Watch CBS News

75 Years Later: Before Pearl Harbor, There Was Wheeler Air Field

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — He was one of the first to see the planes about to attack 75 years ago in Pearl Harbor.

Now Ret. Col Samuel E. Clower is opening up about that horrific day.

Before the bombs were dropped on Pearl Harbor, they fell onto an airbase where the then-22-year-old Clower was stationed.

Now 97, he remembers the helpless heartache he felt as if it were yesterday.

"All we could do was observe the aircraft coming in and destroying the field," he said.

He was about to have his first meal of the day at Wheeler Air Field in Southeastern Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941.

"As we were up on the levee of the dam eating our breakfast--we saw the first flight of aircraft," he said. "Japanese aircraft was coming in over our heads at about 300 feet and dropping the bombs and destroying Wheeler Field..and they destroyed all aircraft and they destroyed two hangars."

Speaking from his Sacramento-area home, Clower says he had no time to be scared.

"You're trying to anticipate what is going on--what are we gonna do next? What can we do next?" he said.

He and his man had just close-range weapons, nothing that would make a dent in the Japanses air attack. He remembers being stunned at the silence that followed and the lack of knowing what was really happening.

"The other thing is there was no communication, no communication whatsoever," he said. "I'd have gave a million dollars and half my life if there had been something like a cell phone."

In fact, the colonel hadn't a clue of the widespread damage until hours later.

"All they could tell us, that Pearl Harbor had been attacked and destroyed—other than that, that's all they knew," he said.

All he knows 75 years later, he's still saddened by the loss of life, but he feels blessed to walk every step after that day.

Clower say 30 of his men die that day, and 50 more were injured.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.