CLOVIS (KMJ) — December 7th 2016 marks the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which saw the death of more than 2,400 people.
“I was looking out the porthole that morning, December 7th”, describes Joe Quercia. “I says…’they’re having gunnery practice on Ford Island this morning’. I says ‘even the planes have red spots on them'”.
The Fresno native was serving in the US Navy during the attack.
“I didn’t get done with words when the announcer come on ‘this is war, the Japanese have invaded'”.
He spoke at an event inside Clovis Veterans Memorial District Wednesday morning, to honor and remember those who lost their lives that day.
“We heard stories of heroism today and many hardships that they endured”, the Master of Ceremonies August Flach told the audience. “We must never forget these men and women, and so many others who cannot be with us here today”.
The events of December 7th 1941 spurred the United States into the Second World War.
The anniversary comes as the first visit from a Japanese leader to the site is set to take place later this month. According to the White House, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is due to see the area during his visit to Honolulu on December 27th.
It’s described as an opportunity for the two counties to strengthen their alliance.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
