Varnum Continentals

Preserving and Sharing Rhode Island History

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You are here: Home / Archives for pearl harbor

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Japanese spy photos of US Navy ships taken before the attack on Pearl Harbor

September 4, 2017 By James Mitchell Varnum

USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor

Here’s a unique exhibit at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum:  Japanese spy photos of US Navy ships taken before the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of the pictures is of the USS Arizona, which was sunk during the sneak attack on December 7th, 1941. The ship lies submerged in the harbor today and is the final resting place for 1,102 American Sailors and Marines out of the 1,177 killed on board the USS Arizona that fateful day.

 

 

Japenese spy photos of Pearl Harbor
Japenese spy photos of Pearl Harbor
Japenese spy photos of Pearl Harbor
Japenese spy photos of Pearl Harbor

Filed Under: Museum Exhibits, Varnum Memorial Armory Tagged With: pearl harbor, varnum memorial armory, World War II

WWII Foundation presents Remember Pearl Harbor

October 30, 2016 By James Mitchell Varnum

November 13, 2016 • 1:00 PM

Narrated by Tom Selleck

perlSunday, December 7, 1941 was a beautiful morning on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. A few sailors and soldiers were already up and playing a game of football near Pearl Harbor. Others were sleeping in their barracks or aboard ships after a late night of partying in Honolulu.

An unlucky few were wiping the sleep from their eyes and reporting for duty aboard their ship anchored off Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. Still others headed for adjacent Hickam Field or up north to Wheeler Field.

Ship decks were being washed, planes wiped down and hangars swept. It was just another day in paradise.

At 7:48 A.M. all that changed as the first Japanese planes dropped their bombs and started firing their guns at stunned American soldiers and sailors. The United States had been violently thrown into World War II.

Every sailor, airman, soldier and civilian who was in or near Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 has their own individual story of courage, fear, heroics or tragedy. No two stories from that day of infamy are the same.

From sailors on the U.S.S Arizona and West Virginia on Battleship Row to pilots at Hickam and Wheeler Fields, to young children who were waved at by Japanese pilots flying over their homes, the memories remain vivid to this day. These are some of their stories from December 7, 1941. They will always Remember Pearl Harbor.

Sneak Peek showing at Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Sunday November 13th, 2016 in recognition of all Rhode Islanders who have served.

Event held in Honor of USS Arizona survivor Raymond Haerry of Rhode Island.

Filed Under: Feature Article Tagged With: pearl harbor, tom selleck, World War II, WW II Foundation

[MAY 8 VARNUM MEMBER MEETING] Speaker Greg Banner on “El Salvador: US participation in a Central American Civil War

May 4, 2023 By James Mitchell Varnum

In 1991, Greg Banner (a US Army Major at the time) was assigned as an advisor in El Salvador. The US had established an advisory team approximately 10 years prior to help that country fight a communist insurgency. Major Banner spent 15 months as the team leader for one of the several district teams living with and helping Salvadoran units fight their war. This presentation will provide some background to the war and then an overview of one soldier’s experiences there, up to and including the peace treaty which was signed at the end of his tour.

About the Varnum Continentals

The Varnum Continentals are committed to the preservation of the historic heritage of our community, our state, and our nation. Please take a virtual tour of our museums to learn more about our mission to encourage patriotism. You can participate with us through active membership and/or philanthropic support in our non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Museum tours are welcomed and our facilities may be rented for suitable events.

Our Mission

The Varnum Continentals are committed to encourage patriotism through the Varnum Armory Museum, the Continental Militia, and the James Mitchell Varnum House and thus to preserve, support, and communicate the military history of our community, our state, and our nation.

Recent Posts

  • [MAY 8 VARNUM MEMBER MEETING] Speaker Greg Banner on “El Salvador: US participation in a Central American Civil War
  • [APR. 10 DINNER MEETING] Speaker Blake Ruehrwein on Monuments Officers of the 21st Century
  • [MAR. 20 DINNER MEETING] Maria Vazquez on Conservation of the USS Constellation Anchor

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