AG and MM Board

Pearll Harbor

Posted by Fran Kent on December 6, 2009, 2:49 pm

The anniversary of the attack on Pearl harbor always reminds me of a late friend who was in the Army at the time and based in Hawaii. Not long after the attack, I had a letter from him describing his experience. He and a buddy had been out all night and were staggering back to their barracks when the Japanese planes appeared and began bombing and strafing. They ducked into a culvert for safety and, after looking on for a bit, his buddy observed, "Somebody's gonnma get in a lot of trouble over this."

Re: Pearll Harbor

Posted by Melinda on December 6, 2009, 9:07 pm, in reply to "Pearll Harbor"

Thanks for sharing that, Fran.

As I've probably told you all before (my memory is not as good as it used to be), my sweet Daddy joined the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed so it holds sentimental as well as historical significance for me.

Re: Pearll Harbor

Posted by John L. Haynes on December 7, 2009, 1:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearll Harbor"

Hi Melinda. I too, joined the Navy (age 18) the day after the Pearl Harbor attack along with 5 of my friends who worked at Sears at the time. I wanted to be a Navy Pilot but didn't have the required 2 yrs of college. I was told that if I joined the Regular Navy (USN 6 yrs) I might have a chance to be an enlisted pilot. I joined USN. We were sworn in in Macon GA on Dec 15 and then off to Boot Camp at NOB Norfolk. During the 3 1/2 weeks of Boot Camp I applied for all the aviation trade schools, but at the end I was assigned to the Naval Armed Guard. Three days aboard the USS Paducah and 10 days at Little Creek, VA for gunnery training and then to the Brooklyn Armed Guard Center for assignment.

Just 6 weeks (Jan 26) after taking the oath I found myself boarding the SS Eldena loading war material for Murmansk. We were part of Convoy PQ13 and our ship was position #13 in the convoy. I wont go into all the hardships, attacks and losses on that voyage, which were many. That is another story.

When we returned to the US May 30th and assigned back at the Armed Guard Center, I tried again for Aviation trade school and was successful in becomming an aircraft mechanic and later as a turret gunner in a TBF Torpedo Bomber. In July 1943 I was accepted into flight training where I earned my wings and commission as a Naval Aviator . After release from active duty I stayed active in the Naval Reserve and attained the rank of LCDR. Aviation has been my lifes career and age 86 I still fly power planes and gliders. The Navy was very good to me and I am thankful for all the experiances I had.

Re: Pearll Harbor

Posted by Melinda on December 7, 2009, 11:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearll Harbor"

Thank you, Mr. Haynes, for posting this. It was so interesting to read especially since your journey may have described one similar to my father's. He also went with 4 or 5 of his friends. I don't have many details, but I do know that not all of his buddies were accepted. Those who were turned down, for whatever reasons, were very discouraged and dishearted that they were not going to be able to "fight the Japs".

How wonderful that you are still flying!!!! Fabulous!

Re: Pearll Harbor

Posted by Danny Huff on December 8, 2009, 10:58 am, in reply to "Re: Pearll Harbor"

Thank you all for responses. I retired from the Navy in '89. My Uncle retired from MM '38 and we had many talks about our experiences (all those many years apart). He was recalled to MM during WWII and served several ships with SS Mission Purisima being last (Mar'45) as 2nd Mate. Two other uncles were discharged one month prior to Pearl Harbor (from Pearl Harbor) They both were recalled for the War. I know from experience -- Anyone that has served in any branch of service deserves a huge hug and pat on the back for their service to the country.

Re: Pearll Harbor

Posted by Fran Kent on December 7, 2009, 1:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearll Harbor"

John: Whatever the Navy gave you was clearly in compensation for what you gave the Navy. And that's the way it ought to be: give and take, in equal measure if possible. I suspect you thought at the time that survival itself was compensation enough for having been on board a ship in PQ13.

Re: Pearll Harbor

Posted by John L. Haynes on December 7, 2009, 4:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearll Harbor"

Fran: I guess I didn't think too much about survival back then. We were so busy trying to shoot back. You remember how it was at age 19 or 20, you'd get scared a little but felt almost invincible, like you could whip a bear with a switch, or as a pilot, could fly a barn door if it had wings. Anyway, I loved the Navy and still do.

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