Chapter One

I remember; I remember Pearl Harbor. I remember that Sunday morning, December 7th, 1941, when sleep was interrupted by sounds of explosives and gunfire. I was irritated and demonstrated my irritability by moaning, groaning, tossing and turning and, as a last resort, burying my head under my pillow. When that didn't muffle the sounds I was totally frustrated. "How can anyone sleep through all that noise? This is the first time they've done that. Why aren't they practicing on a weekday like they usually do?"

One would expect a different reaction to the sounds of explosives and gunfire, but to a kamaaina those sounds were not unusual. Military activity was prevalent on the Islands during pre-World War II days, especially on the island of Oahu. The Army and Navy frequently held maneuvers off the coast of some of the beaches or at various installations.

The artillery sounds of December 7th were intense and repetitious, aggravating me as never before. "Why does the military have to hold maneuvers on a Sunday and at such an ungodly hour; just when there's no school and I'm trying to sleep?" I could not understand how my younger sister, Betty, in the other twin bed could sleep through it all. Well, yes I could. She had always been a sound sleeper and could sleep through anything. Needless to say my moaning and groaning eventually awakened her.

Dad had worked all night and had been home for just a short time, about two hours. By now he was probably into deep sleep and sounds were obstructed. Mom remarked later that she was bothered by the noise but kept quiet so as n