79 years ago, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The United States responded to this aggression by declaring war on the Axis Powers, and formally entering World War II.
There were 24 men from Peabody stationed at Pearl Harbor. One of them was Joseph Pechinsky. On that fateful Sunday, Pechinsky was attending a Catholic Mass, and credits this with keeping him safe from harm.
The other Peabody men at Pearl Harbor:
US Army: John Cena, Alex Budeski, Michael Alexuk, Joseph Emilian, Leslie Rosignol, Frank Shea, Chester L. Chase, James Martin, William W. Horan, Harold A. Anderson, Charles George, Joseph Travers, William V. Regan, Jr., Jack Elliott, John Perufo and Sid Berlostock.
US Navy: Elbridge Kelley, Harold R. Green, John Maguire, Charles Kiernan, Martti E. Marky, Gordon Landry and Alexander Rowell.
Alexander Rowell was stationed at Pearl Harbor with his wife and two children. Her account of the attack made a local paper.
