@@kauphaart0 I do not think you read what I wrote, or maybe you just did not understand it. The English language, as well as kindness, is a hard thing to grasp sometimes.
Good evening Capt. Toti, I'm a retired first class PR who went through Pearl in 1971 for the first time. In 71 I was a HM and I sure enjoyed your tour of Pearl. And I learned more of the history of Pearl. We take a lot for granted. I have taken my wife and daughters/ grandchildren to pearl for a visit. We even toured the WW sub at Pearl. Fair winds and following seas. Tom
Captain Bill Toti and all that assisted you, a big heartfelt thank you this Tuesday morning! You never disappoint us with this tours and the National Parks are shooting themselves in the foot with this license crap. Keep up your valiant efforts!
I literally got the chills as you walked into the Skipper's Lounge. I certainly appreciate the effort you've taken to film all these special locations.
Well done, sir! The visit to Admiral Kimmel's office, later Admiral Nimitz's during the months leading up to and immediately after the Battle of Midway, reminded me of the truth of a statement uttered years ago by the art historian Kenneth Clarke: "Many great things have happened in small rooms". Thank you for the blue ribbon tour, Captain Toti!
I lived on Wheeler AFB in 1959 and 1960. I lived on Hickman AFB in 1961 and 1962. A friend and I climbed over the Pearl Harbor/Hickam fence to go to the decaying hospital on Hospital Point. I was fairly certain this episode was going to be a dud. Was I ever wrong. Wow, what a good episode. The episode isn't over yet (still playing) and I am hoping you show chipped concrete from Japanese strafing. There are some on the enlisted men's dorms on Hickam. You can't miss them, chips on the sides of the concrete building, separated by 10', sloping up the side of the building, visible from the street out front (Vickers Blvd.?). I think the bomb blasts are still on the Wheeler AFB aprons outside the hangers. ❤Thanks for a great show.
First Bill thank you for your service to our Country and second thank you for your comprehensive description of the historic sites and what occurred at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
I had the whole USS Missouri to myself as a 12 year old in Bremerton Washington in 1964-65. I will never forget walking up the ladder to the spot where the Japanese signed the Surrender. Getting on base was as easy as my ex Navy Chief Petty Officer Father just said " Missouri tour". No sweat, we just walked on, and no one else was there.
Bill, first I can't thank you enough for the extraordinary series that you and Seth are producing. I can't think of anyone more eminently qualified than you to conduct this historic tour of Pearl Harbor and vicinity. Furthermore, you couldn't create a more powerful illustration of how fragile history can be, than when you informed Commodore Cox regarding little known historic details about the office space he was occupying. To any nation wanting to defend or dominate the Pacific, Pearl Harbor has remained a unique prize. In 1820, during the Monroe administration, the United States appointed an "Agent of the United States for Commerce and Seamen" stationed at Pearl Harbor in recognition of the crucial importance of the unique port. Today, as the United States faces potential scenarios that could hardly be imagined during WW II, the lessons of Pearl Harbor and its strategic importance are as important as they ever were. God bless the brave men and women who died defending Pearl Harbor, and once again Bill, thank you.
That was quite a treat Bill! I've been to Pearl Harbor, the Arizona, officers club, etc. way back in 1985. I sure wish we had the benefit of the information you shared before going there! You struck a nerve with your comment about how the Navy shut down the clubs and bars in the early to mid 90s. The Army did the same thing. That was something Bill Clinton dictated and it was a REALLY bad thing from my perspective. It destroyed so much of the comraderie and esprit de corps that was a cultural foundation for officers and senior enlisted leaders. Thanks for another wonderful episode!
Thanks Bill/ You are a Historian- Hero. I was captured and escaped enemiy-forces during the Cold/War. Thanks for being thoughtful and patient to us with PTSD/ that returned with good Data for G-2 in trying conditions. Met some of you filming for U-tube. Salute to your good and valuable efforts. My uncle escaped the USS TENN and assisted others to Survive the Attack. Salute to you from the Family.
I think I've seen a Nauga, complete with Hyde, stomping around a North-Central Florida Salt Marsh Estuary, corner of my eye, bounding through the Tall Salt Grass. Looked like a devilish cross between a giant Weasel and a 4 legged Dodo Bird, about a Yard tall and long, cutting thru the barrier grass like greased lightning
Captain. As always the videos and information are outstanding!! I am now 73 years old and have been a World War Two buff for all of my life, especially the Pacific Theater. In 2004 my family had a vacation in Hawaii, on Waikiki Beach, and we had the honor of visiting Pearl Harbor, This was a dream of mine as a kid and there I was finally standing on the Arizona Memorial! We had access to the Big Mo but not Ford Island. The battleship and it's history was amazing but I found my self standing at the starboard side rail looking up the harbor to the sub base and picturing the Japanese torpedo planes coming down that straight body of water perfectly lined up to the Oklahoma and West Virginia. I have seen the, now unclassified, salvage pictures and it is no surprise they literally had their port sides blown off. I stood there and thought of our poor boys facing hell in a matter of seconds.
Bill, thanks for showing us all of that. Those of us who live in the northeast don't often get the opportunity to go to Hawaii and an even smaller subset get to tour Pearl Harbor. Highly appreciated!
Sir, another excellent treatise on WWII history by the UHPWP team. I had the privilege and honor to visit the USS Arizona Memorial in the summer of 1975. It was as humbling and moving as visiting Saratoga, Gettysburg, or the Little Big Horn. At the memorial at the same time was a small Japanese tour group. One of the men on the tour group appeared to be about 60-65 years old. He was explaining things to the other people in the group, which included gesturing and pointing in ways where he seemed to be indicating directions of attack that Japanese planes would have taken that fateful day. He seemed so knowledgeable and detailed in his actions describing events to those with him that I had the distinct feeling that this was not his first trip to Pearl Harbor, and that his first trip may well have been in an airplane. I could just have been imagining things, but the impression that was the case was pretty strong.
Our History was sadly neglected after the war. Thanks, Captain Todi. I always appreciate your time showing me so many important places other than the USS ARIZONA, when I went TDY there. Your Ford Island tour was excellent.
Our history was sadly neglected after all of our wars. Thankfully, we have people like Captain Bill Toti who rise to this neglect and make for sure that we remember.
Thanks for this great tour of Peral Harbor, Captain Toti! I noticed at around the 7:00 minute mark in your historic old office where Admiral Kimmel's window got pierced by the famous bullet- on the wall behind the desk, is the war flag of USS Barb from WW2. I have a copy of Thunder Below! Admiral Fluckey's account of that boat's record WW21 patrols while he was skipper. Man, just look at all that is on that famous war flag!! Thanks, hats off to all who are and have served!!
O thank you Bill, I went back in time ,a young sailer on the drydocked pintado in the early 80s you have revisted my wanderings on my little motorcycle aware of the significance of my location
Bill, if my memory serves me right, the two Japanese signers were General Umezu and Foreign Minister Shigemetsu. It's amazing how certain things just stick in your head over the years. And when you talk about the Arizona I can't help thinking of the huge number of siblings who died together that morning. There is a very fine book titled "Brothers Down" that tells the whole sad story. You are doing a great job with this Bill.
The scenes of Station Hypo where codes were broken and the area on USS Missouri where the surrender ceremony occurred illustrates that great things sometimes happen in small spaces. Thank you very much.
Loved the great reveal about location of Admiral Nimitz office during planning of Midway. I know Jon Parshall enjoyed that. And Captain Totti says he's not an historian!?! Great tour. Thank you sir.
Thank you Commodore. I am essentially your age, and thus far too young to have experienced WWII. But as a Social Welfare history Professor, I spend significant time attempting to educate today's youth about the WWII era, including before, during and after, for both veterans and the larger public. I cannot thank you enough for your insights, and for your concern about the impacts of the war on the troops and peoples of the Asia-Pacific sphere. Well done, and most heartily thank you for your service.
Thank you for this podcast. In 1974, I was in the 652nd Engr Bn which was on Ford Island on the far side of the island. My wife to be was a Yeoman assigned to COMSUBRON 15 REP. I also was the night manager at the Arizona Club for nearly 4 years. Thank goodness for the bridge. I remember taking the Ford Island ferry to work in the morning and then rushing to make the last ferry at night when I closed up the Arizona Club. Great memories. Great Podcast.
Great show, captain. I am a "former" en3. 2003-2007. Since i was born on dec. 07, this episode means quite a bit to me. Thanks to you and Seth for an absolutely amazing podcast. Keep up the good work, and the blazingly obvious passion you both have for history. Bravo f!@king zulu guys. Thank you for the education!🔥🔥🔥
Well done captain, brought back alot memories of my time as a enlisted sailor in the pineapple fleet, while my 1st ship was decommissioning, we were housed in barracks at ford island and saw most of what you showed there, we used to have to boat or ferry over then. Cannot wait for part two. Thanks skipper.
Excellent job Captain Toti! You are looking great! You also looked very comfortable in those settings. Thank you so much for your hard work! Thank you also Seth for your hard work as well! You guys rock!!
Well, this video was a great surprise. I look forward every Tuesday morning to the next drop. And this tour of Hawaii by Captain Toti might be second best only to “the night the giants rode-Guadalcanal”, at least for me. What a great video. I haven’t been to Hawaii and have only recently (past five years) gotten interested in WWII, so this tour was really well done. Bill, your style of presentation is just perfect! You know a lot but manage to convey information without becoming tiresome. Seeing your/Nimitz office, as well as the bar that you cut the lock off of was also great…even seeing the stairs down to the cryptographers lair was amazing. Anyway, one of the best shows you have done, thank you. And by the way, the sound quality was fine…you were on the beach in Hawaii for goodness sakes ;)
Captain thank you and your videographer for such an amazing tour that most of us would never be able to witness personally. Incredible insights to the little details of WWII as we viewers have come to expect in every episode.
I just finished this episode and have a few stories to add. But first a big thank you for making this episode. A very nice walk down memory lane! I was a JO on the USS Thomas A Edison SSBN 610 (GOLD) from 1976-1980 and made 8 deterrent patrols. We were home ported in Pearl Harbor and bachelors such as myself were assigned to the Ford Island BOQ. I believe it has been converted to a Navy Lodge now. Back then there was no causeway and the Ford Island Ferry was the only way to get to the island. It ran every 45 minutes with a break at night for engine servicing. The BOQ felt very remote. The island was quiet. Most of the other JOs quickly moved out to apartments, but bachelors had a outside housing allowance only while in port, and we were at sea often. Three months in Pearl, three months at sea, and so on. Lots of moving and storing your gear. But if you stayed in the FI BOQ which was quite empty we were allowed to hang onto our room even when we deployed. A good deal. No moving. So I lived in the FI BOQ for 4 years I could tell many good stories of my bicycle exploration of Ford Island. The time I watched Navy reservists start the engines on a PBY by the sea plane hanger, watching rays and turtles swimming in the water near the UTAH Memorial at evening colors, meeting my future wife at the officers pool... It was not called the Arizona Pool then... My favorite FI story: A friend and I were riding the ferry from Ford Island to the Naval Station Halawa gate so we could visit Waikiki that evening. We drove onto the ferry at 17:25. 17:30 came and the seaman that directed boarding hung the barrier rope and raised the ramp. Just then the flashy red jaguar owned by COMTHIRDFLT the senior resident of Ford Island came screaming up. Horn blaring, lights flashing. The Admiral in dress whites, his wife all dolled up as well. The seaman calmly turned her back to thee ramp and walked up the stairs to the ferry's bridge. Off we motored to the Halawa gate. The stricken admiral left behind. My friend remarked "Time, tide and the Ford Island Ferry wait for no man". We both smiled. We never saw that seaman again. Word was that she was reassigned...
I was stationed on Oahu for 4 years. 3 at Kaneohe Bay and 1 at Camp Smith from 1999 to 2003. It was amazing driving down the hill at the end of the day at Camp Smith and seeing Pearl Harbor and Ford Island laid out in front of me. So much history. Thanks for the video, Bill!
You might get a chuckle out this story, Bill. I was the protocol officer for MARFORPAC at Camp Smith for a year so I would escort visiting Flag/General Officers to our command. We were on the 4th floor and CINCPAC (Admiral Fargo at the time) was on the third floor. I took a Marine General officer to our offices on the 4th Floor and he visited our command. Then I escorted him to the third floor via elevator to hand him off to the CINCPAC staff. The USMC offices looked like they had been built during WWII. Not dumpy but absolutely standard government issue furnishings. Spartan. When we got out of the elevator on the 3rd floor it was marble floors and brass furnishings. It looked like a palace. The General asked me, "Are we in the same building?" I literally laughed out loud.
Great tour. I even learned a few things I didn't know before. The wardroom tour brought back memories of my time on CG-17. The Captain appropriated our senior cook after he was invited down to the wardroom for dinner with us. Every evening meal was started with a home made soup that the head mess cook was experimenting on with the officers for the time when he was going to retire and start a restaurant. Later, each officer was invited to dine with the Captain and at least we got to have the awesome soup again.
Captain Toti, you are the real deal. Thank you so much for sharing your unique personal view of Pearl Harbor with us and for your efforts and those of Seth to keep this history alive and remind of its relevance today. And lastly, thank you for your service. 1:05:25
Looking forward to PART 2 EPISODE 230. Seth could do a tour of the museum on a future episode, , but I really should drive to Hattiesburg, (I'm 6 hours away.) to see it first hand.
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour you gave of Pearl Harbor. All of the sites of historical significance that you lingered on were interesting. I feel priviledged to have seen them--and to have had you as my guide. I have to say that the image of you in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in your aloha shirt and kukui nut lei was, for me, as hard to take as any that followed in this episode. Many places on Oahu call up memories of my family history and my own little history; and the Royal Hawaiian is a place particularly precious to me. When those memories are combined with the idea you have given us of what was spent in American lives across the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor on, it becomes another episode that makes me sad. What is it with this series? Why is an elaboration of the war across the Pacific so sad? If it doesn't put me in a rage, every story makes me very, very sad.
It is extremely inspiring to me to be exposed to our past and present great Americans and those that tell about them. Channels like this present to the public erudite and extremely capable people who go out of their way to share and add in their efforts to our heritage. The Internet has easily presented these invaluable presentations well beyond my past efforts. Thank you so much
Excellent tour. Thank you so much for bringing this to us. My Dad spent a little time in Pearl Harbor during WWII as a Machinist Mate on the USS Piedmont, AD-17, a destroyer tender. He was in Tokyo for the surrender and spent 6 months on occupation duty in Japan as well.
Thank you Capt. Toti for a very interesting and informative tour. I look forward to the podcast each week , and listen to it on my commute every Tuesday.
This was a wonderful and very informative tour! Thank you for taking us into the Skipper’s Lounge at Lockwood hall. It’s a place I’ve wanted to see since I learned of its existence. I have medical conditions that kept me from pursuing Navy dreams of my own and the stories of the men on that wall have kept me in a mix of awe and honestly a bit of heartbreak because those stories made me want to be a submariner in the greatest Navy on earth. I’m thankful to live in an era where I can pull out my phone and see men like you share your stories so I can nerd out over them like I’m 16 again.
Thank you Bill, there was a time I would make many trips to Hawaii but never got to the all the historic sites. So the next time it will be my primary mission! Thank you!
Thanks for pointing out swimming pool from opening scene of “In Harm’s Way” . An under appreciated Navy movie. I’ve always liked the scene where LTJG McConnell provides pumps and tow to CAPT Torrey’s torpedoed cruiser off Hawaii. CAPT Torrey acknowledges his former student from Annapolis.
Great job Bill, I was stationed on the USS Joseph Strauss from 74 to 75 homeported in Pearl Harbor. Its so cool learning about all the history or the place. BTW my Father was on the Maryland on Dec 7th. I could never get him to share his experiences, I guess the memories were too painful to relive.
I love this, it is great on scene history. The weird thing is that with all the outdoor scenes reminds me of the movies "Tora, Tora, Tora" and "From Here to Eternity." I am getting flashbacks to things that never happened from something that is quite real. Very good and your earlier episodes technical difficulties from on location production have evaporated.
The "hide of a nauga" must be an Ohio thing, I used to hear that from my dad! Great locations and content, Bill! Hard to believe there's enough left for a Part 2!
Capt. Bill, Thank so much for the work you, Mr. Seth and your guests have done and continue to do. This is a great series doing such a comprehensive review of the Pacific War as I’ve never seen before. And Thank you for your service and the many sacrifices you and your family have made for our country.
I absolutely loved this episode. What an amazing tour of some of the places most of us would never be able to get to. Seeing the pool and BOQ's on Ford Island, and its ties to "In Harm's Way" was so great. I have to say the jaw dropper, was going into the Skipper's Lounge. What an incredible space. You could feel the atmosphere. Thanks Bill for doing this episode, and I am looking forward to part 2.
I’ve really enjoyed watching and listening to these videos. I am an Army veteran, and was stationed at Schofield Barracks on Oahu in the 25th ID, 1st Bn, 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds). The unit I served with in the 1990s was in the very same building on Dec.7 1941. Great history of both the Wolfhounds regiment and Tropic Lightning Div. I used to go down to PH and get tours on all kinds of USN ships, and subs.
Great episode Captain. On a port call to Pearl back in '92 my now wife and I eloped right there at Bellows at the end of the jetty. about 50 of the crew from my boat (730B) were there celebrating with us. I didn't realize that the midget sub was grounded right there also. pretty cool. FT1/SS
Thank you for your educational presentation of Pearl Harbor. It was very well done. While you mentioned visiting the Arizona Memorial, you should have also included mention of visiting the "Punchbowl" (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific), while not in Pearl Harbor, it gives one a reminder of the true cost of the War and the sacrifices made by so many for our country.
How neat to see the inside of Lockwood Hall, the reception area, Clean Sweep Bar, and of course the wall of fame with all the pictures. I did a quick guestimate and estimate that there are about 260 photos on that wall. How impressive a sight. Hope we get to see the inside of the Royal Hawaiian - maybe some of the decorations are vintage 1940s?
In 1983 I was attending a planning conference at Hickam AFB which sits on the east side of the channel going into Pearl Harbor. The officers club annex is (was?) immediately adjacent to the channel. While enjoying breakfast a Japanese submarine flying their white flag with a red meatball entered the harbor. The scene seemed surreal and I admit that I felt odd and vulnerable as the sub proceeded. You could have shown the headquarters building on Hickam that has visible battle damage that has been left unrepaired.
Thank You, So much for letting us see those places in History we, I wasn't able to see. Also looking back if I only new just some of what you showed. When as a young sailor many years ago visiting Pearl Harbor many times on several WestPac Cruz's . I would have been more honored of those truly Historical places and events. PS. Appreciate the "Kakauwii Nut Lei "
Wonderful tour of pearl Captain Toti. Last time I toured Pearl it was with my father, who was as at Shofield that day with the 19th infantry. We didn't get in your office or see the bullet hole in 1991. I did get to have dinner with survivors and earlier Genl. Doolittle and we got to go everywhere we wanted. The Utah has really deteriorated since the 60's - it was impressive back then. I was with the 25th ID and never even got a visit to Hawaii, The Japanese were a fierce opponent. Cheers -
I can’t imagine waking up every morning and getting to look at the Missouri!
She’s so big and beautiful!
Oh Bill. You should have brought Drachinifel, it would have made his year.
Bill should meet Drach in Muskegon if he's available to do so on the 15th. So he can go aboard USS Silversides and LST 393.
@@seanquigley3605 Wait Drach is going to Muskegon?? I need to go watch his video on the tour now.
@@wdcjunk yep he'll be there. I'm heading there for sure.
Meh, let us respect the American aspect for once without the damn limeys interjecting.
@@kauphaart0 I do not think you read what I wrote, or maybe you just did not understand it. The English language, as well as kindness, is a hard thing to grasp sometimes.
Good evening Capt. Toti, I'm a retired first class PR who went through Pearl in 1971 for the first time. In 71 I was a HM and I sure enjoyed your tour of Pearl. And I learned more of the history of Pearl. We take a lot for granted. I have taken my wife and daughters/ grandchildren to pearl for a visit. We even toured the WW sub at Pearl. Fair winds and following seas. Tom
Captain Bill Toti and all that assisted you, a big heartfelt thank you this Tuesday morning! You never disappoint us with this tours and the National Parks are shooting themselves in the foot with this license crap. Keep up your valiant efforts!
I literally got the chills as you walked into the Skipper's Lounge. I certainly appreciate the effort you've taken to film all these special locations.
Well done, sir! The visit to Admiral Kimmel's office, later Admiral Nimitz's during the months leading up to and immediately after the Battle of Midway, reminded me of the truth of a statement uttered years ago by the art historian Kenneth Clarke: "Many great things have happened in small rooms". Thank you for the blue ribbon tour, Captain Toti!
I lived on Wheeler AFB in 1959 and 1960. I lived on Hickman AFB in 1961 and 1962. A friend and I climbed over the Pearl Harbor/Hickam fence to go to the decaying hospital on Hospital Point.
I was fairly certain this episode was going to be a dud.
Was I ever wrong.
Wow, what a good episode.
The episode isn't over yet (still playing) and I am hoping you show chipped concrete from Japanese strafing. There are some on the enlisted men's dorms on Hickam. You can't miss them, chips on the sides of the concrete building, separated by 10', sloping up the side of the building, visible from the street out front (Vickers Blvd.?). I think the bomb blasts are still on the Wheeler AFB aprons outside the hangers.
❤Thanks for a great show.
First Bill thank you for your service to our Country and second thank you for your comprehensive description of the historic sites and what occurred at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
I had the whole USS Missouri to myself as a 12 year old in Bremerton Washington in 1964-65. I will never forget walking up the ladder to the spot where the Japanese signed the Surrender. Getting on base was as easy as my ex Navy Chief Petty Officer Father just said " Missouri tour". No sweat, we just walked on, and no one else was there.
Bill, first I can't thank you enough for the extraordinary series that you and Seth are producing. I can't think of anyone more eminently qualified than you to conduct this historic tour of Pearl Harbor and vicinity. Furthermore, you couldn't create a more powerful illustration of how fragile history can be, than when you informed Commodore Cox regarding little known historic details about the office space he was occupying. To any nation wanting to defend or dominate the Pacific, Pearl Harbor has remained a unique prize. In 1820, during the Monroe administration, the United States appointed an "Agent of the United States for Commerce and Seamen" stationed at Pearl Harbor in recognition of the crucial importance of the unique port. Today, as the United States faces potential scenarios that could hardly be imagined during WW II, the lessons of Pearl Harbor and its strategic importance are as important as they ever were. God bless the brave men and women who died defending Pearl Harbor, and once again Bill, thank you.
That was quite a treat Bill! I've been to Pearl Harbor, the Arizona, officers club, etc. way back in 1985. I sure wish we had the benefit of the information you shared before going there!
You struck a nerve with your comment about how the Navy shut down the clubs and bars in the early to mid 90s. The Army did the same thing. That was something Bill Clinton dictated and it was a REALLY bad thing from my perspective. It destroyed so much of the comraderie and esprit de corps that was a cultural foundation for officers and senior enlisted leaders.
Thanks for another wonderful episode!
Capt Toti; I WISH you were my CO when I served in subs! Leopards and people don't change their stripes and you are a wonderful human being.
Thanks Bill/ You are a Historian- Hero. I was captured and escaped enemiy-forces during the Cold/War. Thanks for being thoughtful and patient to us with PTSD/ that returned with good Data for G-2 in trying conditions. Met some of you filming for U-tube. Salute to your good and valuable efforts. My uncle escaped the USS TENN and assisted others to Survive the Attack. Salute to you from the Family.
I think I've seen a Nauga, complete with Hyde, stomping around a North-Central Florida Salt Marsh Estuary, corner of my eye, bounding through the Tall Salt Grass. Looked like a devilish cross between a giant Weasel and a 4 legged Dodo Bird, about a Yard tall and long, cutting thru the barrier grass like greased lightning
img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/5758329/il_fullxfull.117435615.jpg
Excellent. Thank you. Keep the energy going in telling the story of our Navy in WW2.
Captain. As always the videos and information are outstanding!! I am now 73 years old and have been a World War Two buff for all of my life, especially the Pacific Theater. In 2004 my family had a vacation in Hawaii, on Waikiki Beach, and we had the honor of visiting Pearl Harbor, This was a dream of mine as a kid and there I was finally standing on the Arizona Memorial! We had access to the Big Mo but not Ford Island. The battleship and it's history was amazing but I found my self standing at the starboard side rail looking up the harbor to the sub base and picturing the Japanese torpedo planes coming down that straight body of water perfectly lined up to the Oklahoma and West Virginia. I have seen the, now unclassified, salvage pictures and it is no surprise they literally had their port sides blown off. I stood there and thought of our poor boys facing hell in a matter of seconds.
Bill, thanks for showing us all of that. Those of us who live in the northeast don't often get the opportunity to go to Hawaii and an even smaller subset get to tour Pearl Harbor. Highly appreciated!
Sir, another excellent treatise on WWII history by the UHPWP team. I had the privilege and honor to visit the USS Arizona Memorial in the summer of 1975. It was as humbling and moving as visiting Saratoga, Gettysburg, or the Little Big Horn. At the memorial at the same time was a small Japanese tour group. One of the men on the tour group appeared to be about 60-65 years old. He was explaining things to the other people in the group, which included gesturing and pointing in ways where he seemed to be indicating directions of attack that Japanese planes would have taken that fateful day. He seemed so knowledgeable and detailed in his actions describing events to those with him that I had the distinct feeling that this was not his first trip to Pearl Harbor, and that his first trip may well have been in an airplane. I could just have been imagining things, but the impression that was the case was pretty strong.
Our History was sadly neglected after the war.
Thanks, Captain Todi. I always appreciate your time showing me so many important places other than the USS ARIZONA, when I went TDY there. Your
Ford Island tour was excellent.
Our history was sadly neglected after all of our wars. Thankfully, we have people like Captain Bill Toti who rise to this neglect and make for sure that we remember.
Bill- A casual, informative, unique, reverent and thoroughly enjoyable presentation... hats off to you and your videographer for another fine episode!
THANKS, Captain, it was a wonderful tour and brings back so many fond memories. USN Ret.
Thanks for this great tour of Peral Harbor, Captain Toti! I noticed at around the 7:00 minute mark in your historic old office where Admiral Kimmel's window got pierced by the famous bullet- on the wall behind the desk, is the war flag of USS Barb from WW2. I have a copy of Thunder Below! Admiral Fluckey's account of that boat's record WW21 patrols while he was skipper. Man, just look at all that is on that famous war flag!! Thanks, hats off to all who are and have served!!
This episode deserves to be watched by so many more people. Thanks for the fantastic tour.
Greetings from Germany, from a german Airforce Vet.
O thank you Bill, I went back in time ,a young sailer on the drydocked pintado in the early 80s you have revisted my wanderings on my little motorcycle aware of the significance of my location
Bill, if my memory serves me right, the two Japanese signers were General Umezu and Foreign Minister Shigemetsu. It's amazing how certain things just stick in your head over the years. And when you talk about the Arizona I can't help thinking of the huge number of siblings who died together that morning. There is a very fine book titled "Brothers Down" that tells the whole sad story. You are doing a great job with this Bill.
The scenes of Station Hypo where codes were broken and the area on USS Missouri where the surrender ceremony occurred illustrates that great things sometimes happen in small spaces. Thank you very much.
This was SWELL, thank you for your service!!!
Loved the great reveal about location of Admiral Nimitz office during planning of Midway. I know Jon Parshall enjoyed that. And Captain Totti says he's not an historian!?! Great tour. Thank you sir.
Thank you Commodore. I am essentially your age, and thus far too young to have experienced WWII. But as a Social Welfare history Professor, I spend significant time attempting to educate today's youth about the WWII era, including before, during and after, for both veterans and the larger public. I cannot thank you enough for your insights, and for your concern about the impacts of the war on the troops and peoples of the Asia-Pacific sphere. Well done, and most heartily thank you for your service.
Thank you for this podcast. In 1974, I was in the 652nd Engr Bn which was on Ford Island on the far side of the island. My wife to be was a Yeoman assigned to COMSUBRON 15 REP. I also was the night manager at the Arizona Club for nearly 4 years. Thank goodness for the bridge. I remember taking the Ford Island ferry to work in the morning and then rushing to make the last ferry at night when I closed up the Arizona Club. Great memories. Great Podcast.
Captain Toti, this was a great tour, and you’re a joy to watch. Please keep doing these marvelous videos.
Keep safe and keep well sir, mahalo nui loa!
Great show, captain. I am a "former" en3. 2003-2007. Since i was born on dec. 07, this episode means quite a bit to me. Thanks to you and Seth for an absolutely amazing podcast. Keep up the good work, and the blazingly obvious passion you both have for history. Bravo f!@king zulu guys. Thank you for the education!🔥🔥🔥
Well done captain, brought back alot memories of my time as a enlisted sailor in the pineapple fleet, while my 1st ship was decommissioning, we were housed in barracks at ford island and saw most of what you showed there, we used to have to boat or ferry over then. Cannot wait for part two. Thanks skipper.
Excellent job Captain Toti! You are looking great! You also looked very comfortable in those settings. Thank you so much for your hard work! Thank you also Seth for your hard work as well! You guys rock!!
Great Video Captain. Here's to rememberance and never forgetting history and Sacrific.
Thank you Sir for showing us these pieces of history! You remind me of some of my commanding officers I served under during the 80's and 90's.
Well, this video was a great surprise. I look forward every Tuesday morning to the next drop. And this tour of Hawaii by Captain Toti might be second best only to “the night the giants rode-Guadalcanal”, at least for me. What a great video. I haven’t been to Hawaii and have only recently (past five years) gotten interested in WWII, so this tour was really well done. Bill, your style of presentation is just perfect! You know a lot but manage to convey information without becoming tiresome. Seeing your/Nimitz office, as well as the bar that you cut the lock off of was also great…even seeing the stairs down to the cryptographers lair was amazing. Anyway, one of the best shows you have done, thank you. And by the way, the sound quality was fine…you were on the beach in Hawaii for goodness sakes ;)
Mr. Bill, for someone who claims to NOT be a historian, you sure know a thing or two about history.
He sure does.
The Skipper is wise and humble. He tilts the bridge.
What I like with Bill the most is how he joins the historical knowledge/perspective with his up-to-date view of the duty and experience.
Nice tour around from NOT
A HISTORIAN 👍👍👍
Captain thank you and your videographer for such an amazing tour that most of us would never be able to witness personally. Incredible insights to the little details of WWII as we viewers have come to expect in every episode.
I just finished this episode and have a few stories to add. But first a big thank you for making this episode. A very nice walk down memory lane!
I was a JO on the USS Thomas A Edison SSBN 610 (GOLD) from 1976-1980 and made 8 deterrent patrols. We were home ported in Pearl Harbor and bachelors such as myself were assigned to the Ford Island BOQ. I believe it has been converted to a Navy Lodge now. Back then there was no causeway and the Ford Island Ferry was the only way to get to the island. It ran every 45 minutes with a break at night for engine servicing. The BOQ felt very remote. The island was quiet. Most of the other JOs quickly moved out to apartments, but bachelors had a outside housing allowance only while in port, and we were at sea often. Three months in Pearl, three months at sea, and so on. Lots of moving and storing your gear. But if you stayed in the FI BOQ which was quite empty we were allowed to hang onto our room even when we deployed. A good deal. No moving. So I lived in the FI BOQ for 4 years
I could tell many good stories of my bicycle exploration of Ford Island. The time I watched Navy reservists start the engines on a PBY by the sea plane hanger, watching rays and turtles swimming in the water near the UTAH Memorial at evening colors, meeting my future wife at the officers pool... It was not called the Arizona Pool then... My favorite FI story:
A friend and I were riding the ferry from Ford Island to the Naval Station Halawa gate so we could visit Waikiki that evening. We drove onto the ferry at 17:25. 17:30 came and the seaman that directed boarding hung the barrier rope and raised the ramp. Just then the flashy red jaguar owned by COMTHIRDFLT the senior resident of Ford Island came screaming up. Horn blaring, lights flashing. The Admiral in dress whites, his wife all dolled up as well. The seaman calmly turned her back to thee ramp and walked up the stairs to the ferry's bridge. Off we motored to the Halawa gate. The stricken admiral left behind. My friend remarked "Time, tide and the Ford Island Ferry wait for no man". We both smiled. We never saw that seaman again. Word was that she was reassigned...
I was stationed on Oahu for 4 years. 3 at Kaneohe Bay and 1 at Camp Smith from 1999 to 2003. It was amazing driving down the hill at the end of the day at Camp Smith and seeing Pearl Harbor and Ford Island laid out in front of me. So much history. Thanks for the video, Bill!
You might get a chuckle out this story, Bill. I was the protocol officer for MARFORPAC at Camp Smith for a year so I would escort visiting Flag/General Officers to our command. We were on the 4th floor and CINCPAC (Admiral Fargo at the time) was on the third floor. I took a Marine General officer to our offices on the 4th Floor and he visited our command. Then I escorted him to the third floor via elevator to hand him off to the CINCPAC staff. The USMC offices looked like they had been built during WWII. Not dumpy but absolutely standard government issue furnishings. Spartan. When we got out of the elevator on the 3rd floor it was marble floors and brass furnishings. It looked like a palace. The General asked me, "Are we in the same building?" I literally laughed out loud.
Great tour. I even learned a few things I didn't know before. The wardroom tour brought back memories of my time on CG-17. The Captain appropriated our senior cook after he was invited down to the wardroom for dinner with us. Every evening meal was started with a home made soup that the head mess cook was experimenting on with the officers for the time when he was going to retire and start a restaurant. Later, each officer was invited to dine with the Captain and at least we got to have the awesome soup again.
Bill..... FANTASTIC episode
Thank-you, Commodore, for your bringing the history of December 7 alive for those of us who never had the privilege of visting Pearl Harbor.
Excellent program! Thanks so much for your time and effort in putting it together for the rest of us to enjoy.
Thank you Captain Toti! I very much enjoyed your tour of Pearl Harbor!
Captain Toti, you are the real deal. Thank you so much for sharing your unique personal view of Pearl Harbor with us and for your efforts and those of Seth to keep this history alive and remind of its relevance today. And lastly, thank you for your service. 1:05:25
Thank you
Thank you Bill, as I mentioned previously....I wish my father could have watched/listened to your work.
Thanks for bringing history alive
Looking forward to PART 2
EPISODE 230. Seth could do a tour of the museum on a future episode, , but I really should drive to Hattiesburg, (I'm 6 hours away.) to see it first hand.
Thank you Captain Toti, this was wonderful.
Very, very excellent job Bill. Thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Thank you
Captain Toti, thanks so much for sharing your wonderful memories of Pearl Harbor. Your efforts are very much appreciated.
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour you gave of Pearl Harbor. All of the sites of historical significance that you lingered on were interesting. I feel priviledged to have seen them--and to have had you as my guide. I have to say that the image of you in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in your aloha shirt and kukui nut lei was, for me, as hard to take as any that followed in this episode. Many places on Oahu call up memories of my family history and my own little history; and the Royal Hawaiian is a place particularly precious to me. When those memories are combined with the idea you have given us of what was spent in American lives across the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor on, it becomes another episode that makes me sad. What is it with this series? Why is an elaboration of the war across the Pacific so sad? If it doesn't put me in a rage, every story makes me very, very sad.
It is extremely inspiring to me to be exposed to our past and present great Americans and those that tell about them. Channels like this present to the public erudite and extremely capable people who go out of their way to share and add in their efforts to our heritage. The Internet has easily presented these invaluable presentations well beyond my past efforts. Thank you so much
Y'all should do more of these kind of episodes, giving us direct lecture in the actual place where important stuff happened during Pacific War
Awesome job Capt B.Toti..!! 😎👍🏽
Excellent tour. Thank you so much for bringing this to us. My Dad spent a little time in Pearl Harbor during WWII as a Machinist Mate on the USS Piedmont, AD-17, a destroyer tender. He was in Tokyo for the surrender and spent 6 months on occupation duty in Japan as well.
Thank you Capt. Toti for a very interesting and informative tour. I look forward to the podcast each week , and listen to it on my commute every Tuesday.
This was a wonderful and very informative tour! Thank you for taking us into the Skipper’s Lounge at Lockwood hall. It’s a place I’ve wanted to see since I learned of its existence. I have medical conditions that kept me from pursuing Navy dreams of my own and the stories of the men on that wall have kept me in a mix of awe and honestly a bit of heartbreak because those stories made me want to be a submariner in the greatest Navy on earth. I’m thankful to live in an era where I can pull out my phone and see men like you share your stories so I can nerd out over them like I’m 16 again.
Thank you Bill, there was a time I would make many trips to Hawaii but never got to the all the historic sites. So the next time it will be my primary mission!
Thank you!
Captain Bill Toti and everyone involved with bringing us this amazing episode, a huge thank you for this so very special tour.
Thanks for pointing out swimming pool from opening scene of “In Harm’s Way” . An under appreciated Navy movie. I’ve always liked the scene where LTJG McConnell provides pumps and tow to CAPT Torrey’s torpedoed cruiser off Hawaii. CAPT Torrey acknowledges his former student from Annapolis.
Great job Bill, I was stationed on the USS Joseph Strauss from 74 to 75 homeported in Pearl Harbor. Its so cool learning about all the history or the place.
BTW my Father was on the Maryland on Dec 7th. I could never get him to share his experiences, I guess the memories were too painful to relive.
I love this, it is great on scene history. The weird thing is that with all the outdoor scenes reminds me of the movies "Tora, Tora, Tora" and "From Here to Eternity." I am getting flashbacks to things that never happened from something that is quite real. Very good and your earlier episodes technical difficulties from on location production have evaporated.
This was outstanding!! I enjoyed it very much !! Thank you Bill !
Captain Toti and crew, your efforts are appreciated in making this fascinating and informative video! Cheers from Canada!
I absolutely love this podcast. It’s ignited my passion and has driven my interest to join the navy myself. Thank captain toti and Seth!
The "hide of a nauga" must be an Ohio thing, I used to hear that from my dad! Great locations and content, Bill! Hard to believe there's enough left for a Part 2!
FWIW, A sub-species of naugas (very bright and speckled) gave their lives to provide the padding and cover for guitar and organ amps back in the 60's.
What a great tour! Wonderful to see many of the locations you talk about during prior episodes.
Gettysburg and Pearl Harbor are two battlefields that everyone should visit.
Capt. Bill,
Thank so much for the work you, Mr. Seth and your guests have done and continue to do. This is a great series doing such a comprehensive review of the Pacific War as I’ve never seen before. And Thank you for your service and the many sacrifices you and your family have made for our country.
what a fantastic tour guide you make Captain Toti. Thank you very much for this.
I absolutely loved this episode. What an amazing tour of some of the places most of us would never be able to get to. Seeing the pool and BOQ's on Ford Island, and its ties to "In Harm's Way" was so great. I have to say the jaw dropper, was going into the Skipper's Lounge. What an incredible space. You could feel the atmosphere. Thanks Bill for doing this episode, and I am looking forward to part 2.
I’ve really enjoyed watching and listening to these videos. I am an Army veteran, and was stationed at Schofield Barracks on Oahu in the 25th ID, 1st Bn, 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds). The unit I served with in the 1990s was in the very same building on Dec.7 1941.
Great history of both the Wolfhounds regiment and Tropic Lightning Div.
I used to go down to PH and get tours on all kinds of USN ships, and subs.
This is a very special treat for Torpedo Tuesday. I'm going to watch In Harms Way, again. Thanks for this special tour.
Thankyou sir for the opportunity to participate in this podcast
Salute to those who serve
Great episode Captain. On a port call to Pearl back in '92 my now wife and I eloped right there at Bellows at the end of the jetty. about 50 of the crew from my boat (730B) were there celebrating with us. I didn't realize that the midget sub was grounded right there also. pretty cool. FT1/SS
Thank you for your educational presentation of Pearl Harbor. It was very well done. While you mentioned visiting the Arizona Memorial, you should have also included mention of visiting the "Punchbowl" (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific), while not in Pearl Harbor, it gives one a reminder of the true cost of the War and the sacrifices made by so many for our country.
Your efforts are appreciated and your passion is shared.
How neat to see the inside of Lockwood Hall, the reception area, Clean Sweep Bar, and of course the wall of fame with all the pictures. I did a quick guestimate and estimate that there are about 260 photos on that wall. How impressive a sight.
Hope we get to see the inside of the Royal Hawaiian - maybe some of the decorations are vintage 1940s?
Wonderful tour ofPearl Harbor. Such rich history. Thank you for this comprehensive look at Pearl.
Captain Toti, that was a wonderful video. Thanks so much for taking us along with you on this tour.
A wonderful tour and a very gifted host. Thanks Captain Toti. You made this trip most interesting and personal. As you state, "the centre of gravity."
Wow! Impressive video and access here. This should run as part of the Pearl Harbor experience. Thank you Captain Toti!
Thank you Captain Bill! At first I didn't recognize how meaningful this video would be. Very informative and also, inspirational!
In 1983 I was attending a planning conference at Hickam AFB which sits on the east side of the channel going into Pearl Harbor. The officers club annex is (was?) immediately adjacent to the channel. While enjoying breakfast a Japanese submarine flying their white flag with a red meatball entered the harbor. The scene seemed surreal and I admit that I felt odd and vulnerable as the sub proceeded.
You could have shown the headquarters building on Hickam that has visible battle damage that has been left unrepaired.
One of the 1st places the guys on the ship took me when I got to pearl was a tour of the island and they showed me those bullet holes.
Can't wait for part 2.
Thanks Bill...Love your tours and explanations...
Well done Sir, I will probably not get to Pearl but, your tour is excellent and the little things that history doesn't show us, again well done.
Outstanding. You are a hopeless romantic and historian. Well done.
Bill responding: Except I'm not qualified to call myself a historian
@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar historical dilettante?
really great episode. can't wait for part 2
Capt. Toti - many thanks for a remarkable tour of Pearl. The access and insights were greatly appreciated. A masterful job to Part I.
Just a stupendous video. Well done Sir!
PS I hope you take us to Wheeler field and the old radar installation at some point
Great job Bill.
Thank You, So much for letting us see those places in History we, I wasn't able to see. Also looking back if I only new just some of what you showed. When as a young sailor many years ago visiting Pearl Harbor many times on several WestPac Cruz's . I would have been more honored of those truly Historical places and events. PS. Appreciate the "Kakauwii Nut Lei "
Wonderful tour of pearl Captain Toti. Last time I toured Pearl it was with my father, who was as at Shofield that day with the 19th infantry. We didn't get in your office or see the bullet hole in 1991. I did get to have dinner with survivors and earlier Genl. Doolittle and we got to go everywhere we wanted. The Utah has really deteriorated since the 60's - it was impressive back then.
I was with the 25th ID and never even got a visit to Hawaii, The Japanese were a fierce opponent. Cheers -
Thanks capt bill. All the behind the scenes, history is pricless,Love MO
I've been there, its a amazing ship
Great show gentlemen.
Captain Bill it's very good to see your excitement