Readers Remember

At the time we heard about the attack at Pearl Harbor, we were unaware that my cousin was there, stationed aboard the USS Arizona.

The last time I had seen him, he was in his uniform, looking so handsome and happy to be off to a great adventure overseas. The true reality and sadness of his death did not come until many years later when I visited Honolulu. I took the Navy tour to the Arizona Memorial where I read his name written on the marble tablet, and looked into the water to see the eerie shadow of the hull of the Arizona that was the tomb for so many young men, along with my cousin Jimmy Moore.

MARGARET REARDEN

Simi Valley

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It was a beautiful Sunday morning in Honolulu. The date was Dec. 7, 1941, and as a 10-year-old boy in Sunday school, I noticed black smoke around Pearl Harbor and assumed the Navy was doing air target practice. Then all us kids were dismissed early from Sunday school.

On the way home, I noticed large crowds all around the streets of Honolulu and I thought there must be a parade today. When I reached home, which was about 10 miles from Pearl Harbor, I noticed aircraft flying in an unusual manner. It must be the Air Force, also participating in this target practice. My mom did an unusual thing later that day. She gave me my Christmas present and said, “Jim, there will be no Christmas this year.”

JIM ANZAI

Monterey Park

In 200 words or less, send us your memories, comments or eyewitness accounts of the 20th century. Write to Century, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or e-mail century@latimes.com. Letters may be edited for space.