Petaluma veterans share their experiences at World War II series.

For many, World War II is a vague concept portrayed on the silver screen and largely relegated to a cursory chapter in high school history books; but there are a few among us who keep vivid memories of that bitter struggle close to their heart. Why? They were there. As the years roll by, the head count of remaining World War II veterans decreases at an alarming rate. Our ability to hear their stories, first-hand, is decreasing exponentially.

Joel Noriel, founder of History Connection, will be hosting a presentation, entitled, "The Pacific War Remembered" on Saturday, March 1, at Goltermann Gardens. The event is free and open to the public.

Some of the veterans of that particular theater of war are Petaluma natives and will be honored while their experiences are shared. Bob Harriot, 88, served in the US Army 1st Calvary. The son of a Petaluma chicken rancher. He was called to duty immediately after graduating Petaluma High School in 1944. Erwin (Irv) Giacomini was called to duty in 1942, after attending only his first year at St. Vincent's High School, and served with the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is estimated that 112 Petaluma mothers lost their sons before the Pacific Conflict was over. Historians and retrospective analysts still debate the necessity for more than 50,000 U.S. troops to have been killed, wounded or declared missing. Harriot and Giacomini also both agree that Woodrow Wilson's quote, portraying the oncoming World War II as "the war to end all wars" was a nice idea, but not rooted in hard reality.

Harriot and Giacomini made themselves available for the following interview. They graciously shared a few of their memories and perceptions of a global conflict - rarely talked about, almost 70 years after the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on board the USS Missouri in September of 1945.

Q: Can you describe your thoughts and feelings as you were heading overseas for your first tour of duty?

Harriot: "Once we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, and I realized we were actually leaving San Francisco. All I could think was, 'I hope I make it back.' My picture of what the war would be like wasn't even close to the real thing."

Giacomini: "I wondered what I was getting myself into. I had no idea how different our training would be from actual combat. Once live rounds are headed your way, that's when you experience real fear."

Q: How do you think today's returning veterans are being treated?

Harriot: "From what I read in the papers, they are being treated pretty well. The doctors today have so much more at their disposal. As far as their return to society, I think people today are more aware of the tremendous sacrifice soldiers make."

Giacomini: "I feel that at the end of World War II, people were genuinely happy to see that we had returned safely. It seems that today's soldiers receive the same appreciation - maybe more."

Q: Can you recall one speech by a president or a general that truly inspired you and gave you reason to face your fears and persevere?

Harriot: "When we were on the ship, we heard FDR's speech coming over the loudspeaker system that had a line in it that echoed my sentiments exactly: 'On this 10th day of June, nineteen hundred and forty, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor. I call for effort, courage, sacrifice and devotion. Granting the love of freedom, all of these are possible. And the love of freedom is still fierce and steady in the nation today."

Giacomini: "We were on a troop ship bound for the invasion of Leyte (the sight of the largest Naval battle in history). Gen. Douglas MacArthur was onboard and was speaking to the men over the public-address system. It was his 'Now the Philippines' speech. The prospect of his words had me up all night starring at the moon and praying."

Q: What would you like future generations of Americans to know or believe about your war.

Harriot: "Nobody ever really wants to go to war. Let's hope there is no more. We had good reasons to go. U.S. prisoners were being kept in POW camps in Manila. We were there to set up their rescue.

"I still believe that Truman's decision to drop the bomb was the right thing to do. It saved countless American lives. If we had been forced to fight on Japanese soil, there's no telling how many of us would have died."

Giacomini: "If younger generations are able to learn some of the details of the horrors of war, they might work harder as adults to keep the world at peace."

(Contact Sheldon Bermont at argus@arguscourier.com)