KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In 1941, the Pearl Harbor U.S. Naval base was bombed by Japan. This led to the U.S. joining World War II shortly after.
Each year, the Pearl Harbor Day of Remembrance remembers more than 2,400 lives of those who were killed at Pearl Harbor. In Knoxville, ceremonies took place to honor them 82 years later.
During a remembrance ceremony held at the Knoxville Expo Center, Sergeant Sammy L. Davis, a Medal of Honor recipient, spoke to the crowd.
Davis served in Vietnam and received the country's highest military award for protecting and saving his fellow soldiers and preventing Viet Cong forces from advancing, all while injured.
"Ever since I can remember my mom was saying, 'Sammy Lee, you don't lose 'til you quit trying,' and that stuck with me 'til today. And that's a true fact. No matter what you're doing, you don't lose until you quit trying," said Sgt. Davis.
Elements of "Forrest Gump" were loosely based on Davis' experience and in the movie, Tom Hank's head was even put over his when he was receiving the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson.
At the same ceremony, a 98-year-old World War II veteran was also gifted a "Quilt of Valor" for his service in World War II.
Bob Luttrell, a Knoxville native, said when Pearl Harbor happened he was a sophomore in high school and helping his grandmother before church.
"The phone rang, it was my daddy," said Luttrell. "And he said turn on the radio. He says we're at war. When I say, 'What do you mean we're at war?' He said they bombed Pearl Harbor. And I said, 'What's Pearl Harbor?' He says, 'You'll find out before it's over with.'"
He said two years later, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the military. Luttrell said he went to Pearl Harbor and picked a piece of scrap metal which he later turned into a knife. He says the knife ended up saving his life.
He says his naval ship was destroyed by a mine and he had to go into action and save a fellow sailor. He gave his life jacket to the sailor when he said he couldn't swim because of his injuries.
"And he went down and I said, 'Get on my life raft hang on to it. I'll be right behind you.' And I could swim. But I asked the Lord I said, 'Lord save me.' And I got an answer back and he said, 'Jump.' Well, I look down at the water and it was on fire. And I knew there were sharks in it, but I didn't question that order to jump. And so I went off there," he said.
Luttrell said the life raft was connected through a line to the ship and an officer said they wouldn't be able to make it if they didn't cut the line, so he pulled the handmade knife from its sheath and gave it to the officer. He said the officer cut the line and dropped the knife in the bay. Luttrell said the knife is probably in the same condition.
Luttrell said he likes sharing stories from his time in the service because it helps people understand what people went through.
"At a young age, it's very indelible on you and you forget it, but you cannot keep that bottled up," said Luttrell. "It's got to come out."
The American Legion Post 2 also held a ceremony at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs as the speaker.
Michael Testerman, the Commander of Post 2, said it's important to honor those who have served and those who are currently serving.
"We always say it's a Pearl Harbor Day celebration," said Testerman. "It's a remembrance and remember those who have fallen who have gone before us, and remember those that are over in harm's way right now. We have a lot of people that are deployed and are getting ready to deploy. So always keep those people in mind."