Pearl Harbor vets honored on anniversary
The members of two veteran organizations, during separate ceremonies held on Saturday, remembered the bravery and sacrifice of those serving their country 61 years ago, when Japanese forces struck the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. “Sons, brothers, husbands and fathers gave their lives that day,” said George R. Piovesan, American Legion 24th District Commander during the service held in at Veterans Plaza in Connellsville.
“Some never awoke. Many died bravely at their battle stations, while others passed away as they battled the fires and damage that raged from within (the Hawaiian port).
It was beautiful December Sunday morning when the first wave of 183 Japanese fighter planes stormed Pearl Harbor, dropping their bombs and firing their guns at the ships, aircraft and soldiers below.
Pvt. Steve Datko said he was sitting in the dayroom of his Fort Shafter barracks, just north of the Pearl Harbor naval base writing a letter to his family at home when he heard the plane engines overhead.
“We didn’t know what was happening,” he said.
The Fairchance resident had joined the Army just 11 months earlier and had thought he would follow in his brother’s path as a member of the 64th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft group based in Hawaii. Instead, their paths crossed, the elder sibling heading home and Datko entering the war.
“There were just a few of us there that day; a lot of the guys were in Honolulu,” he said. “There were no officers to open the room where we kept our ammunition for our weapons and we had to break the lock.”
Datko said after they gained entrance to the ammunition supply, they shot at the Japanese aircraft from their windows.
“Now, it doesn’t make sense, but we were all young then and we just wanted to do something,” he said.
Datko, the others that fought and died and those that survived on Dec. 7, 1941, must be remembered, said Charles Rummel, VFW Post 8543 commander during ceremonies held at the North Union Township post.
“We, as Americans, must appreciate what the Pearl Harbor veterans and those who have fought in all wars have sacrificed,” he said.
Don Burkholder, VFW Post 301 adjutant, echoed similar sentiments.
“On Dec. 7, 1941, these veterans heard the call of our country and defended liberty and defended freedom,” said Burkholder. “They remembered three things; their God, their country and their flag.
“The red of our country’s flag was made greater still by their bravery; the white more stainlessly pure by the motives which impelled them in the starry field of our nation’s banner; the blue has been glorified by the service given for the American ideals.”
Also taking part in the Connellsville ceremony were Thomas McFadden, Fayette County VFW Council commander; John Layton, Connellsville Veterans Commission president; Ted Davis, American Legion Post 762 commander; the American Legion and VFW Honor Guard and Julie Knupsky, who played “Taps.”
Others participating in the ceremony were Charles Wedl, VFW Post 8543 chaplain; and William Rummel, post Color Guard commander.