A True American HeroA True American Hero

Pearl Harbor survivorPearl Harbor survivorandand

BY: Trever Finnigan, Sabrina Edmonds, and Andrew Mackey

Mr. Lee was born on June 26, 1921 in Los Angeles California. He was the oldest of his three siblings, two brothers and one sister. Growing up James worked in his father’s bakery along with his two brothers and continued to work until he graduated from Beaumont High School.

At the age of 18 James Lee decided to join the army along with one of his younger brothers and his best friend. James said that he only agreed to join the army because the recruiter promised he and his friend would begin service together at Fort Logan. However James was not sent to Fort Logan but instead sent to Schofield Barracks, thus separating him and his best friend.

At the age of 18, Mr. Lee began his At the age of 18, Mr. Lee began his training at the Schofield Barracks 14 training at the Schofield Barracks 14 miles away from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.He miles away from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.He was trained by Generals Tony and was trained by Generals Tony and Warren, who were also long time Warren, who were also long time friends. He received training as a radar friends. He received training as a radar technician, and in machine guns.technician, and in machine guns.

The Radar Towers Looked a lot like this

These radar towers were meant to be expendable and were usually built and operated by four to six men

At about 5:00 am Mr. Lee was awaken At about 5:00 am Mr. Lee was awaken by his military comrades. They urged by his military comrades. They urged him to join them at attending a service him to join them at attending a service at the Catholic church across the street. at the Catholic church across the street. He reluctantly agreed to go. Shortly He reluctantly agreed to go. Shortly after leaving the service at around 8 am, after leaving the service at around 8 am, he began to feel shaking of the ground. he began to feel shaking of the ground. James told them it was probably an James told them it was probably an earthquake and that there’s nothing to earthquake and that there’s nothing to worry about. However to their dismay it worry about. However to their dismay it wasn’t.wasn’t.

At 7:55am the First bomb was dropped by At 7:55am the First bomb was dropped by Japanese airplanes 14 Miles away from Japanese airplanes 14 Miles away from Mr. Lee at Pearl Harbor. Shortly after Mr. Lee at Pearl Harbor. Shortly after seeing the smoke from the destroyed seeing the smoke from the destroyed ships, Japanese airplanes began to ships, Japanese airplanes began to shower the streets that James walked on shower the streets that James walked on with high caliber bullets.To dodge them with high caliber bullets.To dodge them James and the men in his unit jumped James and the men in his unit jumped underneath a near by truck for cover. At underneath a near by truck for cover. At the time James didn’t realize but if the the time James didn’t realize but if the bullets would have hit the gas tank of the bullets would have hit the gas tank of the truck they would have all been killed. truck they would have all been killed.

Despite all of the chaos, fear and danger James and his Despite all of the chaos, fear and danger James and his men knew what they had to do and that was to get to the men knew what they had to do and that was to get to the armory, get their guns and fight back. However the armory, get their guns and fight back. However the attack on Pearl Harbor was so unexpected that when attack on Pearl Harbor was so unexpected that when they finally reached the armory doors, they were still they finally reached the armory doors, they were still locked. So James and his unit had no choice but to tear locked. So James and his unit had no choice but to tear down the armory doors and to get their weapons. When down the armory doors and to get their weapons. When James got his gun, he was stunned to see how big of a James got his gun, he was stunned to see how big of a gun it was for such a small man. However that didn’t gun it was for such a small man. However that didn’t stop him from successfully shooting down two enemy stop him from successfully shooting down two enemy planes.planes.

Also Known as the Browning Automatic Rifle, this rifle shoots a .30 caliber round and was a very popular gun during World War II. This was the same type of gun James said he used when firing on Japanese airplanes.

At 8:55am the second bombing At 8:55am the second bombing had begun. The battle still took had begun. The battle still took place on the busy streets as well place on the busy streets as well as Pearl Harbor. At 9:55am the as Pearl Harbor. At 9:55am the Japanese air bombings had Japanese air bombings had ended. ended.

Navy: 2,008 Killed 710 Wounded 2,718 Total

Army: 218 Killed 364 Wounded 582 Total

Marine: 109 Killed 69 Wounded 178 Total

Civilians: 68 Killed 35 Wounded 103 Total

Totals: 2,403 KilledTotals: 2,403 Killed 1,178 Wounded1,178 Wounded 3,581 Total3,581 Total

Japanese attacked Japanese attacked in a circle eightin a circle eight

At the end of the raid, Mr. Lee’s commander ordered his unit to return to their camp and change into dirty clothes.He returned to his cabin to find many of his roommates that stayed were killed in the raid. As he walked over to his bed, he saw that it too had been sprayed with bullets and if he wouldn’t have left for church that morning, he would have been dead as well. So in a way the church saved his life.

After they changed, they were sent to the waters where a surprise Japanese submarine attack had taken place. When they arrived, they were ordered to swim into the ocean that was filled with burning oil, and pull out as many dead and wounded soldiers as they could and search for identification. The first person James pulled out of the water was just a body, he then went back in the water to find the head. James pulled out about 12 bodies out of the water that day and all were brutally killed

This devastating attack that lasted no more than 2 hours, This devastating attack that lasted no more than 2 hours, was definitely the turning point for America and for the War. was definitely the turning point for America and for the War. On December 8, the nation was gathered around its radios to On December 8, the nation was gathered around its radios to hear President Roosevelt deliver his “Day Of Infamy” speech. hear President Roosevelt deliver his “Day Of Infamy” speech. That same day, Congress declared war on Japan. On That same day, Congress declared war on Japan. On December 11, Congress declared war on Germany. The December 11, Congress declared war on Germany. The slogan 'Remember Pearl Harbor' mobilized a nation and slogan 'Remember Pearl Harbor' mobilized a nation and helped awaken the mighty war machine and economic engine helped awaken the mighty war machine and economic engine that is The United States of America. that is The United States of America.

A while after the bombing of Pearl Harbor his brother brought him to England to fix a tail gun on a British airplane.The next morning he was told to get in the airplane, load the machine gun, and sit in the gunner’s seat. Right after, they took off into the cloudy skies still without telling James what he was supposed to do. When they finally reached the peak of their flight he was told to fire on any enemy planes as soon as he sees them, so they don’t attack the bomber. He went on 7 bombing raids in Germany and shot down one German pilot.

After the war James moved to Denver to live out the rest of his military career. After that he moved to California were he still lives today as a member of D.A.V. or Disabled American Veterans. James was also awarded many many metals through out his service in the military.

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded to personnel for service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions:       

(1) On permanent assignment.        (2) In a passenger status or on

temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 days not consecutive.       

(3) In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that he actually participated in combat.

The WW II Victory Medal was awarded to all military personnel for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946. 

The American Defense Service Medal was awarded to personnel for active duty service from 8 September 1939 to 7 December 1941 for a period of twelve months or longer. 

The American Campaign Medal was awarded to personnel for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions.  

(1) On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States. 

(2) Permanently assigned as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 days or 60 nonconsecutive days.  

(3) Permanently assigned as a member of an operating crew of an airplane actually making regular and frequent flights over ocean waters for a period of 30 days.  

(4) Outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 days not consecutive. 

 (5) In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that he actually participated in combat.   

(6) Within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of one year.