Captain’s Column
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was commissioned in March of 1941 in the months leading up to World War II. In fact the first cadets earned their Wings of Gold on Nov. 1, 1941, just weeks prior to the Pearl Harbor attack of Dec. 7, 1941.
Having moved to Corpus Christi from Hawaii this past summer, I’ve had the honor of touring Pearl Harbor and seeing the wrecks of the battleships U.S.S. Arizona and Utah. These ships were two of the 18 vessels sunk or run aground during the attack. Both the Arizona and Utah remain in place in Pearl Harbor and continue to be honored as the final resting place of many Sailors who fell on that day.
Countless Americans and international travelers visit Pearl Harbor every year to pay their respects. During the guided tour of these sites, I was fascinated to learn some amazing things about our nation’s efforts following the attack. Amazingly, 16 of the 18 vessels run aground were righted and refloated to sail again. Fifteen of these returned to operational duty to fight again and avenge the loss of so many Sailors. This massive salvage effort represented the finest qualities of American perseverance: an incredible “can do” spirit in the face of nearly impossible tasks and a steady, willful defiance in the face of adversity.
The U.S. war effort following Pearl Harbor also showed a major leap in naval warfare: combat in the Pacific following Pearl Harbor and through to 1945 demonstrated the Navy’s commitment to employing different platforms to dominate all domains: sea, under sea, sky, and land. The Navy employed diverse forces to forge one powerful team: surface combatants, aircraft carriers and their carrier air wings, submarines, long range patrol aircraft, construction battalions, logistics forces, and of course, the United States Marine Corps. No one element won the war, but rather the effective integration of all produced victory. Yet this victory is not credited to outstanding platforms or brilliant operational concepts: it is attributable directly to the courage and sacrifice of every Sailor and Marine, each doing their part. It is amazing and inspiring.
The holidays are busy time as we scramble against the clock to decorate, buy gifts, travel long distances, and meet tight work deadlines. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement or stress of it all. But at least on one day, Dec. 7, I would encourage all to take a moment to think about those lost at Pearl Harbor and in the war that followed, and to also think about how we came together to recover from that tragedy to achieve victory. By not forgetting that day, we can ensure the best chance to become our best selves.