PEARL HARBOR: From the Eyes Of A Survivor

Introduction

Background

Mr. John Fulton's Interview

Mr. Leo Siekiewicz's Interview

Comments

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This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002.

The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.

 

Mr. P John Fulton

Mr. John Fulton survived the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, where he was serving as a member of the Marine Corps. Mr. Fulton joined the Marine Corps on January 19, 1940 and received his basic training at Paris Island, enduring a grueling 8-week program. Following this training he was assigned to the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia, where he boarded the St. Louis. Due to the lack of naval training provided by the Marine Corps, Mr. Fulton received the full naval training in Norfolk aboard the St. Louis. After training in Norfolk, Mr. Fulton was assigned to Pearl Harbor. During the months before the attack, the St. Louis escorted two ships, each carrying 400 to 500 men to fight the Japanese in Manila. Mr. Fulton was on the St. Louis during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Beside his time in Pearl Harbor and Manila, Mr. Fulton also served in Bogenville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. Today Mr. Fulton resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he often speaks to schools and groups about his experience on December 7, 1941.

Mr. Leo Siekiewicz

Mr. Leo Siekiewicz also survived the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, where he was stationed as a member of the Army Air Corps (Air Force). He joined the Air Corps in January of 1937, serving for 8 years and ending his military career as a master's sergeant or flight chief, in which capacity he was in charge of 5-6 airplanes and their crews. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor until May of 1942, six months after the attack, when he was assigned to Midway Island to participate in combat against the Japanese. Following the battle of Midway, Mr. Siekiewicz settled at Fort Schafter, which is located in the mountains above downtown Honolulu, where he worked as the technical aircraft instructor for the Seventh Fighter Command. Today Mr. Leo Siekiewicz lives in Pfafftown, North Carolina. He serves as the North Carolina State Chairman of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

Mr. John Fulton's Interview ...

 

This exhibit was researched and designed by Brad Garner.