Final Pearl Harbor reunion anticipated

Since 1966, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association has been meeting here every five years on the anniversary of the Japanese attack on the Pacific Fleet. U.S. Park Service historian Daniel Martinez believes this year's reunion may be the last, since too few of the survivors may be able to travel to Pearl Harbor for the next one in 2011.

Writing in the December issue of the magazine America in World War II, Martinez, historian of Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona Memorial, said the park service estimates that about 900 survivors will attend the 65th anniversary ceremonies.

Martinez's article, "The Final Reunion," compares the 65th reunion to the 1938 meeting of the Civil War veterans of the battle at Gettysburg, Pa. The Gettysburg reunion occurred amid the looming threat of war, Martinez said. Developments in Germany and Japan were already beginning to endanger the stability of peace in Europe and Asia. A few years later, on Dec. 7, 1941, the Pearl Harbor raid would sweep America into the seething global conflict that became World War II.

Like that 1938 reunion at Gettysburg, says Martinez, the final reunion at Pearl Harbor comes as the United States is "facing an uncertain future in a world gripped by conflict." And there are other parallels, too. "Even the numbers of survivors and participants at this year's ceremonies will be similar to those of the Gettysburg commemoration," Martinez writes.

More than 1,000 veterans, their families and friends are expected to attend the Nov. 11 Veterans Day services at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. Keynote speaker for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be retired Lt. Gen. Edwin Smith, who heads the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.

James Nicholson, head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, is encouraging veterans to wear the medals they have earned. The American Legion has a link on its Web site, www.legion.org, where people can create electronic greeting cards that can be sent to service members who have an e-mail address. The site offers e-mail cards representing each military service, along with the service song that plays when the card is opened. There is space to compose a special message. Cards may be sent through Nov. 12.

Rear Adm. Christopher J. Mossey is the new commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, at Pearl Harbor. He relieved Rear Adm. Gary A. Engle at a change of command and retirement ceremony Friday aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Mossey comes to Hawaii from NAVFAC headquarters in Washington D.C., where he served as chief of staff. In his new job, Mossey will lead and manage the planning, design and construction of Navy shore support facilities throughout the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas and Southeast Asia. Engle retired after 28 years of service.

Moving Up

» Pearl Harbor: Cmdr. Rick Stoner has assumed command of the nuclear attack submarine USS Chicago, relieving Cmdr. Rich Wortman.

"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.