Modern day bird's eye view of Pearl Harbor

The USS Arizona Memorial, which was built in 1962, is located directly above the sunken battleship. It is part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

Jayme Pastoric/US Navy

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Honoring History’s Heroes

Harrison Johnson raised more than $100,000 for a war memorial in Hawaii.

February 3, 2025
By Talia Cowen

As You Read: Why is it important to learn about what happened at Pearl Harbor?

Pearl Harbor: The Day That Changed the Nation
Watch a video about the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

December 7, 1941, started out like any other day in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. But early that morning, Japanese planes dropped bombs on a U.S. military base there. 

The base was thrown into chaos. Sailors scrambled to safety. Battleships went up in flames. More than 2,400 Americans were killed in the surprise attack. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan. The U.S. had entered World War II (1939-1945). 

Today more than a million people visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial every year. They honor those who died and learn more about the attack. 

In April 2022, Harrison Johnson made the trip to Hawaii from Raleigh, North Carolina. He was inspired to raise money to help tell the stories of the heroes of Pearl Harbor. 

December 7, 1941, began like any other day in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. But early that morning, Japanese planes dropped bombs on a U.S. military base there. 

The base fell into chaos. Sailors rushed to safety. Battleships went up in flames. More than 2,400 Americans were killed. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan. The U.S. had entered World War II (1939-1945). 

Today more than a million people visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial every year. They honor those who died. They also learn more about the attack. 

In April 2022, Harrison Johnson went to Hawaii. He made the trip from North Carolina. He was inspired to help tell the stories of Pearl Harbor’s heroes. 

Courtesy of Johnson family

Harrison Johnson at the Pearl Harbor memorial in 2022

Growing Curious 

Earlier that year, Harrison’s third-grade teacher had assigned a project. Students were asked to research a U.S. landmark. Harrison chose the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. At the time, he didn’t know much about it. But he read books and watched movies. His curiosity grew. 

Harrison convinced his parents to take him to the memorial. There he used virtual reality (VR) to explore one of the ships. Harrison wore a special headset. It allowed him to see what happened on the USS Arizona on the morning of the attack.

“Everything I had read, researched, and watched was right there in front of me,” Harrison, now 12, recalls. “I could imagine it all happening around me.”

Earlier in 2022, Harrison’s third-grade teacher had assigned a project. Students had to research a U.S. landmark. Harrison chose the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. He didn’t know much about it then. But he read books and watched movies. His curiosity grew. 

Harrison had his parents take him to the memorial. There he used virtual reality (VR) to explore one of the ships. Harrison wore a special headset. It showed him what happened on the USS Arizona during the attack.

“Everything I had read, researched, and watched was right there in front of me,” Harrison recalls. He’s now 12. “I could imagine it all happening around me.”

Pause and Think

What were some of the ways Harrison learned about Pearl Harbor?

What were some of the ways Harrison learned about Pearl Harbor?

Harrison returned home and handed in his project. But he couldn’t stop talking about what he had learned. Harrison found out that most people knew Pearl Harbor had been attacked. But many didn’t know exactly what had happened that day.  

He decided to start “Harrison’s Heroes” to raise funds. His goal was to collect $100,000 to help create educational materials for the memorial. One of his dream projects was a new VR experience. It would introduce kids to some of the heroes they might not learn about in school.

Harrison returned home. He handed in his project. But he couldn’t stop talking about what he had learned. Harrison realized that most people knew Pearl Harbor had been attacked. But many didn’t know exactly what had happened that day.  

He decided to start “Harrison’s Heroes” to raise funds. His goal was to reach $100,000. He wanted to help create educational materials for the memorial. One of his dream projects was a new VR experience. It would teach kids about heroes they might not learn about in school.

Meet One of Harrison’s Heroes

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Doris Miller

Doris Miller worked on the USS West Virginia. On December 7, 1941, the battleship was rocked by an explosion. Miller helped carry the ship’s injured captain to safety. Miller hadn’t been trained to use the ship’s heavy machine guns. But he took control of one. He began firing at Japanese planes. Miller later helped sailors escape the sinking ship.

A few months later, he was awarded the Navy Cross. It’s one of the Navy’s highest honors. He was the first Black sailor to receive it. Miller died in 1943 during another battle.

Doris Miller worked on the USS West Virginia. On December 7, 1941, the battleship was rocked by an explosion. Miller helped carry the ship’s injured captain to safety. Miller hadn’t been trained to use the ship’s heavy machine guns. But he took control of one. He began firing at Japanese planes. Miller later helped sailors escape the sinking ship.

A few months later, he was awarded the Navy Cross. It’s one of the Navy’s highest honors. He was the first Black sailor to receive it. Miller died in 1943 during another battle.

HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The USS Arizona begins to sink on December 7, 1941 (right); the USS West Virginia (left)

Harrison’s Plan 

Harrison reached out to Pacific Historic Parks. That’s the organization that supports the Pearl Harbor memorial. The group agreed to help Harrison reach his goal. 

Then Harrison got to work. After school and on weekends, he went door-to-door. He asked people to donate money to his cause. He gave speeches at local events and convinced businesses in his area to donate.  

All his hard work paid off. Harrison reached his goal last May. By then, he had collected more than $105,000!

Harrison is now working with the Pacific Historic Parks team. They are creating the new VR experience.

The project means a lot to Harrison. For him, it’s about giving thanks to those who lost their lives in the attack. 

“There were 2,403 men and women who died on that historic day,” he says. “We should always remember those who sacrificed.”     

Harrison contacted Pacific Historic Parks. The organization supports the Pearl Harbor memorial. The group agreed to help Harrison. 

Then Harrison got to work. In his free time, he went door-to-door. He asked people to donate money to his cause. He gave speeches at events. He convinced businesses in his area to donate.  

All his hard work paid off. Harrison reached his goal last May. By then, he had collected more than $105,000!

Harrison is now working with the Pacific Historic Parks team. They are creating the new VR experience.

The project means a lot to Harrison. For him, it’s about thanking those who lost their lives in the attack. 

“There were 2,403 men and women who died on that historic day,” he says. “We should always remember those who sacrificed.”

The USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial, which was built in 1962, is located directly above the sunken battleship. It is part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. 

The USS Arizona Memorial, which was built in 1962, is located directly above the sunken battleship. It is part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. 

Jayme Pastoric/US Navy

Visitors can see the deck of the sunken USS Arizona from the memorial.

Visitors can see the deck of the sunken USS Arizona from the memorial.

HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The USS Arizona held about 1.5 million gallons of oil. Today the wreckage continues to leak several quarts of oil each day. 

The USS Arizona held about 1.5 million gallons of oil. Today the wreckage continues to leak several quarts of oil each day. 

Jon Hicks/Getty Images

The memorial was designed to look like it’s floating. But it’s really held up by concrete columns.

The memorial was designed to look like it’s floating. But it’s really held up by concrete columns.

  1. What is the meaning of the word chaos? How does the author support the idea that Pearl Harbor was thrown into chaos on December 7, 1941?
  2. What was the goal of the “Harrison’s Heroes” fundraiser?
  3. What does the author mean when she writes that Harrison’s hard work “paid off”?
  1. What is the meaning of the word chaos? How does the author support the idea that Pearl Harbor was thrown into chaos on December 7, 1941?
  2. What was the goal of the “Harrison’s Heroes” fundraiser?
  3. What does the author mean when she writes that Harrison’s hard work “paid off”?
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