Oklahomans reflect on Pearl Harbor, 81 years after the attack

TULSA, Okla. — People of all ages across Green Country are remembering the attack on Pearl Harbor 81 years ago.

Janet Viel’s father, Edward Mignogna, was in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor in 1941.

“He had to go and help pick up dead bodies, and that was kind of rough for a 19-year-old,” she told FOX23.

Viel’s dad died in 2003, but she tells his story so it’s not forgotten. “He was a hero, he served our country,” said Viel, “he was my hero.”

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Lisa Bender’s husband’s great uncle Arles Cole or Uncle Arles, was also there when the attack happened.

“He heard people yelling, ‘they’re bombing us, they’re bombing us!’” said Bender.

Her uncle survived, and she told FOX23, was the last Pearl Harbor survivor from Oklahoma when he died in 2020.

Students in Broken Arrow sat alongside some of our community’s veterans at the Broken Arrow Veterans Center Wednesday to learn about what happened 81 years ago.

Senior Sara Marlow said, “I could never imagine us going through that at that age, so it’s great to listen to the history.”

Viel and Bender hope the stories of their loved ones and our nation’s history continue to be told so their sacrifice is not forgotten.