Customer Reviews

Remembering Pearl Harbor: Eyewitness Accounts by U.S. Military Men and Women

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Veritas - the truth. That is what this book presents from the best evidence possible - eyewitnesses. While this volume does not address the precursor events that led to this milestone event in world history, the accounts from the eyewitnesses are riveting. If your imagination can put you in their place, a cold sweat is sure to follow. The accounts are congruent with the personal stories my dad has related. He was aboard the USS Dale DD-353 on that fateful day, and thankfully was not even injured. Drs. Marcello and LaForte must be congratulated for compiling and chronicling such important recollections while they are still available. Their work on the Oral History collection at the University of North Texas will be a gold mine for those interested in avoiding the mistakes of the past. Keep America alert! - Remember Pearl Harbor

I enjoy listening to old folks remember and witness to what they have seen. Their experience-laden viewpoints often provide insight into significant issues. So often today we are left with the vacuous opinions of self-appointed experts with limited exposure to reality, and are poorer as a result.

This book provides a method of listening to a large number of the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor. But more, it provides the salient portions of their memories in well-written context.

As I read the book, I found myself exploring Pearl Harbor, much as if I were able to control time and position and witness this historical event from many simultaneous vantage points. However, in each position, I saw through the unique eyes of these witnesses. Their memories are revealing and frank. Mr. La Forte provides just enough background on each eyewitness for me to picture each character as a friend.

I have enjoyed talking and listening to many of this now-vanishing generation. We have in our hands the technology to preserve what they say, but I wonder if future generations will be able to profit from this bounty. As the years stream by, who will be able to appreciate the accents, the state of mind, the resourcefulness, the discipline, and the determination of this generation?

Great regional accents have almost disappeared in the last 50 years, and with them much regional culture and experience. All has been caught up in the In-sink-erator(tm) of life. I can see how difficult it is to learn from History: much of it vanishes. It slips though the fingers of even the most dedicated historians, just as dry sand at the seashore.

Robert La Forte's books help capture some of the essence of our heritage and provide us a bit of clarity on our current situations. Other of Mr. La Forte's books include, "With Only the Will to Live: Accounts of Americans in Japanese Prison Camps 1941-1945", and "Building the Death Railway: The Ordeal of American POWs in Burma, 1942-1945", both also available on Amazon.

Remembering Pearl Harbor is, I believe, one of the best oral histories I have ever read. The book is composed of personal memories of the military men and women who were there when the attack began. It is their story, in their words.

The book relates their stories from several different areas at or near Pearl Harbor: battleship row, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler and Hickham Fields, Ford Island and other locales. Each narration begins with a one to two page introduction of the person relating the story, followed by their narrative of that eventful day. The stories conclude with a followup of their WWII service followed by what they did after the war. The authors indicated that some of the veterans later died from cancer or other illness in the 70s and 80s; it is absolutely heartbreaking to read these finales - to have survived one of the greatest attacks and then die from cancer.

I was quite touched by all of the stories. One should add this book to their WWII library as it is one of the greatest stories ever told!

Remembering Pearl Harbor: Eyewitness Accounts by U.S. Military Men and Women-

The authors intent for this book was to allow people understand the effects of Pearl Harbor and how devastating it was along with informing the reader what actually went on. They comprised this book of eye witness accounts of people who served in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. This is a unique and interesting take upon writing a book because we only hear the stories that just graze the surface but this book goes beyond that letting the reader fully feel the intensity and experience it first hand. The authors use people from everywhere ranging from seamen on the USS Arizona to soldiers all over Ford Island handling the artillery. This book is definitely needed because without it people wouldn't comprehend how scary and terrifying this battle war.

The Author got soldiers that were involved in Pearl Harbor and compiled a series of interviews and made a story of Pearl Harbor through their eyes. This is a wonderful strategy because going from the soldiers point of view instead of readers opinion is a more reliable technique and can be trusted by the readers as credible information. They also get their information from many reliable books like Paul Stillwell's Air Raid: Pearl Harbor! Recollections of a Day of Infamy. The authors also use Walter Lord who wrote a Day of Infamy which contained a large number of interviews. They also use many graphics which helps the reader get a feel for what the area actually looked like instead of what their imagination saw it as. The pictures are mainly of the busted ships and obliterated areas but he also incorporated burial photographs and ariel shot before the attack so you can see the effects of the attack. They also used Japanese strategy maps showing their attack routes and when they will take place and it helps with understanding the stories because you can look back and see what happened as you read. They help with the text because if your unsure on location or where something is taking place you can always refer back to a picture to help clarify something.

I thought that the book was well written and organized fairly well. The writing is clear and easy to follow. The imagery of the seamen vaulting through doorways and swimming into burning ships to save any that is alive is a heroic image. After reading this it left me having a whole new respect for the war and what soldiers have to go through. It held my attention for the most part but at some parts through out the story when it was talking about soldiers on battleship row their stories got a little repetitive. For the most part it help my attention well and kept me engaged. I feel that it was a good book to be written because it supplies information about Pearl Harbor or war in general that we wouldn't have known. I would advise who had a family member in a war or they want to gain a little more respect for those who serve in our army to read this book because it will provide a whole new perspective.