Ewa Battlefield Commemoration


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AMVETS Hawaii is a 501(c)(3), is a public, non-profit, Veterans Service Organization (VSO).

MCAS Ewa Historic Park Project

Pearl Harbor 2015

Ewa Plain Battlefield was one of the first places attacked on December 7, 1941. Ewa Villages was also attacked. There were Marine and civilian casualties. The entire 1941 airfield has been nominated to the state/national register. This is a happy but respectful commemoration. All are welcome to attend and view the many bullet strafing marks and pose with WWII vehicles for picture taking.

10th Annual Ewa Battlefield Commemoration

an “Official” 76th Pearl Harbor Commemoration Ceremony
Click here for invitation.
Click here for program.
For a full schedule of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 2017 events, please visit here.
 
When: Saturday, 9 December 2017 (0930 to 1100 Hours)
Where: Ewa Plain Battlefield – Airfield Concrete Ramp (1941)
Who: Free, Open to the Public

The Ewa Plain Battlefield is located in the southwestern corner of Oahu, Honolulu County, in a geographic area referred to as Ewa Plain, approximately 5.5 miles southwest of Ford Island (middle of Pearl Harbor). While the Battle of Ewa Plain encompasses three main population centers: Ewa Field, Ewa Villages, and Ewa Beach, only Ewa Field retains sufficient architectural, archeological, and/or landscape integrity to convey its historical significance. This includes retaining its integrity of location, setting, design, and association.

Directions:

Google Maps Street Views – Click links to see 360 views Look for Quonset Huts and Baseball Field
https://goo.gl/maps/Haaf9qJjZkn – Roosevelt Ave and Corregidor St
https://goo.gl/maps/wCkMGTixkjS2 – turn onto Corregidor St. and go past barriers

The field is located across from the Hawaiian Railway Society Museum.

This is a joyous but respectful commemoration. All are welcome to attend to view the Battlefield with its many bullet strafing marks and pose with WWII veterans and vehicles for picture taking.

Note, Ewa Plain Battlefield, formerly Marine Corps Air Station Ewa,
was listed in the National Historic Site Registry and is in the process of becoming part of the WW-II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

https://www.nps.gov/places/ewa-plain-battlefield.htm
The True Story of Pearl Harbor Documentary “Tora, Tora, Tora!”

9th Annual Ewa Plain Battlefield Commemoration, an “Official” 75th Pearl Harbor Commemoration Ceremony

When: Thursday, 8 December 2016 (0930 to 1100)
Where: Ewa Plain Battlefield – Airfield Concrete Ramp (1941)
Who: Free, Open to the Public

Add to your Google Calendaramvets_hawaii_ewa_battlefield

Ewa Plain Battlefield Memorial Day – Hawaii News Now

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/32098240/ewa-field-marks-first-memorial-day-on-national-register

Photos:

https://stanii.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Ewa-Field-Memorial-Day-5-30-16/i-L7vCXwv

On 23 May 2016, Ewa Plain Battlefield was listed in the National Historic Site Registry and is in the process of becoming part of the WW-II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

As Memorial Day approaches, it’s a time when we think about our brothers and sisters we served with who are no longer with us. Perhaps we remember a battle buddy who we served with. Maybe we think back to someone we bonded with during basic training. Or we might recall someone who made the ultimate sacrifice so that others could live in freedom. Share their stories so that others will understand what freedom, patriotism and service really mean.

Take the time this Memorial Day weekend and help us remind all Americans that freedom is not free. There is a price for the liberties we enjoy. We know that the true meaning of this holiday is much more than barbecues and picnics.

Together, let us honor their memories. Say a silent prayer for their families. Participate in our community remembrance service at Ewa Battlefield Memorial Day Commemoration on Monday, 30 May 2016 (1000 – 1100 hours).

Checkout KITV report:
https://stanii.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Ewa-Field-Memorial-Day-5-30-16/i-L7vCXwv

Directions:

Google Maps Street Views – Click links to see 360 views Look for Quonset Huts and Baseball Field
https://goo.gl/maps/Haaf9qJjZkn – Roosevelt and Corregidor
https://goo.gl/maps/wCkMGTixkjS2 – Corregidor and past barriers

EwaBattlefieldLOGO

75th Anniversary of December 7, 1941 – Ewa Plain Battlefield still has many undocumented historic sites

Ewa Plain Battlefield still has many undocumented historic Pacific War sites, including early post attack 1942 aircraft revetments linked to
Wake and Midway battles. These revetments still exist undocumented.

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The closest most people will ever get to the early important Pacific War battlefields is seeing the Ewa Plain Battlefield sites.

It is important to realize that the battles of Ewa Plain Battlefield, Wake and Midway were borne by the many sacrifices made by Ewa Marines in 1941 and early 1942.

The Ewa Battlefield, Wake Island and Midway Island can all be linked to Ewa Field

All of the planes and pilots came from Ewa Plain Battlefield.

The first Medal of Honor of the war was given to Ewa Plain Battlefield pilot Capt. Henry T. “Hank” Elrod.

The only Medal of Honor of the Midway battle was given to Ewa Field Capt. Richard Fleming.

Both had the main roads at MCAS Ewa named for them, as was the case with other KIA Medal of Honor USMC pilots.

However when the Navy took over the property they renamed all of them after Navy ships.

Japanese_expansion_april_1942

Japanese expansion and power in the Pacific was at its height in 1941 and early 1942. Ewa Plain Battlefield was a front line combat airfield with fully armed fighters planes

You might think that the recognized National Register Ewa Plain Battlefield would have well documented research on the entire area of the 1941 Ewa airfield – which served as the front line base of Marine Corp air defense of Pearl Harbor as well as Wake Island and Midway Island.

However much of the physical 1941-42 area remains largely undocumented. In fact there has never even been any official search or documentation on all of the large number of incoming and outgoing bullets and anti-aircraft artillery that landed all over the Ewa air base and surrounding villages.

EwaMarines

Ewa Plain Battlefield veteran John Hughes, seen on left, still attends annual Ewa Commemorations

One of the first things that had to be done after the Sunday December 7 morning air attack was get ready for the next expected air attack. This meant hiding the remaining serviceable Marine planes in the surrounding high grass and Kiawe trees and throwing branch limbs, tarps and anything else over them.

Meanwhile Ewa Marines on Wake Island were under attack from a very large Japanese attack force.

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Many of Ewa Plain Battlefield’s planes had been sent to Wake Island by the USS Enterprise the week before the air attack on the Marine airfield where most of the remaining planes were destroyed.

Lockheed Ewa Field

Lockheed Electra burns up at Ewa Field
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The next big air attack fortunately did not come as it was determined that the Japanese surface fleet had left Hawaiian waters. However the IJN submarines remained and shelled island ports up through the end of December, keeping everyone guessing as to what might happen next.

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Wake Island

On Wake Island Ewa Marines sent a week earlier by the USS Enterprise were fighting for their lives. By the end of December 1941 they were overrun.

Marines on Wake Island put up a tremendous resistance against overwhelming Japanese forces. An expected rescue by a Navy task force failed to follow through leaving the Marines to their fate.

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Midway Island

Wake Island succumbed to overwhelming Japanese forces in late December, 1941

Lost Marine planes at Ewa and Wake were replaced by planes the Navy didn’t want their pilots using the Brewster which became regarded as a flying coffin when pitted against Japanese Zeros.

While the Marines’ actions in the early Pacific War are not as well known or as successful as those of their Navy counterparts they fought with what they had. Marine Fighter pilots had to engage some of the most experienced Japanese pilots flying vastly superior Zero fighters with outdated airplanes and inexperienced aircrews thrown into air combat. As we remember the sacrifices made by the men of Midway let us not forget the gallant and brave Marines of VMF-221 and VSMB-241.

Those Marine planes and aircrews came from the still existing and largely undocumented early 1942 revetments at MCAS Ewa Field. Neither the Navy or NPS acknowledge these historic Pacific War sites exist.

Brewster-Buffalo-F2A-3-2 MF13-Ewa-April-1942

2-MF-13 (Lucky 13?) at a still existing early 1942 Ewa Plain Battlefield revetment, flown in combat at Midway by Capt. Kirk Armistead, USMC. This badly shot up plane survived when most didn’t.

Brewster on Midway

Above, a painting of a shot up Brewster, possibly MF-13 or MF-15 arriving on Midway after a brutal air engagement with Japanese fighters and dive bombers.

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Here are the combat reports of the VMF-221 Brewster and Wildcat pilots during the Battle of Midway, by Mark E. Horan, military author and historian.

Statement of Capt. Kirk Armistead, USMC

My airplane was an F2A-3, Bureau number 01562. My guns were loaded with 2 tracers, 2 armor piercing, 1 ball and 1 incendiary every six rounds.

While on standby on the morning of June 4, 1942, the air raid alarm was sounded at 0555. As our engines were turning up, we did not hear the alarm: but inquired, and found that it had been sounded. At approximately 0602 we took off. My division consisted of six F2A-3 airplanes, piloted by myself, Lt. Sandoval, Capt. Humberd, Lt. Brooks, Lt. Kunz, and Lt. Mahannah. Capt. Humberd was leading the second section, and Lt. Kunz was leading the third section.

I climbed the division to 5,000 feet at which time the base station instructed me to climb to 12,000 feet and vector 310o. I then received instructions to vector 320o. at about 0620 I heard Capt. Carey transmit “Tally-ho’ followed by hawks at angels 14, supported by fighters. I then started climbing, and sighted the enemy at approximately 14,000 feet at a distance of 5 to 7 miles out, and approximately 2 miles to my right. I immediately turned to a heading of about 70o and continued to climb.

Brewster_F2A-3_Buffalo_fighter

2-MF-13 at a still existing and undocumented early 1942 Ewa Plain Battlefield revetment, Ewa.

I was endeavoring to get a position above and ahead of the enemy and come down out of the sun. however, I was unable to reach this point in time. I was at 17,000 feet when I started my attack. The target consisted of five divisions of from 5 to 9 planes each, flying in division Vees. I figured this group to consist of from 30 to 40 dive bombers of the Aichi Type 99 SE DB. I was followed in column by five F2A-3 fighters and one F4F-3 fighter, pilot unknown. I made a head on approach from above at a steep angle and at very high speed on the fourth enemy division which consisted of five planes.

I saw my incendiary bullets travel from a point in front of the leader, up thru his plane and back through the planes on the left wing of the Vee. I continued in my dive, and looking back, saw two or three of those planes falling in flames. Some of the planes in my division centered their attack on the fifth enemy division. After my pullout, I zoomed back to an altitude of 14,000 feet, at this time I noticed another group of the same type bombers following along in their path. I looked back over my shoulder and about 2,00 feet below and behind me I saw three fighters in column, climbing up towards me, which I assumed to be planes of my division. However, they climbed at a very high rate, and a very steep path.

Brewster-Buffalo-F2A-2-Buffalo-VF-2-2-MF-13-Ewa-1942-03

2-MF-13 being fueled up in undocumented early 1942 Ewa Plain Battlefield revetment, Ewa.

When the nearest plane was about 500 feet below and behind me I realized that it was a Japanese Zero Fighter. I kicked over in a violent split S and received 3-20 MM shells, one in the right wing gun, one in the right wing root tank, and one in the top left side of the engine cowling. I also received about 20-7.7 off a portion of the aileron, which mangled the tab on the aileron, and sawed off a portion of the aileron. I continued in a vertical dive at full throttle, corkscrewing to the left, due to the effect of the damaged aileron. At about 3,000 feet, I started to pull out, and managed to hold the plane level at an altitude of 500 feet. As the speed decreased, the stick pressure became more manageable, and by giving it full left tab, at a low speed, the pressure was negligible.

I headed back towards the area, and called the base radio, asking them if I could land because of a damage aileron. I received their “Roger, wait”. I circled the area at a distance of about 15 miles, and saw that the area was under heavy attack, so I proceeded to a spot up-sun from the area; and circled.

At approximately 0740 I heard the base radio call the fifth division and advise them to land, refuel, and re-arm. I could hear no reply, so asked for permission to land. I received an affirmative reply, so headed towards the area. I gave two recognition signals, circled the field, and was not fired at by anti-aircraft batteries. My hydraulic system had been damaged, but the landing gear and flaps operated normally. The right brake was inoperative. A successful landing was effected at approximately 0800.

Brewster-Buffalo-F2A-2-Buffalo-Ewa-1942

2-MF-13 ready for towing from undocumented early 1942 Ewa Plain Battlefield revetment, Ewa.

Statement of Capt. Kirk Armistead, USMC

The Zero fighter is exceptionally maneuverable, with an astounding rate of climb. It is capable of closing the range on an F2A-3 in a climb to such an extent that it seems useless to even try to make more than one pass at any target. It is my belief that they can climb at least 5,000 feet a minute, as these fighters climbing up at me were pointed at an angle of 50o in their climb.

I do not believe that they were zooming after a dive, because I am normally certain that at the time I attacked the bombers there were no enemy fighters above 14,000 feet. In fact, I believe that they were below the bombers at that time.

The Zero Fighter is faster in level flight than the F2A-3. It is much more maneuverable that the F2A-3. It can out climb the F2A-3. It has more firepower than the F2A-3.

In general, the Japanese airplanes appear to be very vulnerable to .50 cal. Gun fire. They burst into flame in nearly all cases upon receiving any bullets.

It is my belief that the use of incendiary bullets greatly increases the effectiveness of attack against Japanese aircraft.

2-MF-13 F2A-3_Ewa Field

Well executed Brewster model and photo depicts 2-MF-13 and VMF-221 at time of departure to Midway Island

Brewster_F2A_lifted_on_aircraft_ferry_1941-2

U.S. Marine Corps Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo from Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-221 is loaded aboard the aviation transport USS Kitty Hawk (APV-1) at Pearl Harbor for shipment to Midway Islands, in May 1942.

When intelligence reports arrived indicating that a Japanese fleet was approaching the Hawaiian Islands Kitty Hawk immediately loaded the men, armament, and equipment of the 3d Marine Defense Battalion and planes of Marine Air Groups 21 and 45 at Ewa Field and sailed at top
speed to reinforce Midway, escorted by Owyn. Kitty Hawk delivered men and aircraft to Midway on 26 May 1942.

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Statement of Second Lieutenant William. V. Brooks USMCR:

The last remaining Marine fighter pilot of VMF-221 from the battle of Midway, Williams Brooks died in January 2010 and was buried with full military honors, in Belleview, Nebraska.

Brooks in his after action report described his part in the battle:

I was pilot of F2A-3, Bureau number 01523, Our division under Capt. Armistead was on standby duty at he end of the runway on the morning of June 4, 1942, from 0415 until 0615. At about 0600, the alarm sounded and we took off. My division climbed rapidly, and I was having a hard time keeping up. I discovered afterwards that although my wheels indicator and hydraulic pressure indicator both registered “wheels up”, they were in reality about 1/3 of the way down.

We sighted the enemy at about 14,000 feet, I would say that there were 40 to 50 planes. At this time Lt. Sandoval was also dropping back. My radio was at this time putting out no volume, so I could not get the message from Zed. At 17,000 feet, Capt. Armistead led the attack followed closely by Capt. Humberd. They went down the left of the Vee , leaving two planes burning. Lt. Sandoval went down the right side of the formation and I followed. One of us got a plane from the right side of the Vee. At this time, I had completely lost sight of my division.

As I started to pull up for another run on the bombers, I was attacked by two fighters. Because my wheels being jammed 1/3 way down, I could not out dive these planes, but managed to dodge them and fire a burst or so into them as they went past me and as I headed for the water. As I circled the island, the anti-aircraft fire drove them away. My tabs, instruments and cockpit were shot up to quite an extent at this time and I was intending to come in for a landing.

It was at this time that I noticed that a important feature in their fighting. I saw two planes dog-fighting over in the east, and decided to go help my friend if at all possible. My plane was working very poorly, and my climb was slow. As I neared the fight both planes turned on me.

It was then that I realized I had been tricked in a sham battle put on by two Japs and I failed to recognize this because of the sun in my eyes. Then I say I was out-numbered, I turned and made a fast retreat for the island, collecting a goodly number of bullets on the way. After one of these planes had been shaken, I managed to get a good burst into another as we passed head-on when I turned into him. I don’t believe this ship could have gotten back to his carrier, because he immediately turned away and started north and down.

I again decided to land, but as I circled the island I saw two Japs on a Brewster. Three of my guns were jammed, but I cut across the island, firing as I went with one gun. But I could not get there in time to help the American flier and as soon as the Brewster had gone into the water I came in for a landing at approximately 0715 (estimated).

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MF-15 Brewster Buffalo

Brewster model represents an F2A-3 from VMF-221 piloted by Capt. William Humberd during the Battle of Midway. On June 4, 1942, Capt. Humberd shot down an A6M2 Zeke and a B5N2 Kate. For his actions he was awarded the Navy Cross. Of the 25 Brewsters that engaged the enemy on June 4, 12 were lost to the enemy.

Elrod_HT_USMC
Capt. Henry T. Elrod

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F4F Wildcat flown by Capt. Henry T. Elrod and other planes destroyed on Wake Island after continuous Japanese assault. Elrod continued to fight on the ground until killed by enemy fire.

F4F_Wildcat

The Grumman F4F Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during the early part of World War II in 1941 and 1942

A memorial to prisoners of war is seen Jan. 12 on Wake Island. The "98 Rock" is a memorial for the 98 U.S. civilian contract POWs who were forced by their Japanese captors to rebuild the airstrip as slave labor, then blind-folded and killed by machine gun Oct. 5, 1943. An unidentified prisoner escaped, and chiseled "98 US PW 5-10-43" on a large coral rock near their mass grave, on Wilkes Island at the edge of the lagoon. The prisoner was recaptured and beheaded by the Japanese admiral, who was later convicted and executed for war crimes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

A memorial to prisoners of war is seen Jan. 12 on Wake Island. The “98 Rock” is a memorial for the 98 U.S. civilian contract POWs who were forced by their Japanese captors to rebuild the airstrip as slave labor, then blind-folded and killed by machine gun Oct. 5, 1943. An unidentified prisoner escaped, and chiseled “98 US PW 5-10-43” on a large coral rock near their mass grave, on Wilkes Island at the edge of the lagoon. The prisoner was recaptured and beheaded by the Japanese admiral, who was later convicted and executed for war crimes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

On 5 October 1943, American naval aircraft from Yorktown raided Wake. Two days later, fearing an imminent invasion, Japanese Rear Admiral Shigematsu Sakaibara ordered the execution of the 98 captive American civilian workers who had initially been kept to perform forced labor. They were taken to the northern end of the island, blindfolded and executed with a machine gun. One of the prisoners (whose name has never been discovered) escaped, apparently returning to the site to carve the message “98 US PW 5-10-43” on a large coral rock near where the victims had been hastily buried in a mass grave.

Imperial Japanese Wake Island letter (1)

Japanese Proclamation made after taking control of Wake Island

RemEWA-3B

Midway VMF-221-F4F-25 jun 42

Damaged Grumman F4F Wildcat on Midway Island after Japanese assaults ended.Strafing-15B

Bullet marked ramp where Marines died at Ewa Plain Battlefield on December 7th, 1941

Tom Freeman1

For widest dissemination,
AmVets Hawaii Commander, Donovan A. Lazarus would like your help to spread the word… ‘We need an all-hands-on-deck effort to rally our military and civilian communities in and around Ewa Beach, in order to build our Ewa Battlefield Museum to preserve the memories of fallen Marines, Army and Navy service members and civilians killed or wounded at Ewa Battlefield during the Japanese attack on Pearl harbor on December 7, 1941.’

Get involved! Send inquiries to admin@amvets-hawaii.org

7 May 2016 Updates:

Aloha,

We will have a May 30 Memorial Day Commemoration at Ewa Field at 10 AM. That is a federal holiday. National Flag will be at half-staff. The expectation is that the Ewa Battlefield will be on the National Register by this coming Memorial Day. The entire 1941 MAG 21 airfield will become a federally recognized American National Battlefield.

The Memorial Day event will commemorate the Marines, Army and Navy service members and civilians killed or wounded during and after the West Oahu Ewa Battlefield of December 1941.

We expect to have some flyovers by a variety of WW-II and vintage aircraft plus maybe some other surprise flyovers.

These were the first US Marines to die in combat in 1941 and it was also Ewa Marine aviators who fought and died at Wake Island that most today forget. Capt. Hank Elrod fought as a pilot and died as an infantry officer at Wake, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor- the first in the Pacific War.

We expect this US Marine Corps battlefield – the entire 1941 Ewa Plain Battlefield, will become a National Landmark and become part of the WW-II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

Event coordination is through Save Ewa Field – Kanehili Hui. We expect to have a much larger annual commemoration on December 6th, 2016 as part of the 75th Pearl Harbor anniversary.

5 May 2016 Updates:

Aloha,

We would certainly welcome the Boy Scouts to learn about Ewa Field history and experience a once in a lifetime National American Battlefield nomination to the NPS National Register as well as honor those Marines, soldiers and Navy aviators who died in air and ground engagements around Ewa Field in the opening minutes of the Pacific War.

These were the first US Marines to die in combat in 1941 and it was also Ewa Marine aviators who fought and died at Wake Island that everyone today forgets. Capt. Hank Elrod fought as a pilot and died as an infantry officer at Wake, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor- the first in the Pacific War.

We expect to have some flyovers by a wide variety of WW-II and vintage aircraft plus maybe some more surprise fly overs.

We expect this US Marine Corps battlefield – the entire 1941 Ewa Plain Battlefield, will become a National Landmark and become part of the WW-II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

Ewa Airfield Resolution:

MAKAKILO/ KAPOLEI/ HONOKAI HALE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 34 c/o NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION  530 SOUTH KING STREET, ROOM 406  HONOLULU, HAWAII, 96813 TEL: (808) 768-3710  FAX: (808) 768-3711  INTERNET: http://www1.honolulu.gov

Oahu’s Neighborhood Board system – Established 1973

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PROTECTION OF THE EWA AIRFIELD AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC MONUMENT AND NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD STATUS

WHEREAS, historic Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Ewa, one of the first airfields in Hawaii, was established in 1925; and

WHEREAS, the US Navy, which had owned the property, has transferred 499 acres of land, including parcels containing the former Marine Corps Air Station, to private developer Ford Island Properties LLC, a subsidiary of Texas-based Hunt Companies; and

WHEREAS, the transfer took place without the historic resource inventory analysis requested by the Historic Preservation Division of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, a survey that would have cataloged the historically significant architectural, archaeological and cultural elements of the property; and

WHEREAS, this neighborhood board, is of the opinion, that Ford Island Properties, a subsidiary of Hunt Company have failed to acknowledge the historical significance of the area, by actively blocking its nomination to the historic register, and

WHEREAS, this neighborhood board, is of the opinion, that Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) has failed to acknowledge the historical significance of the area, by complicit refusal to take pro-active measures to protect the area, and

WHEREAS, the terms for the lease between Ford Island Properties and the Navy have not been made public, or our community, which is not in keeping with the requirement for government transparency, in all of its actions, and

WHEREAS, MCAS Ewa was a designated mooring site for the US Navy’s dirigible program of the 1930’s; and

WHEREAS, MCAS Ewa was the first US facility attacked by naval air forces of the Empire of Japan on December 7th 1941; and

WHEREAS, four United States Marines (Sergeant William E. Lutschan, Sergeant Karolo Micheletta, Private First Class William George Turner and Private First Class Edward Steven Lawrence) gave their lives defending the air station; and

WHEREAS, two innocent civilian residents of the Ewa community, six-year-old Yaeko Lillian Oda and 34year-old Francisco Tacderan, were also killed by the attacking Japanese naval air forces; and

WHEREAS, MCAS Ewa was the major United States Marine Corps aviation headquarters in the Pacific during World War II and a staging and transit point for all Marine aviation assets moving into the combat zones of the South Pacific; and was also the place to which all Marine aviation assets returned after hard combat against the air, naval, and ground forces of the Empire of Japan; and

WHEREAS, MCAS Ewa is the birthplace of Marine Fighter Squadron Two One Four, made famous as “The “Black Sheep,” as well as other famous Marine aviation units, and

WHEREAS, MCAS Ewa Field is being considered by the President of the United States to establish the airfield at Ewa as an expansion of the Pearl Harbor National Monument; and

BE IT RESOLVED that MCAS Ewa Field either be designated by the President of the United States as an expansion of the Pearl Harbor National Monument; or be designated a National American Battlefield by the National Park Service; and that it be registered as a National Historic Landmark; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforementioned Historic Preservation Division be permitted to inventory MCAS Ewa Field’s historic elements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED Ford Island Properties LLC and the Hawaii Community Development Authority work together with the community on development plans for the area that would include the preservation of MCAS Ewa Field; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Hawaii Congressional Delegation actively support the preservation of historic MCAS Ewa Field and encourage all parties involved to actively cooperate in achieving that objective; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States; all members of Hawaii’s Congressional delegation; the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of the Navy; the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet; the Commandant of the Marine Corps; the Commander, US Marine Corps Forces Pacific; the Director, National Park Service; the Governor of the State of Hawaii; all members of the Hawaii State Legislature; the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Mayor, members of the City Council, Managing Director, Director of Parks and Recreation and the Director of the Office of Economic Development (all of the City and County of Honolulu); Ford Island Properties LLC; to all Oahu Neighborhood Boards, Managing Editor of the Star Advertiser, Voice of Kapolei, and the KHON News Desk

Drafted by D. Kalani Capelouto, Secretary NB # 34 on 5-9-2016.

EWA AIRFIELD AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC MONUMENT AND NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD.2

EWA AIRFIELD AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC MONUMENT AND NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

#‎EwaBattlefield‬ ‪#‎PACOM‬ ‪#‎USARPAC‬ ‪#‎8TSC‬ ‪#‎Army‬ ‪#‎Navy‬ ‪#‎USAF‬ ‪#‎USMC‬ ‪#‎CoastGuard‬ ‪#‎HING‬ ‪#‎HIANG‬ ‪#‎NationalGuard‬ ‪#‎Reserve‬ ‪#‎AmVets‬ #‎PearlHarbor‬ ‪#‎WorldWar2‬ ‪#‎EwaBeach‬ ‪#‎Hawaii‬ ‪#‎HawaiiNewz #AmericanVeteransHawaii #AmvetsDepartmentofHawaii #AmvetsHawaiiServiceFoundationCorp #AmvetsHawaii #AmericanVeterans #HawaiiMilitary #HawaiiVeterans

Did you know?

Famous Black NYC Guard Unit Guarded MCAS Ewa

After the war started tons of troops were sent to Oahu and among them was a Federalized NYC Harlem guard unit sent to Oahu to man Anti-Aircraft Artillery batteries.

The 369th was a very famous WWI Infantry unit converted to AA and stationed around Oahu. These photos are all most certainly Army Signal Corps and should be in some archives.

Hard to tell where these were taken. But local Ewa Villagers describe the Army AA camp right near C Camp and Mill Camp. I have air photos showing this camp and some remnants may still be there. It has never had any historic or archeological surveys. I am meeting with some key people about this next week and will also make sure our politicians know.

The soldiers Ewa Villagers say were all “jive talkers” and would invite villagers over to watch movies at a small outdoor stage – much like what early Ewa Field also had. One of my really good Ewa Villager story tellers said he used to shine their shoes near the Ewa Field front gate and see them at the Ewa Plantation pool.

Despite being a segregated Army unit, in Hawaii they were all treated equally in restaurants, bars, buses, etc. This was an official Army Martial Law policy in Hawaii.

FDR’s wife Eleanor Roosevelt also made sure black (then colored) soldiers play important recognized wartime roles in National Defense and she did visit Hawaii more than once and likely toured where these units were stationed in Ewa. FDR visited Ewa in 1944.

#EwaField #EwaBattlefield #WorldWarII #PearlHarbor #AmVetsHawaii #EwaBeach #Hawaii
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/about-the-museum/index.html

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/about-the-museum/about-the-founder.html
Stephen E. Ambrose, Ph.D.

Roll Call:
Calling all #ArmedForces in #Hawaii: #Army, #Navy, #Marines, #AirForce, #CoastGuard, #NationalGuard, #Reserve, and #Veterans!

We need your help to preserve the historic site and memorial of our Marines, Army and Navy service members and civilians killed or wounded at Ewa Battlefield during the Japanese attack on Pearl harbor on December 7, 1941.

American Veterans “AmVets” Hawaii, amvetshawaii.org is building our Ewa Battlefield Post to rally community support to #SaveEwaField and to build our much needed Museum to preserve the memory of our fallen Marines.

Please email your completed membership application to admin@amvets-hawaii.org

https://amvetshawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/AmVets_membership_application-f.pdf

April 15, 2016 Update…

We have finally arrived at the NPS DC level. We are now planning for the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor in December.

 

The National Park Service has provided receipt of the Federal Register nomination of the Ewa Plain Battlefield. The Navy has stated their full cooperation after a long period of review in Washington, DC HQ.

This should also lead to the Ewa Battlefield area becoming part of the WW-II Valor in the Pacific National Monument – a major visitor attraction in West Oahu.

March 25, 2016 Update…

Over Four Months And Navy Has NOT Sent Ewa Field Battlefield Nomination To NPS

Aloha,

Ewa Battlefield was nominated to the State Historic Register on November 13 and recommendation to the Federal NPS register was sent to the Navy.

As of March 25 the Navy has NOT sent the nomination, as per written Programmatic Agreement to the NPS Keeper of the National Register.

The continuous intentional bureaucratic delay in the nomination of the Ewa Plain Battlefield. Every year combat veterans like John Hughes, USMC have come out to attend, for very possibly their last time, the annual Ewa Field December 7 commemoration. In frail health, he has just barely made the last two trips. Just recently we learned that Ewa combat veteran Albert Grasselli, USMC has passed away. It had been his hope to live long enough to see Ewa Battlefield finally nominated to the National Register.

In the seven years of working for the nomination of Ewa Field well over half we have been in contact with have passed away. More are just too frail in health to attend. They all ask “Why has this taken so long?” “What is preventing the Navy from acting on this?”

It could have been only a matter of months after receiving the Ewa Plain Battlefield nomination in February that it could have been sent back by the Navy to the National Register Keeper for approval. The local SHPO has done nothing except delay their review for the past seven months.

Letter to AMVETS National Commander
PACOM IG
Navy KREP
Honoring Our MOH Recipients
NPS DOE
Letter to Representative Takai

Approximately every three minutes a memory of World War II – its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs – disappears. Yielding to the unalterable process of aging, the men and women who fought and won the great conflict are now mostly in their 90s. They are dying quickly – at the rate of approximately 492 a day, according to US Veterans Administration figures.

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“This place is sacred ground to the United States Marines that died there, to the Japanese aviators that perished and the civilian residents of Ewa plantation.”

“Remembering our solemn commitment to their memory is the promise that is fulfilled at battlegrounds that are preserved and enshrined by your nation.”

Daniel A. Martinez, Chief Historian WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument

Nearly everyone today knows the story of “Pearl Harbor” and what happened. But that story largely neglects what happened in West Oahu on the Ewa Plain. Not just at Ewa Field and Ewa Plantation Village, where 40 planes were destroyed- four Marines and two civilians killed, and 65 reported wounded at local hospitals. Nearby Fort Barrette was also attacked by Japanese planes, killing one soldier and wounding others.

In addition there was fierce Ewa Plain air combat that saw five Japanese planes shot down and the still largely unrecognized story of 8 Navy SBD’s from the USS Enterprise that were also shot down, killing 11 officers and crewmen, as well as the two private planes shot down by Japanese Zero’s carrying three West Oahu Army soldiers.

The Ewa West Oahu Battlefield (approximate) total is:
11 Navy pilots and crewmen killed (SBD’s and Wildcats)
4 Marines killed (Ground) and many combat wounded
4 Army soldiers killed (3 Air, 1 Ground by strafing)
2 Civilians killed (Ground) and many dozens wounded…
22 U.S combat deaths.
Including the Japanese air crews- around 10
Overall total: 32 killed in Ewa-West Oahu on December 7, 1941.

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Kalaeloa Renewable Energy Park Programmatic Agreement 30 July 2012 [Amended and Restated] Page 4 of 31

If determined eligible, the Navy will support nomination (by others) of the Ewa Field Battlefield to the National Register of Historic Places. Support will include providing technical assistance, review of draft nominations and supporting documents, research/documentation assistance, and access to all archival materials. The Navy Region Hawaii Historic Preservation Officer will forward the nomination to the Navy’s Federal Preservation Officer for review and action, pursuant to applicable sections of 36 CFR 60.

§ 60.9 Nominations by Federal agencies.
(d) After receiving the comments of the State Historic Preservation Officer, and chief elected local official, or if there has been no response within 45 days, the Federal Preservation Officer may approve the nomination and forward it to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

Ewa Plain Battlefield nomination DOE already approved by the Navy and NPS in 2015

The Ewa Plain Battlefield nomination was an extensively researched and vetted final product of a $54,000 Federal NPS American Battlefield Protection Program grant awarded in 2012 to 501-c-3 Ewa Plain Programs which in turn contracted GAI Consultants, a major national cultural and environmental resource survey contractor with KOKOA battlefield analysis and documentation experience. The contract involved on site surface and sub-surface Ground Penetrating Radar survey, extensive historic records archive research, and delivering a complete NR Nomination.

The Navy as land owner reviewed the NPS ABPP funded GAI Consultants nomination product and signed a Determination of Eligibility (DOE) cover letter over the NPS-GAI nomination in November 2014 and sent it to the NPS Keeper of the Register. The Navy DOE submission was carefully reviewed by the NPS Keeper office in Washington, D.C., signed and accepted in February 2015.

The Navy agreed in a 2012 Programmatic Agreement to support the nomination of the Ewa Plain Battlefield to the National Historic Register. The Navy as land owner under Federal 36 CFR’s can now send in a cover letter to the NPS Keeper accepting the NPS-GAI NR nomination, as per the Programmatic Agreement. However, for reasons determined apparently by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific (NavFac Pac) real estate office, the Navy 36 CFR position implies the NPS-GAI NR nomination is “third party” and must go to Hawaii SHPD and the Hawaii Review Board for approval before then going to the NPS Keeper of the Register.

This is entirely a delay tactic to push the nomination into 2016 and past the land transfer

If the Navy Kalaeloa lands are transferred before the Ewa Plain Battlefield National Register nomination is processed by Hawaii SHPD and the Hawaii Review Board, Hunt Corp can and likely will as the new land owner, reject the Ewa Battlefield nomination.

Meanwhile hundreds more WW-II veterans pass away and the Ewa Battlefield veterans may likely never live long enough to see the nomination. This will forever be a major stain of dishonor on those pursuing this delay tactic for the purpose of real estate profits over honor and justice.

  • Note: American Veterans Hawaii is a 501(c)(3), not for profit, all-volunteer Veterans’ Service Organization.
  • Our members are Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers serving in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Air Force, Coast Guard, Hawaii National Guard and Reserve.
Main Office: 808-382-6835
E-mail: admin@amvets-hawaii.org
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AMVETS Hawaii is a 501(c)(3), is a public, non-profit, Veterans Service Organization (VSO).

 

American Veterans “AmVets” Hawaii is a 501(c)(19) non-profit, ALL volunteer Veterans Service Organization (VSO), https://amvets-hawaii.org. 95% of all donations received will directly fund our ROTC/JROTC Medals and Awards program, Hawaii Public Schools Essay Contests, the preservations of Ewa Battlefield, and other Memorials and Hawaii Historic sites. Your support will also help fund our annual Ewa Battlefield Pearl Harbor Commemoration, Veteran’s Day ceremony, and other events. And most of all, your support will support program initiatives to benefit our Veterans, transitioning Servicemembers, and their families with needed assistance and advocacy.

 

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AMVETS Charities, Inc. participates in the Combined Federal Campaign through the Military, Veterans and Patriotic Services Organizations of America federation. Our Combined Federal number is of the 50,000 charities that participate in the CFC, only about 1500 – the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America – will have the opportunity to display the “Best In America” seal of approval. AMVETS Charities, Inc. is proud to be one of those chosen few. This seal of approval is a service mark of Independent Charities of America and is used under license. AMVETS NSF is responsible for the content of any materials in which the Service Mark is used.

 
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