“December 7, 1941, a date that will live in infamy.”

So spoke President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in an address to a joint session of Congress on Dec. 8.

The events of those two days — the attack at Pearl Harbor, and the President’s speech — became seared into the collective consciousness of an entire nation.

And for one family in Beaufort County, a little Hawaiian suit sent to a 2-year-old just days prior to the attack became a cherished, never-to-be-forgotten memento and reminder of that all-encompassing sadness. Shock, then grief. That which no one, no family, should ever have to experience.

You see, friends, Howard David Hodges, only 20 years of age, was a Fireman First Class on the battleship USS West Virginia. He became the first man from Beaufort County to lose his life in World War II.

Howard was one of 15 children born to Phate and Annie Hodges. They lived on a 60-acre farm near Runyon Hills. There were nine boys and six girls. As of this writing, five are living.

Eight of the boys served in the military; six in the Navy, two in the Army.

The two-year-old little brother who received that Hawaiian suit was Lindbergh (Lindy) Hodges. He and I were members of the Washington High Class of ’57.

Lindy says the fabric of that suit, which his mother kept in a cedar chest for many years, is “very well preserved, so I had it mounted in a large shadow box frame …”

Lindy wrote that he attended a Defense Department seminar last year in Norfolk regarding the continuing search for MIAs. He says the aid of new technology like DNA makes possible the identification of some missing military personnel from bones previously buried in Hawaii. Some identifications have occurred from those serving on the Oklahoma, with an effort to begin soon on the West Virginia.

My friend Lindy lives in Chesapeake, and I understand has done very well in his chosen vocational endeavors. He also served two years active duty in the Navy.

A 20-year-old son of Beaufort County who gave his life in the service of his country.

His 2-year-old little brother.

And a little Hawaiian suit.

Note — In my many years of writing, few stories have touched my heart as much as this one. How could it not?