CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Vince Amato, Pearl Harbor survivor from Indiana, visited the site of the USS Utah yesterday. An appreciative student helped raise funds to pay for a trip for Amato, accompanied by his daughter, to return for the first time to Battleship Row.

Pearl Harbor vet
returns with
student’s help

Many chip in to get an
Indiana survivor of the attack
back for an emotional reunion

---

By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

Nearly four years ago, as Vince Amato prepared to attend an annual Pearl Harbor day memorial service in his hometown of Lafayette, Ind., he was stopped by his 14-year-old niece, who asked him why that day was so important.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Ashley Gillam: The Indiana student helped raise funds for a survivor's trip to Pearl Harbor

"That made me pause," said Amato, who was aboard the battleship USS Maryland when the Japanese struck without warning on Dec. 7, 1941, and nearly wiped out the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. "She had no idea what Pearl Harbor was all about."

Since then Amato, 79, decided to tell as many schoolchildren who were willing to listen about his experiences that morning in Hawaii and to educate them about what happened to America.

"I liked to do it, especially talking with the really young ones. They're still in their small chairs just eager to learn."

Ashley Gillam, a junior at Jeff High School in Lafayette, listened as Amato told his story to her U.S. history class earlier this year. Amato was asked if he has ever revisited Battleship Row, where the USS Maryland was tied up 58 years ago.

"He said no," Gillam said yesterday, "because he said he really couldn't afford it."

So Gillam, 17, decided to try to find a way for Amato to return to the islands and Pearl Harbor. With the help of a local newspaper, she was able to raise $6,400 in donations, which came from as far away as Florida and Minnesota.

Eventually, she was able to get an airline to donate two round-trip tickets, and an Indiana businessman volunteered to pick up the hotel bill. The donations also paid for Gillam to come to Hawaii.

Yesterday, after being given a personal tour of Pearl Harbor by Rear Adm. Robert Conway, Navy Region Hawaii commander, Amato said he is glad to have made the journey.

"Initially," he said, "I just didn't want to come back here. There are too many shipmates who died here."

Amato explained when he told Gillam's class that he could not afford to make the trip, he meant that it would be a costly venture since he is ill and needs a companion to help him cope with his medical problems.

"I always need someone to be there in case something happens," Amato said. "That's what I meant when I said I couldn't afford it."

With the help of Gillam, Amato's daughter, Cathy Upton, accompanied him to Hawaii for a week-long visit which also included a tour of Ford Island yesterday.

"I'm glad I came back," Amato said. "I am trying to put closure on all that."

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Maryland was moored inboard of USS Oklahoma at pier Fox 5 on Ford Island and was protected by the Oklahoma when Japanese torpedo planes struck. The Oklahoma, an older battleship, was hit by up to nine torpedoes. It listed quickly and rolled over almost completely.

Amato said he was taking a shower when the attack came.

"A friend came to me and said he needed change for $10. That's when two torpedoes apparently hit us. I thought it was a joke at first and wondering why we were having a drill on Sunday.

"That's when my friend rushed to a starboard porthole and looked out and told me it wasn't a drill."

Amato said he immediately rushed to his battle station and helped to get the Maryland's boilers on line.

"But after we were hit, we had to secure them."

Two Japanese bombs caused relatively light damage and some flooding. Four Maryland crew members died.

Amato said the Maryland was able to steam to the West Coast for repairs later in December and was returned to service in February 1942. He stayed with the Maryland throughout the Philippines campaign for nearly 18 months until he was hospitalized and spent the remaining years in medical facilities until he was discharged in 1945.

Yesterday, with the help of Conway, Amato and Gillam got a 90-minute water tour of Pearl Harbor stopping at various locations, including the USS Arizona Memorial.

"It was a very emotional moment," Gillam said. "He (Amato) started to cry."

For Gillam, who started it all, yesterday also was an emotional and educational experience.

"It was a good learning experience for me. It's not something you learn in history books. The whole tour, the atmosphere, the harbor -- you see everything where it happened. It's so amazing for me to be here."

When Gillam returns to Lafayette at the end of the week, she owes the newspaper, which helped her with her crusade, a story about her trip. She and Amato also will be on NBC's "Today" show.