You may not know the name, but he was a hero. His heroic actions took place 75 years ago at Pearl Harbor on December 7.

George Walters was manning massive rolling crane alongside the dry-docked USS Pennsylvania when the Japanese bombers began their attack. When he saw them approaching, this hero began moving his crane back and forth on its track, shielding the USS Pennsylvania from the low flying dive-bombers and fighters. He even tried to use the crane’s boom to “swat” the enemy planes out of the sky.

At first the gunners on the USS Pennsylvania considered this civilian dock worker to be in the way, but soon realized his 50ft high cab gave him and excellent view of the incoming enemy.  Using his movements as a guide, they were able to return fire at the enemy with great effect.

Walters continued his operation until a Japanese bomb exploded on the dock and sent him to the hospital.

His actions helped save the USS Pennsylvania from total destruction on that “day of infamy.” ( Eight Heroic Tales from Pearl Harbor )

Stories of people putting their life on the line to protect others stir something deep within us.  Deep feelings of gratitude, of honor, and of our own duty. Yesterday  our nation remembered those whose lives were lost or forever changed by the events at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago.

Maybe this all connects to our knowledge of our helplessness and our need for someone to save us. We need salvation that is greater than our physical needs.  We need saving from the wrath of God brought on by the enemy – Satan.

God gave us such a Hero:

2Co 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

Heb 12:1-4, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

-Scott