Fredericksburg - National Museum of The Pacific War

Exhibits | National Museum of the Pacific War (pacificwarmuseum.org)

World War II history fans will appreciate the details and venue of the Greatest Generation.  This was a wonderful discovery of history for me and how close to home it hits. 

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Growing up in Hawaii, we weren't taught about the history behind the naming of Nimitz Highway. It wasn't until I moved to Texas that I learned about Admiral Nimitz and his hometown. I've grown to love the history of this town and the museum, especially as my parents shared their childhood stories from when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

My father's family lived in Honolulu. He and his mother were close enough to see the Japanese pilots in their cockpits and didn't recognize the uniforms until they noticed the Japanese rising sun on the planes. At first, he thought it was a practice flight, but soon realized it was an actual attack as they witnessed smoke rising from the burning ships.

My mother's family were farmers on the Leeward side of the island. They watched the planes fly overhead, and her father warned the children that it spelled trouble. Their farm, located near a radio tower, was scheduled for evacuation to a concentration camp. Fortunately, they were among the few who didn't have to move, though they lost some of their land. My maternal grandfather, an immigrant from Okinawa, had nine children. The eldest son volunteered for the war effort before the attack to represent the family.

My uncle was an Army Second Lieutenant awarded The Purple Heart and Bronze Medal as part of the 100th Infantry Battalion. They truly represent the greatest generation, the real patriots. My mother suggested I interview my uncle for a school report. To our surprise, he showed me the scar from where he was shot, saved by his dog tag. He also showed me his medals, which he kept in a trunk; my mother had never seen them until I took a photo with a Polaroid camera. In 2000, he was awarded the Medal of Honor where Mom and Dad had the honor of seeing his name on the Wall of Heroes.