55 min
Walk Among Heroes Podcast: Episode 21B - Kenneth 'K.P.' Platt Part 2 (Survived the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor) Walk Among Heroes
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- History
Don't miss the conclusion of our two-part interview with Kenneth 'K.P.' Platt. K.P., born and raised in Texas, never graduated high school. He left school permanently in the seventh grade and joined the Army in 1937, two months before his sixteenth birthday. K.P. began his Army career with the 23rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. After three years, he transferred to Hawaii and was eventually assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks on the north side of Oahu. On December 7, 1941, K.P. awakened to machine gun fire strafing his building and bullets pouring through the window next to his bunk. As the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they also attacked Wheeler Field, located next to Schofield Barracks, which placed K.P. in the midst of the attack.
Under fire from Japanese planes, K.P. broke into the company arms room to secure machine guns and ammunition, attempting to fire on the Japanese planes. K.P. remembers the horrible damage inflicted on Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field and other parts of the island. ‘Pearl harbor was tore all to pieces,’ he said. ‘Just horrible.’
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, all military forces in Hawaii mobilized, not knowing whether the Japanese would return. The following year, K.P. deployed to Australia where he served in a variety of roles, including Bomb Disposal School (not one of his favorite assignments). Eventually, K.P. landed in New Guinea, fighting the Japanese throughout the island. K.P. returned to Texas just before the war ended and has been a Texas resident ever since (with the exception of a few military deployments). K.P. married his lovely wife, Lorena, on August 4, 1945, and they have been together ever since, celebrating a momentous 75th anniversary last year.
K.P. is a very dear friend and an amazing man. We are honored to share his story. The just don’t make ‘em like K.P. anymore!
A special ‘thank you’ to Shreyas Ganesh for volunteering your time as sound engineer for this podcast.
Don't miss the conclusion of our two-part interview with Kenneth 'K.P.' Platt. K.P., born and raised in Texas, never graduated high school. He left school permanently in the seventh grade and joined the Army in 1937, two months before his sixteenth birthday. K.P. began his Army career with the 23rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. After three years, he transferred to Hawaii and was eventually assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks on the north side of Oahu. On December 7, 1941, K.P. awakened to machine gun fire strafing his building and bullets pouring through the window next to his bunk. As the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they also attacked Wheeler Field, located next to Schofield Barracks, which placed K.P. in the midst of the attack.
Under fire from Japanese planes, K.P. broke into the company arms room to secure machine guns and ammunition, attempting to fire on the Japanese planes. K.P. remembers the horrible damage inflicted on Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field and other parts of the island. ‘Pearl harbor was tore all to pieces,’ he said. ‘Just horrible.’
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, all military forces in Hawaii mobilized, not knowing whether the Japanese would return. The following year, K.P. deployed to Australia where he served in a variety of roles, including Bomb Disposal School (not one of his favorite assignments). Eventually, K.P. landed in New Guinea, fighting the Japanese throughout the island. K.P. returned to Texas just before the war ended and has been a Texas resident ever since (with the exception of a few military deployments). K.P. married his lovely wife, Lorena, on August 4, 1945, and they have been together ever since, celebrating a momentous 75th anniversary last year.
K.P. is a very dear friend and an amazing man. We are honored to share his story. The just don’t make ‘em like K.P. anymore!
A special ‘thank you’ to Shreyas Ganesh for volunteering your time as sound engineer for this podcast.
55 min