Pearl Harbor chapter meets for last time

At 9:50 a.m. Sunday, time will do what the Japanese couldn't when a half-dozen Douglas and Carson survivors take down the flag for their chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

Chapter President Howard Spreeman, 87, who was a Navy radioman assigned to the seaplane base at Pearl, said he expects no more than a handful of the 16 survivors on the roster to attend Sunday's meeting.

"All of us are in our 80s and 90s," he said. "It's getting harder for us to get around."

The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy bombed the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor. The attack killed 2,402, wounded 1,282, sank four battleships and destroyed 188 aircraft.

Among those aircraft were 31 Catalina search seaplanes in Spreeman's unit.

"We actually got hit before Pearl Harbor, because the Japanese didn't want us to be able to search for them," Spreeman said. "We had 36 planes and they reduced 31 to piles of junk. They had to scrape them up with a bulldozer. The least damaged plane had 120 bullet holes in it."

The attack led to America's entry into World War II.

Spreeman said he took over the treasurer's duties recently. His wife is secretary of the group.

"There will be other guests from the VFW and some of the past members' sweethearts will be there," he said.

Sunday's meeting will be held at Grandma Hattie's in Carson City.

Spreeman said if someone wants to take over the officers' positions he would be happy to continue the charter, but no one has come forward.

"Unless those who are interested want to get together for lunch, there will be no more reports, no chapter newsletter, no information on passing of members " we'll just eliminate that because there's not much to carry on with," Spreeman added.

"We'll still be (Pearl Harbor Survivors) members, just members at-large."

Spreeman said he doesn't expect the national chapter to be in existence much longer, either.

"It's happening all over the country," he said.

Spreeman said with the dissolution of the Carson City chapter there will be no chapters in Northern Nevada. The only way for members at-large to receive information is to join the national chapter of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc., and for $6 a year receive its quarterly newsletter, GRAM.

While some members plan to attend a dinner sponsored by the Navy League and Elks in Reno on Sunday night, Spreeman said he will be busy taking down the chapter.