Groton - Plainfield resident Wilbert "Tex" Dettmann was a 22-year-old sailor awaiting his ship assignment when Japanese planes attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.On Monday, 68 years after the attack, Dettmann was 5,000 miles away in Groton, where he participated in a remembrance ceremony held at the U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII National Submarine Memorial East.

On Monday, 68 years after the attack, Dettmann was 5,000 miles away in Groton, where he participated in a remembrance ceremony held at the U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII National Submarine Memorial East.The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said it was "a date which will live in infamy."

The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said it was "a date which will live in infamy." It was marked in Groton Monday with a moment of silence for the thousands of Americans who lost their lives.

It was marked in Groton Monday with a moment of silence for the thousands of Americans who lost their lives.The moment of silence at the memorial was followed by a miniature cannon salute. Members of the Subvets Club in Groton shot off the small - but loud - cannon in a gun salute of mourning.

The moment of silence at the memorial was followed by a miniature cannon salute. Members of the Subvets Club in Groton shot off the small - but loud - cannon in a gun salute of mourning.Dettmann was the first to fire off a miniature cannon at 12:53 p.m. - 7:53 a.m. in Hawaii - to mark the time the attack started.

Dettmann was the first to fire off a miniature cannon at 12:53 p.m. - 7:53 a.m. in Hawaii - to mark the time the attack started."I'm sorry," he said, trying to hold back tears. "It brings back a lot of memories."

"I'm sorry," he said, trying to hold back tears. "It brings back a lot of memories."Dettmann, a retired chief fire technician, was in his barracks when the Japanese planes attacked.

Dettmann, a retired chief fire technician, was in his barracks when the Japanese planes attacked."It's an honor," the Bronze Star recipient said after participating in the ceremony. "I've heard a lot of gunfire in my time; a lot of depth charges."

"It's an honor," the Bronze Star recipient said after participating in the ceremony. "I've heard a lot of gunfire in my time; a lot of depth charges."Dettmann was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, daughter and son-in-law. He wore his service cap, which had "Pearl Harbor Survivor" embroidered on the side.

Dettmann was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, daughter and son-in-law. He wore his service cap, which had "Pearl Harbor Survivor" embroidered on the side.Japanese planes destroyed the battleship USS Arizona and capsized the battleship USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor. More than 2,300 Americans were killed in the attack that propelled the United States into World War II. It was the deadliest attack on U.S. soil until the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Japanese planes destroyed the battleship USS Arizona and capsized the battleship USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor. More than 2,300 Americans were killed in the attack that propelled the United States into World War II. It was the deadliest attack on U.S. soil until the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks."This is a day that we should all remember and not just because President Roosevelt said so in his famous speech," said Tom Russell, the base chaplain from the Subvets Club, during the ceremony. "It is a date that every American should be familiar with because of the significant loss of American lives."

"This is a day that we should all remember and not just because President Roosevelt said so in his famous speech," said Tom Russell, the base chaplain from the Subvets Club, during the ceremony. "It is a date that every American should be familiar with because of the significant loss of American lives."About 30 people gathered at the memorial in Groton to watch the ceremony. Members of the Subvets Club planned on remembering those who lost their lives during a ceremony later Monday at their club.

About 30 people gathered at the memorial in Groton to watch the ceremony. Members of the Subvets Club planned on remembering those who lost their lives during a ceremony later Monday at their club.Russell said Monday's ceremony was the first Pearl Harbor remembrance at the memorial put on by the club, but it likely would not be the last.

Russell said Monday's ceremony was the first Pearl Harbor remembrance at the memorial put on by the club, but it likely would not be the last."Sadly, too many people today don't know they saved the world as we know it today," said Jack Gallimore, the retired master chief of the Subvets. "We can't forget that."

"Sadly, too many people today don't know they saved the world as we know it today," said Jack Gallimore, the retired master chief of the Subvets. "We can't forget that."