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Reports page.
Return to Pearl Harbor Atttack
Reports page.
Source: Wallin, Homer N. Pearl Harbor: Why, How,
Fleet Salvage and Final Appraisal. (Washington DC: Government
Printing Office, 1968): 297-327.
Note: Some of these accounts are copies of enclosures attached
to the action reports of individual ships.
USS Arizona
Lieutenant Commander S. G. Fuqua wrote as follows:
I was in the ward room eating breakfast about 0755 when a short
signal on the ship's air raid alarm was made. I immediately went
to the phone and called the Officer-of-the-Deck to sound general
quarters and then shortly thereafter ran up to the starboard side
of the quarter deck to see if he had received word. On coming
out of the ward room hatch on the port side, I saw a Japanese
plane go by, the machine guns firing, at an altitude of about
100 feet. As I was running forward on the starboard side of the
quarter deck, approximately by the starboard gangway, I was apparently
knocked out by the blast of a bomb which I learned later had struck
the face plate of #4 turret on the starboard side and had glanced
off and gone through the deck just forward of the captain's hatch,
penetrating the decks and exploding on the third deck. When I
came to and got up off the deck, the ship was a mass of flames
amidships on the boat deck and the deck aft was awash to about
frame 90. The anti-aircraft battery and machine guns apparently
were still firing at this time. Some of the Arizona boats
had pulled clear of the oil and were lying off the stern.
At this time I attempted, with the assistance of the crews of
#2 and #4 turrets to put out the fire which was coming from the
boat deck and which had extended to the quarter deck. There was
no water on the fire mains. However, about 14 C02s were obtained
that were stowed on the port side and held the flames back from
the quarter deck enabling us to pick up wounded who were running
down the boat deck out of the flames. I placed about 70 wounded
and injured in the boats which had been picked up off the deck
aft and landed them at the Ford Island landing. This was completed
about 0900 or 0930. Not knowing whether the Captain or the Admiral
had ever reached the bridge, I had the Captain's hatch opened
up, immediately after I came to, and sent officers Ensign G. B.
Lennig, USNR. and Ensign J. D. Miller, USN down to search the
Captain's and Admirals cabins to see if they were there. By this
time the Captain's cabin and Admiral's cabin were about waist
deep in water. A search of the two cabins revealed that the Admiral
and Captain were not there. Knowing that they were on board I
assume that they had proceeded to the bridge. All personnel but
3 or 4 men, turrets #3 and #4, were saved.
About 0900, seeing that all guns of the anti-aircraft and secondary
battery were out of action and that the ship could not possibly
be saved, I ordered all hands to abandon ship.
From information received from other personnel on board, a bomb
had struck the forecastle, just about the time the air raid siren
sounded at 0755. A short interval thereafter there was a terrific
explosion on the forecastle, apparently from the bomb penetrating
the magazine. Approximately 30 seconds later a bomb hit the boat
deck, apparently just forward of the stack, one went down the
stack, and one hit the face plate of #4 turret indirectly. The
commanding officer of the USS. Vestal stated that 2 torpedoes
passed under his vessel which was secured alongside the Arizona,
and struck the Arizona.
The first attack occurred about 0755. I saw approximately 15 torpedo
planes which had come in to the attack from the direction of the
Navy Yard. These planes also strafed the ship after releasing
their torpedoes. Shortly thereafter there was a dive bomber and
strafing attack of about 30 planes. This attack was very determined,
planes diving within 500 feet before releasing bombs, about 0900.
There were about twelve planes in flight that I saw.
The personnel of the anti-aircraft and machine gun batteries on
the Arizona lived up to the best traditions of the Navy.
I could hear guns firing on the ship long after the boat deck
was a mass of flames. I can not single out one individual who
stood out in acts of heroism above the others as all of the personnel
under my supervision conducted themselves with the greatest heroism
and bravery.
Radioman's Mate Third Class, G. H. Lane wrote as follows:
When the attack started on December 7, 1941, it was just before
0800 and I was on the forecastle of the USS. Arizona. I
saw torpedo planes, with the rising sun insignia under their wings,
attacking ships ahead of us. General alarm was then sounded and
we were all told to seek cover. I went aft to the aviation workshop
and helped wake men who were still sleeping there and closed battle
ports in the optical shop. The order came for all hands not assigned
to anti-aircraft batteries to go to the third deck. I started
for the third deck but just then General Quarters was sounded.
I came back and started for my General Quarters station which
is a repair station (patrol five). We were hit aft and also in
one or two other places on the ship. Word came, "Fire in
the Executive Officer's Office." Hurst, Bruns, Wentzlaff,
and I manned a fire hose and went on the quarterdeck to connect
it and fight the fire aft on the quarterdeck where the bomb had
lilt us. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua was at his post on the quarterdeck
where the bomb had hit us, I was on the nozzle end of the hose
and told Hurst and Bruns to turn on the water. They did, but no
water came. I turned around to see if the hose had any kinks in
it and at that time there was an explosion which knocked me off
the ship. I was taken aboard the Nevada where I was brought
to my senses in a casemate (no. 3). I had been in the water because
I was soaked with oil. The Nevada was underway and I helped
handle powder for the 5 inch gun. When the Nevada was hit
in the dry dock channel, the gun was put out and the ship was
afire. I helped get wounded aft and fought fire until I was choked
by smoke and fumes. They sent me from the Nevada to the
Solace where I was put to bed and cuts and bruises treated.
I couldn't see either until my eyes were washed out and treated.
I was released from the Solace December 10, and was sent
to Receiving Barracks where Mr. Fuqua told me to rejoin the aviation
unit at Ford Island. I saw no signs of fear on the ship. Everyone
was surprised and pretty mad.
Corporal B. C. Nightingale of the U.S. Marine Corps wrote as follows:
At approximately eight o'clock on the morning of December 7, 1941,
I was leaving the breakfast table when the ship's siren for air
defense sounded. Having no anti-aircraft battle station, I paid
little attention to it. Suddenly I heard an explosion. I ran to
the port door leading to the quarter deck and saw a bomb strike
a barge of some sort alongside the Nevada, or in that vicinity.
The marine color guard came in at this point saying we were being
attacked. I could distinctly hear machine gun fire. I believe
at this point our anti-aircraft battery opened up. We stood around
awaiting orders of some kind. General Quarters sounded and I started
for my battle station in secondary aft. As I passed through casement
nine I noted the gun was manned and being trained out. The men
seemed extremely calm and collected. I reached the boat deck and
our anti-aircraft guns were in full action, firing very rapidly.
I was about three quarters of the way to the first platform on
the mast when it seemed as though a bomb struck our quarterdeck.
I could hear shrapnel or fragments whistling past me. As soon
as I reached the first platform, I saw Second Lieutenant Simonsen
lying on his back with blood on his shirt front. I bent over him
and taking him by the shoulders asked if there was anything I
could do. He was dead, or so nearly so that speech was impossible.
Seeing there was nothing I could do for the Lieutenant, I continued
to my battle station.
When I arrived in secondary aft I reported to Major Shapley that
Mr. Simonson had been hit and there was nothing to be done for
him. There was a lot of talking going on and I shouted for silence
which came immediately. I had only been there a short time when
a terrible explosion caused the ship to shake violently. I looked
at the boat deck and everything seemed aflame forward of the mainmast.
I reported to the Major that the ship was aflame, which was rather
needless, and after looking about, the Major ordered us to leave.
I was the last man to leave secondary aft because I looked around
and there was no one left. I followed the Major down the port
side of the tripod mast. The railings, as we ascended, were very
hot and as we reached the boat deck I noted that it was torn up
and burned. The bodies of the dead were thick, and badly burned
men were heading for the quarterdeck, only to fall apparently
dead or badly wounded. The Major and I went between No. 3 and
No. 4 turret to the starboard side and found Lieutenant Commander
Fuqua ordering the men over the side and assisting the wounded.
He seemed exceptionally calm and the Major stopped and they talked
for a moment. Charred bodies were everywhere.
I made my way to the quay and started to remove my shoes when
I suddenly found myself in the water. I think the concussion of
a bomb threw me in. I started swimming for the pipe line which
was about one hundred and fifty feet away. I was about half way
when my strength gave out entirely. My clothes and shocked condition
sapped my strength, and I was about to go under when Major Shapley
started to swim by, and seeing my distress, grasped my shirt and
told me to hang to his shoulders while be swam in. We were perhaps
twenty-five feet from the pipe line when the Major's strength
gave out and I saw he was floundering, so I loosened my grip on
him and told him to make it alone. He stopped and grabbed me by
the shirt and refused to let go. I would have drowned but for
the Major. We finally reached the beach where a marine directed
us to a bomb shelter, where I was given dry clothes and a place
to rest.
Aviation Machinists Mate, First Class D. A. Graham wrote as follows:
On hearing the explosions and gun reports, Wentzlaff, E., A.O.M.2/c,
came in saying we were being attacked and bombed by Jap planes.
The air raid siren sounded, followed by the General Quarters alarm.
I stepped outside the shop and started to my general quarters
station on the quarterdeck, shouting "Let's go."
It seemed as though the magazines forward blew up while we were
hooking up the fire hose, as the noise was followed by an awful
"swish' and hot air blew out of the compartments, There had
been bomb hits at the first start and yellowish smoke was pouring
out of the hatches from below deck. There were lots of men coming
out on the quarterdeck with every stitch of clothing and shoes
blown off, painfully burned and shocked. Mr. Fuqua was the senior
officer on deck and set an example for the men by being unperturbed,
calm, cool, and collected, exemplifying the courage and traditions
of an officer under fire. It seemed like the men painfully burned,
shocked, and dazed, became inspired and took things in stride,
seeing Mr. Fuqua, so unconcerned about the bombing and strafing,
standing on the quarterdeck. There was no "going to pieces"
or "growing panicky" noticeable, and he directed the
moving of the wounded and burned men who were on the quarterdeck
to the motor launches and boats. He gave orders to get the life
rafts on #3 barbette down, supervised the loading of the wounded
and burned casualties, assisted by Ensign J. D. Miller who set
a very good example for a younger officer by being cool, calm,
and collected.
The signal gang, quartermasters, and all hands on the bridge went
up-- as the signal men were trying to put out a fire in the signal
rack and grabbing signal flags out to hoist a signal, the whole
bridge went up, flames enveloping and obscuring them from view
as the flames shot upward twice as high as the tops. A bomb hit
on the starboard side of the after 5 inch guns and anti-aircraft
gun, and got most of the marine crew and anti-aircraft crews.
It seemed as though one bomb hit the port after the anti-aircraft
crew and came down through the casemate and Executive Officer's
office.
After the big explosion and "swish," the men painfully
burned and wounded, dazed beyond comprehension, came out on the
quarterdeck. I had to stop some of them from entering the flames
later on and directed them over to the starboard side of the deck
to the gangway for embarking, encouraging them to be calm.
The Vestal, tied up alongside the port side, did not seem
to get hit hard and started to get underway, so I stood by to
cast off lines on the quarterdeck portside and cast off their
bow lines as the Lieutenant Commander on her wanted to save the
line to tie up to one of the buoys. Assisted by a seaman from
#4 turret, we rendered the bow line around and cast her off. Then
getting the small life raft on #3 turret barbette port side off
and over the port stern, the water and oil being on deck, and
the ship settling fast, we got orders to embark in the motor boat
at the starboard stern quarter, Lieutenant Commander Fuqua and
a few others still being aboard. We landed at BOQ landing, Ford
Island. Smith, B.M.2c, USN, boat coxswain, made many trips for
wounded and burned men being delivered by Lieutenant Commander
Fuqua, still on board.
Courage and performance of all hands was of the highest order
imaginable, especially being handicapped by adverse conditions
and shipmates being blown up alongside them. There was no disorder
nor tendency to run around in confusion. The coolness and calm
manner of Lieutenant Commander Fuqua and Ensign J. D. Miller instilled
confidence in the surviving crew.
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