When does contemporary history become simply history?
That's a question a dwindling number of Pearl Harbor survivors are pondering as they gather to remember the attack on the U.S. Naval base by Japanese bombers 60 years ago today that took more than 2,400 lives.
"I am pretty certain it will be just about forgotten. It will be history, just like the Civil War," said James Gilbert, one of 21 Pearl Harbor survivors living in the Toledo area.
Time, it seems, has dealt one of the country's most solemn anniversaries a near-fatal blow. Nationwide, only 7,000 survivors remain, 230 of them in Ohio. Most are in their 80s, and their mortality rate is staggering.
"About 1,000 World War II vets are dying every day," said Bob Mettler, executive director of Lucas County veteran services. "You can't keep up with them. It's a shame."
The declining number of survivors is forcing their leadership to make unfortunate decisions.
Jim Welker, the Ohio Pearl Harbor Survivors Association president who also directs the association's Lima chapter, said his chapter will not be viable much longer.
"[So] I'm going to force a vote to turn our assets over to the [local] VFW post," he said. "The Dayton chapter has already made that move."
Mr. Welker, 79, said his chapter has 11 members, some of whom are in poor health or have moved away, making it difficult to hold regular meetings.
The Toledo chapter, led by Leonard Kowalski, has made no such decision as of yet.
"We're still discussing it," he said, adding that the options are to turn its assets over to a service organization, like the Lima and Dayton groups are doing, or liquidation. "I'm neutral on it. I really don't know."
In some states, Pearl Harbor survivors' sons and daughters organizations have emerged, according to Mr. Welker. California, which has the largest number of Pearl Harbor survivors, has the most active sons and daughters group, he said.
"That's a nice way to turn it over. We don't have one in Ohio, and I seriously doubt we'll ever have one. It's too late. Our only hope is with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which will be around forever because we'll always be drumming up new wars."
Every five years, the survivors have had reunions at the Pearl Harbor site in Hawaii, and they will gather once again this weekend. Mr. Welker, who said 1,500 survivors are registered - an unusually high number - believes it will be the last one.
"They want to relive their youth once more before they're gone," he said.
Mr. Kowalski, 83, said his group, Ohio Chapter 3, will meet at noon today at the VFW hall on East Central Avenue, where several of the members will recount their Pearl Harbor experiences.
He worries that once the survivors are gone and the ceremonies stop, few people except historians, especially young Americans, will recall the significance of the attack that took the United States into World War II.
Mr. Mettler agrees.
"Pearl Harbor was such a big, epic thing. But as you lose these people, you're going to lose that," he said.
Not all survivors are pessimistic about the future.
George Green spoke about his Pearl Harbor experience to eight classes at Clay High School last year and was surprised at the reception he received.
"I was really amazed to know that some of those kids had studied it," he said. "I've never seen a bunch of high school students that were so attentive. They listened closely."
Cable outlets such as the History, Discovery, and Public Broadcasting channels have helped keep the event fresh by running occasional documentaries on the Pearl Harbor attack, survivors said.
Less welcome are bad movies, which is how many survivors rated the film Pearl Harbor released earlier this year.
"The movie was a disaster in itself. It was more about a love affair than Pearl Harbor," said David Orlet, 77, a Ohio Chapter 3 member.
Ironically, Mr. Green turned 80 on Sept 11, a new Day of Infamy - the moniker given to the Pearl Harbor attack by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The New York City and Washington attacks have left a distinct and unique impression on the Pearl Harbor survivors.
"The same lesson can be learned from both attacks," said Mr. Gilbert, 81, a Ohio Chapter 3 member. "There are people out there plotting to do bad things to us. We should be more aware of what is going to happen."
First Published December 7, 2001, 6:17 p.m.
