KIA. 07 Dec 1941

At Navy boot camp to graduate you have to go through "Battle Stations". There is a giant warehouse, or maybe there were multiple, where sleep deprived recruits have to navigate various replicas of Pearl Harbor ships. Lights out or red lit compartments that you have to make water tight, " dog the hatches", communicate, work as a team.
I am from Oklahoma and one of the scenarios was on the USS Oklahoma. I can't explain it but I had this anger, this fire in me when going through the ship with my crew trying to plug holes and dog hatches, move, and accomplish task. Being sleep deprived and after weeks of brain washing it really is a mindfvck. It was very emotional because I knew there were many Okies on the USS Oklahoma. I suppose the Navy tried to place Sailors on ships that were named after their home states to boost morale, I don't know but it seems like a Navy thing to do.
Anyway, it was emotional for me. I have always had reverence for the military. Always respected the men and understood that these men were true heroes. I had quite a few uncles that served in Vietnam or had been in service outside of the country. My Grandfather had served in the Navy, eating a couple pounds of bananas to make weight, and lying about his age as a 16 year old, to join. Sadly, he died when my mom was 12 so I could never talk to him about WWII.