Tulsa Area Pearl Harbor Survivors Honored Wednesday

Tulsa is home to several Pearl Harbor survivors. They were honored across the city at a number of memorials Wednesday.

News On 6 caught up with three men who survived the attack and shows how they remember the day that will live in infamy.

Every survivor tells a different story and every brave sailor or airman remembers something different from that day. But it seems they all hope that fateful day is honored no matter how much time has passed.

They gathered to swap stories and talk of a time that seems so long ago. The men, who call themselves the Last Man's Club, all survived Pearl Harbor and came to American Legion 308 for a special memorial.

They prayed. They honored each branch of the military, and read the names of the men who were once members of the club but have since passed away.

"We always say, 'Remember Pearl Harbor.' That's the name of it, 'Remember Pearl Harbor,'" said Retired Captain Bob Norman, Pearl Harbor survivor.

Norman was 21 years old and serving on the USS Nevada when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He was in his quarters when the bombs hit, nine in all exploded on the Nevada. He remembers being surprised but says his men were ready.

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"No, no, no, no...the word chaotic we didn't even know about. Orderly? Yes. We went to general quarters and everybody went to the battle stations," Norman said.

Gene Meeker was 18 years old and also in the Navy. He and Joe Allsup were at an air station on the other side of the island, 16 of his fellow airman died during the attack.

Meeker worries that the stories of Pearl Harbor are fading away as time passes, he hopes today's generation takes time to learn of that infamous day.

"It's history, that's what I can say, it's really history," Meeker said.

Norman agrees and says the lesson from Pearl Harbor is to always be prepared.

"The big word is be alert at all times to what's going on," Norman said.

Meeker served for 6 more years in the military after the Pearl Harbor attack. He's 89 years old today. Norman turns 92 years old tomorrow.