ARPC Airman shares 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack with survivor

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Beth Anschutz
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  On Dec. 7, 1941, a surprise attack on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, took the lives of 2,403 service members and civilians, while wounding 1,143 and hurdling the United States into World War II.

Seventy-five years later, Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mathews, Air Reserve Personnel Center, stood next to J.C. Alston, his great uncle and one of the last remaining survivors of the attack, during a week of events memorializing those lost and honoring those who endured.

Alston is now 94 years old. He was just 18 when he was forced to abandon the Naval battleship on which he served, the U.S.S. California, and swim to shore amidst explosions as the first wave of Japanese planes attacked the harbor. The U.S.S. California suffered two torpedo hits to her hull.

“I could not imagine being 18 years old, fighting in a World War and witnessing death and destruction,” Mathews said. “What those men and women endured in just two hours is more than the average Airman will endure over their entire career.”

Mathews said his uncle has always been a hero to him. He remembers hearing stories of all the times Alston witnessed history in the making.

“I remember him telling me about his service in World War II. He fought in the battle of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. During the battle at Iwo Jima he witnessed the famous raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi,” Mathews said. “He likes to add that it was raised twice to make sure they got it on film.”

According to Mathews, Alston was on the U.S.S. West Virginia in Tokyo Bay, right next to the U.S.S. Missouri, and witnessed the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945, effectively ending the war.

“I feel grateful for men and women like J.C.. They gave four years for their lives to fight for the preservation of the liberties we are privileged to have today,” Mathews said.

Being able to escort his uncle to the Pearl Harbor events meant the world to Mathews. He was humbled to be surrounded by so many brave people.
“The stories shared all week were those of surprise, fear, anger and pride,” he said. “Not only service members, but every American citizen owes a debt of gratitude to the lives of the Pearl Harbor survivors and those that were lost.”

Alston said he enjoys time with younger service members. Telling his story to the upcoming generations gives him reassurance that the sacrifices of his fellow survivors will not be forgotten.

“Anytime I speak with people about my time in service, I’m reminded that what we all went through during the attack on Pearl Harbor and the following war will not go in vain,” Alston said. “The gratitude I’m shown is heartwarming. I appreciate any chance I have to share my story.”