Pacific Region Warrior Trials Soldiers and veterans visits Pearl Harbor

Pacific Region Warrior Trials Soldiers and veterans visits Pearl Harbor

By Lee M. Packnett, Warrior Care and Transition

PEARL HARBOR, HI. - Soldiers, veterans and staff participating in and supporting the 2018 Pacific Regional Warrior Trials took a brief break from training and competition to participate in the Commander, Pacific Fleet Remembrance Barge Tour on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

The COMPACFLT historic Remembrance Tour is conducted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The two-hour tour is fully narrated and includes a visit to the boathouse museum and viewing of a 23-minute movie on the attack on Pearl Harbor. The boat tour follows with a tour around Ford Island to view the U.S.S. Utah Memorial, the U.S.S. Nevada Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Arizona Memorial. The onboarding portion of the visit to the Arizona Memorial was not conducted due to the temporary repairs being conducted.

The Wounded Warriors were separated into three groups with each group beginning at one of the three-part tour. Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Fabio Godoy welcomed each group to the COMPACFLT boathouse and began the tour with a brief overview of the United States Pacific Command and its leadership. Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Seaman Apprentice Adam Mills narrated the boat portion of the tour.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joel England, an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native currently assigned to the Fort Riley, Kansas Warrior Transition Battalion said that the tour was amazing and it gave him a better understanding of the forces that were at Pearl Harbor during the attack. "This tour was so amazing and it brings a lot together for me," said England, a former Marine and history buff who is also reading a book on the Battle of Guadalcanal.

The Remembrance Barge Tour is the first of three cultural events planned for wounded warriors competing at the Pacific Regional Trials. A visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center and an appearance by the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders are planned for November 12th and 15th.

Cultural events also demonstrate the importance of the Warrior Care and Transition Program in the recovery and transition of wounded, ill and injured Soldiers.