Dawson and Jim agreed that it would help the organization more for Jim to remain in the US Navy than to work full-time for the Navigators. Originally the Navigators focused mostly on reaching and discipling servicemen. Jim was an early member of the Navigators in fact, he is still known as “Navigator Number Six.” That is, he was the sixth person recruited by founder Dawson Trotman in the new organization that he felt sure God had directed him to start. The sights and sounds of these events became etched in Jim’s memory and help to make the book a page-turner, but interlaced in the action are accounts of spiritual lessons running parallel in time. While Jim’s memories cannot compare to John’s, he did seem to be “where the action was” numerous times as history was in the making (Pearl Harbor, Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb disaster, launching of Navigators, Dawson Trotman’s drowning).
Just as Jim could not forget Pearl Harbor’s attack, neither could John ever forget the memories of being with God-in-the-flesh-Jesus of Nazareth-and watching miracles happen at His fingertips or lining up with His vocal command. No wonder he can recall them.Īn apologetics aside: Jim’s account makes it easier to believe that the Apostle John could have dictated his gospel late, late in life, as historians tell us. Have you read from an author that old lately? Jim Downing’s 103 years have been packed with memories-historical, outstanding, eternally significant memories. This book came out in 2016, when the author was 103 years old. God has a plan for us all and I believe James Downing has succeeded in the plan that he was given.Book: The Other Side of Infamy, My Journey Through Pearl Harbor and the World of War (Colorado Springs: NavPress) 2016.Īuthor: Jim Downing with James Lund () James Downing has truly made an impact on many people’s lives and he will be remembered for he continues to impact people through his books and Christian faith. “ Life is a meaningful relationship with God, family and friends,” he said,” I’m satisfied if I can have those three things” After living a long and truly miraculous life Downing states that he now truly knows the meaning of life, "Meditation, the Bible Tells you how".After 69 years of marriage, Morena past away in 2010. He and his wife Morena had 7 children.After his experience with Pearl Harbor he grew in his Christian faith “I experienced a spiritual awakening” as he puts it. While bullets were flying everywhere it was a true miracle that Downing never got hit! There were many heroes that day who wanted to help others before themselves.Īfter surviving Pearl Harbor, he truly made sure he lived his life to the fullest.
With no electricity, Downing fought fires with a hose, tended to the wounded and removed the bodies of those who were already lost. With his ship, badly damaged and not many options to help he did whatever he could. When he went to his ship (USS Arizona) it had already been hit and if he had stayed overnight on the ship he could have been dead. They say that all the worst damage happened in the first 11 minutes since the first explosion. When he got to Pearl Harbor he immediately started to memorize as many dog tags of the dead and injured as he could so that their families would know what had happened. He told his new bride goodbye and she handed him a verse of scripture from Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath the everlasting arms.” When they got to Pearl Harbor the damage was devastating to look at. Downing stated, “there was no time to think,” he said, “time only to react and rely on training. They turned on the radio to see what was going on, it explained that Oahu the island was under attack. They were eating breakfast at a friend’s house who lived near Pearl Harbor when they heard explosions.
It was December 7 th, 1941 James Downing and some of his other navy friends. Downing was age 28 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. James Downing, in 2013, turned the age of 100, t hat marked him as the oldest survivor. Downing was born in Oak Grove, Missouri in August of 1913. James Downing also sometimes known as Jim Downing, is the oldest known survivor from the Pearl Harbor attack.
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