Just
a Thought: Pearl Habor Day
By
Steve Walker
Next
week we celebrate the 74rd anniversary of the bombing of Pearl
Harbor, also referred to as a “Day That Will Live in Infamy.” On that day 74
years ago at approximately 8 a.m. in the morning, December 7th,
1941, the Japanese attempted to destroy the Pacific Fleet at the American Naval
Base near Honolulu.
Planes
flew over Pearl Harbor raining down bombs and bullets onto the vessels moored
below. At 8:10 a.m., a 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the
battleship USS Arizona and landed in her forward ammunition magazine.
The
ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. Next, torpedoes
pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her
balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater.
By
the time the attack was over, every battleship in Pearl Harbor-- the Arizona,
the Oklahoma, California, West Virginia, Utah, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, and Nevada had sustained significant damage. (All but the Arizona
and Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired)
In
all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor crippled or destroyed 18 American
ships and nearly 300 airplanes. Dry docks and airfields were likewise
destroyed. Most importantly, almost 2,500 men were killed and another 1,000
were wounded.
Rudy Martinez, a
Mexican American young sailor had just left his family in San Diego for Pearl
Harbor officially became the first Hispanic to be killed in World War II.
Martinez was awarded the Purple Heart and World II Victory Medals posthumously.
That morning,
the 21-year-old Navy Electrician's mate 3rd class was aboard the USS Utah
battleship when the vessel was suddenly and deliberately struck by two Japanese
torpedoes in the attack.
Within minutes
of being struck, the USS Utah sank, trapping Martinez, six officers, and 52
other men, who went down with the ship.
Martinez was a
high school wrestling champion and became a featherweight boxer. Since then the
American Legion Post 624 in Mansfield, Texas has been renamed The Rudolph M.
Martinez Post.
Martinez's death
marked the beginning of the Latino impact on World War II.
About half a
million Latinos served during the war. Gen. Douglas MacArthur called the
Arizona National Guard's 158th Infantry Regiment "Bushmasters”, "One
of the greatest fighting combat teams ever deployed for battle." The
regiment was comprised of many Latino Soldiers.
In the years
since, Latinos in the United States have increasingly become a part of the
history and fabric of the strongest military the world has ever known.
The history of
Latinos in the Army spans from the War of 1812, when Latinos played their first
major role in what some term "America's second war of independence,"
to the most recent Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
To date 61
Latinos have received the highest military decoration the Congressional Medal
of Honor, to include Cleto Rodriguez, the grandfather and namesake of News 4
WOAI Reporter Cleto Rodriguez. The elder Rodriguez also served in World War II.
On the
anniversary of “The Day that will live in Infamy,” we remember all our men and
women who have served in uniform to include those Hispanics who have given
their lives for this county as well.
As
Always, I write just a thought.
Steve
Walker is a Viet Nam Veteran, former Journalist and Justice of the Peace
