By CHRISTOPHER P. GOUDREAU EASTHAMPTON – Edward F. Borucki, 93, of Southampton, said Saturday he was a third class yeoman on board the USS Helena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the alarm sounded at 7:55 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941. “Man your battle stations. Jap planes attacking. Break out service ammunition. This is no drill,” said Borucki as he recited...
By CHRISTOPHER P. GOUDREAU
EASTHAMPTON – Edward F. Borucki, 93, of Southampton, said Saturday he was a third class yeoman on board the USS Helena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the alarm sounded at 7:55 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941.
“Man your battle stations. Jap planes attacking. Break out service ammunition. This is no drill,” said Borucki as he recited a speech before dozens of veterans along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge over the Connecticut River Oxbow.
The gathering of veterans from all around Western Massachusetts marked a remembrance of the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Borucki commemorated the anniversary by dropping a wreath into the cold December waters as a gun salute rang out along Route 5 by the Easthampton American Legions Post 224.
The gun salute was followed by taps by bugler Andy Phillips to close the ceremonies.
Mayor Michael Tautznik, of Easthampton, and Mayor David Narkewicz, of Northampton, attended the remembrance event and gave their words of gratitude and praise for all military veterans and their service to the United States.
“You wonder how life would be different had the wars we fought turned out differently, if people had made different decisions moving forward,” said Tautznik.
“But the decisions have been made and we’re here to remember that many men and women died, begetting of our involvement in the war.”
Walter Sliz, a 93-year-old WWII veteran and native of Easthampton, said he served in the United States Coast Guard for almost three years and his military service consisted of convoy duties and submarine patrols in the North Atlantic.
“I think of it because I’ve lost nine of my buddies,” said Sliz. “We went in together and I was the only one that survived. So, I was damn lucky. So, we will never forget these guys that made the ultimate sacrifice. This is how we feel about it.”