Hickam Air Force Base — Attraction in Oʻahu

Hickam is hallowed ground to me. ❤️

My Grandpa was stationed here and injured badly during the first wave of the bombings on Hickam Field during the attack on Pearl Harbor (12-7-41). They were picking up bodies around noon and when they grabbed him he coughed. He was in a coma for a month until he awoke on his 22nd birthday (1-7-42). 🤩

It’s a miracle he lived. He had boils appearing on his back w/ the tiniest sliver of shrapnel still coming to the surface into the 70s. My Mom, born 1950, as a kid was taught to properly clean and lance them to remove the shrapnel.

Grandpa Keith hadn’t married Grammy Dottie yet when he was injured, but came home to Maine when he was healed and they married immediately. I’m happy to report we have 4-generations of descendants from Grandpa; Mom, me, my daughter, and my two grandsons.

Grandpa eventually returned to the job he had at the paper mill and retired from that job. He traveled to Pearl Harbor twice in his later years where, I believe, he finally retired his demons.

I loved Grandpa sooooo much! He was a good man. RIP K. E. Libby. I hope you’re in heaven making pyramids on the beach w/ your fellow servicemen from HI again. ❤️

I got a BA in history in honor of his service and for the two servicemen he was running toward the hangars w/ that morning. (They died and didn’t carry on their family line. I don’t know their names just of their existence.) I carry his dog tag...

Lived there 4 years, 1968/1972. Looking back now, it was the best time of my life! Off base housing down town was so much fun. But still was military

Learned to scuba dive, which followed me the rest of my life. I now have done hundreds of dives am very highly rated. Now taught in Venice FL. Started charted diving for starts teeth years back and love living near Sarasota for now...

The base had a weird energy and felt like there were people or unidentified objects in our sight and within arms reach. Close your eyes in some spots and you can Invision and tap into moments of the past ... Had to be relieved at my local church of...