On this day, seventy five years ago, my uncle, George Street, Jr. turned nineteen. He lived on Oahu with his father and my mother and was saving money to attend the University of California, Berkeley. He wanted to complete his mechanical engineering degree and join the Navy ROTC program. He had an interesting job with Hawaiian Electric, gaining first hand engineering experience, with the brightest of futures ahead of him.
Fourteen days after his birthday, his entire world changed and his future was put on hold. That day was 7 December 1941, Pearl Harbor Day. On that day he shouldered the responsibility of preparing 30 homes in his neighbor for an invasion, experienced the fear of impending death and loss of family, and he had to choose between aiding his family or his country. He made the right choices that day. He pushed himself beyond endurance and familiarity. Thank you, George. Our world would be very different but for you and the rest of the greatest generation. And Happy Birthday, you are appreciated more than you know.
