Seventy-four years after explosions destroyed a calm morning on Dec. 7, 1941, a group of World War II veterans, current Sailors, and students from Chicago's Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy, gathered to celebrate the heroism displayed that day, during a ceremony.

With the military high school providing the setting, Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes Commanding Officer Capt. John B. Vliet and more than 20 staff members attended the ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Japanese surprise attack that sparked United States involvement in World War II.

"The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most grievous events in United States history," Vliet said.

He then directed his attention to the students and said, "Think of the thousands of stories that will never be told, that we won't know about; the letters home never finished; the deck watch never turned over; the homecomings never enjoyed; young men and women, just like yourselves, in the prime of their life."

Many were caught off-guard that day, but that lasted only moments, as several Sailors jumped into action immediately after the attacks began, Vliet described.

The captain spoke of Lt. John William Finn returning fire from his position on the parking ramp, and of Chief Boatswain's Mate Edwin Joseph Hill who returned to the USS Nevada to dislodge the anchors after leading his men to safety, only to be killed in an explosion. Each of these men, and the 2,400 others who died that day, are part of Navy history, a history Vliet said is important to remember, especially on a day like this.

"We cannot ever forget our heritage," he said. "Our heritage is the foundation that drives us forward. If you don't know your heritage, take the time to learn it. Heritage pays honor, tribute and loyalty to those veterans that went before you."

One of those representing U.S. military heritage is David James, a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, who was also in attendance during the ceremony, and recounted where he was when he first heard about the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

"I was in Chicago. I was a freshman in Loyola," he said. "I couldn't believe it. I thought Orson Welles was up to his tricks."

That "trick" was the infamous radio broadcast reading by Orson Welles of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" in 1938 that sent the nation into a brief panic at the fear of an alien invasion.

The swell of patriotism and need to respond once the War-of-the-Worldfears were replaced with the knowledge that Americans had been attacked, was true after Pearl Harbor and it was true after the 9/11 attacks, Vliet said.

"We were attacked in 1941. We answered the call," he said. "We've answered the call since then and I promise you this nation will always answer the call."

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