Millions have seen video of this moving tribute to a World War II veteran in Gardena

When 87-year-old Ernest Thompson was called out onto his Gardena front porch, he was told a couple of people were coming to visit.

Instead, what greeted the World War II veteran was a moment he won’t soon forget.

Marching down the street in formation, about two dozen young sailors stopped in front of Thompson’s house to offer their own personal tribute with a rousing chorus of “Anchors Aweigh!”

• VIDEO: Watch sailors “bring the ship” to Ernest Thompson’s house

And thanks to the digital and social media age, the moving tribute struck a chord with millions of veterans and families of vets. The four-minute cellphone video quickly went viral, with more than 3.3 million online views — and still counting — since it was posted less than a week ago, a couple of days after the event.

“He told me it was one of the best days of his life,” said Thompson’s grandson, Battleship Iowa Museum CEO Jonathan Williams.

The video, he said, seems to awaken a powerful and emotional coection among generations of family members everywhere who have sacrificed to serve the nation in times of war.

Watching Thompson in his decorated Navy cap as he’s being honored, “They think, ‘That’s my dad, my brother, my son,’ ” Williams said.

Inspiration to save the Iowa

It was Thompson who inspired Williams to become involved in saving the USS Iowa, the World War II battleship that finally arrived at its permanent spot on San Pedro’s waterfront in 2012.

“After my grandmother passed away, I wanted to get to know him better,” Williams said of his grandfather. “He wanted to go see his old ship so we went to Honolulu (in 2000) and went on board the USS Missouri. ... When he got on board he became an 18-year-old kid again, it was the most amazing thing.”

As an enlisted sailor, Thompson was on the Missouri in Tokyo Bay to witness the signing of surrender documents by Imperial Japanese forces on Sept. 2, 1945, ending World War II.

The Georgia native first joined the Navy in 1936 and was assigned to the USS Teessee. His first tour of duty ended in 1941, right before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. But he re-enlisted as soon as he could, after fulfilling a job commitment with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Tribute to a vet

Last week, Thompson was sitting on his walker on the front porch when he first noticed his visitors marching in the middle of the street toward his house.

He broke into a smile and rose to his feet to salute, his hand slightly trembling, as the chief selects from the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center stopped, turned to face him, and burst loudly into song.

Stand Navy out to sea, fight our battle cry!

We’ll never change our course so vicious foes steer shy-y-y-y!

Roll out the TNT, anchors aweigh!

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Sail on to victory, and sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

As the deep voices boomed across the neighborhood, front doors opened and neighbors began to gather outside to watch and take pictures.

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh!

Farewell to Foreign Shores, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay;

Through our last night ashore, drink to the foam,

Until we meet once more, here’s wishing you a happy voyage home!

World War II vets regulars on the Iowa

Thompson had been a regular at the Iowa, Williams said, but has been unable to come in recent months due to health and mobility challenges.

“He’d come down here on Sundays with other (World War II) veterans and they’d sit around the war room and tell their stories,” Williams said.

The chief selects, those in line to advance to the rank of chief petty officer, from the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center in San Diego met Thompson when they visited the Iowa last year.

“It influenced them so much that they wanted to see the World War II guys again,” Williams said. “They basically decided to go visit him at his house in Gardena.”

‘It’s an honor to meet you’

Blue of the mighty deep, Gold of God’s great sun;

Let these our colors be, Till All of time be done-n-n-ne;

On seven seas we learn, Navy’s stern call:

Faith, courage, service true, With honor over, honor over all.

When the chorus ended, the sailors, one by one, walked up the steps to personally thank and greet Thompson.

“It’s an absolute pleasure,” said one, shaking Thompson’s hand.

“Thank you for your service, sir,” said another. “It’s an honor to meet you.”