December 7th, 1941

[Brian]

It was twenty-one years ago today that I graduated Navy "C" School at Mare Island Naval Base in Vallejo, CA.

I was officially a Data Systems Technician specializing in Combat Display. Today the DS rating no longer exists and Mare Island has long since been decommissioned.

[dbt1949]

and the Marines no longer use muskets and fire from the rigging.

[SpaceLord]

And 96 years ago, Eli Wallach was born. Heck, he was already 26 when Pearl Harbor was bombed.

[Isgrimnur]

Survivors are disbanding:

During the ceremony, a group of survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack announced that they would disband at the end of the month. William Muehleib, president of the Pearl Harbors Association, cited age and poor health of the remaining members.
...
"It was time. Some of the requirements became a burden," Muehleib said after the ceremony. Most of the survivors have realized that at their age, there are other things they'd like to do, he said.

He said the association has 2,700 members but there are an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 Pearl Harbor survivors. Local chapters will function as long as they have members and survivors can gather socially, but they will no longer have a formal, national organization.
...
Also this week, five ash scattering and interment ceremonies are being held for five survivors whose cremated remains are returning to Pearl Harbor after their deaths.

On Tuesday, an urn containing the ashes of Lee Soucy was placed on his battleship, the USS Utah, which is lying on its side near the place where it sank. The ashes of Vernon Olsen, who was on the Arizona during the attack, will be placed on his ship late Wednesday.
...
The ashes of three other survivors will be scattered in the water in separate ceremonies this week.

[tgb]

Put on your skinny ties and dance.

[Isgrimnur]

Memorial closed

However, this year, tourists won’t get to set foot on one of the most revered sites here, the USS Arizona Memorial, which has been closed since May 6 over safety concerns.
...
“The problem is the anchoring system that holds the dock in place has partially failed,” said Jacqueline Ashwell, the superintendent for the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

The floating dock has been moving as much as 10 feet away from the memorial, when it’s only supposed to move about 2 feet. The dock is anchored by chains attached to concrete blocks embedded in the harbor floor, about 50 feet deep. Any repair work must be done very carefully.
...
Ashwell said the Park Service is close to choosing a repair solution. “Our repair strategy will likely involve placing some additional anchors in the harbor to pull the dock back into place,” she said.
...
“When people hear that the memorial is closed, there’s a misconception among many that the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is closed,” said Jay Blount, spokesman for the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. However, the center remains open, and Blount pointed out people can still tour all the other historic sites in the area, including the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.

[em2nought]

Memorial closed

Will probably take longer to fix than it took to win WW2.