R 070052Z DEC 11

ALCOAST 562/11
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: OUR PROFESSION - 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF PEARL HARBOR ATTACK
1. ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY 07 DEC 1941, OUR SHIPMATES ABOARD NAVAL
VESSELS, CUTTERS AND BOATS BASED AT PEARL HARBOR AND SHIPMATES AT
MILITARY AIRFIELDS ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU WERE BLASTED AWAKE BY
EXPLOSIONS FROM A SURPRISE ATTACK BY OVER 180 JAPANESE PLANES.
2. AS U.S. CREWS SCRAMBLED TO BATTLE STATIONS AND RETURNED FIRE, A
SECOND ATTACK WAVE OF NEARLY THE SAME SIZE CONTINUED THE BOMBARDMENT.
CGC TANEY QUICKLY BROUGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES TO BEAR ON ENEMY
PLANES THAT CAME WITHIN RANGE. CGC TIGER PATROLLED OFF OAHU IN
PURSUIT OF ENEMY SUBMARINES. CGC RELIANCE AND CGC KUKUI DEFENDED
THEMSELVES. COAST GUARD PATROL BOAT AND SMALL BOAT CREWS FERRIED
PERSONNEL AND SECURED THE PORT DURING AND AFTER THE ATTACK.
3. THE 70TH PEARL HARBOR DAY COMMEMORATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REFLECT UPON THE CHARACTER OF OUR SHIPMATES WHO HEROICALLY FOUGHT
THAT DAY AND IN THE ENSUING BATTLES THROUGHOUT WWII. PEARL HARBOR DAY
NOT ONLY CHANGED THEIR LIVES BUT THE TRACKLINE OF OUR NATIONS
HISTORY. ITS ENDURING LESSON IS THAT AMERICA OVERCAME AND PREVAILED
AGAINST HER ENEMIES BECAUSE OF OUR SHIPMATES WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND
SACRIFICE IN PURSUIT OF A GREATER CAUSE - FREEDOM.
4. TO HONOR THE MANNERS OF OUR PROFESSION AND PASS THE LESSONS OF 07
DEC 1941 ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS, I ENCOURAGE COMMANDS TO ATTEND ONE
OF THE MANY PLANNED 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION EVENTS. I HAVE THE
HONOR OF OBSERVING THIS HISTORIC MILESTONE ABOARD CGC TANEY, NOW A
MUSEUM SHIP IN BALTIMORE, IN THE PRESENCE OF PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS,
WWII VETERANS AND OTHER PAST AND PRESENT SHIPMATES.
5. STAND A TAUT WATCH. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.