Pearl Harbor Atttack
Reports 
Pearl Harbor Atttack
Reports 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 Tennessee
The Executive Officer of USS Tennessee, Commander Colin
Campbell, wrote as follows:
At 0800 Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, I was at my residence
in Waikiki, Honolulu, T. H., on authorized liberty. At about that
time I heard what appeared to be gun fire, and which I first thought
to be target practice of some kind. Shortly after, word came over
the radio that Pearl Harbor was being attacked by Japanese planes,
and all service personnel should proceed at once to their stations.
I started immediately by automobile to Pearl Harbor, but the traffic
congestion was such that I did not arrive until about 0915. I
went to the Officer's Club Landing. Bombing planes were still
attacking. I was finally able to commandeer a boat. The Tennessee
was moored inboard of the West Virginia at berth F-6. The
West Virginia had been sunk and was on fire. The Arizona,
about 75 feet astern of the Tennessee had been sunk and
was on fire, and oil was burning on the water. I landed on Ford
Island and about 0940 was able to get aboard over a pipe line.
I went to the signal bridge and assumed command until the arrival
of the Captain about 1000. Lieutenant Commander J. W. Adams, Jr.,
who had the head of Department duty, had been in command and was
on the signal bridge. The stern of the Tennessee was on
fire, and fires were raging on the Arizona and West
Virginia, threatening destruction of this ship. The officers
on the bridge of the West Virginia informed me that her
after magazines had been flooded, but that efforts had been made
to flood the forward magazines, but as the second deck was under
water they were not sure that they had succeeded. I told them
that their magazines must be flooded at all costs, as this ship
was relatively undamaged and must be saved. When the Captain came
aboard be directed me to go aft and take charge on the quarterdeck,
where I remained practically continuously supervising the firefighting
on this ship and against the oil fires on the water coming from
the Arizona, until about sundown Tuesday the 9th, by which
time the oil fires on the Arizona had been extinguished
by this ship and yard tugs. The fires aft on this ship were under
control by about 1030 Sunday morning, but continued to break out
sporadically for the next couple of days due to the intense beat
from the Arizona oil fires. During this time our main engines
were run ahead and the wash from the propeller very successfully
helped wash the burning oil astern, assisted by hoses from this
ship. The Tennessee was wedged between the sunken West
Virginia and the forward quay, preventing any movement ahead.
As long as the intense fires raged on the Arizona, the
Tennessee was constantly in danger.
For me to mention the especially distinguished conduct of any
particular individual would detract from the bravery, calmness,
and efficiency of all officers and men. The conduct of all hands
was superb, and I am proud of every one of them. I cannot help,
however, mentioning at this time the distinguished conduct of
Lieutenant Commander J. W. Adams, Jr., the gunnery officer; and
that of Chief Boatswain I. W. Adkins, who had charge of the repair
party fighting the fires aft, and whose leadership and heroic
conduct helped to save the ship by keeping the fires under control.