Salvage Sailor Posted June 8, 2018 Share #1 Posted June 8, 2018 Aloha Everyone, Just came from the service, remembrance and funeral of our Uncle Charlie, 94 year old WWII veteran. He was buried at Diamond Head Cemetery, Fort Ruger, with an Army honor guard in attendance. He was not a 'Pearl Harbor Survivor', but he did have a tale to tell having witnessed the attack from his saddle while herding cattle as a 17 year old Paniolo (Cowboy). Charlie was born and raised on Oahu, the last of nine children. He loved horses and his cows, riding and roping in the island rodeos, and dreamed of being a Paniolo for the rest of his days but on that Sunday morning the Japanese came to our Island home and changed his life forever. In 1942 when he was eighteen he volunteered to be a civilian worker with the Air Corps, becoming an Aviation Mechanic on Ford Island servicing bombers, fighters and patrol planes as they were routed from the mainland to the Pacific ocean areas. He continued this work until early 1945 when his draft notice arrived ordering him to report to Schofield Barracks. Upon arrival, they looked at his work record and evaluations, and asked him if he knew how to salute. Satisfied with his answer, they issued him an Army uniform, and the newly minted Private was told to report back to work at Ford Island as an Army Aviation Mechanic where he remained until discharged in 1947. After his discharge, he was hired by the Navy at Pearl Harbor as a Federal Firefighter and served for 35 years at Pearl, some of that time at the firehouse right next to my Salvage ships at Alpha Docks. Thus the Paniolo changed his beloved steed for a fire engine and he was very proud of his driving skills as they protected the Naval Base and the Shipyard for decades. Uncle Charley was a wonderful guy and I loved that man for many more reasons than I've shared here. Once he told me a story about the Japanese prisoners held on Ford Island. The officer in charge of them was complaining that they were unruly and constantly causing a ruckus, threatening to riot. Uncle Charlie asked for permission to speak. Granted this, he simply suggested that the garrison stop giving them GI chow including potatoes at each meal, and instead give them rice...... Such a simple and obvious solution brought peace to the prison compound. Fair winds and following seas Charlie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted June 8, 2018 Oahu Paniolo 1941 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted June 8, 2018 Civilian Aviation Mechanic 1943 Ford Island Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted June 8, 2018 US Army Aviation Mechanic, Ford Island 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted June 8, 2018 US Navy Federal Fireman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted June 8, 2018 Share #6 Posted June 8, 2018 RIP...a nice remembrance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted June 8, 2018 Share #7 Posted June 8, 2018 What a cool story to start the day with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skypilot6670 Posted June 8, 2018 Share #8 Posted June 8, 2018 May he Rest In Peace . Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted June 8, 2018 Share #9 Posted June 8, 2018 Very nice tribute. May he Rest in Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted June 8, 2018 Share #10 Posted June 8, 2018 Thanks for posting his story and remembrance. Condolences to the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 8, 2018 Share #11 Posted June 8, 2018 Great story. Thanks for posting this tribute. I was just in Hawaii last week preparing Ray for a trip to the mainland. He is 97 this year. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted June 9, 2018 Share #12 Posted June 9, 2018 So very sorry to hear of your loss. May God comfort you always. dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ashooter Posted June 9, 2018 Share #13 Posted June 9, 2018 Great story and thanks for sharing him with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share #14 Posted December 5, 2018 This will be the first time he'll miss the remembrance ceremony of the attack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted December 6, 2018 Share #15 Posted December 6, 2018 Here's to him. I might tip a Miller high life for the Pearl Harbor vet I once knew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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