Pearl Harbor veterans cling to memories

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — Since that terrible morning 65 years ago, the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor have been called heroes, VIPS of the greatest generation and the first American witnesses to the last world war.

But more and more, the members of this exclusive clique are being called something else: endangered.

With age and aching joints slowing even the most hardy of old sailors, Marines and airmen, the major national survivors group has decided this year's anniversary gathering will be its last in Hawaii.

"We're getting about as extinct as the dodo bird," said Mal Middlesworth, the president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, which traditionally meets here every five years. "The way its going, our next national convention here we could hold in a phone booth."

Middlesworth, 83, who watched the attack from the deck of the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco, said much of his membership of 4,600 survivors had simply gotten too old to travel great distances. "There's a lot of people in wheelchairs and in walkers," he said. "And we don't have any replacement troops."

But if they're going, they're going with a bang. Organizers said the crowd at Thursday's commemoration on the harbor — dubbed "The Last Reunion" — was one of the largest in years, with more than 3,000 spectators, double the number expected, some of whom camped out well before dawn to enter. That number included about 400 survivors, decked out in naval hats, campaign ribbons and medals.

Many survivors brought several generations of family. "A lot of the families are coming just to bring grandpa," Middlesworth said. "And they need everyone there to help them get around."

Stephen Yorden, 86, made the trip from suburban Philadelphia with his two daughters, his granddaughter and a grandson. Yorden, who was a ship fitter on the destroyer USS Dewey when the attack began and who only recently retired from a career in construction, said his reasons for coming this year were simple.

"I'm getting tired: the old bones don't jump no more," he said, explaining he had been slowed by a bad back. "And I figured I may as well get rid of some money before I have to give it to Uncle Sam."