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FRANK KARAS |
FRANK KARAS
Age: 90
Residence: Sunnyvale, CA
4th Reconnassance Squadron/5th Bombardment Group
Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii
National Pearl Harbor Survivors Assn—Chapter 7 (Santa Clara Valley, CA)--will disband Dec. 31, 2011
Attended last year’s 7 Dec 2010 Remembrance Ceremony
7 Dec Story:
Buck Private Frank Karas was asleep in his bed when Japanese enemy aircraft entered the azure skies above Hickam Field. His dormitory was one of several wings within the 3,200 consolidated airmen’s barracks which also had a mess hall facility in the center of the building. Karas decided to sleep-in that Sunday morning rather than head for the chow hall. It was a decision that he believes saved his life….
At about 0800, a Japanese dive bomber scored a direct hit on his target….the consolidated barracks. That bomb struck the mess hall facility killing up to 35 airmen having breakfast and awoke Karas from his extended sleep.
He quickly put on his clothes and with a group of airmen, assisted in transferring and distributing ordnances and ammunition from the storage bunkers during the hailstorms of bombs and bullets from enemy planes.
Compiled by Jessie R.S. Higa 11/2011
Photo Courtesy of 15th Wing
1 comments:
What a great ceremony. It was amazing to see the Pearl Harbor survivors, and was even more impressive to see the effort of the multiple bases across Oahu honor their fallen.
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