The very first men to spot the planes heading to Pearl Harbor didn't grasp how enormous the number of bombers were heading toward their island. They mistook them for off course U.S. planes. But in just about two hours, Japan's December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor left 2,403 Americans dead, some Guardsmen and sailors still in their teens, and scores wounded. Among the dead were 25 South Carolinians.

America entered WWII.

Patriots Point honors the Pearl Harbor dead with an annual Dec. 7 ceremony that includes reading those 25 names as a bell tolls for each one.

Wreaths are laid on the water and released. There is a gun salute. And often Taps is played to wish the fallen heroes to "safely rest."

Historians believe among the first to die at Pearl Harbor were two California Guardsmen, ju

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