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Military History/Expert Profile
Expertise
Retired US Navy, stationed 10 years in Hawaii. Study of the early years of the Pacific War 1941-42, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. Easy access to actual sites in and around Pearl Harbor. More limited knowledge of general WWII history in the Pacific.
Experience in the area
I'm well-read in general WWII history, and spent a lot of off time exploring various military sites on O'ahu.
Education/Credentials
I hold a B.A degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu in Historical and Political Studies, Summa cum Laude, earned in 2002.
What do you like about this subject?
I'm a real history buff, and plan to teach HS History after I retire from the US Navy.
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:
Of all the ships that were sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, only 3 never saw service again: USS Arizona, USS Utah, and USS Oklahoma
Something controversial or provocative about this subject
There are some who say that President Roosevelt knew the attack was coming, but did not try especially hard to prevent it. It is said that he hoped that an attack on the US would get the nation into open war with the Axis.
Average Ratings
Recent Reviews from Users
K = Knowledgeability C = Clarity of Response T = Timeliness P = Politeness| User | Date | K | C | T | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim | 08/20/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| Meradith | 08/02/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much! You gave me ..... |
| simon | 07/31/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| Lynn | 06/09/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much for your quick ..... |
| Julie | 03/06/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much for response - ..... |
Recent Answers from John
2009-10-18 Navy terminology:
I spent 24 years in the US Navy, and it was always port and starboard when referring to a side of the ship. HOWEVER, when giving orders to the helmsman, it's a left or right turn. i.e. "come left to
2009-09-05 WWII US Navy uniform:
An officer? Not that I can think of. On the blue jacket, there were gold stripes around the sleeves, and on the white 'choker', shoulder boards with the rank insignia. Tell me more about this uniform
2009-08-01 WWII Era Photograph:
I was able to find out a little, but not a whole lot. The photo must have been taken between 1942 and 1946, as those are the only years that Naval Training Station Farragut was in operation. From
2009-07-31 pearl harbor:
They just happened to be gone. There were only 3, if I recall correctly. One was ferrying aircraft to Wake Island, and I think the other two were just out on maneuvers. They often left the battleships
2009-07-28 help finding info on grandfather:
If you want to know about the service of a former member of the military, the first place to check is the Military Records branch of the National Archives, located in St. Louis, MO. Their website is
Answers by Expert:
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