Hickam pays tribute to past heroes in Dec. 7 remembrance ceremony

By Senior Airman Lauren Main, 15th Wing Public Affairs / Published December 07, 2012

Col. Johnny Roscoe presents a flag to Col. (Ret.) Andrew Kowalski, a Hickam Field survivor, during a 71st Anniversary remembrance Ceremony Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, commemorating the 1941 attacks on Hickam Field. During the attacks, Kowalski reported to the Wing Headquarters building where he assisted the commander and took charge of fielding calls coming in to report casualties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

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Col. Johnny Roscoe presents a flag to Col. (Ret.) Andrew Kowalski, a Hickam Field survivor, during a 71st Anniversary remembrance Ceremony Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, commemorating the 1941 attacks on Hickam Field. During the attacks, Kowalski reported to the Wing Headquarters building where he assisted the commander and took charge of fielding calls coming in to report casualties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Honor guardsmen perform a "three-volley salute" Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, during the 71st Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony honoring the attacks on Hickam field Dec. 7, 1941. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

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Honor guardsmen perform a "three-volley salute" Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, during the 71st Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony honoring the attacks on Hickam field Dec. 7, 1941. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Col. Johnny Roscoe, 15th Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Leslie Bramlett, 15th Wing command chief, salute after placing a wreath at the base of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, flagpole Dec. 7. The wreath laying was part of the remembrance ceremony which is held every year to commemorate the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces during the attack on Hickam field on Dec. 7, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

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Col. Johnny Roscoe, 15th Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Leslie Bramlett, 15th Wing command chief, salute after placing a wreath at the base of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, flagpole Dec. 7. The wreath laying was part of the remembrance ceremony which is held every year to commemorate the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces during the attack on Hickam field on Dec. 7, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Col. Johnny Roscoe, 15th Wing commander, shakes the hand of Kenneth Ford, a Hickam Field Survivor, during a remembrance ceremony Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Ford enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 15, after lying about his age. On Dec 6th, he had a layover at Hickam Field en route to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Early Sunday morning while he was taking a shower, the first bombs dropped on Hickam Field. Ford defended Hickam field on the shores of Ft. Kamehameha Beach. Ford later went on to fight in the European theater, where he became a German prisoner of war. After his eventual release, he fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

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Col. Johnny Roscoe, 15th Wing commander, shakes the hand of Kenneth Ford, a Hickam Field Survivor, during a remembrance ceremony Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Ford enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 15, after lying about his age. On Dec 6th, he had a layover at Hickam Field en route to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Early Sunday morning while he was taking a shower, the first bombs dropped on Hickam Field. Ford defended Hickam field on the shores of Ft. Kamehameha Beach. Ford later went on to fight in the European theater, where he became a German prisoner of war. After his eventual release, he fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Col. Johnny Roscoe, 15th Wing commander, speaks during a ceremony Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, honoring the 71st Anniversary of the attacks on Hickam Field. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

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Col. Johnny Roscoe, 15th Wing commander, speaks during a ceremony Dec. 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, honoring the 71st Anniversary of the attacks on Hickam Field. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Two Hickam Field survivors, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Kenneth Ford and Col. (Ret.) Andrew Kowalski, stand for the invocation Dec. 7 during the 71st anniversary ceremony commemorating the 1941 attacks on Hickam Field. Ford and Kowalski were both enlisted in the Army Air Corps during the attacks. Ford was given a rifle and five rounds to defend the beach from another wave of attacks. Kowalski reported to the Wing Headquarters building and fielded calls reporting the names and numbers of casualties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

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Two Hickam Field survivors, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Kenneth Ford and Col. (Ret.) Andrew Kowalski, stand for the invocation Dec. 7 during the 71st anniversary ceremony commemorating the 1941 attacks on Hickam Field. Ford and Kowalski were both enlisted in the Army Air Corps during the attacks. Ford was given a rifle and five rounds to defend the beach from another wave of attacks. Kowalski reported to the Wing Headquarters building and fielded calls reporting the names and numbers of casualties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

F-22 Raptors from the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, perform a "fly-over" during a remembrance ceremony for Hickam survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Oahu by Japanese forces. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent it's interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

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F-22 Raptors from the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, perform a "fly-over" during a remembrance ceremony for Hickam survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Oahu by Japanese forces. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent it's interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

Military servicemembers sit in attendance during a remembrance ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for Hickam survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Oahu by Japanese forces. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent it's interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

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Military servicemembers sit in attendance during a remembrance ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for Hickam survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Oahu by Japanese forces. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent it's interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

Honor Guardsmen ceremoniously fire rifles during a remembrance ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for Hickam survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Oahu by Japanese forces. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent it's interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

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Honor Guardsmen ceremoniously fire rifles during a remembrance ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for Hickam survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Oahu by Japanese forces. Seventy-one years ago, Japanese air and naval forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. military forces throughout Oahu. The attacks hit several installations on the island with the aim of crippling the U.S. fleet to prevent it's interference with Japanese military plans in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- On Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m. the largest airborne attack force ever assembled by the Imperial Japanese Navy struck Oahu's military installations and plunged the United States into World War II aiming to cripple the U.S. fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor and prevent American involvement in Japanese military engagements in the Pacific theater.

Today, multiple generations of Airmen gathered to remember sacrifices made and honor the legacy emblazoned upon the heritage of Airmen both past, present, and future.

"The attack on Oahu was a huge military success for the Japanese, said Col. Johnny Roscoe, 15th Wing commander. "They had achieved surprise, shattering the U.S. Pacific Fleet and crippling the Hawaiian Air Force. Eventually our air forces rebuilt, and the American spirit proved invincible. But the eventual victory was not without cost. The price paid that day, and throughout the remainder of the war, was high."

Only two survivors were able to attend the ceremony, representative of an example Roscoe said "men and women, civilian, active duty and guardsmen alike" have learned from.

The first, Col. (Ret.) Andrew Kowalski, enlisted in the Army in 1934 and arrived to Hickam Field in 1939. On the morning of Dec. 7, Kowalski fell asleep at friend's house in Hickam housing after staying up late playing poker. At approximately 7:55 a.m., he was awakened by loud explosions and immediately reported for duty at the wing headquarters building where he was the assistant to the commander. For the next several hours, his job was to answer the phone and maintain the official list of Hickam casualties.

Master Sgt. (Ret.) Kenneth Ford, who lied about his age to enslist in the U.S. Army at age 15, was taking a shower when the first bomb exploded. Later that afternoon he volunteered to guard Fort Kamehameha beach against possible Japanese invaders armed with only a World War I Springfield rifle and five rounds of ammunition.

The ceremony included a "missing-man formation" flyover by F-22 Raptors from the 19th and 199th Fighter Squadrons. The jets flew over the flag pole at the exact moment the first bomb dropped on Hickam. Wreaths were also placed at the base of the flag pole to honor heroes of the past and American flags were presented to Kowalski and Ford.

"Today is about the brave men and women who endured the attack and pressed on to fight for our nation," Roscoe said. "Our lineage as Airmen in the Pacific Air Forces beings with their story. They lived through, what has been referred to as 'hell in paradise,' but I am proud to say that the American flag flying at this spot on Dec. 7th was still standing after the attack, and our flag remains today."