The White House had an unexpected entertainer on Thursday: A nonagenarian U.S. Navy veteran broke into song as Donald Trump marked National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Michael ‘Mickey’ Ganitch, a chief quartermaster on the USS Pennsylvania more than seven decades ago, launched into a chorus of ‘Remember Pearl Harbor,’ a 1941 Sammy Kaye hit that was recorded ten days after the Japanese sneak attack.
The tune quickly became a rallying cry for American troops.
The president was in the Roosevelt Room to sign a proclamation 76 years after the fateful day that catapulted America into the Second World War.
Alexander Horanzy, left, and President Donald Trump listened to Mickey Ganitch sing a chorus of ‘Remember Pearl Harbor’ at the White House on Thursday
Trump greeted a half-dozen Pearl Harbor survivors in the Roosevelt room
In just 90 minutes on December 7, 1941, more than 2,400 American servicemen and civilians died while 17 ships were damaged or lost during a Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; the USS California and USS Oklahoma are shown in a newly colorized photograph
Trump recalled that American servicemen and allies shared ‘one great battle cry’ as they fought the Axis powers: “Remember Pearl Harbor”.’
‘Have you heard that before, a couple of times?’ Trump asked? “Remember Pearl Harbor”?’
After a staffer motioned to Ganitch for his big moment, he burst into song.
‘Remember Pearl Harbor, as you go to meet the foe. Just remember Pearl Harbor, as we did the Alamo,’ Ganitch intoned.
‘We shall always remember how they died for liberty. Just remember Pearl Harbor, and go on to victory!’
Ganitch, clad in a Hawaiian shirt and his military ribbons, was one of six surviving Pearl Harbor veterans to visit with Trump on Thursday.
Trump spoke with veteran Lawrence Parry before he signed a proclamation to mark National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
If the song weren’t enough, Ganitch dropped into a football lineman stance as he recalled the practice he was in when the Japanese planes attacked 76 years ago
In just 90 minutes on December 7, 1941, more than 2,400 American servicemen and civilians died while 17 ships were damaged or lost.
Trump said Ganitch and his shipmates ‘were getting ready to play a game of football against the crew of the USS Arizona for the fleet championship’ when the Japanese planes began dropping bombs and strafing the landscape.
‘You never got that game, huh?’ the president asked.
‘We had a war to fight,’ Ganitch replied.
But he said he was still ‘ready to go in case we play that game.’
At that the aging sailor dropped into a football lineman’s stance, looking ready to rush an opposing quarterback.
Trump said he would provide commemorative signing pens to each of the half-dozen veterans who made it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Trump and first lady Melania Trump threw flowers during their visit to the USS Arizona Memorial last month, en route to Asia for a 12-day diplomacy trip
‘When bombs began to fall, Mickey reported to his battle station in the crow’s nest of the USS Pennsylvania wearing his football uniform and his football helmet, which he threw off because he figured he didn’t need it,’ Trump said, praising the older man.
‘That’s pretty, pretty great, huh? And you did a hell of a job.’
After Ganitch’s musical moment, Trump quipped: ‘Wow! That was good. He’s a very shy person too.’
Not spontaneous: A staffer (at left) pointed to Ganitch when it was the right moment to sing
Trump marked December 7 by ordering the White House’s American flag to be flown at half-staff