JOE H. MORGAN / MINISTER AND
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORThe Rev. Joe H. Morgan combined his story as a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack with his vocation as a Baptist preacher to give hundreds of USS Arizona Memorial visitors a unique perspective on history. Healing hearts was how
preacher dealt with Dec. 7
See also: Obituaries
By Mary Adamski
madamski@starbulletin.comHe recalled vivid details of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, when he was a young Navy ordnanceman on Ford Island: overcoming his terror, firing back with the machine gun in a grounded PBY Catalina patrol bomber. Several survivors tell their tales as volunteers at the memorial center, and Morgan took his turn every Thursday for the past 12 years.
Morgan continued the storytelling until two weeks before his death Friday at the age of 80. His story had a second chapter, about his encounter 15 years later with the Japanese commander who led the air attack. Mitsuo Fuchida, who converted to Christianity, spoke here and, in a meeting with Morgan, offered a personal apology.
"My dad just felt that any bitterness or anger he had felt left him," said son Robert Morgan. "They became good friends.
"It is a very healing story. At the memorial, people come and get so angry. His story helps them work through it all the way to the end. There are grown men who have harbored bitterness for a long time. Somehow he reaches them.
"After Sept. 11, we tried to make the connection with the (Pearl Harbor) attack. We told them, we know you feel some of the terrorists are hopeless, but we need to pray for them. Hearts can be changed and enemies can become friends."
Robert Morgan, also a minister, used an interview format to help his father continue to tell the story, despite failing health and memory. "This is what he lived for."
Terry Dorman, volunteer coordinator at the memorial said "Joe was like our roving ambassador. He would put on his talk, usually on the waterfront lanai. Joe was a fatherly person, a kind, gentle and giving individual. He was always so optimistic, that is what he conveyed."
After World War II, Morgan earned college and seminary degrees and accepted a position as pastor of Wailuku Baptist Church. In 1962, he returned to the Navy as a chaplain and served for 10 years, including two tours in Vietnam. He later became pastor of First Baptist Church in Waimanalo and led services in Mililani before the Baptist church there was organized, said O.W. Efurd, director of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Conference.
Morgan was born in Tyler, Texas. He married the former Blanche Fernandes in 1942. She died last year.
Survivors include sons Harry and Robert; daughter Clarissa Trammell; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Olivet Baptist Church. Friends may call after 9:30 a.m.
Morgan's story "From Fear to Forgiveness" can be seen on his Web site www.joemorgan.org and videos and brochures are also available. The family suggests that donations may be made to support the dissemination of his story by writing to Joe H. and Blanche J. Morgan Trust, 1212 Nuuanu Ave., Suite 4008, Honolulu 96817.
