeveloped walking trail, where visitors could explore remnants of the World War II battle (i.e. gun emplacements, defensive structures, etc.), take in bird’s eye views of the invasion beach, and enjoy nature. “This land that you stand on today has a long history going back thousands of years. Ancient voyagers arrived on Guam approximately 4,000 years ago. On board their voyaging canoes they carried everything, including about 24 plants, needed to establish a successful settlement in a new land. These ancient CHamoru developed a unique culture that is found nowhere else in the world,” said Barbara Alberti, Park Superintendent, in her welcoming remarks at the June 16, 2018 ribbon cutting ceremony. Since the arrival of the ancient voyagers almost 4,000 years ago, the area of Asan beach has had many uses, with its landscape constantly altered. In the late 1800’s it was the site of a leper colony. It was a prison camp for exiled Filipino insurgents in the early 1900’s and for the crew of the Cormoran, a German ship, for three weeks during World War I. In 1922, a U.S. Marine Corps camp was established there. Before World War II, it was the site of Asan village with coconut trees and rice paddies. The village was destroyed during World War II and relocated further inland, where it remains today. Following the war it serves as a Seabee (U.S. Navy Construction Battalion) camp, a Naval Hospital Annex, and a refugee camp for Vietnamese in 1975. War in the Pacific National Historical Park was established in 1978. Various attempts were made over time for static interpretation of the trail through booklets, brochures, or wayside informational signs. Almost all of these endeavors focused on the World War II history of the site. The booklets and brochures became obsolete. The harsh tropical climate 6 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018
wreaked havoc on the structural integrity of the signs, causing some to become sun-bleached and illegible and others to simply fall into the ocean as their metal posts rusted and eroded due to constant exposure to salty ocean spray. For the last five years, no signs at all have existed along the trail. “The idea really began over 10 years ago as a discussion between our former [Natural] Resource Ranger, Jenny Coffman, and I. We thought that our park had a hidden resource amongst all the World War II history that was worthy of sharing; the importance of our local plants for its use as either food or medicine, a constant for the people of our island through history until now. After a few efforts to obtain other sources of project funds, we finally were able to obtain the grant through the National Park Foundation and with the efforts of our team, … we were able to provide, what I hope … [is] a lasting visitor experience for our park visitors,” said Theo Chargualaf, Chief Facilities Manager for the park, during his speech at the ribbon cutting ceremony. The 2017 Active Trails Grant project at War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam was titled, “Åmot yan Nengkanno’: A Discovery of Traditional Uses for the Flora along the Trails of Asan Beach”. The trails and walkways of Asan Beach have plant species traditionally used for food (Nengkanno’) and medicine (Åmot). This project sought to protect, highlight, and share these valuable natural resources with our park visitors. The Åmot yan Nengkanno’ project educated our island’s youth of the importance many plants hold for island cultural uses in food, medicine, and the day-to-day lives of island people across the Pacific. Tied specifically to the Asan Ridge and Asan Point areas of a National Register historic battlefield, this project was a partnership with various government and non-profit organizations. A team was assembled to help plan and execute the project, which was broken into two phases. Phase I of the project consisted of seeking community partners to help implement the educational component of the grant. The students attending the Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) Håya Youth Center in the southern village of Agat were chosen to participate in a two-week project. One week consisted of outreach, learning, and preparation at the youth center and one week of outreach and training in the park, where they would work alongside Park Rangers and education staff, a native plant biologist, a suruhana (CHamoru traditional medicine expert), and traditional cultural practitioners. The two-week Åmot yan Nengkanno’ project took place in April 2017 and was detailed in the “Active Trails: Åmot yan Nengkanno’” article in the summer 2017 issue of Remembrance.
Throughout the rest of 2017, countless volunteers, through various events, helped maintain the hard work the students had begun. Dr. Robert Bevacqua was hired as our Native Plant Specialist to help determine which plants along the trail to highlight and to help educate the youth about their important uses. He also wrote an in-depth report on the six plants we should showcase along Asan Ridge Trail. “The six plants highlighted along the Asan Ridge Trail are used for medicine (åmot), food (nengkanno’), and other traditional practices and are deeply entwined in the 4,000 year old history and culture of the CHamoru people”, said Alberti at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Breadfruit (lemmai), coconut (niyok), limeberry (lemmon di china), Indian mulberry (ladda or noni), pandanus (kaffo’), and half-flower (nanåso) were chosen. Dr. Bevacqua also helped choose the best specimens in the optimal locations along the trail to feature. Once his report was complete, we began Phase II of the project in June 2017. Phase II of the 2017 Active Trails Grant project’s objectives included three tangible interpretive media installations. The first was to
develop and install six small interpretive signs at key locations of the trail to highlight the “particulars” of each plant species and their traditional uses, as well as an introductory wayside for the trailhead location. The second interpretative media was the development and creation of an educational brochure. The third interpretive media was the development of QR code to allow for additional content to be delivered to a visitor via a “link” through a smart phone to the park website. Two graphic artists and a sketch artist helped to complete the designs of the signs and educational brochure. Once the design of the signs were completed, we worked with the Interpretation Rangers to get content uploaded on the park website to connect to the QR codes on the signs and the educational brochure. After a few hiccups and unplanned delays in fabrication, shipping, and installation the signs finally arrived on island and were able to be installed along Asan Ridge Trail. The June 16, 2018 ribbon cutting ceremony held at the trailhead of Asan Ridge Trail officially opened the new trail experience available at the park. Now for the first time in at least five years, visitors do not need to rely on the presence of a ranger to engage in part of the story of Asan Ridge Trail. Through the guidance of new signs, the educational brochure, and the QR code link to the park website, families can roam the former jeep trail and soak in over 4,000 years of culture, nature, and history. As William Cullen Bryant so eloquently directed, we entreat park visitors to, “Go forth, under the open sky, and list to Nature’s teachings.”
Restoration of the Visitor Center Theater at American Memorial Park BY JOVANNALYN MAFNAS, AMME EDUCATION SPECIALIST AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK, SAIPAN
The Visitor Center Theater at American Memorial Park is open to the public everyday, inviting all to watch the park film during their visit. In addition to the thousands of visitors who come to the park each year, the theater is also utilized by various organizations that host community events throughout the year. These community events include educational/informational presentations, public hearings, graduations, special ceremonies and more. The theater has helped the park welcome not just visitors from around the world, but invites the community to visit the park and take part in these public events. With the community utilizing the theater more over the past few years, it is exciting to see the theater and park film undergo improvements. The restoration of the theater started in 2016, when it reopened to visitors at the park following a devastating storm. In 2015, Typhoon Soudelor passed directly over Saipan and the park, along with the entire island, endured much damage. For several months, the theater remained closed as the park completed muchneeded repairs. During that time, the park film was shown to visitors in the Visitor Center library. Once the theater reopened, theater improvements continued including a new screen, projector, lighting and sound system. A new park film is also underway and will provide visitors the opportunity to experience the important history the park Photo taken by Jovannalyn Mafinas
works to share in multiple languages including CHamoru and Carolinian; the native languages of the Northern Marianas. Since the theater reopened, the park continues to see an increase of community events held in the theater. Most recently, on July 4th, in celebration of Independence Day and the CNMI’s Liberation Day, the United States Marine Corps Pacific Band held a concert for the community. Many from around the island came to American Memorial Park to enjoy the music played by the band.
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Experience Pearl Harbor BY EDEAN SAITO, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS MANAGER AT PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS
Deeply grateful for the patronage of all of our donors and ever mindful of continually arising needs, we would like to brief you on a critical capital improvement need at Pearl Harbor which is vital to preserving physical access to one of our nation’s most significant memorials and to ask for your consideration and support. The “shoreside dock” improvement is different, yet equally critical, from the visitor loading ramp at the USS Arizona Memorial, which is temporarily closed due to a crack detected in the supporting structure. Since 1979, our supporters - members, donors, friends, and staff have helped to steward the USS Arizona Memorial, which solemnly spans over the sunken wreckage of the USS Arizona. The site designates the resting place for a vast majority of the 1,177 sailors and marines killed as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor. We honor the fallen, commemorating a pivotal moment in our nation’s history that propelled U.S. entry into World War II. Visited by 1.9 million people from around the world each year, the USS Arizona Memorial can only be reached by boat. After viewing a movie on the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, approximately 4,500 people a day exit the theatre, walk down a ramp, and cross over one of two gangways to the shoreside dock where they board a U.S. Navy operated boat to the USS Arizona Memorial. After their visit of the memorial, visitors return to the visitor center and once again cross over the shoreside dock. These tours occur 362 days a year, operating 7.5 hours a day, with boats running at 15 minute intervals. In addition to the ferry boats, there are a number of other U.S. Navy boats that may moor at the shoreside dock on any given day. Originally constructed in 1980, the shoreside dock is essential to ensuring the safe boarding and disembarkation of everyone making the journey to the memorial - not only visitors but also employees of the NPS and our military 8 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018
service personnel. Although replaced in 1999, the shoreside dock currently poses the following challenges: Safety hazard – Two floating concrete dock sections frequently sink and the uneven surface creates a tripping hazard for boat passengers as they cross the dock to and from the boat. This is caused by water filtration into the flotation chambers, corrosion of the steel connectors joining the two sections, and stress on the system resulting from wakes created by ferry boats. Risk of interruption of visitor operations – We are concerned that the shoreside dock may soon fail beyond NPS’ ability to repair it, which will necessitate closure of the USS Arizona Memorial to the public until a secure replacement can be acquired and installed. Many visitors assert that being on-site at the USS Arizona Memorial is an once-in-a-lifetime experience. Burden on NPS staff time – NPS staff spend over 800 hours annually stabilizing the shoreside dock, which is a process that requires staff to pump flotation chambers every month. This valuable time is taken away from normal staff duties and diminishes NPS’ ability to address deferred maintenance elsewhere on site. If returned to a good condition, the total cost of on-going dock maintenance will be significantly reduced. PHP is leading the effort to raise matching funds to replace and stabilize the shoreside dock to provide safe access to the USS Arizona Memorial for the long-term. A total of $1,706,120 in federal funds have been secured, and Pacific Historic Parks is committed to raising matching funds of at least $1,723,100. NPS’ staff has initiated capital improvement regulatory compliance procedures as well as begun procuring pre-design services to include bathymetric surveying, schematic designs, and a detailed construction cost estimate.
Molokai Light Station at Makanalua Peninsula BY JOZIE ACASIO, STUDENT INTERN AT KALAUPAPA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
At the northern most tip of Makanalua
Peninsula stands the Molokai Light Station, which has been a part of Kalaupapa’s cultural landscape since 1909. The 138-feet structure has gone through a world war, a tsunami, and eventual modernization once it became automated in 1966. The lighthouse and its associated outbuildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse is also a contributing feature of the Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement National Historic Landmark (NHL). As early as 1903, the Light House Board made a formal request to the U.S. Congress to finance a light station at Kalaupapa. At first, Congress was undecided about building a light station on Makanalua Peninsula because of the proximity to the leprosy settlement. Without the funding, the Light House Board began building a temporary light house at Makanalua that was finished in 1906. It was not until two years later that Congress agreed to finance the permanent building of the Molokai Light Station which was completed in June 1909. For the lighthouse keepers and their families, Kalaupapa was a very isolated and lonely station. During the early 1900s, there were strict rules that prohibited any physical contact between lighthouse keepers and resident patients. But there are stories of resident patients sneaking out to the lighthouse to visit, or of them passing candy through the fence to the children. This friendship between lighthouse keepers and resident patients was seen up until the lighthouse became automated on August 1, 1966 and there was no longer a need for a permanent lighthouse keeper.
the Kukui to be shiped to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation where it would be displayed. The removal of the lens was a sad and difficult event for the resident patients who watched from a distance. For the majority of the them, the bright light that beamed from the lens was the first thing they saw when they came to the settlement. As the years passed, the resident patients of Kalaupapa experienced multiple changes in their lives, but the light beaming from the station never waivered. The beaming light became a symbol of endurance, consistancy, and strength. It was something that had always been a part of Kalaupapa, and its removal to Lahaina was a disappointment. The expressions of displeasure from the Kalaupapa community did not fall on deaf ears, and on October 17, 1993, the lens was returned to Kalaupapa due to the closure of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. Currently, the lens is kept inside the old light house garage and the National Park Service has the intention to one day have the lens displayed for all visitors to see. Over the years, the erosive impacts of sun, wind, rain and weather have taken a toll on the lighthouse. The outer gunite coating is spalling, cracking and falling off. The lantern sill is in dire need of repair. In addition, a cultural landscape report and interpretive plan need to be developed to help tell the Molokai Light Station story to visitors. The expected repairs alone are estimated at eight million dollars. Pending funding, Kalaupapa NHP is hopeful the needed repairs and restoration work can be completed by 2023. ď‚Ť
In 1985, the Coast Guard decided the Fresnel lens, which had been housed within the light station since 1909, had to be removed because of frequent mercury leaks and spills. This was no easy task considering there are 26 sections that make up the lens, each section weighing about 264 pounds. It took the workers two and a half days to dismantle the lens, carefully lower the sections to the ground, and load it onto REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018 | 9
Rendezvous with History BY EDEAN SAITO, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAM SERVICES MANAGER AT PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS
Leonard Del Byler, a man with a bucket list. In January
2017, I had the great honor to assist in fulfilling a small part of this bucket list. Coming to Hawaii and visiting the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor was on Del’s bucket list. Del flew during World War II and the Korean War as a US Naval Aviator, as a night fighter. Here are some excerpts from his oral history. Del grew up in a small little town, Kalvesta, Kansas. He lived seven miles from downtown on a ranch, Pony Valley Ranch. He had to travel seven miles by horse to a one room schoolhouse up through the 8th grade. “We had this old schoolhouse and a barn for the horses if you rode a horse. The barn was about double the size of the school. Usually we had seven students and when it came time for high school, we didn’t have a high school where I lived, so I had to go all the way to Topeka, Kansas. My aunt and uncle took care of this little hay seed ranch boy. I went from seven students to about 200 students in one jump. It was quite a jump for me.” What did you dream of becoming when you grew up? “Well as far as my profession goes, I was going to be a doctor. And my daddy encouraged me to do that. My mother died when I was six or seven years old of [tuberculosis]. And I had it when I was a little baby or a little boy. By the time I was big enough, we were at the ranch, all working. That was the ranch work ethic, and as I got older, I got rid of the TB.” What did you do in pursuit of becoming a doctor? “An overriding ambition for me was that when I retired, I wanted to be on my own. I did not want to be dependent on my children. It took me a long time but I did it. I wanted to be a medical doctor. That was a good profession but I dropped out of college, because of the dust storms in Kansas. I was in college taking premed, at the University of Kansas. I tried working and doing my studies. And I guess, I wasn’t quite up to it. It was difficult to do premed and working pretty much all the time. So I dropped out of college and went to Chicago and that’s where I was when Pearl Harbor came along.” What got you interested in flying? “It kinda goes back to the work ethic we had on the ranch. I was working for the Permafrost Corporation. We made dynamic speakers of different kinds. And Larry Hidlemen, the owner, said I was a good worker and he moved me up and up, till I was working in the lab there. He had an airplane and he paid for my flying time, my instructor time, and I had my private license before the war.” 10 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018
What were your reactions when you heard the news of December 7? “Well, first I had a very patriotic bed in me. My good friend in Permafrost, who was about my age and I, on December 8, a day after Pearl Harbor, went downtown to volunteer to be in the service. And of course I wanted to fly because I had done some flying and that’s what I wanted to do. My friend became a marine and he got himself killed. I didn’t become a pilot right away. I was in good physical condition and I had some college. I was a prime candidate, but I missed some of the color charts. I didn’t know I was color blind. I missed some of them but I was okay for everything else. So they swore me into the Air Corps that very day, the day after Pearl Harbor. I quit my job in Chicago and went home. I spent several weeks there and I never received orders. I wrote a letter to the Air Corps, said maybe you forgot me. Here I am and here’s my address awaiting orders.” I got a letter signed personally from the Secretary of the Air Corps thanking me for my Patriotism and to report to your draft board. They gave us one day to enlist in the Naval Aviation. But I was five pounds underweight. They had these requirements for height and weight. And I only had one day to do this. I went to the streets of Chicago, went to a restaurant, ate a big breakfast, ate all the bananas I could, and reported back to the draft board headquarters. Took a big drink of water before I went on the scales. I gained five and half pounds in an hour. I was sworn in. I had a tough time getting in, but I was in.” That’s fantastic, so is your passion for flying. Why specifically did you want to be a flier? “I have always had a strong want to be in control. You’re in control in the air, all my series planes were single seat airplanes where it’s just the pilot. I liked being in control and I love flying. I wanted to be in the service, but I wanted to be able to fly.” How did you become a night fighter pilot? “I was always in the upper five or ten percent so I got to pick all my bases. I went to Melbourne, Florida. I went through operational, which was a series ride and at that time the Navy needed night fighter pilots. They asked for volunteers for night flying. Only one guy in Melbourne volunteered for night fighting. We didn’t want to be night fighters. We were hot pilots. They took the upper ten percent of the class to be night fighters. I became a night fighter by decree and not by choice. ” Could you explain briefly what is a night fighter? “Well your primary mission is at night. We got specialized training where we learned how to use our peripheral vision the best we could. We would use our peripheral vision at night, so we could see better then looked directly at it. We had special gear. I
went to Vero Beach, Florida to start my specialist training in night fighting. I did a lot of things as a night fighter pilot. During World War II, I was essentially a carrier based night fighter pilot. I was flying Hellcats F6Fs. I was flying the F6F5Ns. The five meaning the latest Hellcat and the N means night fighter. We had a radar in one wing and a search light in the other.” You got married on June 9, 1945, after you got married and a very short honeymoon with Genni, what did you do? “We got married during World War II. Immediately after that I was sent overseas. Genni went to Detroit and I came to California. Then I went over to Hawaii. I was off of Barbers Point right here in Hawaii. And my ship at that time was the Enterprise. The Enterprise was a night fighting ship. I was aboard the Enterprise during the year of the invasion of Japan. The two atomic bombs were dropped. I was on the right ship at the right time. I was on the most celebrated ship in the navy. That was Admiral Sherman’s flagship. We were at the center of this armada. I mean it literally stretched from horizon to horizon. I am not kidding you, it was the biggest armada I have ever seen. Maybe the biggest ever assembled. I don’t think any human could have stopped us. We would have lost a lot of men and the Japanese would have lost a lot of people. But we were going in period.” So after World War II ended, what did you do? “Well that’s kind of a grim time. We started a family, I didn’t have enough money.” “I was discharged from the navy. I did several things during that time. I was a private detective for a while. These hands have done a lot of things. From radios to flying airplanes, to a private detective. I joined an active duty training station for pilots. So I joined there, eventually I got onto a paid status there. I had to make some money, so I worked day and night as much as I could and all of a sudden Korea came along. I had been flying military planes and training for everything. I was involuntarily recalled.” And it’s the love of country and your patriotism. We thank you for your service, for everything that you’ve done, through your whole career. “Thank you for saying that dear. But anyways, there’s a lot of men who have done a lot more than I have. I have done a lot of flying. But there are a lot of men who go in on invasions like France. They have done a lot more than I have. And I give them credit. More credit. I have done a lot of things along flying. I give credit to the men who have risked their lives more than I have.” Del celebrated his 99th birthday this past March and we wish him many more.
LET’S REBUILD THE DOCK R! GETHEDock TOShoreside The
Approximately 4,600 people are transported to the USS Arizona Memorial every day (362 days a year) on boats launched from the Shoreside Dock at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Each year approximately 2 million visitors after viewing the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor video, walk down a ramp and cross over a gangway to the “shoreside dock” where they board a U.S. Navy boat to the Memorial. While the majority of the boats that moor at the dock are shuttling visitors, throughout the day, the dock is vital to other boats providing transportation to National Park Service rangers and volunteers, maintenance employees, The Shoreside at the divers, Pearl Harbor Visitor military personnel, Dock researchers, etc.
Center serves all of us – approximately 4,600 people every day. It is the only means of access for all the boats that provide transportation for everyone to the USS Arizona Memorial.
Time and wear have taken their toll, and the dock urgently needs to be replaced. Please consider contributing to the Shoreside Dock by making a donation at:
www.PacificHistoricParks.org
. . .
Together, let’s ensure that the USS Arizona Memorial will continue to be visited and maintained for future generations! Shoreside floating dock has 2 sections connected by steel connectors. The two dock sections have collars that slide up and down vertical concrete piles to keep the dock sections from migrating. Currently, the steel connectors are corroded and separating from the concrete, necessitating the closure of the dock section to the west. For more information or to make a contribution, go to:
www.PacificHistoricParks.org
or scan the QR code below with your smart phone 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd. Waipahu, HI 96797 (808) 954-8759
Donations designated for the Shoreside Dock may be mailed to:
Pacific Historic Parks 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd. Waipahu, HI 96797
Top photo circa 2016
REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018 | 11
In Memorium: CAPT. GEORGE E. SULLIVAN, USN (Ret.) D
ied July 7, 2018 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was 80 years old. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts on October 31, 1937, after graduating from high school, George entered the US Merchant Marine Academy at King Point, NY where he graduated with a commission as Ensign, US Navy Reserve, received a BS in Marine Engineering, and a 3rd Assistant Engineers license in the Merchant Marine. George was required to activate his commission in the Navy and ultimately decided to make that his career. His distinguished service included several significant assignments, including: Chief Engineer of a destroyer and command of four ships (USS Gallop PG 85, a patrol gunboat in Vietnam; two destroyers, USS Blandy DD 943 and USS Paul F. Foster DD964: and a cruiser, the USS Sterett CG 31 homeported in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines). During his 24 years of active duty, George participated in several international events, including the Cuban Crisis in October 1962 and the search and recovery of the Korean airliner (K007) show down by the Soviet Union in September 1983. Between his tours, George earned a Master’s Degree in Management (Finance and Economics) from the Naval Postgraduate School, served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel on the staff of Commander-inChief Pacific Fleet. He retired from active duty in 1984 at the rank of Captain. Following his successful military career, George joined Litton Industries, Data Systems Division, where he was employed for 16 years as a Program Manager and Director of International Navy Business. He retired from Litton in January 2000. Upon his return to Hawaii, George decided he would no longer work for a paycheck but instead devoted his time to volunteering, particularly helping his fellow veterans. He was invited to join the Board of the then Arizona Memorial Museum Association (now Pacific Historic Parks) where he served for 17 years. In 2002, George was not only the Chairman of the Board, but also was instrumental in the Association’s raising $56,000,000.00 to rebuild the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. In 2005, the Oahu Veterans Center opened, and George was named Chairman of the Board, a position he held until a recent planned transition. During his tenure, with the help of many people and appropriations from our State Legislature, the Center was completed, increased its support of veterans’ programs, became financially sound and debt free. He wrote that this was “a most satisfying accomplishment” in his life. When George discovered the US Merchant Marine Academy did not have a chartered Chapter on Oahu, along with several people, “Honolulu Chapter” was chartered in 2001 and is going strong today. George was also very active in the Honolulu State Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. As Chairman of the Board, he was instrumental in causing the two chapters on Oahu to recombine to the Hawaii Aloha Chapter. Both George and his wife Roberta supported numerous local community and veterans’ organizations from the Bishop Museum to the Fleet Reserve Association. George is survived by his wife of 57 years, four sons: Sean Michael (Lahaina, Maui), Darryl Patrick (Des Moines, IA), Neil Edward (Mililani, Oahu), and Colin David (San Diego, CA); two grandchildren: Diana Rose and Charles Edward (Ankeny, IA); and sister Maryellen Sullivan Shachoy and husband Norman James Shachoy (Marion, MA). A funeral Mass will be at Saint John Apostle and Evangelist Church in Mililani with burial at Schofield Barracks military cemetery on August 21, 2018.
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD Ray Emory Bids Farewell to Hawaii Ray Emory, a Pearl Harbor survivor, recently left his Hawaii home for Boise, Idaho to live with his son. Before leaving the islands, 97-year-old Emory visited the pier where his ship, the USS Honolulu, was moored on December 7, 1941 to say his final goodbye. Emory was instrumental in efforts urging the Pentagon to exhume and attempt to identify remains of the sailors and Marines from the USS Oklahoma, who were buried as unknowns in the Halawa and Nu`uanu Cemeteries. In 2003, Emory used National Archives files as the basis to request officials to disinter a casket believed to contain an Oklahoma sailor’s remains. That sailor, Ensign Elton Wyman, was identified, and his remains were returned to his family for a proper burial. In 2015, the USS Oklahoma Project and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, through a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, began the exhumation of an estimated 388 of the Oklahoma’s unknowns for the purpose of identifying the remains. Since then, over 100 sailors and Marines have been identified from the ship’s casualties. Mr. Emory, thank you for your service. `A hui hou (until we meet again). Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Pacheco, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Hawaii
“Eternal rest grant unto them and let perpetual light shine upon them and may they rest in peace.” Howard C. Bender USS Maryland Irvine, CA
Lawrence Parry Fort Armstrong Baldwinsville, NY
Clarence J.M. Davis USS Medusa California, MD
Arthur R. “Pat” Patterson Bellows AFB Spokane, WA
Melvin F. Fisher USS Whitney Lake Forest, CA
Thomas D. Pearson Jr. USS San Francisco Windsor Locks, CT
Bernard “Sonny” Galewski USS Dobbin Stuart, FL
Armand “Ray” Perlingiero Hickam Field Sevierville, TN
James Cowart Hardwick USS Honolulu CL48 Dallas, TX
William “Bill” Charles Puissegur USS Maryland Crowley, LA
Col. Andrew Kowalski, USAF (Ret) Hickam Field Honolulu, HI
Ludwig A. Radil USS California Papillion, NE
Robert J. Lasher USS West Virginia Chittenango, NY
Clarence E. Sasse USS Phelps DD360 Marietta, MS
Thomas K. Miller Schofield Barracks Greensburg, PA
Arnhold Schwichtenberg USS Trever Vero Beach, FL
Davis P. Morris Jr. USS Phelps Johns Island, SC
Bernard A. Tarro USS Honolulu San Diego, CA
Preston A. Parham USS St. Louis Dayton, OH
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS ASSOCIATION REPORT OF DEATH Unit or station on December 7th: Name: Address: Date of death: Interment: Next of kin: Address: Remarks: Form prepared by: Address: Email:
Services:
Funeral Home: Continue sending Remembrance? Yes No Relationship:
Relationship:
Date:
Phone: PLEASE INCLUDE AN OBITUARY NOTICE, IF POSSIBLE
This form is available online at grams.pacifichistoricparks.org/PDFs/Report-of-Death.pdf Please complete and mail to: Edean Saito, Special Projects Manager Pacific Historic Parks, 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd., Waipahu, HI 96797
You Make it Happen! Your contributions help us meet our mission to ensure that the legacy of the valiant, courageous men and women who served our country during World War II are never forgotten. We would like to recognize and thank the following donors for their recent contributions. THE 1941 SOCIETY Castle Resorts and Hotels In Memory of William B. Kingseed, USN (Ret.) COL and Mrs. Cole Kingseed, USA (Ret.) Knuckleheads Inc.
IN MEMORY OF Dewey H Chew Gail Ann Chew
Gerald Ernest Gartin, Seaman First Class Peter Garton
William W Ball, USS Arizona Marjory J Ball Williams
Francisco Rivera Andrea Mathieson
William T Young, Jr, Pearl Harbor Survivor Michael and Marlene Young IN HONOR OF
AIC James E Brett, USAF Lawrence DeRousse, USA Allison Adams Henry Calliott, USA Laura Schaumberg
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Miles Henry Nelson Michael Spinn
Harry Jacob Thode, USAF Joseph Thode
Lt Kristopher Wilson Kris Wilson
For Uncle Tony, who never made it to Kalaupapa, and Eleanor who did - Anonymous Donor
John G Bachman Bands For Arms Robert K Barker Gregg Barron Steven and Gail Bauer Carl and Loretta Beale Robert and Linda Beard Keith Brady Elisa Brenegan Marjorie M Bruckmueller
Buffalo Wild Wings Walter and Joan Burke Edgar and Virginia Burroughs Thomas C Busard Judith Campbell John P Case Ronald CM Chang Steven and Christine Chapel Albert Citero Jr, USCG (Ret.)
14 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018
Michael Allen Cobb Sr Combat Artist Collection Thomas and Alice Cuff David Cummings Rebecca Curtis Claude T Dean Frank and Irene DeNave Harold and Carmen Divers, Jr James Dodd Marilyn Eggleton
Robert and Olga Ehrhart Edward J Ellis Dorothy Ene Robert and Alba Fekete Stanley J Forrest Lawrence Friedman Michael Gallamore John T Garrity Edward Hall Stephen Hatfield Karl and Kathleen Heeren
To donate, call (808) 954-8726 or visit www.pacifichistoricparks.org.
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Michael Henson Alvin Hey Mary P Hicks August Hock Ho`oku Consulting Engineers LLC Ralph Horowitz William and Joan Huber Mark and Karen Indelicato Les Isaacowitz Angela Buehler James John B Johnson
Edwin Judisch Troy Kaneshiro Robert Kilthau John R Kogut Donald R Konow R Douglas and Margaret Krawczyk Lance B Kuhn Laurence Lapomarda Dana Lasater Dan Lee Patricia A Lucas Jeffrey S Marten Gary Maynard Andrew and Debbie McKane IV Joseph and Mary McPhillips Edward and Mary Lois Miklavcic James Moody David and Louise Moore Richard Morrissey Anthony and Ellen Moy Donald and Mary Muhlnickel Michael Murray Mutual Publishing, LLC CDR Kathleen L Nawn, USN (Ret.) NewBold Corporation Michael E Oakes Michael O’Brien Amy ONeil Robert Otto Pacific Islands Institute, Ltd George H Pann Kenneth R Perkins Gayle Phillips Gregory and Jacqueline Phillips Susan and Merton Holman-Piziali Barton Proger Dale Ranck Brian Romias Phillip J Ronish John C Ross Rothco Herman Rowland Sr David W Russell Sandy Russell Jennifer Sakurai Allen Seiden Justin Sherman Takeshi and June Shimana Carolyn and Gordon Sparks Ron Sterling Ruth A Stirnkorb Mary A Stone William Strynkowski Roberta A Sullivan Michael and Renee Tanguay Robert L Taylor Warren E Upton Maryann and Richard Visin Barb Watson Wig Wigmore
The Legacy Society Create a legacy that will ensure history will never be forgotten
Since 1980, millions of people from every state of our nation and from 40 countries around the world have seen, experienced, and been inspired by the valor and sacrifices of the Greatest Generation at Pearl Harbor and throughout the Pacific Basin. The Legacy Society was created to acknowledge and celebrate family and friends who desire to keep history alive and to honor the sacrifices of the World War II generation. Members have affirmed Pacific Historic Parks in their estate plans or through other planned gifting arrangements. Planned gifts provide a unique opportunity to preserve our country’s military heritage through supporting Pacific Historic Parks while possibly receiving tax benefits on income. TYPES OF PLANNED GIFTS Charitable Bequest Life Insurance Life Income Gifts Charitable Gift Annuity Charitable Remainder Trust
I’m interested in discussing my options for a planned gift with Pacific Historic Parks. Please contact me at the number listed in the form below. I already have a planned gift set up for Pacific Historic Parks. Please specify type: _________________________ Pacific Historic Parks may recognize my membership in The Legacy Society in its publications. ___________________________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ___________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________________________ Email
Established in 1979, Pacific Historic Parks is a 501(c)(3), tax exempt cooperating association committed to preserving the legacy of our historic heritage by providing support of research, preservation, restoration, education and interpretive programs to the National Park Service at World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (Pearl Harbor), War in the Pacific National Historical Park (Guam), American Memorial Park (Saipan), Kalaupapa National Historical Park (Molokai) and Diamond Head State Monument (Oahu).
REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2018 | 15
94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd. Waipahu, Hawaii 96797
Mahalo to the volunteers who helped make the Diamond Head State Monument Kids to Park event a success! Keiki participated in fun filled activities and an escorted hike.