Alfred Benjamin Kame'eiamoku Rodrigues (United States Navy) Al was born on February 7, 1920 in Kapa'a, Kaua'i Territory of Hawai'i. He moved to Honolulu after graduating from Kaua'i High School. He worked at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and did a lot of surfing in Waikiki during his time off. He joined the Navy Reserves and was called to active duty for one year in November of 1940. In November of 1941, his reserve unit was extended for an indefinite period of time. On Sunday morning December 7, 1941, Al had watch and was on duty when he heard about the USS Ward dropping depth charges on an unidentified submarine operating in the defensive zone located about a mile outside of the harbor entrance. He was just about to eat breakfast when the general quarters alarm sounded. While everyone raced from the galley to the armory, they instantly knew that the planes were Japanese . Al was issued a .30 caliber rifle and started shooting at the planes as they passed overhead. They were low enough that you could actually see the faces of the Japanese pilots. The attack lasted for a few hours and then quickly calmed down. Being near Hickam Field, Al witnessed Japanese fighter aircraft shooting at American B-17 bombers that were arriving from California. Al laughingly recalls, "I never had the opportunity to finish my ham and eggs that morning!"