OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Americans are observing the 67th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

83-year-old William Briggs was at a movie theatre with his brother December 7^th, 1941.

When he got out of the movie he was informed about the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Shortly thereafter, Brigg’s older brother was next in their county to be drafted into World War II.

However, because his brother had a wife with a baby on the way, Briggs signed up to go into the Navy in his brother’s place.

At the time Briggs was only 17.

Briggs was stationed in Pearl Harbor for three months in 1943, just two years after the attack.

We visited with Briggs for a few hours inside his home about the significance the attack of Pearl Harbor had on him.

"One of the boys in my class lost a brother there, and I knew several people that lost their lives there. I just got pretty patriotic and I volunteered, I quit school and joined,” Briggs said.

Briggs shared many stories about life in the war and his wife reminded us about what people back in the U.S. sacrificed during the war.

The Briggs reminded us of how fortunate we are now to be living without rations during the Iraq war and how we need to always remember those serving our country and those who went before them to protect our freedom.