National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: “A day that will live in infamy.” Does anyone have any family who fought during WWII?

Jay’s grandfather, Navy Chief Raymond G Wiese, was actually AT PEARL HARBOR. He had hangar check on Ford Island the morning the Japanese bombed. He remembered “hearing something” behind him as he signed “all secure” on the log book. The next thing he remembers was himself and the bicycle he was on being blown out the front of the hangar onto the ground. Without turning around to see what had happened, he said he got up and ran.

Grandpa Wiese served throughout WWII as a PBY pilot. The majority of his missions were in the South Pacific delivering supplies. He was shot down more than once. The last time, he was delivering a supply of beer. He sat on his plane drinking the beer until he was located and picked up by other Naval members.

Chief Wiese lived a good LONG life, dying just 5 1/2 months shy of turning 100. His funeral was the coolest. Featuring 8 navy chiefs as pall-bearers and being sent away by the music of “Anchors Aweight” played by Howard Gloor, owner of Howard’s Grocery in Shiner. Grandpa’s casket was filled with a few bottles of Shiner, beer tokens from Howards, flags, pictures of his grandkids and great-grandkids. After the services we all went to Howard’s and enjoyed “beer on the house” for the rest of the afternoon. Above all, it was a day I will never forget, celebrating a “life well lived.”

In conclusion, learn more about National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on the National Park Service website here.