As a veteran of both the "Coastie" service and Naval Reserve I would point out that the Coast Guard was also in action that day. The USCGC Taney was moored at nearby Honolulu Harbor and participated in the defensive action. Today she is moored in Baltimore as a museum ship. A relic and a reminder.
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When I reported to my first ship more than a quarter of the crew members had served on submarines in the Pacific during WW2, and several had done war patrols aboard that very ship. It's hard to describe the sense of priveledge and the pride that I felt, and feel even to this day, at having served shoulder to shoulder with such men.
I actually went aboard this cutter when she was at the CG Yard at the same time my ship was getting an overhaul. I did not appreciate he significance at the time.
One thing I failed to mention is that I very much like the color scheme of Coast Guard vessels. It is attractive in itself, of course, but more to the point, it is incredibly visible at sea and instantly recognizable at long distances. Just awsomely suitable to its purpose.
We used to "sneak" up on smugglers running darken ship. I often wondered about the stark white color scheme. No one asks the opinion of a PO3 though.
Well, good point, but when running rescue operation recognizability is a good thing. I guess I'm old fashioned, predating the "drug war culture" a bit, and still think of the Coast Guard as a protection service.
It is a diverse service. From lighthouse duty to being assigned to a carrier battle group. I did neither of those particular things myself but that was mainly the luck of the draw.
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