15th Wing Public Affairs
5/22/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Pearl Harbor attack survivor retired Army SGT. Allen Bodenlos visited JBPHH May 21 to share his story of survival with 15th Wing Airmen.
Bodenlos was assigned to the 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion at Schofield Barracks as a bugle master on Dec. 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field and other parts of Oahu were attacked by the Japanese Air Self Defense Force.
The 94 year-old described the story of his survival and the years to follow as, "an incredible journey" as he replayed the details for the more than 160 Airmen in attendance.
He recounted the 24 hours leading up to the attack, remembering his excitement at being asked to form a drum and bugle corps by his commanding officer. On December 6 he and a friend went to Waikiki to shop for instruments and take in a battle of the bands competition at the Army-Navy YMCA. After the show, Bodenlos chose to stay the night downtown but awoke to orders to immediately return to his duty station. He quickly boarded a shuttle bus and arrived at Pearl Harbor to find the base under attack.
Smoke. Fire. Explosions. Planes swooping down low. Then the USS Arizona blew up.
Bodenlos said he remembers seeing the faces of the pilots as they flew by during the raid.
Over the next two days Bodenlos and his buddies couriered messages back and forth between the command post and military airfields around Oahu.
Bodenlos said he spent the next few years of the war hopping from island to island rebuilding and repairing airfields in the Asian-Pacific region, and was scheduled to participate in the planned invasion of Japan before the American attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki finally forced the country to surrender.
"The atomic bomb prevented me from having to invade Japan where it would certainly have been a tragic outcome," he remembers.
In addition to sharing his personal story of survival with the Airmen, Bodenlos entertained the group with historical anecdotes and photos. He also emphasized the importance of being able to forgive and move on.
"He has a remarkable, touching story," said Staff Sgt. Aaron Collins, 647th Civil Engineer Squadron power production craftsman. "I've never heard any of the survivors speak and it was an honor for me to hear his story."
Collins said he definitely learned a thing or two about history listening to Boldenlos speak, which for Boldenlos means his mission was accomplished.
"My mission is to keep America alert so that dreadful day never happens again," said Boldenlos.
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