The date of Dec.7th for my family will never be forgotten.On that day a young man named Edward Smith jr.(My Father) was on board the USS Downes when the attack started a bomb exploded, blowing him into the water,injured he swam(Dad was a diver) to a work boat,he and another sailor used that boat to save the lives of 30+men.After the attack stopped he was fixed up and then went to work trying to find the men who were still trapped.I did not find out about all this,(knew he was there) until after his death.For what he did that day he was awarded,the Navy Cross(second only to the Medal of Honor).That is why we never forget that day.....