Survivors mark the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor

An ever-dwindling number of Pearl Harbor survivors returned to Hawaii this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack that drew the United States into World War II.

Many of those still telling their stories of that horrific day are in their late 90s or older, long past the time when most people are able and willing to travel great distances. But at 103, Jim Downing wouldn’t miss the trip.

“We get together and have a great time and compare our stories,” he said Tuesday from his hotel in Waikiki.

Downing was one of several dozen survivors who stood for a moment of silence on a pier overlooking the harbor this morning. Japan’s surprise attack at 7:55 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, killed 2,300 people and nearly destroyed the U.S. fleet. Downing, one of the oldest living survivors, gives frequent interviews about his experiences during the attack, but most reporters miss the amazing story of his life after the war.

Last year, Downing talked to WORLD Radio’s Mary Reichard about his work with Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, a ministry initially directed at service members that now works on college campuses. After retiring from the Navy in 1956, Downing went to work full time for The Navigators, pointing others toward a full life in Christ.

Someone on the other side of the attack, Mitsuo Fuchida, also spent his life after the war serving God. Fuchida flew the reconnaissance bomber that sent the now famous radio signal to begin the attack: “Tora! Tora! Tora!” Almost 10 years later, Fuchida read the account of one of the Doolittle Raiders taken captive and tortured by Japanese soldiers. Moved by that man’s account of forgiving his enemies, Fuchida began to read the Bible, eventually giving his life to Christ. He spent the rest of his life as an evangelist.

“I believe with all my heart that those who will direct Japan—and all other nations—in the decades to come must not ignore the message of Jesus Christ,” he wrote in his book From Pearl Harbor to Calvary. “Youth must realize that He is the only hope for this troubled world.”

During today’s anniversary, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Japan to announce the return of 10,000 acres in Okinawa the U.S. military has used as a jungle warfare training ground. In a press conference with his Japanese counterpart, Carter touted the strength of the relationship between the two countries.

“America’s interests in this region are enduring,” he said.

On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced he would visit the Pearl Harbor memorial—the first Japanese leader to do so—later this month with U.S. President Barack Obama. Earlier this year, Obama visited Hiroshima, the site of the U.S. nuclear attack that helped end World War II. He laid a wreath at the memorial to the 140,000 people who died.

Reflecting today on the Pearl Harbor attack, Obama said, “We can never repay the profound debt of gratitude we owe to those who served on our behalf.”