Jeff Phister - Battleship Oklahoma BB-37 (2008) OCR

BATTLESHIP
BATTLESHIP
BB-37
Jeff Phister
with
Thomas Hone
and Paul Goodyear
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS : NORMAN

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Phister,Jeff, 1955-
Battleship Oklahoma, BB-37 /Jeff Phister, with Thomas Hone and Paul
Goodyear.
p. cm.
I r1cludes bibliographical references and index.
I SBN 978-0-8061-3917-3 (hbk. : alk. paper)
I SBN 978-0-8061-3936-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Oklal1oma (Battleship) 2. Pearl H arbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.
3. World War, 1939-1945 Personal narratives, America11. I . Hone
Thomas . I I . Goodyear, Paul. I I I. Title.
VA65.052P57 2008
359.3'252 dc22
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and
durability of the Committee on Prodl1ction Guidelines for Book Longevity
of the Cou11cil on Library Resources, Inc. 00
Copyright© 2008 by the University of Oklahoma Press, Norman,

Pl1blishing D ivision of the U11iversity. Manufactured in the U.S.A.
All rights reserved. No part of this publicatio11 may be reprodl.1ced, stored

in a retrieval system, or t1-ansmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise-
except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the United States
Copyright Act without the prior writte11 permissio11 of tl1e University
of Oklahoma Press.
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
In memory of
Norb Phister,
Ed Ray mer,
Jean Goodyear,
and Dorothy Vezey

Contents
List of I llt1 trations lX

•
P reface b ' Paul Goodyear XI

•
Acknov ledgments Xlll

• • •
P rologue xv
1 Oklalioma Genesi 3
.
2 Life on the Oklahoma 14
3 Oklahoma's First Mission 23

4 The Great Cruise and Modernization 27
5 E arthquake Refugees, and War 34
6 Countdown to Pearl Harbor 48
7 A Quiet Sunday Morning 60
8 Damn the Torpedoes 71
9 Topside 7:55 A.M. 81
10 Chaos Below 95
11 Twelve-Inch Portholes 1 13
12 Trapped! 1 28
13 Thirty-Two Came Back 1 42
14 Resurrec tion 1 48
15 She Chose the Sea 1 67
Epilogue 1 70
Vll
• •
Vlll
• • •
CONTENTS
Appe11dices
A Commanding Officers and Date of Service 1 7.5
B Medal Citations: December 7 , 194 1 1 76
C USS Oklahoma Crew Roster: December 7, 1 94 1 1 79
D Ships Named for USS Oklahoma Crewmen 221
Notes 223
Glossary 235
Sou1�ces 239
l11dex 249
...
Illustrations
Ch1-i t ning cer 1no11 May 2 3 1 9 1 4 41

U g ,� i-nme nt deleg ati 11 to the ch1i te11in g
. .
41
Preli1ni11ary uial J a11 uary 1 5 1 9 1 6 42
Ber ha\ en I reland 1 9 1 8 42
Pa11ama Canal 1 92 1 43
Fi1-i ng 111ain gt1n 1 920 43
Prior to 1 927 moder11ization 44
Afte1� modernizatio11 44
Main gt1ns trained after mode1-nization 45
Port mouth England June 1 936 46
Route ofJapa11e e pla11 e ove r Pearl Harbor 47
Puget Sound Navy Yard, 1 940 65
Nakajima B5N2 ' Kate 66
View from Matsumura torpedo plane 66
Japane e photo of Pearl Harbor attack 67
Overtt1rned hull of Oklalioma 68
Overturned hull of Oklalioma from front 69
Overtur11ed hull of Oklahoma fro1n rear 69
Time equence of capsizing 70
Battle hip Row, December 1 0 1 94 1 76
Oklahoma and Maryland) December 1 0, 1 94 1 77
Oklahoma starboard side profile 78
Oklahoma plan view 79
Oklahoma portside cutaway view 80
Caskets of Oklahoma crewmen taken ashore 1 56
Oklahoma rotated to 90 degrees, March 1 943 1 56
Righ ting operation, March 1 943 1 57
Starboard side view dt1ring righ ting 1 58
View forward from quarterdeck 1 58
Guns on salvaged Oklahoma 1 59
IX
•
x ILLUSTRATIONS
Salvage op eration , September 1 943 1 60

Entering dry dock, Dece mber 1 943 161
Dry dock, early 1 944 161
Dry dock, port side ex posed 1 62
Main deck along port passageway 1 63
Mai n deck looki ng aft 1 64
Berthed i n the west loch 1 65
Pearl Harbor, February 1 944 1 65
Oklahoma rescue schematic 1 66
USS Oklalioma memorial 1 73
..
Preface
Th i book i th e n1 0 t comple te , true accoun ti11g of th e USS Oklahoma

e'er placed ben e n rn10 c over . Much of that h as to do witl1 the
proce of engagi ng the mo t i m p ortant compon ent of the book
the urvivor of th e eve11 ts that occurred on the Oklahoma on the ino1�n
i n g of Dec e1nber 7 1 94 1 at Pearl Harbor.
Mo t h i torical acc ol1nts of warfare are told throl.1gl1 the filter of
th e author \1 h o i11 additio11 to doing arc h ival research i n terviews bat
tle participar1ts and then parap hrases the story, with perhaps the occa
sional first-person quotati on for e m phasis or color. I n contrast, the
narrative in key p orti ons of thi book re lies heavily on the personal
experi e n ces and r·e m e m brances of the men who were there and uses
their tori es m ore completely th an you m igh t find i n other accounts .
As one of those survivors, shipm ate to these men, and as a coauthor,
I wa able to arrange face-to-fac e m e etings or telephon e in te1views wi th
them and en ure that the taped in terviews were properly and accurately
transcribed and used as fully as p ossible. I n addi ti o n , each man was
able to review the text of his in terview to ensure h is inte n t, remarks ,
and informaiion were correct as he co nveyed th em, and to allow any
c orrec tion or am plification before the manuscri pt wa sent to the pub
lisher. If a survivor passed away before he had the chance to review his
porti o n , his s tate m e n t was submi tted to his shipmates.
The result is an accoun ting of one of the most famous U.S. battle
ships i ncludin g her role in the even ts of those few hours on th e ''day
of i11famy'' that i n cludes n o t ju t the experi ences but the th ough ts ,
words , and e m o tions of th e men on that m orni11 g. They are direct from
the survivors to you .
Paul Goodyear
Xl
•
•
--
·•
'
Acknowled gments
Ed Rayrrne r a11d Pat1l Good ar it begi11 with the m . Ed was my god

father. H i book De cent into Darkness the inemo ir of his experie nces
"""'-' a al,'age di,rer at Pea1�1 Ha1�bor ( 1941-1943), fir t in troduce d me to
the Oklahoma. W11e11 I decid d to write a book about it following 11is
death in 1997 the l11te1·net took me to Paul Goodyea r, preside11 t of
SS Oklahonza Fa111il r l11c. l11credibly he lived only thirty-five miles
from ffi}7 home. Paul graciou 1 granted me an inte1-view, and ourjour
ne began. Following our initial meeting in December 2002, we made
three oj ourn i n Sot1the111 California to in terview more survivors. One
b one they ha1-ed their recollection of their ship and of that fate
ft1l Ha,vaiian inorning that took the live of o many of their shipmates.
Later Paul invited me to atte11d their an nual reunions, where I met
numerou other urvivors, a well as their families and friends. I can
not i magine a finer group of people. Paul also allowed me unlimited
acce to the catalog of written histories that he had collected from his
hipmate throughout the year , a catalog that is now the prope rty of
the Oklahoma Hi torical Society. I only wi h that Paul and Ed had been
able to meet. I have no doubt that they would have experience d the
same kind of friend hip that Ed had hared with my father, Norbert
Phister a retired U.S. Air Force officer who died in 1 98 1 .
On a professional note, I would like to thank Ki rk Bj ornsgaard,
acquisitions editor for the University of Oklahoma Press, for his per
sistence patie11ce, and con tan t upport. I want to tha11k him al o for
sugge ting that I e11 li t the help of noted author Tom Hone, an expert
on the Nevada class of battlesh ips. Tom's editi ng put tl1e book back on
course , and his sub tan tial con tribution most of chapters I and 2-
have given it depth. He's a great man, and it was indeed a privilege to
work with him.
I would like to thank distinguished Pearl Harbor hi torians David
Aiken , Paul Stillwell, and Daniel Martinez for their respo11ses to my
Xlll
• • •
XIV
•
A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
countless e-mails, and author Eric Hammel for his counsel. I would
also like to thank Patrick Osborn for his help at the National Archives
and Bria11 Basore for his help at the Oklahoma H istorical Society.
Mars l1all Owens, the former museum curator at the USS Arizona
Memorial, provided a great deal of information about Ford Island, and
Kristi11 Che11ng, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, provided info1lllation
on the n1en from Shop 1 1 .
·
I would also like to give thanks to Oklahoman Kevin King for both
h is passion and his artistic perspective. Kevi11 initiated the effort to
construct a USS Oklahoma memorial at Pearl Harbor when he m ade a
pilgrimage to Pearl Harbor with 11is son to learn about his state 's name
sake battleship. Whe11 no information was available , King challenged
his h igh school buddy state senator J i m Reynolds to do someth ing
about it, which Jim did.
I give particular thanks to my high school buddy John Morgan , for
l1is thorough and insightful edit of the original draft, and to Bob Val ley
and Ray Emory for the information they provided regarding the j our
ney and current location of Oklahoma's Pearl H arbor casualties. Bob's
brother Lowell is one of Oklahoma's 380 U nknowi1s.
Finally, I would l ike to tl1ank my wife , Jody; our three i ncredible
daughters, Jessica, Morgan , and Sara; my m o ther, Rita; my sisters ,
Brooke and Kimberly; and Marilyn Raymer (Ed's wife) for their unwa
ve1-ing support, particularly when my mind was out to sea . . . on the
Oklahoma.
Prolo gue
O n April 1 5 2004 eve 11 sailor ole1n nly filed onto the floor of the
tate enate i11 the capitol in Oklaho ma City. Precede d by Senator Jim
Reyi1o ld the fo1-111ed a li11 e at tl1e head of the senate chambers.
Seated before them was the state legislature. In the gallery above sat
their familie a11d f1iends. Nestled on the bottom of the ocean some
four thou and mile to the we t lay the USS Oklahoma, the battleship
that had been thei1- home until a quiet Sunday morning some sixty
three years before . Most had been teenagers then ; now the youngest
wa seventy-nine. They had survived tl1e onslaught ofJapanese torpe
doe and the horror of a cap ized ship, but 429 of their shipmates
had not. Their time to be remembered had finally come, though time
was growing short. Barely a l1undred and fifty survivors remained, a11 d
Apri l had j ust taken three more.
The seven sailors listened quietly as the resolution was read i n to the
public i-ecord. Moments later, a vote was taken. By unanimous consent,
the resolution pa ed. The people of the state of Oklahoma had spo
ken. Their ship and the proud men who had served aboard her would
fi n al ly have a memorial along Battleship Row, where she had been
moored o n December 7, 1 94 1 , on the day that Japanese airplanes
attacked Pearl Harbor.
This is the story of that remarkable ship and her brave men.
xv
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•
BATTLESHIP
•
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I
CHAPTER}
Oklahoma's Genesis
' The President i 11ereb authorized to 11ave co11structed two fi1�st-class

battleships, eacl1 ca1Ty-ing as heavy armor and as powe1�ful armament as
an 'ressel in its class, to have tl1e highest practicable speed and the g1�eat
e t practicable i-adius of action and to cost exclusive of arn1or a11d arma
ment, not to exceed six millior1 dollars each."
-Naval Approp1iatio11 Act, March 4, 1911
The ' ar \rv ith Spain in 1 898 showed that the U . S . Navy was a force to
be reckoned with both in the Caribbea11 and i n the far Pacific, where
the United States had gai ned control of the Philippines. To give the
navy the muscle it needed to assert American interests in the Pacific
and the Caribbean between 1 900 and 1 9 1 1 Congress authorized the
navy to add twenty-two battlesl1ips and seven large armored cruisers
to the force that had defeated Spain's navy i 11 1 898. Twelve of tl1e
newest battleships were of the dreadnought type, with very heavy bat
teries of 1 2- and 1 4-inch guns. USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and USS Nevada
(BB-36) were the newest and most powerful.
The power of Oklahoma and Nevada came from their batteries of
ten 1 4-inch guns, their great steaming range (eight thousand nauti
cal miles at ten knots ' speed ) , arid their heavy armor protection. When
launched in the spring and summer of 1 9 1 4, the two new battleships
caused something of a stir amon,g the world's navies. The ships were
a sign that the U.S. Navy was technologically a11d militarily mature
that it could design and build battleships equal to or better than those
of any other navy.
Where did these two impressive battleships come from? After all,
the U . S . N avy was a Johnny-come-lately on the world stage. Congress
3
4 BATTLESHIP OKLAHOJ\,1A
...
did not at1thorize tl1e n avy to build powerful battleships until 1 890. In
twenty years, the navy had foste red a ship buil ding industry, crea ted a
corps of talen ted eng inee rs and nava l arch itects who coul d tap the lat
est deve lopm en ts i11 tech nolo gy, and boo tstra pped itsel f from a navy
tl1at coul d neve r hope to take on the worl d 's best to a fo1�ce that was
capa ble final ly of 11nila teral ly enfo rcing the Mon roe Doc trine .
To t1nderstand the ge11esis of Oklahoma a n d Nevada, you ha\re to
t1r1derstand tl1e problems tl1at the rapidly growing U.S. Navy faced as
it inoved from the minor naval leagues to the majors. The basic prob
le1n facing the navy 's battleship designers was how to pack the most
pu11ch into a ship of reasonable size and cost. A battleship was like a
prizefighter i n the ring. It had to be able to dish out punches as well
as take them. It also had to have stamina and employ tac tics that would
defeat an opponen t. Unfortunately for the designers, technological
advances had made necessary a tremendous change in tactics.
I11 1 898, battleships fol1ght a t short range . In the Battle of Santiago
on July 3, 1 898, i1ot one of the 1 3--inch shells fired by Ame rican bat
tleships struck a Spanish ship. Only 1 3 of the 3 1 9 8-inch shells fired
by the U.S. sl1ips struck their ir1tended targets. Seven years later, at the
Battle of Tsushima between Russian and Japanese fleets, the accuracy
of heavy naval g11ns had not impro,red n1uch. Japanese gunners we1-e
able to hit Russian battleships at 6,000 yards, or less tl1an 3�miles, but
the most severe damage inflicted on the Russian ships came at a ·range
of 4, 700 yards, or about 2% miles, a11d it was i1ot the biggest guns that
did the most damage.
The larger navies recog"nized that the big guns V\rere not accurate
at long ran ge, and therefore tl1ey bl1ilt battleships that c arried inter
mediate batteries of 8-inch, 7-i 11ch, a11d 16-inch gt1ns as wel l as many
smaller weapons to ward off torpedo boats. But by the time the United
States dispatched its Great Wh ite Fleet from Hampton Roads , Virginia,
on an arou11d-the-world cruise in 1 907, a revolution was i n the mak
ing. The big guns were becoming accurate at long range. They had
to. Otherwise, the i r1 expensive , fast, and h igl1l)11naneuverabl e torpedo
boats every i1avy was bt1ilding wot1ld make the battleship obsolete.
But there was still the q11estion: How accurate would the larger ( 1 2-
and l 4-i11ch) guns be at really long range? Wl1en Texas and New York)
the two battleships that preceded Nevada and Oklahoma, were being
designed in tl1e spri11g of 1 9 1 0, the designers knew that the ships would
..
OKL H01\IA E I 5
car1 new a11d i� liabl l +i11 11 -t111 bllt t l1 w r al 011,ri11 d that

th hip gtll111 I llld 11 t }1it 11 111,, � 11ip at th ina rill1l1ffi fc111ge of
th v\1l1ic h ''' t\\r 11 t)' th ti 11d ai�d i� 1 1 X 111ile . o t l1 y
plan11ed for battl t a ra11g f t i1 thot1 �a11d ya1-d , orjt1st over 5% mil s,
wh re hell appr chino� b· ttl 11ip 'vol1ld come i11 at a shallow angle
of fift en d 0-1- i- le . It£ llo'"' d that Te as and et.lJ lo1"k wot1ld n ed
aI111or prot cti 11 1110 tl i1 th ide . it happ i1ed, tl1e gt111ner i11
e' 1 ' maj or i1a\y £ t111d tl1at 'vith i1e' ra11ge-fi11tli ng quipm i1t, they
COllld hit ta1 g at the 111 rimlllil ra11g , and the 1 ,400-pound hells
fir d f1-o m tho QL111 at tl1 ma i mun1 i-ange would arc over th ide
arn1or plati11g tl1at prot ct d hip uch a Texa and Neiu York.
B 'the time thi \Vas u11d r tood, it wa too late to cha11 ge tl1e design
of Te as and 1 euJ York bt1t tl1 e i1avy's hip designe1-s understood that
v
the had a problem 011 their hands for the next cla s of ship. Tl1eir
fi 1- t i m pul e '\1a to make 011 1 incremental change to the de ig11 of
Te a and ezu }or·k but the Ge ne1-al Board of the Navy, a pa11el of sen
io1- admi ral ,r\rho advised the ecretary of the navy, rej ected tl1 a t
approach . I t '''a ti me to take ome i-i k . Otherwise, the navy wot1ld
not get a battle hip that m e t it need and wa both affordable and
not too large for d 17' dock anchorage and the lock of the Panama
Canal.
e\1eral innovations developed in 1 9 1 0 came together to make a neV\r
de ign po ible i11 the pri11 g of 1 9 1 1 : a battlesh ip tur1�et that cot1ld
carry three gun i n tead of two, which 111eant Oklahoma a11d Nevada
could ca1�1)' the ame number of 1 4-inch gun (ten) a Texas and Net.u
Yo,rk but i 11 four tt11�rets i11 tead of five· 'all or nothing" armor protec
tion· the hift from coal to oil ft1el; and the use of t t1rbi11e engine .
OKLAHOMA'S A RMOR
In many older battle hip , armo r on the side and much thinn er
armo r on one or m ore deck were like tl1e armo r worn by a medi eval
kn ight a burd e11 . The a1-mo r provided prote ction , bt1t at the price
of bein g dead weig ht. In 1 9 1 1 , however the navy's hip desig ner hit
on a met hod to make i t an in tegr al part of a batt le hip str"L1ctt1re.
The m e thod prov ided the ship wi th ve1�y thic k ide arm or (13�
inch es tape ring to 8 inch es below the wat erlin e) ove r abo ut two- tl1ird
of l1er leng th . Cap ping this heavy side arm or was an arm o1-ed deck
6 BATTLES H I P OKLAHOMA
...
thre e i11 ches thick . One deck below this one was anot her, l ight er arm or
declz l;{ inch es thick . In essen ce, the heart of Oklahoma, consistin g of
her engi nes, l1er amm t1n ition maga zi11es , and her gun n e ry and
damage-co ntrol nerve ce11te rs, was insid e an armo red box very thick
at tl1e sides and ends , and thick enough on top. Stick ing up out of tl1is
arn1o red box were the armo red suppo rts for h e r turrets, a heavi ly
ar1nored conni ng tower for 11er capta in in battle , and a co11ic al
armo1-ed found ation for her funne l. Her turrets had facepl ates eight
ee11 inches thick, with armor five inches thick on top and nine inches
thick on the back.
This form of armor protection was sometimes referred to as ''pro
tection where it m atte1�ed." As one navy officer reportedly put it, if
Oklahoma were hit by an enemy shell where it m attered, then it would
not matter. Conversely, if the ship were struck by a shell where it did
i1ot matter, then that would not matter, e ither. You can see the differ
ence by comparing the weights of NevJ York and Nevada:
Displacement Weight of Weight of Year

Sli.ip (tons) armor (tons) weapons (tons) keel laid
New York 27,000 8,965 2,582 1911

Nevada 27 ,500 11,309 2,586 1912
With j ust 500 extra tons of displacement, Nevada, Oklahoma's sister

ship, carried 2,344 additional to11s of armor or about 25 percent
more than NevJ York or Texas. What m ade this d1�am atic difference pos
sible was tl1e integration of the heavy side- and deck-protective armo1-
i nto tl1e ship's structure, where it provided both protection and
strength for the hull and for the ship's superstructure. This creative
design set the patter11 for all U .S. Navy battleships built before the
Washington Naval Treaty halting new battleshi p construction was
signed i n 1 922 .1
OKLAHOMA'S FUEL
The i1avy h ad decided i n 1 9 1 0 to fuel all ft1ture battleships with oil.

Oil fuel was inuch, m t1ch cleaner than coal, which meant less m ess when
the ship refueled and hardly any residual ash deposits on the burners
...
OKLAHO 1A GENE� I 7
that heated the boile r . Oil 1 o had m r th rm 1 n rgy p r poun d

than coal a11d it took far £ \V r firem n t t i1d a 1 1 ii-fired boil r than
a coal-fi red 011 . Oil-fi red b il r al o did i1ot i1 d pr ured fire room ,
which had bee11 i-eqt1i1 d i11 olde1- battle ships to provide suffic ient air
..
to burn coal a11d oil-fir d 11ip I1eede d fewer smok estack s. I t wa also
ea ier to tak on oil at e £1 0111 tanker than coal fro1n collie1.. , and oil
..
fi1-ed battle hip cotlld 1-- ft1 I their own e corting de troyers .
In 1 9 14 fitting Oklahor1ia 'vith oil-fired recip1-o cating e ngines was
defende d becat1 e the wot1ld use le ft1el when the ship cruised at
lo'"' peeds o er 1011g di tance . Her engines were al o expected to be
m t1ch e a ier to mai11 tain because oil t111der pres ure would lubricate
their m oving parts .
OKLAHOMA S E NG I N E S
To make be t use of the available energy in coal and oil, the navy
experi m e n ted with turbi ne (in Nevada, Arizona, and Pennsylvania),
reciprocating e ngines (in Texas, New York, and Oklahoma), and even
tual! with turbo-electric d rive (in Nezv Mexico, Ten nessee, and Cali-
fornia). Turbo-electric drive used turbines operating at high speed to
spin the armatures in genera tors, creating direct current that was then
u ed to power separate elec tric motors. What yot1 see in the battle fleet
in the )'ears j u t before and during World War I i a high degree of
experi m e n tation, with navy designers trying out differe n t types of
engines, differen t forms of underwater protection , and even different
hull designs. The result was a battle fle e t with ships of very different
capabil i ties.
Whe n Oklaho1na and Nevada were designed, the ii.avy decided to
equip Nevada wit h steam turbines but Oklahoma with reciprocating
steam engines. The navy's Bureau of Steam Engineering was not con
fide n t that existing steam tu rbine powe r plants had the reliability to
work consistently well as the battle fleet steamed across the Pacific to
meet i ts likely Japanese opponents. The fac tors that shaped the choice
of reciprocating e ngines fo1-- Oklahoma were reliability, fuel efficiency,
and ease of upkeep.
Oklahoma's engines were powered by steam p roduced in boil ers.
Each of the battleship's two triple-expansion engines was like a huge
automobile engine. Attached to a finely balanced crankshaft was a row
8 BATTLES H I P OKLAHO!YIA
"'
of four cyl i11de rs: a high -pre ssur e cylin der (th irty-five inch es in diam-
eter), an intermediate-pressure cylinder (fifty-nine inches i n diame
ter), and two low-pressure cylinders (eac h seventy-eight inches i n
diame ter). The pistons i11 the cylin ders, like those in an automobile
e11gine, wer1t up ancl down, th rough a full stroke of 48 inches in
response to 250 pou11 ds of steam p ressure from Oklahoma's twelve boil
,ers. The crankshafts converted that up-and-down motion into circu
lar motion, a11d the circular motion turned the drive shafts that drove
the ship's two massive propel lers. Oklahoma's boilers and e ngines
weighedjust over 1 ,900 tons, and they generated approximately 22,000
11orsepo,tVer when she was first commissioned.
Bt1t what gave this engine the ability to work both effectively and
efficiently? The answer is simple: it used the same steam multiple times.
Tl1e steam at its hottest and highest pressure was used fi rst to push the
p iston in the high-pressure cylinder. Once it had done that, the energy
depleted steam was exhausted i n to the i ntermediate-pressure cyli n
der and used to push the p iston the1-e . Then, though with less heat
and at a lower pressure, it was used yet or1e more time to displace the
pisto11s i r1 the two large low-pressure cylinders. Finally, the steam,
robbed by now of most of its energy, was sent to a condenser, vvhere it
was cooled to form wate1- that was filtered and recycled to the boilers.
This is where the reciprocati11 g engines on Oklahoma differed from
their cousins, the engines that drove steam locomotives. I n a steam
locomotive , there was only one high-pressure cyli11der. Once the steam
was t1sed, it was either lost or captured and condensed to water. That
was too inefficient a system for a ship that had to operate for weeks at
sea withOLlt stops for additional ft1el . Mo1�eover, the ship ha,d to use
distilled seawater in its boilers, a11d the distilling process used ene rgy,
and energy like ammunition for t11e big gu11s was scarce and there
fore precious.
Adding to the reliability of Oklahoma's main engir1 es was her impres
sive maintenance capability. She carried spare parts for her e ngin es,
such as piston rods, piston rings, valve stems, crank p ins, bearings, and
cylinder h ead bolts. Oklahoma also had spare oil bur11 e rs, furnace
doors, water gauges, condenser tubes, and oil strainers. Her workshops
were equipped with machi11e tools lathes, drills, milling machines,
gri11ders and a blaclzsmith 's forge so that her engineering depart
n1ent could repair h e r main e ngines a11d otl1er mechanical devices,
..
OKLAHOJ\lfA S GENE I 9
such as the pump that dr w i n awat r and mpti d her bilge . She
was even built with a fou11 d1--' o that 11 r 111 talsm it l1� arid boile 1�1nak
e rs could ca t part in an n1 rgenc wit h ut havi ng to retur n to a
major base.
In 1 9 1 1 , the weigh t of h r engin es was co1npa rable to the weigh ts
of e i ting turbin e and it ' a easier then to throw a recipro cating
engine into re\1 r e . Wl1e11 Oklaliomawa d igned, the ba ic differen ce
between turbin a11d 1-ecip1�oc ati11g engines was that the turbines
opera ted m o re efficie11tl rat high speed than at low speed, while reci p
rocating engi 11e we,re mo1�e efficient at low speeds. Because tl1e bat
tle fleet did not cruise at high peed, tl1e reciprocati11 g engine was a
sen ible alter11ati\,re to turbi11e propulsion.
Oklahoma's engi 11 es were built wel l . Wh en she was modernized after
1 927 she kept her engines bt1t was give n six more modern a11 d effi
cient boilers in place of her 01-iginal twelve. Her maxim t1 m speed
dropped below twe11ty knots because her weight had risen to over
thirty-tvvo thousand to11s f1-om her original twen ty-eigl1t thousand.
Howe er h e1� engineering performance remained impressive . In 1 940,
for example, at te11 knots speed , her boilers burned 752 gallons of fuel
per hour giving her the ability to cruise almost eighteen thousand nau
tical miles without refueling. At nir1eteen knots, her maximum speed,
fuel consumption j u mped to 3, 723 gallons per hot1r, givi11g her an
e ndurance of only about sixty-11 ine hundred nautical miles.
Newer battleships did bette r. West Virginia, the last of the battleships
built before the 1 922 Washington Naval Treaty, had boilers that con
sumed 52 1 gallons of oil per hour at ten knots sustained speed. At nine
tee11 knots, West Virgin ia's boilers burned 2,826 gallons of fuel per hou1�,
giving her an endurance of 8,954 nautical miles. But Oklahoma's power
p lant was a good deal for the American taxpayer. When designed, the
ship was n,ever intended to serve as long as she did (25 years) , yet her
e ngines continued to function effectively th1�oughout her long life
giving her the range and the mechanical reliability she was origi11ally
required to have. 2
Oklahoma's m issio n was to destroy or disable any ship that she

attacked. Her 1 4-inch guns were designed to smash th rough the armor
..
of enemy battlesl1ips and cruisers, detonating their powder magazines,

wrecki11g their e 11gi11es and boilers, or d isabling their steering so that
they could be picked off later. Oklahoma's 5-inch guns were the re to
repel tl1e attacks of destroyers. In the daytime, enemy destroyers would
attack from behind a smoke screen. At n ight, they would try to over
whelm the ability of Oklahoma's 5-inch guns and searchlights to nail
them as tl1ey dashed at her from the darkness.
But Oklahoma was not designed to fight alone. She was m eant to
se1\Te as 011e L111it in a li11e of battleships. The goal of battleship tactics
in every major navy was the same to concentrate heavy fi re on one
part of tl1e enemy 's fleet, sinking and disabling one or two divisions
of its battlesl1 ips qL1ickly, and then turning the heavy guns on the rest
of the ene1ny's force. It was essential to find the enemy, strike fast and
hard, and keep the enemy fro m retreating. In May 1 9 1 6, at the Battle
of JL1tland, the British battleships hit their German opponents hard,
but they allowed tl1e Germans to slip away duri11 g the n ight and were
robbed of the victory they l1ad been right on the edge of achieving.
U.S. Navy battleships carried one hundred shells for each heavy gu11.
Oklaho1na's turret crews could fire three rounds per gun every two min
utes. That meant Oklahoma could deal out 11eavy punches from her
1 4-inch guns for about an hou1� or an hour and a half of steady battle .
That was i1ot very long. It was therefo1-e important that the battleships
maneL1ver agai11st the e11emy in such a way that, when they opened fire,
their combir1ed firepower would smash their opponents i n minutes.
This m ight not sound l ike a difficL1lt p roble m , bL1t it was. I n tl1 e m i d
l 920s, for example, the i1avy possessed fifteen fi rst-line battleships
each carrying 1 4- or 1 6-inch guns. Each ship was about two football
fields long, and in battle , they could fol low 011 e another at i ntervals of
no less than 600 yards (about)§ mile). That meant t11at the fifteen ships,
stretched out i n a 1 011g colum11 , one behi11d the other, would cover a
distance of at least 1 1 ,400 yards, or 6� miles. If the battleships leading
the column were at maximum i�ange from the e11 e my, then the bat
tleships toward tl1e rear of th e column would be out of range and out
of tl1e fight.
So battleships practiced maneuvers that would bring their guns to
bear 011 the enemy togethe r. From a long column , the ships would
form a l ine , and then they would practice forming the column again.
Then they would practice m aneuvering by divisions of battleships. I n
OKLAHOiVIA S GENE I 11
the 1 920s , there w re fot1r battl esl1ip s to ':t divis io11 . I n the 1 930s, tl1 re
were three . Rep atedl y th hips woul d n1ane uver in a comp lex cho
reog raphy that '"'a desig 11 d to allow th co1nma11der of all the fleet's
battle ships to cone ntrat e their aweso me fire again st an enemy, even
when the enemy was fi1ing back with every tl1ing i t had.
I t was a duel to tl1e death and the shells being fired i11 that duel
had incredible force. Each of Oklahoma l 4-i 11ch guns was fifty-th ree
feet six i nche 1011g and weighed sixty-three tons. Tl1e shell fi1-ed by
t11e gun weighed 1 400 pounds. W11en the gun was fired, 365 pou11ds
of smokeless poV\rder accele1-ated tl1e shell to a speed of 1 ,600 feet per
seco11d and ga e tl1e shell a for·ce ("\iVhich is the product of the shell's
mass times its acceleration) of over sixty-five thousand foot-tons. That's
what each of Okla lioma's guns thur1dered out to a range of twenty
thousand yards (or about twelve miles) when she firstjoined the fleet.
Okla lio1na could carry two types of shells, armor piercing and bom
bardment. The armor-piercing shells were ship killers. Though each
had an explosive charge weighi11g only 29/2' pounds, the shells' dense
metal composition a11d kinetic energy made them a tl1 reat to any ship,
even those \vith heavy armor. These shells were tested against armor
plate at the navy s Dahlgren Proving Ground i n Vi1·ginia, and the tests
showed that they could b1�eak through foot-thick a1�mor and then det
onate behind it. The second type of shell was for use against land tar
gets. It looked the s,ame as the armor-piercing shell, but its explosive
filler weighed 1 05 pounds, and i t was manufactured to burst into many
spl i n ters when the filler detonated. I t was not a ship-killing weapon,
but it was very useful in supporting amp hibious landings.
Armor-piercing shells could destroy or wreck even 11eavily armored
ships i n an incredibly short span of time. On the morning of May 24,
1 94 1 , for example, the German battleship Bisma rck sank the British •
battle cruise1� Hood i n j ust five minutes. On November 1 5, 1 942, the

American battleship Wa shington wrecked the Japanese battle cruiser
Kirishima i n only se·ven minutes in a furious n ight battle. With sur
vival and victory a matter of minutes, i t was imperative that
Oklahoma and her sisters be able to find their targets quickly and hit
them at long range as rapidly as possible .
But that posed a problem for Oklahoma's designers. To h i t at long
range, Oklahoma needed three things: (I) a ra11ge finder, to measure
the dista nce between Oklahoma and what she was shooting at; (2) a
12 BATTLESHIP OKLAHOMA
....
spot tir1 g top, so that her gL l n n e rs could l e arn i m m e diately if th e shells

they fired were "sh orts" or '' ove r ''; a n d (3) a p l o tter that would p re
dict where the e11 e my sl1ip wo t1ld be when Oklahoma's s h e l l s g o t there.
Firing the big gu ns was l i lze a q uarterback th rowi ng a foo tball down
field while preten ding to ru n an opti o n to the outside. The quarte r
back is m ovi ng, a11d th.e pass receiver is movi ng. The q uarte rbac k h as
to th row the ba l l wh e re the rece iver wi l l be wh e n the ball g e ts there.
Tl1is is obviously not an easy p ass play to execute, but this i s precisely
what Oklaho1ma's gl1 n n e rs had to be able to do. I n any e n gage m e n t ,
their ship would be m ovi ng a11d man euveri ng, a n d their target wou l d
be doi n g the same.
At a i�an ge of twe n ty-011 e thousand yards ( nearly twe lve m i l e s ) ,
Oklaho'ma's 1 4-inch shells wou l d reach their target i n about thi rty sec-
0 11ds, but i n thirty seconds a twe n ty-knot s h i p would m ove abo u t three
hundred yards, and shells fired at where the ship was wh e n the range
was taken wo uld fal l i n to the sea behind h e r. So a battles h i p had to
keep a plot of where h e r target had been and where i t was l i kely to be
wh en h e r n ext set of shells reached the vic i n i ty of the target . The p l o t
also 11ad to accoL1nt fo r the battles h i p ' s own m ove m e n ts . Furth er, the
plo tti11 g room i tself had to be protected, and i t had to be c o n n e c ted
securely with the gu11 ners i n the tu1�rets a11 d the gunfire spotters at the
top of h e r " c age'' m as ts . Oklahoma's builders protected t h e plotti n g
room by placing i t u 11 der the armored dec k . T h e telepho1i.e circuits
to the top of the c age inasts, l1owever, could not be shi elded .
The range finders worked by triangu l ation to calculate the d i s tance
from Oklahoma to Ii.er targe t, a 11 d the calculati o n s were made easier if
the base of the tri angle was as l o n g as possibl e . Oklalioma's builders
the refore placed h e r range fin ders at the back of 11e r turrets, w l1 e re
tl1 ey were protected and had a l o n g base to ease calculations of range.
The spotters atop the h i gh cage m asts, 1 2 0 fee t above the water, were
un prote c ted fron1 shellfi re . Thei1� j ob was to te l l the gu n n e rs i f they
had ac hieved a " straddl e , " wl1e re so1n e of the s h e l ls fired i n a broad
side had landed j L1st beyond the target and others had fal l e n j us t sh ort
of i t. 011ce that happe11 e d , the 1 4-inch gu ns were fired as rapidly as
possibl e . To help the spo tters , Oklahoma's shells c o n tained a dye that
col ored the splashes of shells tl1 at struck the wate r.
Photographs of Oklahoma early i n h e r career refl e c t the s h i p ' s mis
sion . They sl1ow a broad-beamed s h i p with fou r l a rge turre ts , two tow-
13
e ri n g cage ma t a 11 a\ril / r·n101 d i1 11i 11g tow � 1� 011 m ok tacl �
and a meag 1 t1p r tructt11- . Tl1 i- 1 1 '111 for· t l1 sl1ip' boat a11d
twe11 -011e 5-i 11cl1 gt111 m t f th 111 i 11 �'i 11al 111 t111t i-a11g d along
her main d ck. 1 11\ri ibl a1- tvvo t1nd i-'"'' 1 t i- torp do tubes, 011 on
·
each ide of tl1 11i p towar d 1 1 1 bow. Sl1 i t1i ted for an engag me n t
of battl hip 11d b ttle i-t1i i- a11d d i -11ed to gi and tak the
hea\ri t hell tl1 11 i 11 u b a 11 11aV)'·
Aft i- her n1od 1-11 izatio 11 i 11 1 92 7-29 Ol1lalio1na i11i ion remai11ed
·
the an1e figl1ti110- it ot1t V\ri tl1 otl1er battl 11ips at long i-ange . Bt1t she
1-eceiv d i m p1-o\T d fi1-e-co11tr·ol equip111e11t (a11d 11ew tripod ma t to
hold that hea\i 1- qt1ipm nt) a11d the ina i111um elevation of her l 4-
incl1 gur1s wa incr·ea ed fro111 fifteen to tl1i rty degree o that she could
trik at targets be rond th vi ual horizon . To spot for her guns at such
long range 11e al o carried tl1 1-ee aircraft that cot1ld be launched from
the hip t\\10 catapt1l ts and then recover d from landing i n the water
alo11g ide the hip. 3
The navy did not intend for Oklahonicl to serve for almost a ge11era
tio11 . 1 11 tead of modernizi11g her i11 the late 1 920s, the nary would have
p referred to replace her with a new battle hip but the Washington
N aval Treaty forbade that. As a re t1lt, Oklalio11ia sailed 011 an old but
s tout floating fortre due to be retired on May 2, 1 942.
CHAPTER 2
Life on the Oklahoma
''In the name of the United States of Ame rica, I c hristen thee
Oklahoma!" trumpeted Lorena Cruce, daugl1ter of Okl ahoma gover
nor Lee Cruce , as she smashed a bottle of champagi1e against the steel
p lated bow of the U.S. Navy's newest battleship, the USS Oklahoma.
The date was March 23, 1 9 1 4. The location was Camden, New Jersey,
home of tl1e New York Shipbuilding Corporation. Moments later the
behemotl1 six-sto11' 11ull slid maj estically i n to the tra11 qu i l waters of
the Delaware River. The eve11 t, which was witnessed by Secretary of
the Navy Josephus Daniels, would signify the dawning of a ne'iV era.
The Nevada Class of battleships the Oklahoma and her sister
Nevada, to be christened some four mo11 ths later were the first U . S.
battleships powered exclusively by oil, the first to feature three 1 4-inch
diameter guns in a single turret, and the fi rst to t1se the ''all or n o th
i ng'' scheme of armor protection.
Botl1 had a top speed of nearly twenty-one knots, displaced 27,500
tons, had a length of 583 feet, and had a beam that measured 95 feet
2� i nches at the waterline. Their armament consisted of ten 1 4-
inch/ 45-caliber main guns, twe11ty-one 5-i11 c l1/ 5 1 -caliber broadside
guns, and four submerged torpedo tubes. Nevada was commissioned
on February 27, 1 9 1 6; Oklahoma 011 May 2, 1 9 1 6. Oklahoma's first crew
totaled 864 sailo1�s a11d mari11es. She was commanded by Captain Roger
Welles.
Like her civilian counterp art RMS Titanic, Oklahoma was a tech11 0-
logical marvel, bt1 t as one migh t expect, the difference i n accom
modatio11s was pro 11ounced. Her sai l o rs' berthi n g accoutrements
consisted of two i tems only: a hammock and a twelve-incl1-square metal
box, called a "dittie box," for thei 1� personal belongings. For those who
h ad never e1ljoyed three square meals a day, the food was co11sidered
14
L I FE ON THE OKLAHOJ\IIA 15
good. For thos e who had know n bette r, it wa not. You wash ed your
own laun dry i n a buck et and if ou wan ted your wate r hot, you
stuck i t bene ath a t am pipe and open d a pigo t. Th lavato ry facil
i ties were a system of ineta l t1 ough s that i�an bene ath lines of toilet
seats. All the sl1 i p ' h eads were positio ned alo11g tl1 e side of the l1 ull
so that the sewage could drain natura lly to the ocean below. Thou gh
the ship had evaporator to conver t seawate r for drinkin g and cook
i n g the 'i\Tater i 11 the howe1- came straigli. t from the sea.
A SAIL O R S E D UCATION
The l ives of many sailo1-s on the Oklahoma and on other battleships

of the era would be improved by the efforts of Josepl1t1s Daniels,
secreta01 of the navy fron1 1 9 1 3 u 11 til 1 92 1 . Secretary Daniels was plain
spoken but also h 1�e\!\rd -and smoothly persuasive. When his appoint
ment as secretary of the navy V\ras approved by the Senate , he set out to
change the navy, and change i t he did.
As he n o ted in his official report to Presiden t Woodrow Wilson in
1 9 1 6, the I1avy V\'as 'largely a boy institution ," with most sailors enl ist
i n g at age seventeen (or even younger for those who could persuade
a parent to sign for them ) . Because so many of these young men had
at best an elementary scl1ool education, Daniels was committed to
making the navy ' the greatest e ducational institution in America. " He
defended this revolutionary idea by arguing that education was the key
to oppo1t:unity i 11 a modern society, a11d that the ideal of opportt1nity
was so deep seated that not using public edtication to open the door
to opportu n i ty was simp ly un-American.
Daniels was out to change the nature of the navy's enlisted perso11-
nel. H e wanted native-b orn, white recruits from the inland areas of the
country boys he thoug ht would be eager to learn a trade and take on
the respo nsibil ities that would make them men. To attrac t them , he sup
ple mented his stress on educ ation with other meas ures desig ned to
appea l to ambit ious young men. For exam ple, he arran ged witl1 tl1e
U.S. Post Offic e Depa rtme n t to allow the navy to issue money order s
aboa rd ships so that sailors could send mon ey hom e to their fami lies.
By h is orde r, the cost of enlis ted men 's uniform s was also reduced, and
ship s' store s beca me more like shops asho re in term s of the mercl1a11-
dise they offered.
It is no exag gerat ion to say that Secre tary Dani els rev ol li tioni zed edu
cati 011 for office rs and enlist ed men i11 the navy. He persu aded Congress
to allow enlisted me11 to compete for a set numb er of slots in the Naval
Academy in An napol is, and he ordere d the officers servin g at the Naval
Acade my to stop the hazing that was traditi onal there. H e directed
ships' office rs to condu ct classe s for newly enlist ed perso nnel, and he
ordered se11ior officers to reward younge r officers who demon strated
teaching ability. D aniels also strongly s11pporte d postgrad uate educa
tion for officers at institutio ns such as the Massachu setts Institute of
Technology and at the navy's own War College in Newport, Rhode
Island. By 1 9 1 5, over half of navy enlisted men were takin g courses of
one sort or a11 other, and e11rollmer1t i n the residential and correspon
de11ce cou1�ses offered to officers by the Naval War C,ollege had
increased dramatically.
Daniels also led the reform of the navy p1ison syste1n by creating
"schools of co1Tection" to separate first offenders from hardened cri m
inals, and he wo1�ked to prohibit state and local c riminal court j udges
from offering young law violators a choice between j ail and the navy.
His methods worked. Navy j ails held 1 ,835 prisoners i 11 April 1 9 1 4 but
only 740 by October 1 9 1 5 . Daniels also persuaded Congress to allow
tl1e navy to rec1uit more chaplains, and he supported the work of the
YM CA i n cities where that organizatio n assisted young sailors. Finally,
i n July 1 9 1 4, to place officers on a par with enlisted person11el ; h e abol
ished tl1e officers' wine iness. Officers still condemn him for tl1is move,
usually without t111derstanding his ve111 American motive, which was
to i�edt1ce the status of the officer corps as a11 untouchable aristocracy.
Fortunately for the navy, the successors to Josephus Daniels retained
and ftirthered l1is commitment to education for enlisted person11el
and officers. Tl1ey grasped the valt1e of having enlisted men who could
master modern eqt1ipment. Navy sec retary Curtis Wilbur noted i n
1 926 that ''The last 1 5 years has revolutionized i I1dustry i n tl1is COLl n
try by standardization of inethods and replacement of manual labor
by labor-savi11g mecha11ical devices. Dt1ring the same pe1�iod a similar
revolution 11as talze11 place not only i n the propL1lsion and gunnery of
naval vessels but i n every device wl1ich co11cerns their operation. '' 1 The
navy responded to tl1is increased mecl1anizati o n with schools ashore
and correspondence courses for enlisted sailors at sea.
...
L I FE 0 THE OKl�Ji.HOAJA 17
In 1 926, th na\ had ab ut ighty-tw thou and nli ted p r n

n 1 f all rat . I11 that n1 , ar tl1 na' ' Bt11 all of Navigation di -
tI"'ibt1t d O\' i fif -fol1r tl1ot1 �a11d c i�r po11d i1c
..
our es om of
wl1ich were t1ppl n1e11t d b tr·ai11i11g fi lr n . Bt1t th navy was still a11
i n titutio11 of ot111 i n i1. El '' 11 p rcent of nlisted ailors wer und r
,
ag tw i1 t)1 a11 d ,, r 0 p i� i1t of all , ilo1-- wer under the age of

tl1irt)'. The )' a1� b £ re t pi-- 'ride tl1e t111g r men wi th senior who
wer both u-ai11 d a11d ed l. 1 c ated, tl1e 11 avy had i-equired candidate s
for the grad of chief p tt)1 officer to pa competi tive examinatio n .
To t1pport th d i11and for material n ded to pre pare for the exam
i11atio11 the Bt11- tl of a'igatio11 had i t1ed n1ore than fifty-seven
thot1 and cot11- e book de c1-ibing what skills new petty officers had
to have and ho'l\T to acqL1ire them.
Tl1e 011set of the G1-eat Depression after the stock market collapse
of 1 929 coupled -vvith ·a strengthening of public education in many
state pro\rided the 11avy with a wave of better-educated enlistees. In
1 930, fo r example, 1 2 perc e n t of recruits had not completed ele
m e n ta1 chool (through the ixth grade) . I n 1 933, that figure had
fallen to j ust 2.5 percen t. I 11 1 930, almo t 28 perce nt of enlistees had
onl fini hed elementary school. I n 1 933, the number was j ust over 9
percent. I n 1 930 60 percen t of en listees had completed one year or
more of high chool. I n 1 933, over 88 percent had done so. The surge
i n unemployme n t duri ng the Great Depression allowed the navy to
be very elective all through the mid- to late 1 930s. In 1 938, for exam
ple the n avy took i n only 1 0 percent of those who wanted to enlist.
To deal with all these tale n ted enl isted men, the navy created a sys
tem of c h ools. Cla s A schoo ls provid ed basic educa tion and skill
train ing to sailor afloat. Shore side Class B schoo ls took qt1alified men
from ships and taugh t them to be cook and baker s, steno graph ers,
rad io operators , fire controlme n , aviati on mach inist' s mates, aviati on
m eta lsmit hs, and torpe dom en. Class C choo l were at the top of the
heap . Also locat ed asho re , they taug ht Diese l-engine repa ir, deep- ea
divin g, adva nced firs t-aid skills , aero grap hy (or mete orol ogy) , pho
togr aphy, echo soun ding , avia tion pilo t train ing, and othe r advanced
cou rse s. Som e cou rses laste d as little as two wee ks. Oth ers were a year
l o n g. The re was even a six-m onth prep scho ol for the enl is ted per
2
son nel sele cted to atte nd the Naval Aca dem y.
..
T H E EXPAN S I O N O F ATH LETICS
Athletic had played a role in the life of enlisted sailors even before
Oklaho'm a was comm issioned in 1 9 1 6, but athletic competition had
been confined to a few forms of competition mostly boxing and row
ing. On March 3, 1 9 1 7, the sailors of Oklahoma invi ted their counter·
parts from battleship Texas and fleet tug Ontario to a "happy hour" of
wrestling and boxing matches. The better boxers had managers who
helped them train and who arranged matches with men of similar
weights from other ships. Betting was not allowed officially, though
money changed hands unofficially.
Our Navy, a magazine published for enlisted men, reported on the
contests. The December 1 9 1 6 issue noted, "Battling Frankie Kirk, who
as the ' Mare Island Thunderbolt' held the Our Navy lightweight belt
while in the Service, is a busy guy these days in Oklahoma. I n the past
twelve months, Frank has boxed just twenty times and won every one
of the twenty starts . . . . Some of these wise fight managers around New
York who make good money out of a bunch of second stringers would
do well to send a ticket to Oklahoma and bri n g Frankie Kirk to the big
burg. Frank could j ust about make some of these c rack New York ligh t
weights j um p over the ropes. "3
This short article demonstrates both the strength and the weakness
of navy enlisted athletics of the time. The strength was that the. sched
uled formal matches gave enlisted men with talent a chance to show it
off and maybe gain the opportunity to contend with professionals i n
the big time . The weakness was that not enough sailors pa1tici pated in
organized athletics. Navy officers who served with the Royal Navy at
Scapa Flow in World War I were impressed with the scale of athletics
supported by their B ri tish counterparts, and they returned to the U11ited
States committed to expanding enlisted pa1�ticipati o11 in inter- a11d inu�a
ship athletic contests.
The result was a gradual blossoming of fleet athletics. I n World War
I , for example, battleship Nevada held eight major athletic trophies,
but seven of the eight were for winning sailing and rowing competi
tions. By 1 935, the scale of athletic competi tions had mushroomed to
i nclude baseball , football , competitive shooting, and track and field
events, as wel l as organized boxing, wrestling, sailing, and rowing.
There were more sailor athletes than there were athleti c fields to play
LIFE ON T H E OKLAHO/\IA 19
011 , and the organ izatio n a11d 1 £ r�e ino- of fl et athl tic conte t took
the ft1ll time of on liet1t 11a11 t a11d a m 11 ar1ny of volt1n t r officia l .
To keep th tea1n f1-om t11 larger 11i p f1-on1 dominating all com
petitio n , the battl li.ips and tl1 large ca1Ti rs Saratoga and Lexington
were put i n a leagL1e of th i i- OWll. . The an11t1al rhytl1m of competition
among tl1e team i�ai d b tl1 hip ' a e traord ina1J'. The athleti c
ear bega11 V\ritl1 1-0V\ring rac 11 Id in San Francisco and in Puget Sound.
While those were takir1g plac preparatio11s were begu 11 for football
ea 011 at Sa11 P dro Califo1nia. These inclt1ded i-eadyi11g the fields and
training the official ' ho ' e 1-e officers who had played football. After
football eason e11ded boxing a11d wrestli11g contests began held usu
ally i11 the YMCA at San Pedro. Then came the sailing competitions,
one of which allowed the crews to use whatever set of sails their small
boats could bear including, according to one witness, "ballooners, spin
n aker gen oajib a11d kysail that reached to the heavens.'' 4 Then there
were vvimming and basketball co11 tests. All told, there were twenty-seven
events for the crews of the battleships and the two big aircraft carriers.
But there wa one catch not enough sailors were competing. The
' hole poin t to expanding athletic even ts was to draw i n as many
enlisted ailors as possible, but the focus on the major contests between
ship crews had the effect of almost eliminating intraship competi
tion. Abou t 20 percen t of the sailors made up the regulars of the ship-
s.-ship contests. The other 80 percent were spectators a11 d bettors.
And the bettors wanted sharp referees, umpires, andjudges. Too much
m oney rode on these contests to allow a match or game to be lost
because the officiating was amateurish, but the navy did not want to
h ire officials from civi l ian l ife.
Some admirals tried to broaden the base of competition. In 1 934,
for example, Vice Admiral T. T. Craven ordered the major ships, then
anchored i n Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to draft almost all their crews
i n to a maj o r rowing and sailing regatta. The resul ts were a social suc
cess, if i1ot an athletic one. One of battleshi p Mississippi's rowing crews
dressed as p i rates i n an effort to spice up their event. Another rowing
c rew lost control of their boat and plowed s traight i n to the side of West
Virginia. A witness noted that " the big ship weathered the impact in
grand style. Not so the motor launc h . " 5
So much for organized athletics. There were other diversions for
sailors, i ncluding the time-honored games of pinochle and acey-deucey
20 BATTLE S H I P OKLAHOMA
on hip, and pool a hor . After Oklah oma and most of the battle shi ps
wer ent to the West Coa t, there was a real need for safe places for
sailors to congregate. In the early 1 920s, the chief petty officers in the
fleet gathered en ough con tributions for a large club with a gymn asium
and dorrnitory in San Pedro. The YMCA also built its own facility there.
Fi nally, there were dance ho ted by the different hips ometimes
aboard ship and sometime a hore. I n the pring of 1 922, Mississippi
hosted almost two thou and revelers for dancing, amateur singing con-
tests, and stage acts.
Several clever names for dances were coined at battleshi p Idaho's
first an n ual ball, l1eld at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. One
fox trot, in honor of the ship's navigator, was called "She's a B-a-a-d
Kitty. " The fox trot dedicated to the ship's mari nes was enti tled "First
i n What? Chow ! " while the waltz for the aviatio n officers was ever
up in the Air." The "Chow Card" carried on the fun , with ' Salad a la
Sea Gull," ''Lettuce Have Peace," ''I rish Plums," ''Kelp a la Shark, ' ''Ring
Buoys," 'Ja-Moch, " ''Red Shellac," ''Paralyzed Milk," and ''Pipe Down
Four to Eight Bells." It was all part of the Roaring Twenties.
BATTLE S H I P H EALTH AND SAFETY
Life o n the Oklaho1na was n ot all fun and games, of course. Infectious
diseases were a serious threat to sailors before the development of
antibiotics. Influenza killed six Oklahonia crewm e n duri n g World War
I and struck the ship i n a major way again in Jt1ly 1 932. But i nfluenza
was not the only killer that stalked Oklahoma's crew. Spinal meningi
tis, scarlet fever, mumps, measles, and d iphtheria also th reatened ships
because they were so contagious. Sailors stricken with these diseases
had to be identified and isolated quickly, befo re the illness could
spread. Americans do not q uarantin e the victims of most infectious
diseases today, but public healtl1 officials duri ng World War I and after
had few other weapo11s agai nst rapidly spreading diseases.
Routine work aboard ship could also be hazardous. There was always
the danger of being swept overboard or knocked down by heavy seas .
Ships are also notoriously hard, even big and steady ones like
Oklahoma. If you didn't crack your head going through a watertight
door, you ran the risk of barking your shi n . And there was worse tha11
that sometimes much worse. On August 1 6, 1 925, a sailor was killed
L I FE 0 THE OKL4HO L-1 21
when a l 4-i11ch gt111 i 11 tt1rr t 1 lid ba k i11t th gu n pit wh n all tl1r

gun '!\T re ele,1at d. Tl1 �t111 wa" uppo d t hav b i1 h ld in plac
b it cou11 ter-1- c il h rd1- t1li bt1t a l ak i11 tl1 l1yd1-at 1lic line cat1 ed
the ixty-three-to11 gt1 11 to i-l 1 . 11 011e of tl1 gt111 11ers a11d everely i nj ure
�
another.
I 11 Ja11ua11r 1 926 there '''a a11 ther gt1 11 accide11t. navy er tary
C t1rti \t\ ilbt11- tat d i11 l1i a1111t1al report on of Oklaho1na's 3-inch a11 ti
aircraft gun had mi fi1-ed. The gun captain opened the breec l1 of the
gu11 without ' aiti11g fo1- fu rtl1 er attempt to be made to fire the gun
or for the 30 n1i11t1t 1- qt1i1-ed b the afety 1·egulations. ''6 The cartridge
ca e the11 explod d e\ er l)' inj t1 ri11 g two member of the gun crew.
Gt1n crews al o had IlO official protection for their ears even against
the great blast 'vave created by the firing of the l 4-i11ch main guns.
The r1av;1 tried to redt1ce inj u ries aboard ship. I n 1 926, for exam
ple folding bunk \Vere · fitted 011 an experimental ba is to Oklahoma
and Califo rn ia in a11 effo1-t to determine i f the men using them slept
better and were le l i kely to fall out of them than ot1t of tl1e standard
hammocks. Na\)' ph)' icians al o worried about diet, and about how
to be t to sen1e food fresh and hot. Experiments V\rith cafeterias started
i n 1 9 1 though what \vas called a cafe teria system " was 11ot widespread
in the fleet until the late 1 930s.
A well-mea ning Congre s often did not help. Early in the twentieth
century Congre had encour aged the navy to serve sailors " I rish pota
toe As a result, the navy req 11ired that almost three-fo urths of all
.
fresh vegeta bles served onboa rd be I rish potato es. As the navy's sur
geon general point ed out in 1 926, that mean t sailors were not gettin g
e nou gh green veget able . They were also not receiving adeq uate
amou nts of milk a11d fruit. But they were wolfin g down the calorie s
over 4 600 per day per man aboa rd ship . For man y sailo rs, this high
calo rie ratio n was nece ssary. Som e were still growi11g boy . Many had
stre nuo us physica l wor k to per form .
The medical p roblems that got the m ost attention were the vene
real diseases, especially gon orrhea and syphilis. The p revalence of
venereal disease was not talked about openly u n til the 1 920s, but it
was a serious m atter. I n 1 926 for example, more than 1 2 percent of
all n avy person nel were diagnosed as having a venereal disease.
Battleship Mary land's medical officer reported that the pri mary source
o f venereal infections o n h is ship was the area around the Puge t Sound
•
Navy Yard, i11c luding the n otorious Boston Club in Seattle. Other med
ical officers pointed to San Francisco as the liberty port where sailors
most frequen tly became infected.
As the navy's surgeon ge neral reported, "the venereal disease admis
sion rate in 1 93 1 was 1 36.79 per 1 ,000 of total person nel . A total of
1 5,425 admissions a11d 2 1 7,535 sick days were reported'' for a force of
79, 700 men in the navy. 7 It was hard for ailors especially youn g
sailors to avoid coming into contact with infected female . Desperate
arid poor prostitutes wai ted for sailors i n every major liberty port. I n
San Diego, for example, the lifting of Prohibition allowed what had
been an underground trade i n alcohol to flourish openly, from places
like the Fleet Cafe and the Bay City Grill on Broadway to Big Boy's,
Bohemian Grill along Third Street. The shore patrol was there to
break up fights and calm down young men who could not manage the
nickel beer they drank, but sailors with enough money col.1 ld usually
find a girl who wanted it with the all-too-often i ne,ritable resul t. Yet
the prime killer of young sailors after 1 930 was not disease or drown
i n g at sea; it was the automobile combined with alcohol, a devastating
combination even today. The life of a U .S . Navy sailor could be more
dangerous on land than at sea. 8
CHAPTER 3
Oklahoma 's First Mission
I n February 1 9 1 7 Germany adopted a poli cy of unrestricted sub

marine warfare o n the B ri tish Isles. U nder this policy, a11y ship found
i n Britisl1 'vaters regardless of i ts natio11ality, would be subjec t to
attack. Shortly thereafter, B 1itish intelligence i n tercepted a telegram
authored by Arthur Zimmerm an n , the German foreign secretary.
I n tended for the Germa11 ambassador to Mexico, Count Johann
Heinrich von Bernstorff, the telegram proposed that Mexico join
Germany i n a war against the U n i ted States . If U . S. troops were
engaged i n the defense of her southern border, there would be fewer
troops to send to Europe to figh t. In return , Mexico was promised the
lands she had lost to the U n i ted States in the Mexican War of 1 846-
48: Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Primarily as a result of these
two eve n ts, the U n i ted States declared war on Germany on April 6,
1 9 1 7, providing Bri tain and F1�ance with a long-needed ally.
Unfortu11 ately, there would be no immediate avenue of participa
tion for Oklahoma. The British could not accommodate the new oil
burning U . S. battleships because their· oil supply had dwindled due to
the successes of German submarines i n tl1e Mediterranean. Only the
older, coal-burning battleships were sent abroad. Oklahoma would
spend the ensuing months at various i1avy yards wl1ile the three other
oil-burning battleships, Nevada, Arizona) and Pennsy lvan ia spent the
,
period as training platforms along the eastern seaboard.

Oklahoma would also undergo her first refit. Because Germany was
becoming increasingly dependen t on airships and seaplanes for naval
reconnaissance, a pair of 3-inch/50-caliber antiaircraft (AA) gu11s were
installed i n the Oklahoma's superstructure just forward of the main
mast. I n addition, nine of the ship's 5-inch/5 1 -caliber broadside guns
23
24 BATTLE H I P OK.LAHOMA
w re rem oved bec at1se of po · i tion i11g problem s. Wh ile the two forward
gun wer limi nat c l beca t1. th y were pron e to floo ding , the even
gt1 n aft, incl� 1ding th
· ting r'' in the t rn , wer r mov ed due to
limited field s of fi1- a a resu lt of their po ition ing n ear the wate rline .
Two of th 5-inc h/5 1 -calib r gt111 were remo unte d on the deck alon g-
ide the conning tow r.
I RE LAN D
In the u1n mer of 1 9 1 8, Oklaliomct wa finally di patched to Europe

along with Nevada and Utah. The three composed Battleship Divi ion
Six (BatDivSix) , commanded by Rear Admiral Thomas S. Rodgers.
Oklahoma and Nevada departed together on Augu t 1 3. Ten day later,
they rendezvoused with destroyers Balch, Conyngha m, Downes, Kimberly,
Allen, and Sampson approximately 275 mile west of I reland. Racing
east at twenty knots, the ships dropped anchor in Bereha\re11 Harbor,
located on the northern shore of Bantry Bay. It would be another eight
een days before Utah arrived.
Though the division 's mission was to protect U.S. convoys from attack
by German cruisers, it spent most of its time at anchorage. Only once
during the eighty day Oklahoma wa in the vvar zo11e did she e11 ture
out of the harbor. Under the command of Captain Charles B.- McVay,
Jr., she departed on October 1 4 with Nevada and Utah to escort troop
ships into England, a missio11 that wo11ld la t 011ly tvvo days. The maj or
ity of the time was spent drilli ng. With the e ception of a gunnery exer
cise conducted in Ban try Bay, the Oklahonia' d1ills were conducted while
the ship was still at anchor. As one might expect, boredom ran ram
pant. In an effort to comba t i t, recrea tional parties were sent ashore to
Bere Island, where a YMCA was being construc ted a11d to nei ghbori ng
Castletown . Athletic was a11oth er form of recre ation parti cular ly foot
ball and sailing . The Oklahoma's saili11g team defea ted the Nevada and
Utah team on September 1 8 , and the crowning moment of the football
season was a 7-6 win over Utali on November 1 9.
As it turned out, the division 's greatest foe would be disease. During
the fall of 1 9 1 8, more than 2 1 million people would succumb to a world
wide flu virus. BatDivSix was equally hard l1it. Between October 2 1 and
November 2, Oklahoma would lose six crewrnembers, including
Commander Gardner L. Caskey, a gunnery officer who had graduated
at the top of his class from the Naval Academy i n 1 907. A memorial serv-
•
25
ice wa on du cte d fo1- cl1 11 Oklaho.,1ia' qt1 rt rd k. To l10 11o r the

•
m n th fla g of t11e 11ip i11 tl1 11ar bo r w i�e low r d to hal f-mast for
thi rty mi nu te . Fo llowing a h rvic e, the shrou ded body was taken to
th U . . na al ho pit.al t Qu n town for ev ntu al tran spo rtation to the
U nite d tat . Th cau of d ath was gen era lly liste d as pne um oni a. 1
t app ro"'� i1na t 1 1 9 : 00 i11 t11 mo rni11g on N,ov emb er 1 1 , 1 9 1 8,
Okla l1011z a i-ec iv d a i-ad io bro adc ast ann oun ci11g tl1at the Alli es and
G rma n had ag1-e d to a11 ar111 i tice, and that tl1e war wou ld offic ially
end at 1 1 :00 A . � I . the a1n da . Te11 days later, the Briti sh Gran d Flee t
ace pted th urren d i- of the Germ an High Sea Fleet . Align ed in
two parall el colum 11 ach nea1-Iy ten miles 1011g, the B1-itish fleet sur
rot1nd ed the Ger1n an fleet i r1 the North Sea. The Germ an warsh ips
were ther1 e carted to the easter1 1 coast of Scotlan d, 'vhere they were
a11cho1- ed i 11 capti,rit)' at the Firth of Forth .
Thourrh the America1 1 i11 Bantry Bay greeted the news of the
German defeat with great exuberance , i t had quite the opposite effect
among the members of Sin n Fei n , an I rish political faction that advo
cated independence from England a cause th at would probably have
beer1 advanced if the Germans had won . Becat1se the Americans had
been allied ''rith the Engli h the American ailors were 11ot well
received as their po twar liberty excursions extended eastward into the
county of Cork. I n one particular incident, a gang of Sin n Feiners
challenge d a group of Oklahoma ailors going ashore for liberty. As the
ailors disembar ked onto a dock, the gang attacked them. The
on laugh t backed the unsu pecting sailo1-s toward the end of the dock,
where severa l fell off and nearly drown ed in the frigid water s.
Later the same day, a econd altercation occurred in the city of Cork.
I n a melee that took place in a re taurant, the ailors took vengeance
with their fists. Though no one was killed, the restauran t was nearly
de troyed. When Admiral Rodger learned of the incident, he ordered
h is sailors to pass a hat. After a ufficient amount of money was gath
ered, the admiral p resented the funds to the mayor as compensation.
Fortunately, there were no further incidents.
E N D OF T H E GREAT WAR
On N ovember 26, Oklahoma departed for Portland, England, with

the Uta li. She would be j oined there by Arizona on Novem ber 30,
Nevada o n December 4, and by the five BatDivNine battleships on
Dece mbe r 5 . A week later the entire cont inge n t depa rted Port lan d
for a r,end ezvot 1 in the Engl i h hann 1 with the battle hip Penn
sylva1ii a and the trans port hip George Wa hingt on. Sight ing the two
ships on the morn ing of Decem ber 1 3, Oklah oma's crew mann ed the
railings to greet the George Washington' e teemed pa e nger, Presiden t
Wood row Wilso n . Following a twen ty-o ne-gu n alute , the pre ident was
escorte d to Brest, France , where he disembarked to particip ate i n the
Paris Peace Confere nce. Th e followi n g day, Oklahom a departed for the
United States. Arriving i n New York City on Decembe r 26, the sailors
were greeted as conquerin g heroes and quickly took advantage of their
newfound celebrity.
The fate of the German sailors would be quite the opposite.
Transferred to Scapa Flow from the Firth of Forth , they remained
interred on their ships u n til the conclusion of the Paris Peace
Conference. When it was decreed that their ships would be divided
among the victorious Allies, the German ailors decided to scuttle
them. I n a final act of defiance, they l iterally pulled the plugs from the
bottoms of their ships, sinking over fot1r hundred thousand tons o f
modern warships.
Ironically,Japan, who would be Germany's ally in World War I I , ben
efited greatly from the treaty. Fighting alongside the British because
of their 1 902 alliance, Japanese ships had escorted Australian troop
ships across the Pacific and patrolled the Mediterranean, while
Japanese troops captured the German bastion at Tsingtao, China. As
a result, Japan received Germany's Pacific Ocean possessions: the
Marshal l , Caroline, Mariana, and Palau Islands.
Japan's ascension as a Far East power would be prompted further
by the publication of a poli tical manifesto in 1 923 Written by Japanese
revolutionary Ikki Kita, An Outline Plan for the Reorganization ofJapan
proposed a Japanese hegemony of the Far East that would even tually
lead to hakko ichiu, the hegemony of the world . Though the Japanese
gove1�nment tried to suppress i t , it received widespread c irculati o n .
Ten years later, i ts doctrines would have a marked i nfluence on the
officer corps of the Japa11ese military, particularly i ts youngest mem
bers, s tarting a decade of i ncreasingly military-dominated rule that
would come to be known as a "government by assassination."
•
CHAPTER 4
The Great Cruise and Modernization
I n the pring of 1 9 1 9, the U .S. Fleet was divided to form two autonomous
units. While Oklahoma, Nevada, Pe1insylvania, and Arizona remained on
the East Coast with the Atlantic Fleet, the newly commissioned battle
ships Mississippi, New Mexico, and Idaho would form the nucleus of a new
Pacific Fleet. Comma11ded by Ad1niral H t1gh Rodham, the Pacific Fleet
battleships would be based i n San Pedro, California.
That same year Oklahoma was equipped with flying-off platforms
atop turrets 2 and 3 . Though the biplanes tl1ey launched would give
the ship n ewfound reconnaissance capabilities, the set-up was rather
awkward because the planes could be launched but not retrieved.
During another refit in 1 92 1 , six more 3-inch/50-caliber AA guns were
added, bringing the ship's total complement to eight. When the refit
was completed, Oklahoma transited the Panama Canal to join the
Pacific Fleet for exercises. Officially transferred to the fleet a short time
later, she would subsequently undergo a West Coast refit at the Puge t
Sound Navy Yard i n Bremerton, Washington. She would eme1�ge i n
1 922 with a true air arm. Replacing her obsolescen t flying-off platforms
and one-way biplanes was a quarterdeck-mounted compressed-air cat
apult, a Vought VE-7H seaplane, and a crane to retrieve it. The ques
tion was , would sh1e remain i n commission long enough to use them?
WASH I N GTON NAVAL TREATY
Though the world was officially at peace, it was a thinly veiled veneer.
The Great War i n Europe, penned as "the war to end all wars," had
resulted in quite the opposite. I nstead of vying for peace, the world's
five m aj or p owers the U n i ted States, Britain, France, Japan, and
27
2 BATTLE H I P
•
OKLA HO fA
I taly wer emb arlzi ng on a ma . ive arm . rac e . As a resu lt, whe n
Wa1-re n G. H arding b cam pre ide n t in Mar ch 1 92 1 , he did o with
a man dat . With a pledg e to r tu rn th world to norm alcy, h tasked
his ecr tary of tat , Char l Evan Hugh . , to co11vene an inter· na
tional confe renc wi th th pt1rpo of di armin g th world ' maj o r
i1avies . The con£ 1- nee wa i11deed conve ned, r ulting in the
Wa h i n gto11 Naval Treaty of 1 922. Signed by France , Bri tain , I taly,
Japan , and the U n i ted State , the treaty placed a t n-year ban on the
constructio11 of new battleship and establi hed a ceiling for tho e that
existed, requi1ing that a great many be removed from ervice.
The effect 011 the U . S. battleship ro ter was dramatic at lea t
numerically. Of the forty-five battleshi ps on the U . S. N aval Ve el
Register seventeen were crapped one became a crane h i p one
became a museum, one became a floating barrack , one wa decom
missio11ed, two were sold to Greece, and ix became target hip . Of
the nine U .S. battleships either t1nder construction or planned for con
struction, only two would be completed Colorado and West Virgjnia.
When they were commissioned, the battle hip ro ter vvould con i t of
twelve oil-powered battleships and six coal-powe red battlesh ip .
Fortunately, the eigh teen were con iderably more powerful than the
ships that were lo t, resulti n g in minimal change to the 0\1erall fire
power of the battleship force .
I n general , the U ni ted States benefite d a great deal from the treaty
because monies previou sly allocate d for operati o n and mai11ten ance
could now be investe d in aviatio n and subma rines. 1 Japan h ad a totally
diffe rent perspe ctive, however, becau se of the i 11equity of the 5:5:3 ton
nage ratio assign ed respe ctivel y to the U ni ted State , B 1itain , and
Jap an . I t was not until the U 11ited States agree d not to furth er fortify
her Pacific bases we t of Hawa ii, and Brita i n agree d to the ame for
her base s east of Singapore , that the Japa nese gove rnm ent fi nally ca pit
ulate d muc h to the disd ain of her mili tary, who felt the disp ropo r
tion ate ratio was ju t ano ther exam ple of Ang lo ethn ocen trici ty. 2 The
U.S . I mm igra tion Act of 1 924 heig hten ed that beli ef. Sign ed into law
by Calvin Coo lidge , the act effe ctiv ely barred the Jap ane se fro m i m m i
gratin g i 11to the U 11ite d Sta te . Th e dis crim ina tory fer vor the law cre
ated was so i n ten se tha t the Jap ane se govern me nt dec lare d May 26,
1 924 the dat e the law bec am e effe ctiv e as a Day of Na tio nal
Hu mil iati on .
T H E G REA T C R U I E A N D M O D �� R IZ TION 29
T H E G REAT C RU I SE
By 1 925 i 'tee n of the igh t n U .S. bat tle hip s were assi gne d to the
Pac ific Fle t. Th i i- prin1ar dt1t ie co11 siste d of man eu'1ers off the
coa stal i land s of ot1t l1e1� 11 Cali forn ia and "flower shoV\r" forays to var
iot1 por ts alon g the west er 11 eabo ard. Con ceiv ed as pt1b lic rela tion s
venu e allowing ci,ril ia11s a hand s-011 view of the fleet 's sl1 i ps,, the shows
'"'ere a rot1 ing ucc . Re ple11 dent with tours and assor ted mixe rs,
the did a gi-eat deal to enha 11ce the publi c's perce ption of i ts navy. I n
April 1 925 the sho'"' '"'as take11 abroa d.
Similar i I1 cope to the voyage of the Great White Fleet in 1 907, the
i 11tent of the Great C1-uise of 1 925 was to display the long-ran ge capa
bilitie of the U . S . Navy. Comprisi 11 g three battleship divisions and sup
portin g crt1i er and de troyers, the cruise garnered considerabl e
good,,vill i n the outhwest Pacific i n addition to providing a broad
scope of e perience .
After rendezvousir1g in San Francisco, twelve battleships set sail on
April 1 5 1 925. Arriving i n the Hawaiian Islands twelve days later, they
conducted war games until July 1 , when they departed for Samoa.
Following the departure of Arizona fo1- the mainland in June, the bat
tle hip conti ngen t 'iVas set at eleven : Oklahoma, Nevada, Pennsylvania,
Colorado Maryland, West Virgin ia, New Mexico, Idaho, Mississippi, Tennessee,
and California) which served as the battle force flagship . Comma nding
the fleet wa Admiral Rober t E. Coo n tz. His flagshi p was the cruiser
Seattk. Following an age-ol d traditi on , the fleet came to a stands till on
July 6, when i t cross ed the Equa tor. I t was time to initia te the polly
wogs those who had neve r cros sed befo re.
Acco rdin g to the Okla homa 's deck logs , His Maje sty Nep tunu s Rex,
his con sort , and h is cou rt were sigh ted a thou sand yards dead ahea d
at 7:55 A . M . Ten m i nute s late r, the engines were stop ped and His
Maj esty cam e abo ard . At 8:0 7 A . M . Cap tain Wil lis Mc Dowell reli n-
quished his comm and.
Kee pin g with trad itio n , Kin g Ne ptu ne con ven ed his cou rt, and the
hap less po llywogs were trie d for bei ng pol lywogs. Attired in the app ro
pri ate garb--wh ate ver was ha ndy Kin g Ne ptu ne and his j udges read
the ch arg es an d dis pe nse d a un an im ou s ver dic t: Gu ilty. Th e po llywogs
wou ld be pu nis he d. A ma ke shi ft swi mm ing po ol an d can vas tun ne l ha d
be en co ns tru cte d. Be cau se the po llyw og s we re alr ead y sea ted alo ng sid e
•
pool , tl1 e trans ition from trial to punish men t was imm ediat e. Thei r faces
were mear d wi th gr ase; th n th y were tippe d ov r backwards into
the pool. Awai tir1g th m wer bear veter an of prior equa tor cross
ing who clubbed them with cloth malle ts as they attem pted to escap e.
011ce fre of the pool, the pol lywog were greete d by the devil, a bear
with a blt1nt-t ipped pi tchfork that was electri cally charge d wi th a hand
cranked ge11erat or. After being zapped in th buttock s, they were forced
into a three-foo t-diameter canvas tt1nnel filled a concoct ion of flour and
mashed potatoes. Their initiation was not complete until they reached
tl1e tunnel' end, which generally took a while. The fe tivities con urned
the better part of a day the cleanup, a little longer.
After arriving i11 Samoa 011 July 1 0, the fleet anc hored at the U . S.
Navy fueling facility in Pago Pago. Samoa would p rove an interesting
cultt1ral experience for Oklahoma's sailors because there was no cur
rency, and the wome11 wen t topless. The island was void of any vene
real diseases, so any sailor being treated for a sexual malady was
confined to the shi p .
I nstead of currency, the island's commerce was ba ed o n bartering.
The items most coveted by the sailors we re Samoan war clubs and grass
skirts, while those most coveted by the natives were navy-issue under
garments . Trading was rigorous and without bias because there was
no requi rement for proof of ownership. I n fact, one sailor was wel
comed ashore by a woman wearing one of his shirts.
Followi ng i ts departure for Australia, the fleet split up on July 2 1 .
While m ost of the fleet voyag ed to Sydney, Oklah oma, Nevada)
Pennsy lva1iia) and the cruise r Seattle travel ed to Melbo urne. The mer
rime nt bega n soon after the ships dock ed at Pri n c e s Pier. Beca L1se
the pop ulat ion of you ng Aus trali an mal es had bee n seve rely dep lete d
duri ng the Great War in Euro pe, the civil ian pop ulac e was abu nda ntly
fem ale. The sailo rs dise mba rkin g onto the pier wer e gree ted not only
by an incredib le array of wom en, but also by fath ers seek in g suitors
for the ir dau ghters . It was qui te the gal a eve nt des pite i t occ urr ing in
the m idd le of the Au stra lian win ter. A l unc heo n hel d for loc al dig ni
tari es abo ard the Pennsylva nia l aste d wel l into the eve nin g bec aus e the
atte nde es enj oyed the res pite from the col d provid ed by the shi p's cen
tral heati ng system.
For the sailors, there was a different sort of warmth . Ame rica was i n
the midst of Proh ibition , so the Melbourne pubs provi ded m any
..
T H E G REA T C R U I S E A N D M O D E R N I Z AT I O N
31
Ok lah om a c rewme n the ir fi.1 st e rpe ri nee witl1 alco hol . Sele ctio n was
qui te ea y for the i10, rice s bec aus e the p11b wal ls spo rted pic tu re adver
tise me nts for the pub con coc tion s. For tho se enj oyin g the new adven
tL1re , asso rted sch e111e were dev ised to s1nu ggle so1n e of the bot tled
vers ior1s abo ard hip.
Beca use the At1 tr alia1 1s were such grac ious and fu11-lovin g hosts,
Adin iral Coo ntz decid ed to reward then 1 with a farewell party. Conc eived
as a11 in,rit ation -only da11c e with a speci fic allot men t of ticke ts, the even t,
which was well publi cized quickly escala ted into much more . Though
local police men were positi oned as ticket takers along side each ship,
they could do little to quell the thro11gs of partygo ers, particu larly the
inany "Without tickets. Navy personn el made further attempts to stop
them as they raced up the gangways, but thei r n umbers were simply
overwhelming.
Needless to say the party was a rousing success. When the music
ended at midnigl1 t , the guests, both i nvited and u ni nvited, milled
grateful! to,vard the gangways. The fol lowing day, Oklahoma was the
talk of the town.
OVERHAUL
Following a fora)' to New Zealand, the fleet headed east for home.
I n early 1 92 7 Oklahoma transited the Panama Canal to join tl1e
Scoutin g Fleet on the East Coast. I n September she entered tl1e
Philadelphia Naval Yard for a two-year modernization. The changes
would be dramati c .
Gone were the cage masts. Replacing them were tripod masts with
three-story fire-control tops. The upper deck was extended aft to the
mai11 m as t, and a deck.house was built atop it. The deck.house had five
casemates along both sides with a galley i n between. Lined with teak
wood planki ng, the top of the deck.house became the superstructure
deck. Because the ship 's boats were stored there, i t was commonly
known as the boat deck.
When the deckhouse was completed, the 5-inch/ 5 1-caliber broadside
guns were removed from the hull. Ten were reinstalled inside the deck
house casemates, and four were mounted forward on the boat deck.
Also removed were the ship's four torpedo tubes and the eight 3-inch/
50-caliber AA guns, which were replaced with eight 5-inch/ 25-caliber
2 BATTLE HIP OKLAHOMA
AA gun s and a n w aimi ng devi c calle d a dire cto r, an elec trom echa n
ical d vie that took into a unt t1ch variabl a wind peed and direc
tio11 of trav I to d t rmin wher the gt1n · shou ld be poin t d.
The guns wer in tailed on th boat de k, the direc tor at the rear
of the rang -find r platfo rm . For hort-range AA d fen , igh t .50-
caliber machine guns wer n1 ounted in gun tub atop the masts , four
in th for mast and fot1r ir1 the main ma. t. To incr a e th rang of
the l 4-incl1/ 45-cali ber inain gun , their maxi mum elevati on was rai ed
from 1 5 to 30 degrees . In additio n , two inche of pecial treatme nt
teel was overlaid on the ar1nor deck, and a catapult wa in talled atop
turret 3.
Perhaps the most startling change was tl1e addition of an titorpedo
bli ters . Forming an extended hull along most of the ship length ,
the blister provided added protectio n to each ide of the hip fro m
the second deck down . Welded to the hull where it tur11 ed inV\rard
toward the keel , each bli ter wa ix feet ix inche \vide belovv the
waterline, tapering to about a three-foot width at th e thi rd deck level.
From there it rose vertically to the level of the econd deck. 'vhere it
was capped , creating a three-foot-wide ledge along it length.
The purpose of the bli ters was to absorb the energy of a torpedo
explosion. When a torpedo hit the blister the energy of the explo ion
could vent i tself in the open spaces between the blister s wall and the
hull, which in theory would ininimize the damage to the hull i tself. To
isolate the zone of destruction of a potential torpedo hit, the bli ter
was constrt1cted as a matrix of four-foot-wi de co1n partm e n ts. A ide
benefit was the enlarge ment of the ship' waterpl ane area, which
increas ed her stability. For cleanin g and main tenanc e, the bli ter
cot1ld be access ed via manh oles in the ledge .
When her mode rn ization wa comp leted, Oklah oma becam e the
widest sl1 i p i 11 the navy, witl1 a beam of nearly 1 08 feet, till narrow
eno ugh to allow pas age thr ough the locl( of the Panam a Cana l. The
assoc iated increa e in weigh t redl.1 ced her top speed fro1n 20.5 knots
to 1 9. 68 knot s. She depa rted Phila delp hia in Augu st 1 929 , ven turin g
sot1t h i n to the Cari bbea n for a hake dow n cruis e. I n June 1 930 she
rej oine d the Paci fic Flee t i n San Ped ro, whe re she was assig ned to
BatD ivOn e alo1 1g with Nevada and Texas.
On July 1 1 , 1 93 1 , the Oklahoma's officers' roster would be aug
mented by the ar1ival of one of the youngest ensigns of the modern
33
ra twe11 t ,_ ear-old Johr1 id11 )' �1c i11 J r. F1� 11 ot1t of the Naval
cad n1 ot1110- M ai11 "''o t1ld '' i1tt1ally b con1e a fot1 1--, tar admi-
ral, a 'VOllld 11 i f tl1 r J 11 11 Sidr1 McCain s1�. Th y WOllld b th
fi 1- t fat l1 i- and 011 d1ni1� 1 3
i11 t l1 h i tOl)' of th U.S. Navy. McCain ,
J i-. a11d otl1 r ailo1- i1 tl1 Oklali o11ia '�ould find thei1- car rs pt1t on
l1old beC'1 ll e f a11 \re 11 t that left much of tl1e nation desti tu te
i11clt1di11g the '1e1-11 m 11 t i elf.
o-
..
C HAPTER 5
Earthquakes, Refu gees, and War
In 1 929 tl1e United States was a primary importer of Japanese goods.

But when the United States curtailed its imports following the Wall
Street crash in Octob,er, tl1e Japanese yen plummeted, creating a state
of economic rui11 that undermined the civilia11-controlled govern ment
and allowed the militarists a toehold. Trumpeting the Great Depression
as a natural by-product of capitalism, the Japanese militarists sought an
economic solution based on expansion. Following the explosion of an
alleged bomb beneath the tracks of the South Manchurian Railway
which Japan had received as an indemnity at the conclu ion of the Russo-
Japanese Wai- of 1 904-1 905, aJapanese army i nvaded Manchuria i 11 the
fall of 1 93 1 . Following an official condemnation by the League of
Nations in 1 932 ,Japan withdrew from the league a11d, i n effect, the inter
national comn1unity. The military's ascension to power would be fur
ther solidified on May 1 5 , 1 932, when a group of young naval officers
and army cadets assassinated two of the most influential members of
the civilian government, Prime Mini te1- Tsuyo hi I nukai and Fi11ance
Mi11ister Junnosuke I n ouye.
OKLAHOMA TO THE RESCUE
While the G1-eat Depression gave impetus to the Japanese military,

i t l1ad the opposite effect on the milita1-y of the U n i ted S tates. Because
of a lack of funds for maintenance and operations, U .S. warships spent
an inordi nate amot111 t of time in port. As a result, Oklahoma was i n San
Pedro wh en a series of earthquakes struck Souther11 California on
March 1 0, 1 933. The effects were most pronounced in nearby Long
Beach, where fifty-one people were killed.
34
E RT H QU KE , REFU E.. E 35
Th ou gh no major bu ildi no- top pl d , t her wa a gr at dea l of dam

age . Bu in e wit h bro k n tor fro n t oon b m the targ ts of
loo ter . Wi th th fall of dar kn s the loo ting bec am e so wid esp rea d
that local polic cou ld not con trol it. Fort una tely, the navy was avai l
able to hel p. U 11 olic ited Adn1 i r al Ric har· d H . Leig h, tl1e com man der
of th Pa ific Fl t di patc h d his men to i-end er aid . With in hours,
e e ral thot 1san d n1ar ine and sailo rs were en rot1t e, inclu ding 1 07
from the 01?-la honia . Tl1ei r pre ence ste1n 1ned the flow of looti ng almo st
i mme diat 1 St1b, eque ntl th y reliev ed local fi 1�e , polic e , and med
�.
ical per 011 11e l , i1ablin g them to perfor m the more i11ti1na te details
of th ir dt1ties.
Th hips al o became reft1ges for the fleet's navy and inarine
depen de11 ts l i,ring a hore. Making their way to the Pico Street Navy
Landin g tl1e wives al)d children of the fleet were ferried to the appro
p 1iate hip for safekeeping. Soon , washings were hung out to dry, and
h ipboard sailor became p1�oficient in mixing baby formulas and
bab sitting '\\rhile their shipmates were ashore rendering aid. The navy
maintained patrols for twelve days. Crewmen from the Oklahoma would
aid the public again i n August. While dry-docked in Bremerto n ,
Washington, fifty members of her fire and rescue crew were dispatched
into the city to help extinguish a fire at the Loftus Lumbe1- Company.
On February 1 1 , 1 935, Oklahoma departed Sa11 Pedro with nine
other battleships to conduct a series of tactics while en route to San
Franci co. The fol lowing afternoo11 , the hips i-eceived word that the
airship USS Macon had gon e down off Point Sur. Within ai1 l1our, the
battleships we re at the p resumed crash site. After searching for nearly
seven hour without result the hips resumed their voyage. Later, word
was received that eighty-on e members of Macon's crew had been res
cued, and that two had perished. 1 Among the survivo1�s was the air
ship 's executive officer, Lieutenant Com mander Jesse L. Kenwo1�thy,
J r. Reassigned to the Oklahoma some five years later, he would be i n
comman d of the ship on the morning of December 7, 1 94 1 . 2
CONFLICT I N E U ROPE
I n the autu m n of 1 935,Japan withdrew from the 1 922 Wasl1ington

Treaty system when her demands for battleship parity were denied at
a disarmam e n t c o n fe rence held in London. The ratio system was
6
a ba 1 1 d o n e d , and r arm am e n l b gan an w. Th wo rld was gea rin g up

fo1� (l i1 -vv con flic t , and it wot tld ta1't in Eur p .
! 1 1 1 9 36 0/zlrilio rti{t Was el t cl for tl1c Naval A ad my ' Mid hip me n
Cru i alon g with Wyoniing a n d A rka n a . I n J u n e , h mb ark ed 234
' m iddi '
tw of 1 1 m wot 1ld lat r bec on1 er wm emb r,, Fir t
Cla n1an D . L . Joh 11 s o n and Tl1 ird Cla · ·ma n W. K Yar nal l . Th thre
h i p w re in Che rbou rg, Fra n ce, wh n th Spa ni h ( ,ivil War brok
out i11 mid:J uly. The war, wh ich bega n a a Span i h cial tipri ing
qt1ic kly esca lat d into a Euro pean conf lict wh n Germ any and I taly
id d ' ith th atio11 ali t t1nd r Fran ci co Fran co, and Ru ia and
Fra11c e ided with the pro-Con1m t1ni t R publi can . Th confl ict woul d
provid e a provin g grottn d for weapo nry that would be l l ed o n a much
broad i� scale just three year later.
Tl1e U.S. go,rern ment's immed iate concer n wa for the sa£ ty of iu
citizen who were i11 Spain on busine or vacatio n . Whe n the U . S .
con ulate at the besieged city of Bilbao req t1e ted that V\Tar hip be
sen t to rescue them tl1e State Departmen t immediately contacted the
Navy Department. Because Cherbotirg wa fewer t l1 a n six h undred
n1iles from Bilbao, the logical choice was to end one of th e three
''crt1ise" ships. Oklaho'ma was selected becau e she was the largest.
However, l1er departt1re wa delayed becat1 e everal crewrn 11 were
still on leave in Pa1�is. Tl1e Fre11ch were notified, and within a · hort
period, Pari ia11 police we1�e couring the street for American sailor
and marine . I t wottld take th1-ee da to i-otind them t1p.
After tran fe rri ng the mid hipmen to tl1e Wyomi ng, Oklahoma
departed Cherbourg on July 23. She ar1ived at Bilbao the following
nigl1 t, a11choring in the out i- ha1-bor. Short! after midnight, the
American con t1l came aboard '!\Tith tl1e captai11 of the port. Later the
ame i11ornin g Oklahorna embark ed tl1irty pa enger 0 11 ly si teen of
whom were Ai11erica11 . The younge t wa a 0 11 e-1n o n t h-o ld British girl.
Carryi ng only what they co11ld carry, the refuge es were berthe d i n the
hip' j t1nior office r a11d wa1-ra n t office r quart rs.
011J uly 25 Okla hor1ia departed for Santa nder Spair1 . Followi11g a five
hour voyage 11e en1b arke d te11 more pa e11ge 1- i ncluding A . C .
Va q t1ez, a profe sor� at the U .S. Naval Acad emy. Aft er depa rting
Sant ande r earl)' the next morn ing, Oklahoma crui sed to Bayo nne ,
Fran ce, wl1e re the refugees were put a hore. Five hou rs late r, she was
37
bac k i n Bilbao n1b· rkin g r fuo- . B ' l U of a h avy grou nd well ,

the refu o- "\Ver br u ·ht b rd in b a "\V in hair u pen d d from
the t 1·11 c1�a11e.
Dur i11g tl1e foll ,.,ri11g t\1 '"' k Oklalio1na wou ld inak e ano the r . top
at Bilb o ·1 11d 11 at Vi · , a \1.llag n a1- tl1e Port t1g11e e bo1-d r. A
pro,10 ati,, i11cid i1t '''ot1l d o t1r at La ort111 a, a town j u t i1ortl 1 of
Vigo. Am iican 1a1,tha a11d R bert L. Odom were mi iona1-ie i11 La
Coruna for the ev nth-Da Advent ist cl111rcl1 . Tl1e couple l1ad a six-
, a1--0I d 011 a11d I 1�tl1a ,,,.a i1 i11e ino11th p1-egna nt. Whe n tl1e figh t-
i11 g b -a11 Rob i-t 1 ft the fa111il to check on cht11-ch memb r i n the
t1rrot1n d i 11g 'Tillage . While he was gone , a11 officer from the Oklahom a
came b)1 to e\-act1at tl1e fa1nil . Not '!\Tilling to lea,1e wi thot1t her hus
band 1artha refu d. The officer returned some three h ours later,
bt1t Robert 'va till go11e o Martha re pon e was the same.
Shortl)' afte1- Robe rt i-eturned the fami ly was awakened in the mid
dle of the 11ight b, a knock at the door. Robe rt l1ad a11�eady been
a1 re ted e\1eral tim e ar1d he a11 d Martha feared that the Fa ci t were
after 11i 1n again becat1 e the family had failed to display a Fa cist flag
on their balcon;r. Mar·tha convi n ced her husba11 d tl1at it wo11ld be best
for her to a n '"'er and he '�'a ordered to display the flag in1 mediately.
She agreed vvithout argume n t a11d the soldiers departed. Fortunately,
the soldier n ever looked back, becau e the Odoms did not have a
flag o r tl1 e i n te n t to get one. The following morning, their balcony
wa the onl one o n the street 'Wi thout a flag. Fearing ret1ibutio n , wl1 ich
could co t him hi life, Robert hastened to the Am rican con ulate in
Vigo . H e returne d with a huge Americ an flag, a gift the co11 sul l1ad
receive d from the Oklaho ma' captai n, and immed iately draped it over
the rai l i n g of the balcony. Never again would ther be a knock at the
doo r i n the mid dle of the n ight . 3
In gen e ral, the top along the norther 11 coast of Spai n would occur
witho ut incid en t. I t woul d be quite a diffe re11 t tory i n the Span ish
seapo rt that bord ered the Medi terra nean . Mala ga, located 011 the
Med ite rrane an ide of Gibr al tar, was the site of a majo r battl e . The
harb or was o litte red with bod ies that Oklahonia ailo1-s had to push
the m away from the bot tom of the gan gways to bri11g refu gee aboard.
Late r, c rewm emb ers watc hed in disbelief as capt ured Repu bl ican sol
diers were chai ned to the deck of a subm a1in e, the11 take n ot1t to sea
3 BATTLE H I P OKLA HOMA
a11d drowne d. I 11 ano the r inc ide nt, Oklaho ma sail or Howard C. Fre nch
watche d a bip lane dr op a han dhe ld bom b on the Ger man poc ket bat
tl hip Deut chland. The followi ng mor nin g th Deutschland dep arte d.
Fr nch lear ned late r that the war hip had bom bard ed a nea rby city in
retrib1-1tion.
I n total, Oklahoma made six trips at eight different cities over a thirty-
four-day period, embarking 1 79 evacuees including one p regnant
woman . For the fir t time in documen ted hi tory, a baby was born
aboard an American battleship.
FROM CELEBRATION TO T H E BEGI N N I N GS O F WORLD WAR
I n May 1 937 Oklahoma wa dispatched to San Francisco to partici

pate in tl1e events celebrating the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge .
The festivities commenced at noon on May 28 when Pre ident Franklin
D . Roosevelt pressed a telegraph ke)' i 11 the White House, announc
ing the event to the world. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a
number of Oklahoma's sailors marched i n a celebratory parade that
terminated on Market Street the site of a huge par·ty. The gal a event,
attended by tens of thousands, i ncluding a throng of celebrities, was
the crowning event of the day. I t was particularly memorable for many
of the Oklahoma's less inhibited sailors, of which tl1ere we re many,
because it afforded them the opportunity to dance with Gypsy Rose
Lee, the noto1-ious cabaret stripper.
Throughout much of tl1e world the m ood was anything but cele
bratory. In July 1 937, China and Japan became embroiled i n a full-scale
war following an altercation at the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing, China.
Japan would use the incident as a pretext for occupying Beij ing, and
subsequently the entire country. This event, which the League of
Nations condemned, prompted President Roosevelt to send military aid
to the Chinese Natior1alist Army, despite the fact that America was indi
rectly supporti11g the Japa11e e by providing them with oil. When
Roosevelt's efforts became public, the U.S. Senate demanded that the
aid be revoked under the dictums of the Neutrality Act, which prohib
i ted the delivery of arms to bel�igerents regardless of tl1e circumstances.
Yet nothing was done to alter America s export policies out of fear that
deprivingJapa11 of U .S. oil would lead to a direct confron tation. I nstead,
E A RTH QUA KES , R F E D '"' R 39
the U . S . focu d its ffo1·ts 011 dipl o1na cy b)' of£ i-i 11g to n gotia t an
agre eme nt bet\N' e11 Chi 11 i1d jap n a11 of£ r th Japan e refu. d.
On Dece mb 1· 12 1 9 3 7 the U n i t d State s beca me p l1y ically
i nvol ed i n the cor1fl ict wl1en the USS Panay was attac ked by Japa nese
warplane whil cortin g tl1ree Sta11d ard O i l ba1-ges along th e
Yang tze Ri''er nortl1 of a11ki11 g. The u11pr ovoke d attack claim ed the
l i es of three Atner ica11 ailor wound d forty-t h 1-ee ailor and five
civi l ia11 pa se11 ge r set two of t l1 e barges ablaze , and san k Panay.
Lieute 11ant Shigeh aru Mt1 rata spearh eaded the Panay attack wi th a
fl igh t of h igh-le,1el bomber . Four year later, Murata would lead the
torpedo a ault 0 11 Pearl Harbor.
I n March 1 9 38 the U .S . Fleet conducted i ts annual exercises i n
Hawaii. Designated as Fleet Problem XIX, the exercises had provoca
ti e i-e ult . E' ading the egment of the fleet defendi 11g Hawaii, the
aircraft carrier Saratoga was able to sweep i n undetected from the
northwe t to lau11 c l1 her planes in a mock bombing raid on Pearl
H arbor. Becau e the attacking force had utilized a weather front to
conceal i ts advance , the significance of the event was not trumpeted
as loudly as it might have been otherwise. Hitler's advances into At1stria
on March 1 2 ove rshadowed it as well. The year would end with Japan
and Chi11a involved in an undeclared war, and with Germany firmly
entre nched i n the Sudeten land of Czechoslovakia.
By August 1 9 39, Russia and Japan were embroiled i n a vicious bat
tle at omonhan, a village on the Siberia-Ma nchuria border, and
Germa11 y was m assing an army along i ts border with Poland. By
Septe mber 1 , Russia had secured a victory endi ng Japan 's hopes of
n orthern expan ion and H i tler was invadin g Poland , effectively
begi nning the Secon d World War. I n compl iance with their treaty
agree ments with Polan d, Britai n and Franc e declar ed war on Germ any
two days later. Russia , Germ any's ally of less than a week, invad ed
Polan d on Sep temb er 1 7 , and then Finla nd on Nove mber 30.
Following Germ any's i nvasio n of Franc e in June 1 940, I taly, anoth er
Ger man ally, dec lare d war on Fra nce and Eng land .
The invasion of France had a p rofound effect on the m idshipmen
of the U . S . Na,ral Academy. Due to the i nternational uncertain ty that
resulte d , the fi rst-class m idshipmen 's summer, fall, and Christ1nas
leaves were canceled so that they could complete their cot1rsework
40 BATTLE ' H I P OKLAHOMA
arly and j o i n the fl t . Th y wo t1ld graduat in February instead of

J t1n 1 94 1 . Am ng t h rly gr duat w r fu tur Oklahoma en i gn
J o ph . Spitler, Paul H . Backt1 , L ewis B . Prid ,Jr. , Adam W. D e Mer ,
John B. Davenport, a n d Waldron M. McLellon . All but one would be
aboa1�d t he Oklahoma d t1ri ng tl 1 attack o n P arl Harbor.
•
Left to iigl1t: Elizabeth Ame Madeline Cotti11gham, aI1d Lorena Cruce at the
U Oklal1o>r1a, chri tening ceremo11y at Camden, ew ]er ey, March 23, 1914.
Cot11-te Oklahoma Hi to1ical ociety.
U.S. government delegation to USS Oklalioma christe11ing ce1-emony, March 23,

1914. Representing the U.S. Navy i Secretary of the Navy Daniels ( tanding ir1
front of white door, left) and Assistant Secretar)' of the avy Franklin Delano
Roosevelt (standing to Da11iel ' right). Courte y Oklahoma Historical Society.
41
Preliminary trials, January 15, 1916. Courtesy National Archives.
At ancl1or i11 Berehave1�, Ireland, 1918. Courtesy Navy Histo1ical Center.
42 •
Crui ing the Culebra cut Panama Canal January 1921. (Navy Historical Center.
Courtes11 USS Oklahoma Association, Elmer R. Sykora Collectio11.
11.
· ";<·
11 " •
•••
.,
�
Firing her 14-inch/45-caliber main guns in the 1920s. I11 the rear is her sister
ship, Nevada. Courtesy National Archives.
43
Above: Tl1e Oklahoma prior to her modernization in 1927. Courte ational
Archive . Below: After her modernizatio11 was completed in 19 29. Courte y
National Archives. Note tl1at tripod n1ast that have replaced the old cage ma ts.
The ca emates cor1tai11i11g the broadside g11ns have been ealed and the gun
l1ave been relocated on the newly constrt1cted upper deck. Al o note the three
story' towers above each mast and the floatpla11e catapult above turret 3 .
.,jf,J
�JJJJ.
,
,
44 •
Oklahoma with her main gun trai11ed to starboard following her 1927 modern
ization. Courtesy National Archives.
45
Oklahomair1 Portsmouth, England,June 1936, during the 1936 Midshipmen Cruise.
Above: view from stern. Belozu: starboard ide view. Courtesy Thomas C. Hone
Collection, copyiight by Wright and Logan 20 Queen Street, Portsea, London.
'
..
• •
• • • • . ' . • •
..
46 ..
On December 7, 1941, the twenty-four "Kate" torpedo planes from the Japanese carriers Akagi and Kaga approached
fro1n the upper left and turned toward Battleship Row and Ford Island. The fou1- planes from the Hiryu and the one from
� the Siryu approached from the far right, flew over Hickam Field, and then turned to join the attack on the battleships.
-.....}
Courtesy Natior1al Archives.
CHAPTER 6
Countdown to Pearl Harbor
In May 1940 the U.S. Fleet conducted its annual exercises i11 Hawaii.
At their conclusior1, the fleet was ordered to remain in Hawaiian water
indefinitely. The deployment, controversial from the onset wa a mit
igated response to British prime minister Win ton Churchill. Fearful
that theJapanese w,ould take adva11tage of Britain's preoccupation with
Germany to attack the British-held bastion at Singapore, Churchill
asked Roosevelt to dispatch a battleship force to protect it. Roosevelt
believed that a battleship presence in Hawaii would be sufficient to
deter the perceived invasion, and he converted the belief into pol
icy much to the di dai11 of Churchill as well a the U.S. Fleet com
mander in chief, Admiral James 0. Richard on, who believed that the
fleet could bette1- prepare for war u ing the training and logistical facil
itie available on the We t Coast.
CAPTAIN FOY AND THE BARGE ENCOU TER
In the late spring, Oklahomajourneyed east to Puget Sound N avy Yard

for her annual overhaul. She also received a new kipper, Captain
Edward]. Foy replacing Captai11 Emmanuel A. Lofqt1ist, who had been
rea signed to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Foy's
tour began officially on Jt111e 24, while Oklalioma was till in the yard. His
sea duties would begin rather precipitously some three months later.
On the morning of September 19, Oklahoma departed the navy yard
for postrepair trials. She was cruising at four knots when a fog closed
in from the north. Suddenly a foghorn sounded off to port three
long blasts, followed by two hort ones. Positioned in the conning
tower, Captain Foy immediately issued the order to stop all engines.
48
COUNTDO\tVN TO PE RL H RBOR 49
Moment later, a tugboat app ar d off th port bow. It was one hun
dred ard head and anrrlina t "vard th ir path. Realizing that the
two ve 1 w re n a colli ion cours F y ordered full speed astern.
Th e ma net1ver 'Nork d, alloV\ri11g th tt1g to cros in front of them
u11 catl1 d. Unfor·tt111atel it ' towing a ba1-ge. T11e Oklahoma col
lided with the to' chain '.vinging th barge inward against the
Oklaho1na port ide. The barg was carrying railroad freight cars.
When the t\tVo ship collided 011e of the cars dumped i11to the water.
Fo1-tunatel it wa loaded with lumber and stayed afloat. Oklahoma
dropped a11cl1or irnmediately a11d pt1t in a call to the navy yard. The
freight car was st1bseqt1ently retrieved, and Oklahoma returned to the
ard fo1- mi11or 1-epai1- .
WARNINGS
In October Adn1iral Richard on traveled to Washington to discuss

the Ha\\1aiia11 deployment with Pr·esident Roosevelt. During the meet
ing the p1-e ident held fast to his belief that the fleet sl1ould remain
in Hawaii as a deterrent to the Japanese. Richardson emphatically dis
agreed with the premi e, adding that a fleet at Pearl Harbor was "dis
adva11tageou ly di po ed" to pr·epare for war. The meeting might well
have ended there had not Richardson verbalized his own personal
opiI1ion. Mr. Pre ident, I feel that I must tell you that the senior offi
cers of the avy do not have the trust and confidence in the civilian
leadership of this country that i essential for the successful prosecu
tion of a war in the Pacific. "1
He would be relieved fewer tl1an three months later.
On November 11, 1940, British torpedo planes launched from the
Royal Navy aircraft carrier Illustrious crippled the Italian Battle Fleet
based at Taranto, Italy. Because some of the British torpedoes had been
launched in water shallower than sevenry feet, the Sl1ccesses they
achieved were considered fantastic; it was previously believed that tor
pedoes needed at least one hundred feet of deptl1 to operate suc
cessfully. Despite the waters of Pearl Harbor being some thirty feet
shallower than those at Taranto, Japanese admiral Isoruku Yamamoto
drafted a nine-page outline two months later proposing a similar attack
on Pearl Harbor, to prevent the Pacific Fleet from inte1�fering with the
planned invasion of Southeast Asia, known as the Southern Operation.
50 BATTLE fIIP OKLAHOMA
Though th cont nts of the outline were upposed to be s cret, they

wer leak d. On January 27, 1941, th information wa received by
Ricardo Riv ra Schreiber, th Peruvian envoy in Japan , who immedi
ately relayed it to First Seer tary Edward . Rocker of the American
en1bassy, who in tur�ned pas d it on to hi bo , Amba ador Jo eph
C. Grew. Grew sent the following di patch to the tate Department:
"The Peruvian Mini ter ha informed a member of my taff that he
ha heard from many ource , including a Japanese ource, that in the
event of trouble breaking out between the United States and Japan,
the Japane e intend to make a surpri e attack again t Pearl Harbor
with all their strength and employing all of their equipment. The
Peruvian Minister considered the rL1mors fantastic. everthele , he
considered them of ufficient importance to convey thi information
to a member of my staff.'' The dispatch wa forwarded to the Division
of Naval Intelligence, where it was ignored for lack of credence.2
On February 1, 1941, tl1e man who would oppose the attack Admiral
Husband E. Kimmel, was given command of the U. S. Fleet. Previously
the commander of the fleet' battle force crui ers , Kimmel would not
inherit the same fleet that Richardson had commanded because the
U.S. Fleet had been divided in two. While Admiral Ernest] . King would
command the Atlantic Fleet, Kimmel would comma11d its counterpart
in the Pacific. Admiral Thomas C. Hart retained command· of the
diminutive Asiatic Fleet. The realign1nent had little effect on Oklahoma
because all twelve of the modern U.S. battle hip remained in the
Pacific. Two weeks into his new command, Kimmel received a letter from
Admiral Harold R. Stark, the chief of naval operation , informing him
of the impracticality of using antitorpedo baffle (nets) at Pearl Harbor.
The ramifications of Kimmel' agreement would be ill omened.3
PRELUDE TO WAR WITH JAPAN
On February 13, Oklahoma returned to Puget Sound Navy Yard. She

would depart with two new 3-inch/50-caliber AA guns mounted on the
quarterdeck (the e wot1ld augment the two 3-inch/50-caliber guns that
had replaced the two 5-inch/ 5 1-caliber guns on the boat deck in a prior
refit) ; waist-high armor sl1ields on all he1- 3-incl1/50-caliber and 5-
inch/25-caliber AA guns, and a .50-caliber machine-gun platform in
the mainmast. An antiaircraft fire-control station was added as well as
COUNTDOWN TO PEARL HARBOR 51
two autonomou AA directors (Ford Ma1�k l 9s) , one for the port side
batter arid another for th tarboard ide battery. While the fire-control
station was perched atop the pilothot1se, each director was housed in
ar1 armored cabin pe1-ched atop a tower� mast on either side of the pilot
house.
In March Congres appro,red the Lend-Lease Act and appropriated
$7 billion fo1- the aid of frie1 1dly nations; the act permitted direct mil
itary aid to Britai11 and prompted Hitler to extend his U-boat area of
operations far into tl1e weste1·n Atla11tic. In response, the United States
in tituted a na\1al force to protect the British ships ferrying U.S.
provided war materials to Europe. BatDivThree (Idaho, New Mexico,
and Mississippi) was lated for transfer to the Atlantic along with the
aircraft,carrier Yorktown, four ligl1t c1uisers, seventeen destroyers, tl1ree
oil tankers three tran ports, and ten auxiliaries in all, i1early a quar
ter of the Pacific Fleet.4
In April Japan signed a nonaggression pact with Russia. Though
the two countries were longtime adversaries, Russia needed the pact
to ecure its southeastern flank in anticipation of an expected inva
sion from Germany. The pact was advantageous to the Japanese
because it secured their northern flank, allowing them to pursue their
interests in Southeast Asia.
Following the departure of BatDivThree in May, the Pacific Fleet
was restructured into three task forces. Task Force I, commanded by
Vice A dmiral William S. Py 1e, consisted of BatDivTwo (Pennsylvania,
California, Tennessee), BatDivFour (Maryland, Colorado, West Virgi,nia),
aircraft carrier Saratoga, five light cruisers, eighteen destroyers, and
five mine vessels. Task Force I I, commanded by Vice Admiral William
F. Halsey, consisted of BatDivOne (Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma), aircraft
carrier Enterprise, four heavy cruisers, eighteen destroyers, and four
mine vessels. Task Force I I I, commanded by Vice Admiral Wilson
Brown, consisted of aircraft carrier Lexing;o·n, eight heavy cruisers, nine
destroyers, thirteen mine vessels, and six attack transports. The fleet
had an operational directive stating that at least two of the task forces
must remain at sea at all times.5
On June 13 , 1941, Admiral Kimmel received a memorandum from
Rear Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, Admiral Stark's deputy. It stated that
''while no minimum depth of water in which naval vessels may be
anchored can arbitrarily be assumed as providing safety from torpedo
52 BATTLESJ-IIP OKLAHOMA
plan attack, it may b as urned that depth of water will be one of the
factors con idered by any attacking force, and an attack in relatively
deep water (10 fathom or more) i more lik ly." (One fathom equals
six feet.) It went on to say, ''the torpedoes launched by the British at
Tara11to w re, in g i1eral, in thirteen to fifteen fathom of wate1-,
although several torpedoes may 11ave been launched in ele\1en or
twelve fathoms."6
Prior to Tara11to, it had been generally accepted that air-launched
torpedoes required one hundred feet of depth, becau e they would
sink almost that deep when launched. U ing their own power, they
would then climb to an attack depth of twenty feet. The average depth
of Pearl Harbor was only forty feet, a substantial enough differential
for Kimmel to view the information as inapplicable.7
What Kimmel had no way of knowing was that the Japanese had
been experimenti11g with shallow-depth aerial torpedoes since 1939.
By attaching a wooden fin that broke off when the torpedo truck the
water, thereby reducing the depth of sinkage, the Japa11ese Navy had
already narrowed the operational depth to forty feet by 1940. Tests to
reduce the sinkage further were continuous. By varying the plane's air
speed, and tl1e elevation at which the torpedo was a dropped Japanese
torpedo plane pilots were experimenting to find the per-feet blending
of the two at Japan's Kagosl1ima Bay, a location that mimicked Pearl
Harbor. In July, Japan signed an accord with Vichy France, a faction
of the French gove1�nment sympathetic to Germany whicl1 allowed the
Japanese to occupy French Indochina.
The intent was clear.
Using airfields in Saigon,Japanese warplanes would be within bomb
ing distance of Singapore. It was the final straw. The following day,
President Roosevelt is ued an executive 01-der freezing Japa11ese assets
in the United States, a move that was seconded by Great Britain and the
Netherlands . Five days later, Roosevelt placed an embargo on all high
octane gasoline, i11 addition to crude oil. ThoughJapan would continue
to obtain oil f1�om the Netherlands East Indies, it would now have to pay
for it with cash, a process that was extremely difficult because most of
its cash was frozen i11 American banks. As a result, Japanese tankers were
tied up in East Indies ports for weeks awaiting the arrival of funds.
Though the Japanese had been building storage tanks at an acceler
ated rate, and stockpiling oil for several years, they had enough accu-
...
COUNTDOW TO PE RL H RBOR 53
mulated for onl n n1or rear of war. If Jap n wanted to continue its
conq11est of SoL1thea t Asia it would 11av to find oil elsewhere, which
m ant that the outh rn Ope 1 ation had to becom a reality, as well as
th related pre n1ptiv trike on Pearl Harbor.
Though negotiation would continue, for all intents and purposes,
the U. . '' a1- 'vi tl1 Japan b rra11 tl1at ve1)' day: Jt1ly 25, 1941.
WEATHERl G THE STORMS
On Augt1 t 22 Oklalioma departed Pearl Harbor for Sa11 Pedro. En

1 oute he encou11tered a massive storm. In the process of installing gun
hutter in the casemates of the 5-inch/51-caliber broadside guns, three
men were i11jured by wave wasl1ing 011to the upper deck, and another
tu1-ned up missing. W!ien a search of the ship by the master-at-arms and
the Fiftl1 Division petty officers failed to locate him, it was assumed tl1at
the mi ing ailor Seaman First Class C. E. Suttee, had been washed over
board. Another crewman would be lu1ocked off his feet the following
afterrioon. Fortunately, he was able to secure a handhold and survive.
At 9:55 the next morning, an entry in Oklahoma's deck log entry
recorded a "heavy vibration throughout the sl1ip." At 9:57 the star
board engine was stopped followed by the portside engine ten min
ute later. At 10:54 a motor launch was lowered with divers aboard. The
e11suing investigation disclosed a broken outboard coupling on the
starboard shaft.
After cre,.vmen had secured the shaft with cables, the port side
engine was restarted. With the destroyers McDonough and Dewey screen
ing ahead, and evada bringi11g up the i-ear, Oklahoma headed north
east at twelve knots. Because San Pedro did not have adequate dry-dock
facilities, Oklahom a was redirected to San Francisco, where the navy
had a repair yar d at Hunter s Point. She entered San Francisco Bay on
August 28, shifting to Hunte r's Point the following day.
He r stay would be a long one. Though the crew received extended
leaves as a result, many would be greeted with some disco11ce1·ting news
wh en the y ret urn ed . Du e to the det eri orating int ernational situ atio n,
the arm y draft had been extended at the end of September. Fearing
that na vy enlistments would be extended as well, sailors formed an
O HI O clu b Ov er the Hi ll in Oc tob er. Wh e11 Oc tob er ended without
change, the club was disbanded.

Th1-ee day lat r, Oklahoma departed for P arl Harbor. She was en
rot1te when " trictly s er t" me. ag 83 wa d cipher d. Int rcepted
on ptemb r 24 by U. . Army Int llig nc , the di patch known hi -
torically a tl1 "bomb plot" m ag , reque t d that Hawaiian-based
Japan e pi prepare a grid f Pearl Harbor, pinpointing the exact
location of America11 warship� in five specific area . For the mo t part,
the message generated only ca ual interest within the U.S. int lligence
community because imilar general information reque ts had been
intercepted for other U. S. military in tallation . However, the infor
matio11 requested in me sag 83 wa mt1ch more pecific than in prior
intercepts. Unfortunately, the man who could have be t judged the
message 's merits, Admiral Kimmel, was never given the opportunity
to do so.8
On October 22 Oklahoma was on maneuver with Arizona and Nevada
in the fleet training area southwest of Oahu as a member of Ta k Force
II. The weather was bad, with low-hanging cloud and intermittent
rai11squalls. Due to the poor visibility, the Arizona, the acting guide hip,
would occasionally bounce her searchlight off the clouds to mark her
location for the others. At 5:35 P.M. the three were aligned in a col
umn under "darkened ship" conditions. Arizona was in the lead, with
Nevada behind her, and Oklahoma bringing up the rear. At 5:42, on
the signal of the officer in tactical command Nevada a11d Oklahoma
sheered out of formation to take up station on the Arizona's port quar
ter. Within a hort period, the Arizona was out of sight. It was not until
6:05 P.M. that Oklalioma's watch noticed her searchlight some five thou
sand yards away. She wasn't een again until she turned on her refer
ence light at approximately 6: 15. By then he wa closing on a
perpendicular course some ix hu11dred yards to starboard.
Captain Foy was standing on the starboard wing of the bridge when
Arizona suddenly appeared. Realizing that the ships were on a colli
sion course at the ame moment that he heard the junior officer of
the deck give the order to maintain a steady heading Captain Foy
raced into the pilotl1ouse to man tl1e conn. Ordering the ship hard
left and the e11gines i11to f11ll reverse, he sounded three blasts on the
ship's whistle, another on the siren, and then turned on the running
lights. Despite his efforts, Oklahoma struck Arizona a glancing blow
amidships, slicing a V-shaped hole in her port blister and tearing off
a garbage chute, which landed on Oklahoma's bow. Though both ships
COU T QV\T TO PE RL H RB R 55
would complete th ir ch dul d r i , th v nt would prompt

an inv tigatio11 V\ h i1 th I' tt11�11 d to P arl Ha1�b r on October 26.9
Tvvo da lat r a board of inquiry conv n d on th Tennessee. Pending
the ot1t om C pt i11 Fo wa onfined to port.10
On October 1 , th Pacifi c Fleet received a new operational direc
ti e. C 11\e' d b)· Pa ific Fl et onfidential Letter No. l 4CL-4 1 , it tip
t1lated that onl ' 11 ta k f01 c be k pt at sea, inst ad of two, because
of a rapidl)' depl ti11g fuel t1pply. However, the new directive was not
trictl adh red to· 011 t\vo occa io11 th following inonth, the eight
battle hip vvere i11 p rt simultaneousl1r: November 1 7 and November
19-2 1.
On ovember 1 aptain Howard D. Bode be,came Oklahoma's new
comma11di11g officer. His fir t challenge as a battleship captain occurred
on the e\,rening of ove1nber 10. As part of an attack exercise bei11g con
dt1cted by Ta k Force II, Oklahoma was in formation with the aircraft car
rier En terpri e. When a referee declared tl1at destroyers had sunk the
carrier Enterprise \Va ordered to retire, subsequently turning to port.
However the ships were operating in darkened co11ditions, and her
quartermaster did not realize that he had turned into the path of the
Oklahoma) which was approachi11g off the port quarter. What followed
was almo t comedic. While Oklahoma maintained her speed and course,
the Enterprise sent her engines back full emergency. As a result,
Oklahoma's public address (PA) system kept moving the expected point
of impact farther aft causing what Ensign Joseph C. Spitler described
as a ''track meet down below," a sailors raced away from the designated
impact areas. Fortunately, there was no collision. The only damage was
a bent flag taff on Oklahoma's fantail, which had been 11it by the over
hang of the Enterprise' flight deck when she passed astern. On November
13, Oklahoma entered dry dock, presumably to have the damage repaired
from her collision with Arizona) which had departed the same dry dock
the day before. Oklahoma would remain there for sixteen days.
DISPATCHES AND SUB SIGHTINGS
On November 22, BatDivTwo and BatDivFour departed Pearl

Harbor for the fleet t1-aining area. Two days later Admiral Kimmel
received the following message from Admiral Stark, the chief of naval
operations: "Chances of favorable outcome of negotiation with Japan
very doubtful. Thi situatio11 coupled with tatements of Japanese

Government a11d mov inen of th ir naval and military forces indi
cate in our opinion that a t1rprise aggr ive movement in any direc
tion i11cluding attack on Philippine or Guam is a po ibility."
That sam day, the Japane e Malaya invasion force departed
Hashirajima,Japan. Two days later, the Pearl Harbor Air Fleet departed
Japan ' Kurile Island , and the outhern Philippine inva ion force
departed Sa ebo. On November 27, Admiral Kimmel received another
message, this one from tl1e Navy Department: ''Thi di patch i to be
co11sidered a war warning . Negotiations with Japan looking toward
stabilization of conditions in tl1e Pacific have ceased and an aggres ive
move by Japan is expected within the next few days. Tl1e number and
equipment of Japanese troops and the organization of the naval ta k
forces indicates an amphibious expedition against either the Philip
pines, Thai or Kra Peninsula or possibly Borneo." Of the potential inva
sion sites mentioned in the two dispatches, the clo est one to Hawaii
was Guam, located some 3,800 miles to the west. The only location
the dispatches had in common was the Philippine I la11d 5 3 00 miles
southwest of Hawaii.
On November 28, Nevada and Arizona departed Pearl Harbor with
Enterprise and a destroyer escort. Vice Admiral Halsey commanded the
gro"L1p (Task Force I I less Oklahoma). Once it reacl1ed the open sea,
Halsey dispatched the battleships and a destroyer escort to the train
ing a1�ea southeast of Oahu. He then turned Enterprise west, proceed
ing to Wake Island to offload a squadron of marine F4F fighter planes.
Departing with the battleships had been a rt1se to maintain the pre
tense of a routine inis ion, because it was believed that the Japane e
had a well-established spy network in Honolulu. Leaving the otl1er
ships behind was a tactical measure, because Halsey had no desire to
be reined in by his slow-1noving battleships.
That same morning BatDivTwo and BatDivFour returned to the har
bor. By noon California was at her standard F-3 mooring, Maryland at
F-5, and Tennessee atF-6. A short time later, West Virginia pulled in along
side the Tennessee. The Pennsylvania would also return, berthing along
side the 1010 dock at B-2. Tl1e following day Oklaho1na shifted out of
dry dock 1 to pull in behind her at B-3 . Two days later, Pennsylvania
entered dry dock 1. Berthed ahead of her were the destroyers Cassin
and Downes.
COUNTDOW TO PE RL H RB R 57
In th e rl n1 i-ni11g 11 t11� of St111d N v 111b r 30, OJ�lalioma

d part d P arl Ha1 -b i- r i1d zvot1 ir1g "'' itl1 Nevada and Arizona in
the fle t training r a at 7: 15 .M. The following morning, Arizona
d part d th fo1-1natio11 i11 the co1npany of a d troy r. Two hot1rs later,
Oklaho11ia depa1-ted for ho1-t-ra11ge battle practice, striki11g out on her
OV\TI1 'iVh i1 the drill 'va co1nplet d. That nigl1t, '"'l1ile operati11g under
darke11 d condition her watch spotted a t1bmarine. Because no
Ame1ica11 ubma1-in ' er cl1 duled to be ope1-ating in the area, the
iahtina cai..1 ed con ide1-able concern.
The I1e rt mo1�11i11g Oklalionia's gunneI)' depa1-t1nent officers were
st1n1moned to the '"a1-d1-00111 by the ship s executive officer, Comn1a11der·
Je e L. Ken' orthy Ji-. When they arrived, they were informed that the
g11nner exercise scheduled for that night had been canceled, because
the ta k force de tro e1- i11cluding the one scheduled to tow a target
fo1- Oklalioma had bee11 d i patched to find the sub.
Late1- in the week, Arizona reported a sighting. Supposedly, her co111-
manding officer Captain Franklin Van Valkenbt1rgh, responded by
propo ing that Oklahoma a11d Nevada return to Pearl Harbor while the
Arizona remain at sea as a decoy. Believi11g that the submarine would
pur ue a ingle battle hip, he hoped to lt1re it into an attack where his
de troyers cot.ild ink it.
su1ning that the propo al was relayed to Admiral Kimmel , it was
obviou ly denied because the entire task force was ordered back to
port on Dece1nber 4. Though the submarine was never found, there
is little doubt that Japane e submarines were i11 the vici11ity. During
the first week of Dece mbe1·, twenty-five Japanese submarines would go
on tation in the Hawaiian Islands. While four approached from tl1e
northwest twe11ty-one would approach from the west and southwe t,
the same area where the ta k force was operating. However, the sight
ing eemed to ha,re a pronounced effect on the di po ition of the fleet.
Contrary to the dictates of Pac ific Confidential Letter No. 14C L-41,
no task for ce was sent out to replace the one com ing i11.
Nonetheless, the channel entrance to Ford I land had already been
busy when BatDivOne approached on the morning of December 5.11
The heavy cruiser Indianapolis had departed for Johnston Island with
four destroyers, while the aircraft carrier Lexington and heavy crui ers
Astoria, Chicago, and Portland had departed for Midway with five
destroyers.
Arizo'na wot1ld b th fir t to nt r the chann 1, at 8: 1 2 A.M.
Proc ding up th inland wal rway, h turn d 1 ft at the outhern

tip of Ford I land, then circl d clockwi around th island for a
north rly approach to Battl hip Row.12 With her tarboard ide to
the i land, 11 wa 11t1dged along ide the F-7 quay with the help of
harbo1� tug . Positioned dir ctly ah ad of h r wa Tennessee. the
Along ide the Tenne ee wa the West Virgjnia. Ahead of the Ten1iessee
wa th Maryland. The Colorado) i ter hip to the Mar)1 land and the
West Virgjnia, was at the Puget Sound Naval Yard.
At 8:30 A.M. Oklahoma started in. Becau e Nevad a had been ched
uled to offload her 1 4-inch/ 45-caliber projectile and powd r bag
the followi11g day, she was preassigned to the F-8 mooring because it
had oper1 water on both sides, allowing a maneuvering area for the
ammunition barge that would be tethered alongside her. Arizona
needed to have her port side clear because the repair hip Vesta l wa
scheduled to moor alongside her on Saturday to perform ome con
struction work. Therefore, Oklahoma was forced to moor alongside
Maryland at F-5 because it was the only lot available. Ironical! , it wa
the only time in 1941 that Oklahoma would moor at F-5.
Once Oklahoma was secured, preparations began in earne t for an
inspection to be held on Monday. Becau e it was a materiel i11spec
tion, it would endure the highest degree of scrutiny, particularly since
it would be Captain Bode' first. The work would include the tin1e
honored polishing of decks and bright work, cleaning of work and liv
ing areas, and the securing of battle stations, in particular the
5-inch/25-caliber AA guns. Not only would the mounts be thoroughly
scot1red and grease free the firing mechanism would be taken to the
ship' armory for cleaning. In addition, the ammunition would be
taken four decks below for torage.
To allow the in pection team acce s to each of the hip's compart
ments, all the deck and bulkhead hatches were opened. The order was
also given to remove the manhole lid from the torpedo blister to allow
them to vent. Although all three BatDivOne battleship were scheduled
for an inspection on December 8, only Oklalioma opened her blister
manholes, po sibly ot1t of cat1tion after Oklahoma sailor G. W. Gross, on
October 26, uffered 'anoxmea fume poisoning and lost conscious
ness" while opening the hatch to lower blister A-158-LB.13 Though the
incident occt1rred while Captain Foy was still in command, it is possi-
COUNTDOWN TO P E RL H RBOR 59
ble that it wa rela ed to C .ptai11 Bod 't\lh 11 11 as urned 01nmand 011

Novembei- 1 .If so it i al o po ible that th eve11t co11tribL1te d to Bode's
decision to 'e11t the bli te1 011 Dec in b r 5 a11d 6.
On Satt1rda Lieut na11t Co111n1 nde1- Harry Hender on,
OklaJioma' gl1n11 ry officer met with Captain Bode to voice his con
cerI1 abot1t the hip lack of d fe11 ive i-eadiness. When Henderson
proposed that at lea t a po1-tio11 of the a11tiaircraft guns be manned,
Captai11 Bode d nied the reqt1est, mai11taini11g that the i11spection
took precedence. That ame day, Admiral Kimmel received a dispatch
fro1n Admiral Thoma C. Hart commander of the Asiatic Fleet, report
ing that two Japane e convoys were believed l1eaded for Kohtron, and
that ai1other thirty-ship co11voy was sigl1ted at anchor in Cam Ranh Bay
in I11dochina, seemir1gly validati11g the message Admiral Kimmel had
received on ove1nber 27.
At the conclu ion of Saturday's workda)', approximately 11alf of the
crew went ashore for liberty. While many made a beeline for Honolulu
and its big-city nightlife enticements, others attended the Battle of the
Bands at the navy's Bloch Recreation Center, including Oklahoma sailor
Francis R. Parkin on, who attended with his brother Clayton, also
assigned to the Oklahoma , and Arizona Seaman First Class Charles E.
Swisher, a high school buddy from Vista, California.14
EnsignJo eph C. Spitler watcl1ed a movie on the Oklahoma's fantail,
as did Gunner's Mate Second Class Leon C. Kolb. The movie would
be a welcome reprieve for Kolb, who had spent the prior evening on
shore patrol duty in Honolulu. Assigned to a street co1�ner, he'd been
summoned into a bar to break up a fight involving some forty to fifty
drunken patrons, most of them wearing uniforms.
Fireman First Class R. M. Bentley also remained aboard. Having pur
chased a Harley-Davidson Model 61 motorcycle with shipmate
Fireman First Class Leonard Geller on Friday, he spent Saturday
evening planning their itinerary for a Sunday excursion.
He would never see Geller, or the motorcycle, again.15
CHAPTER 7
A uiet Sunday Morning
Designated tlie First Air Fleet, tlie Japanese Pearl Harbor Strike Force consisted
of six aircraft carriers, two battleships, two lieavy cruisers, one light cruiser, nine
destroyers three picket submarines, and eight tankers.
At 1:50 A.M. Commander Minoru Genda the Japanese tactical plan

ner for the attack on Pearl Harbor, received the results of a telegram
sent by a Japanese spy in Hawaii. Genda 'iVas not pleased. Relayed to
the Akagi by the naval general staff, the message compo1-1nded the
discouraging news he 'd received previously from a Japanese subma
rine at Lahaina Roads. It had been his utmost hope that the fleet
wot1ld be found there instead of at Pearl Harbor, because the moor
ings were in open wate1�, and the water wa fifty feet deeper: open
water meant easy maneuvering for his torpedo-plane pilots, and deep
water would prevent the ships from being rai ed. A second report con
firmed the first: the battleships were at Pearl Harbor. Neitl1er message
could confirm the whereabouts of the three Arnerica11 aircraft carri
ers. 1 A report received at 2:00 A.M. was more encouraging: there were
no barrage balloon above the harbor and i10 a11tito1�pedo r1ets pro
tecti11g the battleships.
By the early morning hours of December 7, 1941, tl1ejapanese Pearl
Harbor Strike Force had i1early completed its prestrike positioni11g.
Approaching from the northeast, the primary force consisted of thirty
one ships of which six were aircraft carriers. The subsurface Advance
Expeditionary Force featured twenty-five submarines. Of these, five
were deployed to the north of the islands to intercept reinforcement
ships; thirteen were deployed around Oahu to attack any ships escap
ing the harbor; two were po itioned west of Oahu to rescue downed
60
A QUIET SUNDAY MORNING 61
pilots; and five w re po itioned at tl1 mouth of the cha11nel entrance.

The latter fleet Llbmari11 I-16 I-1 1-20, I-22 a11d I-24, were mother
subs, with eighty-foot-long rnidget st1bmari11es piggybacked on them.
The midgets featuri11g a co11ning tower a two-man crew, and two tor
pedoe stacked one abo tl1e other were six-foot-diameter vessels
positioned atop cradles 011 the mother sub's rear decks, witl1 their
noses p1ointed aft. The fiI.. t of the five was released from its mother at
app1-o irnately 1:00 A.M.2
At 5: 30 that mor11ing, floatplanes from the cruisers Chilzuma and

Tonewere catapulted aloft fo1� a preattack reconnaissance of both Pearl
Harbor· a11d Lahaina Roads. Two hours later, t11ey would report that
the there were ni11e battleships at Pearl Harbor and that Lahaina
Roads was empty. The Tonefloatplane would also scout tl1e area south
of Oahu in an effort· to locate the U.S. Fleets' aircraft carriers. The
search \·vould be ir1 vain.
Positioned 230 miles northeast of Oahu, tl1e carriers began launcl1-
ing their planes at 6: 15 A.M. Within fifteen minutes, 183 aircraft were
aloft. Of the total, 49 were horizontal bombers, 51 were dive bombers,
43 were fighters, and 40 were Nakajima B5N2 torpedo bombers.
Codenamed 'Kate' by the Allies, each B5N2 had a three-ma11 crew, a
rear-firing 7.7 mm machine gun, and an eighteen-foot-long torpedo
suspended from the fuselage. Packing a warhead containing 452
pounds of explosive, the eighteen-inch-diameter torpedoes had been
modified for shallow running with detachable wooden fins that broke
off when the torpedo entered the water.
While the overall commander of the air fleet was Commander Mitsuo
Fuchida, Lieutenant Shigeharu Murata commanded the torpedo
planes. Of the forty in his command, twelve we.re launched from the
carrierAkagi, twelve from the Kaga, eight from the Hiryu, amd eight
from the Soryu. After assembling i11 a spiral above their respective car
riers, the planes headed south at 6:30. Homing in on a beacon from a
Honolulu radio station, they arrived off Kahuku Point at 7:40, approx
imately the same time that Captain Bode was being ferried ashore for
liberty. Commanding Oklahoma in his absence was Commander
Kenworthy.
At 7:45 Oklahoma ensign Irving J. Davenport relieved Lieutenant
(junior grade, or j.g) William T. Ingram as the officer of the deck. In
preparation for the eight o'clock hour, he sent the quartermaster of
62 B ATTLE H I P OK.LAHOMA
the watch aft to hoist the co Jor-s, and the boatswain's mate forward to
strike eight bells.
At 7 : 50 the tanker
Neosho) berthed at the F-4 gas dock just forward
of the Maryland and the Oklahoma, completed its discharge of aviation
fuel to the storage tanks on FordIsland. Moments later, the Oklahoma's
band began congregating on the fantail. At precisely 7 : 55, a blue-and
white prep flag would be h o isted aloft to ignal that the colors would
be raised in five minutes.
If the Japanese Air Fleet reached Oahu undetected, Murata's tor
pedo bombers would spearhead the attack. If not, the fighter and dive
bombers would go first to neutralize any resistance. Flares would be
used to signal the order of attack. A s ingle flare meant that surprise
had been achieved. Two would indicate that it hadn't. When Fuchida
looked south and saw that tl1e skies above the harbor were empty, he
opened his cockpit and fired a single flare.
Seeing the signal, the dive bombers climbed to 12,000 fe1et, the hor
izontal bombers moved to 9,800 feet, and the torpedo bombers
descended to sea level. However, the commander of the high-flying
fighters missed the signal. Seeing that the fighters were not moving to
thei1- proper position, Fuchida fired a second flare . T hough it was
aimed toward the fighters, the commander of the dive bom�ers also
saw it. Interpreti11g it as a se,cond flare, he prepared to take the lead.
Murata did not see the second flare, so his torpedo bombers contin
ued their descent in the belief that they would be leading. Fuchida
realized h i s mi stake, but there was nothing he could do. Because
silence was essential, using his radio was not an option.
Shadowing the western fo othills of the Waianae l\1ountains, Murata
guided the torpedo bombers south. With the mou11tains behind them,
the group divided approximately six miles west of Pearl Harbor. W h ile
the sixteen Hiryu and Soryu planes headed due east, the twenty-four
from Akagi and Kaga angled southeast to approach the harbor from
the south.
The attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7 : 55 when nine dive bombers
descended on the naval air station at Ford Island. After sweepi ng i n
from the north, they banked right over the navy yard, approaching
Ford Island from the south. Their attack was focused on the massive
seaplane hangar at the i sland's southern end. Following two near-
..
A QU I ET UN DAY M O RN I N G
63
n1isses a third bo 111b pe 11 trated the 11 an ga r's roof an d e ploded

i11 ide. Within mi nt1t th i1ti1� str ucture wa e11 gu lfed in fla1nes.
Ma ri11 e bugler Private Joe Lawter 11ad jt1st sot1nd ed first call aboard
Okl aho 1n a when he i1otic d the pla nes . Rec ogn izi11g the Risi ng Sun
in ign ia h i11fo1�med the corporal of the g11ard that the pla nes were
Jap ane e. The gua rd re pon se was not what he 'd expected. "Lawter,
you re paid to blo'v i1ot to thir1k. '
Lieutena11t Comma11der Logan C. Ramsey, duty officer of Patrol
Wing T'"'o ,,vitne sed the explosion from the Ford Island command
ce11ter. Raci11g aero the hall to the 1·adio i�oom, he i11structed the
radiomen to hammer out the following message posthaste: AIR RAID,
P EARL HARB OR. THIS IS NOT A DRILL !
At 7 : 5 6 eighteen dive bombers descended on the army 's Hickam
Field. Most of the Ha,iVaiian Air Force's B-17, B-18, and A-20 bombers
were clt1stered in the middle of the airfield easy targets for the straf
ing planes. Moments later the torpedo attack began when the sixteen
torpedo bombers from Hiryu and Soryu descended on the harbor from
the west. Dividing ir1to two battle groups, six targeted the ships on the
northwest side of FordIsland while the others angled for the 1010 dock.
There '1v1ere four ships on the northwest side of Ford Island, the
c ruisers Rawigh and Detroit) the seaplane tender Tangier, and the Utah)
a battleship that had been converted into a target ship in 1 930, then
a gun nery training ship in 1941. Utah would be the first ship attacked.
Struc k by two torpedoes, she began to capsize. Of the four remaining
planes, only one launched its torpedoes successfully, striking Raleigh.
Though the others launched, no11e of tl1eir torpedoes struck a ship.
Two torpedoes would become embedded in Ford Island, while the
third remains unac counted for.
Meanwhile, the ten planes that composed the second group angled
for the 1O1O dock. The burning seaplane hangar on FordIsla11d was cen
tered in the line of attack, so the group's leader had to fly through a bil-·
lowing cloud of smoke to make his approach. Because of the narrow
width of water between the hangar and dock, he had to launch the
instant his plane emerged into the clear. Moored near the center of the
dock was the light cruiser Helena. Alongside her was the minesweeper
Oglala, fl agship of Rear Admiral William R. Furlong's minecraft battle
force. The leader's torpedo passed beneath the shallow-draft Oglala and
64 BATTLES :tJIP OKLAHOMA
d to11at d against t l1 Helen{t'._ tarboard quarter. The resulting con

C l l1. i n tor open Oglala' , ht 1ll as w 11.
Tl1 re were four more launching · ai med at the 1010 doc k, none of
which hit a hip. Th five r maining planes, four from Hiry u and one
fro1n Sory u, abort d to e k better target on Battle l1ip Row, inter
mixi11g with Mu rata' twenty-four-plane group, which was approach
i11g f1,om the soutl1 a t.
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01-llcLhoma at the Pt1get So11nd NaV)' Yard, September 28, 1940. Though the ship wot1ld undergo some minor changes in Februar;'
1941, the pictt1re pro,rides a good approximation of her appearance on the morni11g of December 7, 1941. Courtesy Oklal1oma
�
� Historical Society, Petrovic Collectio11.
The Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" had a three-man ,crew and could carry either a tor
pedo or an armor-piercing bomb. The machine gun at the rear of the cockpit
was responsible for n1ost of the strafir1g that occurred on Battle hip Row. Courte y
Natio11al Archives.
Japanese photo taken shortly before 8:00 a.m., December 7, 1941, b y the 11avi
gator of Lt. Heita Matsumura's torpedo plane. Note the shock waves from tor
pedo explo io11 . Cotlrtesy National Archive .
66
Japanese photo of attack on Pearl Harbor. ote the waterspout erupting along
side Oklahonia from a torpedo hit ( Oklaho1na is the ship on the left of the two
ships paired together at the top of the photo). Also note the explosion on the aft
section, starboard side, of Arizona (inboard; third pair from the top) . A clock
found in this vicinity had stopped at 8:06. The blackened areas alo11g the port
sides of Oklahoma and West Virgjnia (ship dire 1ctly behind Oklahoma) are oil from
their violated fuel bunkers. Courte y Natior1al Archives.
67
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Overturned hull of Oklahoma) with Maryland in the background. Co11rtesy National Archives.
Frontal \rie\v of overt1Jrned Oklalio1ria alongside Maryla1id. Courtesy National
AJ.�chi,Te
Rear view of overturned Oklahoma alongside Ma rylan d . Cot1rtesy National

Archive .
69
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Approximate time sequence of capsizing (stern view).
'
CHAPTERS
Damn the Torpedoes
On tlie 11iorni11g of December· 7 1941, Oklahoma s AA defen es consisted of

eight 5-inch/25-caliber gLtn fou'r 3-inch/50-caliber guns, and eight. 50-caliber
macliine guns. Becaus_e of tlie in pection scheduled fo'r the following day, none
of them liad fin11g mecliani 1ns or ammunitio1i.
As ML1rata s columns approached HickamField from the south, they

vve1-e shocked to find it wa already under attack by dive bombers from
the Shokaku, the result ofFuchida's botched signal. Realizing he'd lost
the element of urprise, but wanting to reach the battleships before
they could mount a defen e, Murata decided on a shortcut to
Battleship Row. Dropping to 150 feet, he led the two columns along
the eastern perimeter of the stricken airfield.
Six planes from Akagi would initiate the torpedo assault on
Battleship Row. Flying at 160 knots, they attacked in parallel columns
of three planes each. Murata would lead one column while Lieutenant
Jinichi Goto led the other. The tail-to-nose spacing between the planes
in the columns was about a third of a mile. The reason for the clus
tered grouping was twofold: (I) If antitorpedo nets were deployed, tl1e
lead plane would attempt to breach them. (2) If nets were i1ot
deployed, the close tail-to-nose spacing would allow all three planes to
lau11ch and depart before the first torpedo hit, thus avoiding the mas
sive debris-laden waterspout that would follow.
Banking left over Merry Point, the columns descended on the south
east loch. Dropping to an altitude of sixty-five feet, Murata immedi
ately aligned on West Virginia. His flight path would take him along
the perimeter of the submarine base, then over the Kuahua Peninsula
71
72 BATTL HIP OKJJAHOMA
..
to tl1 main l1a1111 1. Two l1undr d yard to hi� 1 ft, oto aligned hi
colt111111 011 th Oklahorna. His pat11 would be ntirely over wat r.
Wh n Mt1rata r alized tl1 r were n() antit rp do n t , he initiated

the attack, launching on th We t Vi rgin ia at approximately 7:57.
Sec nds lat 1- Goto latlnch d on Oklahomct. Becau e th di ta11ce fron1
tl1e laL1ncl1 poir1t to the outboard battl . hip wa approximately a third
of a mile, and the p ed of tl1e torpedoe wa forty mil per hour, the
tim from lau11chi11g to impact wa approximately tw nty-eight sec
ond . Give11 the close spacing of the planes in each column, a torpedo
wot1ld arriv at thei1- target approximately every ix econd .
By the time the la t torpedo i-eached Battle hip Row the ix plane
had already departed the 11arbor. Of the six, two had lai_1nched on
Oklcthoma, two had launched on West Virginia, one had jetti oned i
torpedo, and one had flown over the Oklahoma with its torpedo still
attached.
But another six were behind them. Though the e we1-e also from the
Akagi, tl1eir alignment was different from tl1e first groups. In tead of
being clustered in two parallel columns, they were po itioned in a sin
gle line. To avoid the waterspouts that would re ult from the explosion
of prior torpedo laL111ches, they were spaced more than a mile apart.
Approaching Battleship Row, the fir t three plane angled left for
the California. Two of the planes launched on the California. The third
011e witched target , launching on West Virginia instead . The la t three
targeted Oklahoma. Flying in a1nong them were the five plane that had
aborted their attack on the 1010 dock. Of these, it i believed that
two lat111ched 011 the Oklahoma and three 011 the West Virginia.1
Trailing tl1e Akagi plane by nearly three mile wa the twelve-plane
group from tl1e Kaga. Using the same alignment as the second Akagi
group, the plane forn1ed a line mo1-e tha11 eleven mile long.
Leading the group was Lieute11ant Ichi1�0 Kitajima who lat1I1ched
on tl1e West Virginia at approximately 8:01. Of the twelve planes
Kitajima command d, six wot1ld target the Oklahoma the last one
lau11ching a1-ound 8:05.
While the torpedo attack on Battleship Row can be divided into two
separate lau11cl1ing phase , tli.e ame distinction could be made for
the U.S. ships' AA defenses. Although the planes from the Akagi, Hiryu,
and Soryu received very little AA fire, the planes from the Kaga flew
into a virtual gauntlet of machine-gun fire. The three minutes that had
•
DAM THE TORPEDOE 73
elap ed inc th torpedo sat1lt b ga11 th two mint1tes that the

Akagi-Hi,ryu- or; if, a at1lt la t d follovv d b th 011e-mint1te lull before
the Kaga pla11e I'riv d allowed inost of the AA crews the time
i1eeded to man th ir at1n . Tl1 r were sev n sl1ip berthed along tl1e
sot1thea t loch at the t1bn1arin base arid eleven at the navy yard fif
teen incl1-1ding the fot1r PT boats lashed to the deck of the oiler
Ramapo. Thot1gh the plane were flying too low for the ships to use
thei1- 3-inch/50-ca libei- and 5-irich/25-caliber AA guns, all the ships
had machine gL111 and e\1 ral 11ad many. As a result, the Kaga planes
were fir d on duri11g the entire dt1ration of their flight across the loch.
Four 'iVere hot dowi1 before the)' could launch, a fifth right after. It is
belie\red that three of the five '"'ere targeting the Oklahoma.
Thot1gh there Y\rere some i-epo1-ts to the contra1y, the Japanese
n1achi11e-gun fire that O(:curred du1ing the torpedo assault on Battleship
Row came from the torpedo plane tail gunners, who generally opened
fire the mo1nent their planes passed over the battleships after making
their lat1nching runs. Becau e the torpedo pla11es were not armed for
strafing, they did not return to the battle area after lau11chi11g. Instead,
they headed to a rendeZ\1ous area southwest of Oahu.
Thol1gh fighters were still strafing Ford Island and Hickam Field,
and a small flight of dive bombers attacked Battleship Row from tl1e
r1ortheast, the air pace above Battleship Row and the southeast loch
'N"as relatively barren ofJapanese planes for most of the torpedo attack.
Du1ing the assault of the Kaga planes, 011ly one plane flew over the
combined length of the southeast loch and main channel (approxi
mately one mile) at any given time. Contrary to popular belief, there
were no fighter plaI1es swooping in among the battleships.
At approximately 7:56, Ensign HerbertF. Rommel was finishing his
breakfast in tl1e Oklahoma s wardroom. Hearing explosio11s on Ford
Isla11d, followed almost immediately by the general alarm, he rushed
up a ladder to the forecastle. Exiting through a hatch, he glanced left
toward the sound of an approaching engine. The sot1rce was a low
flying plane headed straight toward the ship from the southeast loch.
Seeing it launch its torpedo, he immediately headed aft. Racing down
the port side toward his battle station in turret 4, he recalled an inci
dent about an incinerator fire and a quick-thinking boatswain who had
spurred his crew into action with an expletive. Believing that the crew
would interpret the alarm as just another drill, Rommel decided to
,.
us the am ta tic. Stopping abreast an int rcom for the hip's PA
sy tern, he depr , s d th 1 v r.
"This i a real air raid! Thi� i no hit!''
Moment later, the torpedo tn1ck amidship , a muffled whompffol
Iowed by a trem ndou explo ion that shot a column of water and
debris more than a thou and feet high. Th impact was ome twenty
feet below the waterline between the moke tack and the mainma t,
a11d the explosion blew away a large ection of the antitorpedo bli ter
and heaved the ship upward. The resulting hock waves sent oil gush
ing tipward through the adjacent fuel bunker ' sounding tube blow
ing the caps off on the third deck level. The effect of the second
torpedo, which hit approximately six seconds later, was similar. Neither
would penetrate the hull.
Though few of the crew were aware of cause, the explo ions dis
pelled any notions that the alarm was for a dr·ill. With a profound sen e
of urgency, they raced for their battle station . earl eighty would
head topside to man the AA guns. But their efforts would be usele s
because the firing locks were in the armory.
The majo1ity of tl1e crew headed down.
Though many were respor1sible for hatch a11d porthole closures on
the main and second decks, the bulk of the men had battle stations
below the waterline. Those without specific battle tation duties, pri
marily those assigned to the ship's assorted deck divisions sought the
protective confines of the third deck becau e the overhead (second
deck) was armored. This was protocol for an ae1ial attack , a measure
designed to safeguard the sailors and marines not engaged in fight
ing off aircraft. Because dive bombers had initiated the attack by bomb
ingFord Island, it was assumed that the explosions were due to bombs,
not torpedoes. Another battle station protocol was that you go up and
forward on the starboard side of the ship, down and aft 011 the port
side. When the attack began, most of the crew were in their livi11g areas,
the majority of which were amidships on the main and second decks.
Awakened from their sleep, many just rushed to the nearest ladder,
regardless of where it was located. Many of the ladders became
clogged, pa1�ticularly those on the third deck.
At approximately 8:00, Oklahoma was struck amidships near frame
65. The result was devastating. Following the same course that the first
torpedo had take11, which had blown away the antitorpedo blister, this
DAMN THE TORPEDOE 75
third torpedo pe11etrated tl1 11ull. Tl1e ns11i11g explo ion destroyed
the adjacent fuel bunker arid \roid pace on the second platform deck
a11d rL1ptL1red the acce s trt1nk to th two forwa1"d boiler rooms as well
as the tran er e bulkhead to the aft boiler room. Damage to the first
platform deck located directly above tl1e second platform deck, was
nearly as se1iou . Tl1e explosions tore off the I"e111ai11s of the antitor
pedo bliste1� de t1-o ed the adjacent ft1el bunke1�s and void spaces, and
the11 buckled the 1011gitudinal bulkl1ead of tl1e two forward fire rooms.
With water pouri11g in throt1gh a gaping hole, the list inc1--eased, strain
ing the hawsers that ecured the ship to the Maryland. Believing that
Oklahoma would pin the Maryland against tl1e starboard quays if she
ank inaking it impossible for her to get under way, officers issued an
order aboard Maryland to sever all lines. While Maryland sailors went
to vvork with fire axes, the Oklahoma was hit again.
Commander Kenworthy experienced the explosion while climbing
to the conning tower. Believing that tl1e resulting damage would be·
fatal he retreated to the boat deck. Informed by some crewman that
the lower decks were flooding, he co11ferred with Lieutenant
Commander William M. Hobby, Jr. , the ship's damage control officer.
When Hobby agreed that the situation was untenable, the word was
passed to abandon ship.
Barely two minutes had elapsed since the first torpedo hit.
The blast from the next one, the fifth, would shear tl1e hawsers to
the Maryland that were not already cut. Absent its constraints,
Oklahoma's list became pronounced. There would be at least one more
hit) possibly three, before the Kaga planes arrived. By then most of the
Oklahoma crewmen who would survive had already escaped to the upper
decks or had entered the water. Many had swum to the Maryland.
Though it is believed that Oklahoma would absorb three more hits from
the Kaga planes, the mortal damage had already been done. By 8:08
the Oklahoma was lying on her side.
She had already capsized when the Arizona exploded a minute or
2
two later. Two-thirds of BatDivOne would be sitting on the bottom
when its final member, Nevada, sortied at 8:42. By midmorning, Nevada
would be on the bottom as well. 3
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I I I I I I I I I I I I I 11111111111
145 140 130 120 1 LO 100 9<> 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 O
Nc>te: 'The disw11cc.· bctvvec11 ectth &an1e 1s 4 fl'ct.

SJ1,lded �lr<:\1: Ar1titorp0dc) blister
USS Oklahoma, starboard side profile. Based on a drawi11g by A. D. Baker III.

PORTSIDE
Numerical desig11atio11 of
11ortside 5-i11cl1/25-calil1er AA guns
3-it1cl1/SO-caliber AA gu11 3-inch/50-caliber AA gun

Tt1rret 4* 2) I Turret 2t
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N urnerical designatior1 of
starboard 5-i11cl1/25-ca1il1er AA gu,t1s
*Turrets 1 and 4 have three 14-inch/45-calibcr guns
STARBOARD SIDE t Tu.rrets 2 and 3 have two 14-incli/ 45-caliber guns
Z'3 USS Oklahoma, plan view. Based on a drawing by A. D. Baker III.

•
Upper deck
Portl1ol . _ __...,..
Main deck
Belt ar111or
S" Armor
�
2nd deck (ar1nor deck)
Manhole 1" Arn1or�

Waterline
3rd deck ( plintcr d ck)
_. ,.,......
Deck hatch
... __ 11-· l)oor (bulkhead hatch)
Note dogs around the peri1nctcr.
__.-? _..,___...,..,,
Antitorpedo
blisrcr 1 �t platform deck
Ladder
2nd platform deck
Hold
USS Oklalioma) portside c11taway view.
80
'
CHAPTER 9
Topside-7:55 A.M.
Th t1gl1 tl1er are i11an , tale and to1-ie eacl1 a11d ''ery one took place
i11 a pe1�iod of le tl1an fiftee11 ini11t1te and in a qt1are li1nit d to ix
11t111dred feet 11 either ide of the hip.
-Oklalioma ailor Pat1l A. Goodyear
1V7ie1i tlie attack began Jew rrezvme11 zuere rtbove decks: the ignal zuatch the deck
zuatch the lzzp ba11d tlie Maririe Colo1· Gurlrd and a jezu otlier si1rzj1l)' eny·a)J
ing tlie 1noming.
At 7:,55 Sign a l rna11 Th i rd Cla s Paul A. Goody ear had j ust re l ieved
the \Vatch on the i g11al bridge when he a\v a l i 11e of plane app1-oach
i n g Ford I la11 d f1-om the outhwest. I t wa n't u11 usual fo1� U . S . Na''Y
p i l ots to app roacl1 the Fo1-d I l a n d a i r tri p fro 1n that direction , pa1�
tict1larl:1wh e n 011 bombi ng 1nane u,1e r . Sa11 d I l a n d located at Wa ipio
Poi n t wa a ba rre11 pit o f l a 11 d whe re the pilot would d rop the i r
u n u e d and boni.b prior to landing. But i t wa trange that the plane
had the i r l a n d i n g gear down \vh en i t w a obvi ou by their al titude that
they we re n t att m p t i n g to l a n d . Plt1 their wheel had pro11 ot111ced
fa i ri n g, m uc h diffe 1-e11 t f1�om U . S . Navy plane . Goodyear' conce 1-11
was c e m e 11 te d when he aw the lead plane drop a bomb after it had
passed ove r Sand Island.
The bomb \rV h istled downward toward the out hwe t e n d of Ford
I l a n d . He raised h i bi noctllar and foct1. ed on the pla11 e. Pai 11 ted on
the fu e l age wa a large red m eatba l l .
''I t ' the goddamne d Jap ! '' he excl ai med.
He aw the se c o n d p l a n e drop a bomb that failed to explod e. The
bomb f rom the t h i rd plar1e pene trated the roof of the ma i\1 e ea plane
81
2 BATTLE HIP OKLA HOMA
•
l1a11 ga1--. An in ta11 t lrt t r, a ball of flam e som two h u ndr ed to th ree
11t11 1d1' d £ t i n diam ter e rt1p t d i n to t h e ky.
Goodyear wi t11essed the explo ion and the fiery i n ferno that e n ued.
A f w mome nts l a t e r Seam an Firs t C l a s Ri ch ard N . Lutt rell a n d
Seam a11 Fi 1,.st Class Rob rt D. Ryburn j oi n ed h i m . Wh il Luttr el l tared
at th devas tati o n , Rybu rn atte1n pted to c o n tact the office r of t h e deck
on tl1 ound-powe red phon . Whi l e he wai ted for a re pon e , w h i c h
n eve r came, a torped o plane zoome d overhe ad.
Cro i n g ove r the ship from port to s tarboa rd , the plane ba11ke d
hard 1 ft toward the harbor e n trance. Sur prised that i t h ad c o m e fro m
a diffe 1�en t d i 1�ectio r1 tl1an the o th e rs, G oodyear arid Luttrel l h eaded
aft for a better van tage because t h e i r p ortside view was obstructed .
Tl1ey had j t1st tur11 ed i n to a lateral passageway whe n t h ey saw a fi s h ''
( torpedo ) desc e n d in g from t h e belly of a low-flyi n g p l a n e that wa
headed straigh t toward the h i p , with a no t h e r o n e right b e h i n d i t .
Reac hing the end of the passageway, located direc tly above the o. 4
5-inch/ 25-caliber AA gun , th ey were stu n n ed to see that the AA gun
ners were oblivious to what was happe ni n g . I n fac t, the gu11 captain
had his back to the c h a nn e l .
Goodyear knew the man and yelled a t h i m to fire . Thi n k i n g i t was
j ust anoth e r of Goodyear's pra n ks , the m an put h is ha11ds o n h i h i p
and stated, 'Flags, you ' ve had too m u c h to d ri n k ! ' I t wasn t. u n til
Goodyear poi n ted ot1t the torpedo wakes that the gun captain took
h is words to h eart. By the11 it was too late .
They stood transfixed and awaited t h e i n evi table .
There was a whompf, an explosio n , a n d then a towerin g c o l t1 m n of
water. Seconds later the seco11d torpedo h it. Where as the i n i ti al i mpact
l1ad left Goody ear m o m e n tarily paralyz ed , the econd o n e p r o m p te d
l1 im to action . G raspin g Luttre l l by tl1 e shot1ld er, h e gestt1r ed toward
the bridge . By the tim e they ' d return ed, Rybur n was gon e , h avin g l e ft
fo r tl1e battle signal tation o n the second deck.
Goodyear looked across th e channel to the n avy yard . Hi s eyes riv
eted on the signal tower, h e saw a Baker fl ag raci n g up t h e h alyard .
Generally, the flag was raised h alf-way up as a signal to prepare to fi re ,
th en the rest of the way to ignal to c o m m en c e fi ring. B u t t h e re was
no h esitation this ti m e . The flag wen t s traigh t u p .
Goodyear turned to relay the message t o the b ri dge . H e the n rel ayed
the same m essage to the battle signal statio n . Ryburn received a n d c o n-
TOP IDE-7:55 AM
83
fi rm e d i t , i�e m o d a n i d e 11 tica l Bak r flag f1-0 1n tl1e sign al bag ,

atta ch e d i t to the 11al a 1-d a11d ent it a loft .
By 8:00 at l e a t fot 1 1- tor p doe had h i t t11e sl1ip .. With a 11 i ncre asi11 g
l ist, Oklahoma '!\Ta ob,ri o t1 1 goi11 g to i 11 k . Whe n the ship' s teles cope ,
w h i c h was mou n te d 011 a s l i d i 11 g u-ac k slid a l l the way to port, Good year
k n ew i t w as time to go . H e gestu red to LL1tt rel l and they l e ft.
M i dwa dO"\!\Til the l adde 1- to the boat deck , Goodyear recal l ed that
h e had l e ft the ignal book , wh i c h was inark ed ''Secret," 0 11 his desk
i n the i g11a l office . B ecause h e h ad signed for i t when h e ' d take11 the
watch h e d h av e to retriev e it or face the conseq uences . Thoug h his
basic i n t i n c ts told h i m o t h e 1vvise, he re treated up the l adder.
Afte r tuin i n g right at tl1e b 1idge , Goodyear h aste ned u p the sl op
i n g pas ageway to the sta1-board side, t h e n hustled fo rward alongside
t h e signal office . Stepping i 11 s i de , h e grabbed the book then retraced
hi step to tl1e l adders , w h i c l1 he desce nded with some difficulty
because they we re can ted due to the l ist. By the time he reac hed the
bottom h e was totally s p e n t . H e sat down fo r a short rest. The war
woul d h ave to wai t , if o n ly for a minute.
Gat h e ri n g h i s breath , h e saw a fl i gh t of p lanes approac h i ng
Battleshi p Row from the northeast. Tl1e p l anes had fixed landing gear,
the same type h e ' d seen attacking the air fi e l d on Ford Isla11d. Sudden ly
they began to dive . M o m e n ts l a ter h e saw a bomb descend from t l1e
b e l ly of the l e ad p l a n e . He fol l owed the bomb's trajec to 1y along i ts
e n ti re p a th . Lookin g down the long c l1 asm betwe e 11 the Tennessee and
the West Virginia, h e saw i t h i t the p o rt s i de of the Arizona's main deck
j ust aft o f turret 2. The bomb bounced, then disap peared, seemingly
without exploding. 1
Ris i n g to his fee t , Goody e a r tucked the codebook under h i s arm
a n d h eaded aft along the boat deck to a m e tal c o n tainer fi lled with
l i fe j ackets. I t was l arge , n early h a l f the width of the ship, with the l ife
j ac k e ts h e l d i nside by a canvas tarp . Goody ear h e l ped another sail o r
c u t the rope l as hi n gs securing the tarp to the c o n tainer, and wi th i n
m o m e nts , several 11u n dred l i fe jac ke ts h ad p l u m m e ted i n to the water.
U n for t u nately, the m e n 's efforts were i n vain . Due to agi ng and a l ack
of m ai n te n a n c e , b arely a dozen j ackets remained afloat. Not wil li n g
t o trust h is l ife to those that did, Goodyear desc e n ded a ladder to the
m a i n deck, p assed t hrough the l i fe l ines, then made h i s way down the
side o f the s h i p . Arriving a t the turn of the h u l l , h e ran i n to
•
4 BAT LI'� H I P OKLA HOMA

'I>
Com1nand r Kenwortl1y. Pr s nting hi1n with tl1e codebook

Goocly ar ask d hi1n what to cl with it. T Good r' urpri e the
co1nmand r told him to tos.· it.

Goodyear did a h wa told, a11d with a bit of defianc jumped right
i11 af't r it plt1mrneti11g ome fifty £ t to th water b low. Fighting hi
way to th t1rface, h found oil ev rywl1er . He avoid d it whe e he
cot1ld and warn to the Marylcind. By the time h arrived, h wa
exhat1sted. Fortt1nat ly, a ailor aboard the Maryland aw him and
to sed 11im a line. Goodyear grabbed it and was wrapping it around
11i ar1n wh i1 a lin of jagged circle app ared 011 the hull directl
above hi head.
It took a mon1ent for him to realize they were bullet hole .
Scared that mo1-e attacks wot1ld follow, he relea d his grip and
dropped i11to the water. He took a moment to regain hi compo ure
the11 scanned the sky and tried again. This time there were no bullets.
After i�eaching the bli ter ledge he climbed over it th n pu hed him
self to his feet. He followed the ledge to the neare t ladder, which he
scaled to the
Maryla11d's main deck. He then joined a detail of ailor
passing ammunition to the Maryland' AA battery; a bomb hit had re11-
dered her electrically powered hoists inoperative. He would remain
the1-e until ordered off when the attack ended.2
When the attack b gan, Ship Cook Third ClassJe T. Kalman was
emptying a trashcan on the port ide· he noticed a low-flying plane
approachi11g from tl1e outhea t loch. Seeing it lat111ch its torpedo, he
rl1shed back to tl1e galley to wa1�11 hi buddy Ship's Cook Second Class
Archie West. With no time to wa te, Kalman we11t straight to the point.
'Let's hat1l a a fi 11 i about to l1it u ! '
At eve11t e11, Sea1nan Second Clas George H. Sn1ith, Jr., was the
yot111ge t of the ship' crewm i1. After hearing the fir t explo ion, he
hustled port ide to hi battl tation at th No. 4 5-inch/51-caliber
b1-oadside gt1n. Wh 11 the second torpedo exploded below him, Smith
and anothe1- ailor clove out through the gt1n port.
At approxi111ately 7:30, Sean1an Fir t Clas John A. Cole, Jr., went

topside to the boat deck. Hi battle tatio11 "''as the No. 8 gun on the
portside 5-i11ch/25-caliber AA battery. Becau e Rear Admiral Isaac C.
Kidd' materiel insp ction wa the following morning, he was anxious
to clean hi equipment.
TOP IDE-7:55 Al\1 85
86 BATTLE fi l P OKLA HOMA
t1r111i d tl1 t it would �trik th hip forward of his po ition.

Convincing him elf that h wa ufficiently r moved from th point
of impact to urviv the r . ulting explo ion, h refocu ed hi effort
on hi gun. In the proces , h h ard En ign Rommel' warning on th

ship' PA y t m and the continuing, ound of machin -gun fire from
bel1i11d him.
Tl1en 11 heard anothe1- plane, thi one dir ctly above him. Looking
skyward, h aw it cro s ov r the width of the hip. As it flew over th
Mary land, he noticed that it was still carrying it torpedo. He found lit
tle consolatio11 i11 tli. kr1owledge becau e he knew that one had alread
made it into the water and was on its way toward the hip. He didn t
know about the 011e that had preceded it, which truck amid hips a
few moment late1-.
There was a muffled explosion, followed by a towering geyser of
water as tl1e hip heaved upward. Po itioned 0111 twenty 71ard from
the point of impact, Cole was awed by tli.e enormity of the ge er s col
umn; so voluminotts, it seemed an aberration. He wa too clo e to see
it crest, but he saw debris, a great deal of it. Realizing that it would
soon be raining down, he dove beneath a boat positioned bottom side
up 011 chocks just behind him. While he lay coiled beneath it, a sec
ond torpedo hit, sendi11g another ma ive gey er exploding t1pward.
Soon the deck was inundated with falling steel and water. Cole wol.1ld
spend nearly a minute waiting it Ol1t. Thot1gh the sou11d wa deafen
ing, the wait allowed him time to think. Deciding he '"'ould go to the
armory to retrieve the firing lock for 11is gun, he started forwa1-d at a
dead run the mo1nent the inaelstrom stopped. Hi dash was inter
n1pted when a thir·d torpedo hit. Knowing what wot1ld follow he took
shelter be11eath a11 overhang.
His wait would be extended by a fourth torpedo hit. He studied the
deck ahead. It was loping to port. Water and oil were everywhere.
He'd have to be careful to keep from slipping. He glanced at the trans
ver passageway leadi11g to the armory. Fort1111ately it wasn't far.
When tl1e secor1d maelstrom e11ded, he inched his way forward.
Turni11g bli11dly i11to the passageway, he stumbled over a body, then
stared at the lifeles form he recognized the face. Terrified, he scram
bled to his feet, took a final look, and then headed for the armory.
He had barely stepped inside when two petty officers arrived. Both
were members of the 5-inch/25-caliber AA crew. They were there for
TOPSID -7:55 M 7
the same r aso11. Ti o-etl1 i� tl1 )' gatl1 i� d tl1 firi11g locks. Th y 11ad
jt1 t tarted for tl1 d or '''11 i1 a11otl1 i- to1�p do l1it for ing th m back
i11sid . Wh 11 th fi11all rit d tl1e l� liz d tl1at th pro11ot111ced
li t had m de tl1 po1-tsid �l111 tl le . Following a ha ty di ct1. ion,
they h ad d to ta1-boa1�d '"ritl1 the firing lock .
After a1-1iving at tl1 N . 1 5-incl1/25- aliber AA gun, they in erted
a firi110- lock in th breech a11d attach d the el ctrical cable. W 11en
ar1other to1-pedo 11it, tl1ey were forced to seek shelter again. Atf er the
en lling deluge i1d d the m de their wa)' aft to the No. 3 5-i11ch/25-
caliber AA QUn. Th \Vere i11 the proce of i11stalling the firing lock
wl1en Com1nande1� Kenworthy descended from the b1idge.
Grimly he pa ed the vvord to abandon ship.
Deciding to depa1-t from the forwa1-d part of tl1e ship, Cole retraced
hi step to the o. 1 5-inch/25-caliber AA gun. He passed it, the11
desce11ded a ladder to the forecastle, where he climbed upward along
the sloping deck to the starboard lifelines. After stepping through the
lines he lid down the side of the hip on his rear end. Hi descent
ended at the bli ter ledge where he quickly removed 11is shoes. His
mode of e cape had obviously been shared at least a hundred pair·s
of shoe alread lined the ledge. On either side of 11im, hosts of shoe
less crewmen were liding down the bottom of the ship, including
Comma11der Kenworthy. Cole found himself somewhat amt1sed as he
watched the ship' rather dignified executive officer go sailing out over
the bilge keel, the tail of hi unbuttonedjacket streaming behind him.
While removing hi socks, Cole noticed that the mailer six-inch and
eight-inch mooring lines that tethered the Oklahoma to the Maryland
were rapidly shrinki11g in size. Reaching their shearing point, they
parted in a shower of sparks. Abse11t its final constrai11ts, the ship
lurched, and then slowly began to roll.
Cole was about to jump into the water when he noticed a forty-foot
motor launch tethered to the aft boat boom, a thirty-five-foot pole that
protruded horizontally from the side of the ship. Because the boom
was moving toward vertical with the roll of the ship, it was dragging
the boat attached to it up along the hull. Preferring a dry boat to oily
water, Cole scurried aft. He pulled the pin that secured the mooring
line to the boat's king post. Fortunately, the slime that had accumu
lated on the hull acted as a lubricant, allowing him to push the boat
into the water by himself.
B T L��SH I P OKl-JAHO/\IA
As tl1 bo,1t's inon1 11tum C'�1r1-i d it into the ever-wideni11g void

b nve n th tw �11ip:, ole 11 ard a ho1-u f houti11g from ·ailor ·
011 tl1 Mar�'Vlrl>id qt1<tl'l r·de k. Th y w r poi11ting at th ky. Looking
up, he aw a lu ter ()f. bomb, cl ·c nding fr m a V- hape d grot1p of

pla11 , e ini11gl)' t1-aight toward hin1. � rrifi d, he jumped int th
water. After l1ooting to the t11-fac , he i-ealiz d he had i11i Judg d their
traj cto1 . Mi ing th lt1 t r of fot1r battl hip at th F-5 and F-6
quay , the bombs de cended 011 F-7, wher A rizona and Vestal were
moored. Moments later, a horrific explo io11 rocked the entire har
bo1-. Within cond , th Arizonct wa a ma of flame .
Cole watched the massive tripod forema t lump folV\Tard, then in
hock, l1e swain to the boat and slowly pulled him elf a board. A hort
time later, he glanced at his watch. It had stopped at :0 , apparentl'
wl1en l1e had jumped i11to the water. That time, a11d th demi e of the
Arizona, wot1ld be forever linked in hi memor y.3
Seaman Fir t Clas Jacob F. Chas ereau, Jr. vvas clea11ing on of the
ship's portside 5-inch/25-caliber AA gunv when he wa interrupt d by
the chatte1-i11g of inachine-gun fire . Jt1mping behi11d tl1e gu11 hield
he saw aJapanese pla11e banking left ir1to a climb, it tail gunner traf
ing the ship.
Gunner' Mate Fi1- t Clas Charle F. McB tl1 V\7a placi11g a firing
lock in a po1�t ide 5-i11ch/25-caliber AA gun when tl1e first torpedo
exploded. 111 horror, he saw the sl1rapnel decapitate a hipmate.
Sean1an Fir t Cla Theodo1- G. Ted'' V\Toodward 'va at hi battle
tation at tl1e No. 7 S-i11ch/25-caliber AA gl1n on th tarboard ide
when he heard the call to move to the Maryla'Jid. He i1e\rer did hear
the call to aba11do11 11ip.
Coxswai11 Rayi11011d L. Bowde11 wa a membe1- of Oklctho1na Eighth
Divi io11 . Th divisio11 was re po11 ible for mai11tai11i11g the thi1-d deck
a11d operating tl1e No. 3 motor lat111ch of which he wa the coxswain.
He had boarded th Oklahoma in Marcl1 1939. Two years later, his
ot1nger brothe1- Tom l1ad joi11 d 11i1n. On th 11igl1t of December 6
1941, the two went a 11ore 011 liberty together.
Tl1e followi11g morning, Ray awake11ed early and had breakfast,
becau e the No. 3 launch wa a de ignated duty boat. As uch, the fifty
foot lat1nch had to b r ady to board passe11gers at 8:00 A.M. Because it
was Sunday, most of the passengers would be churchgoers. Though all
the fleet's hip 11ad chaplain who condt1cted ervice for all denomi-
TOP IDE-7:55 AM 9
nati o 11 while the l 1 i p w at e a Oklalio11ia � p cializ d i11 atholic serv

i c e while in port becat1 h 1 cl1 plai11 V\r a an ordain d Ca tholic pri st.
The lau nc h e p 1-ovi ded tra11 po r·t to 11 i ps co11duc ti11g s rvice in th e
other maj o r fai th or t rvice bei 11g co11ducted ashore .
At 7:45 Bowden a en1bl d 1 1 i t l1 1�e -ma11 crew on the starboard side
of t h e q t 1 a 1-t rde c k . Tt1 n i ng tl1 e i r i 11stru me n ts i 11 the center of tl1e quar
te1�deck 'i\'a the 11i p ba11 d . Mu tering alo11 g th e fan tail was the
Oklalio'fna color gu ard. A t o 11 e s tl1 row away, s i m i lar preparations
,,ve re b e i n g n1ad o n the qua 1- t e 1-de ck of the Maryla1id. Aboard the
We t Vi1ginia. moore d d i rectl aft ail o r "\iV e r·e congregati11 g on the bow
to raise the U nion Jack.
Sho1-tl � before 7:50 Bowden gestured h i s men toward the boat boom.
Grasping tl1e 11pport line t11at extended fr·om the end of the boom to
a tanch i on 011 the shi.p the)' sl1uffl e d s ideways across the boom to a
Jacob ladder made of rope wi th wooden rungs, that descended i n to
t h e lau nch . Looki ng ahead t hrough the grottolike cavern formed by
the 11u l l of the Oklaho1na and the Maryland, Bowden could see the stern
of the Neosho a tanker berthed at the F-4 gas dock that hadj ust finished
discharging aviation gas to th e storage tanks on Ford Island.
Once aboard the lau n c h , B owden cleaned the fan tail wh i l e his c rew
wip e d the dew fro m the seats. At 7:55 the bugler sounded fi rst call on
the s h i p PA s te m , and the p rep flag was raised. Wh i le Bowden and
the o th e rs con tinued with the i r cleaning th e ship's band began march
i n g aft toward the flagstaff.
A m in u te later Bowd en h e a rd a i rpla11 e engi nes ove r Ford Island but
thou ght n o th ing of i t u n ti l he h ea1�d the distinc tive h amm ering of . 50-
c a l i b e r m a c hi ne-gun fi re fro m atop t h e Maryland, followed by a11
expl osio n at t h e sou ther n e n d of the i land . A mom ent later, he heard
a voic e o n the West Virginia's PA syste m sum mon ing th e s h i p 's fire and
resc u e tea m . Wh i l e h e puz zle d ove r i ts mea ning , a pla1 1 e flew over
h ea d fro m the d irec tion of For d Islan d. See ing a red ball on the u nde r
side of e a c h win g, he i mm e d i ately ord ered h i s m e n to thei 1- batt le
stat io n s . O n e afte r a n o th e r, th ey sc am pered up the Jac ob's ladd er.
Bow den was the last to go .
Af te r c l imbing the ladder to the boo m , he grabbed hold of the su p-
p o rt l i n e , and then shuffled si deways along the length of the boom to
the side o f the s h i p . By the time h e ' d secured a fo othold on the teak
wood deck, h i s m e n had a l ready dispersed as had the band and the
..
color guard . Rac i n g forward along the qu arterdeck, h e heard a

resot1nding explosior1 o n th e port ide of the West Virgjnia, fol l owed
by a similar explosion alongside the 01klahoma.
Thou gh the resu lting trem or did n o t h i n g to i mpe de h is spee d
the expl osion had occu rred well forward, and o n the oppo si te side of
the ship i t defi11 i te ly h eight ened his sense of u rgen cy. Wh e n h e
reached the break of the quart erdec k, he race d up a ladde r to t h e
upper deck, and then up anoth er to the boat deck. S tarti n g forwa rd ,
h e saw a low-flyi n g plane h e aded toward the s h i p from the southe ast
l o c h . Seeing i t drop i ts torpedo , h e accelera ted i n to a spri n t. As h e
i�aced alongsid e th e four 5-in ch / 25-cal i b e r AA gun m o u n ts o n the s ta r
board side of the s h i p , he h eard the p in gi n g of bul l e ts careen i n g off
the gun shields and ready boxes. At the forward e n d of the boat deck
he scaled the double ladders to the sign a l bri dge , t h e n s tarted u p
another ladder to the n avigation bridge o n ly to be rocked by a sec
ond explosio n , as another torpedo struck amids hips. B arely avo i d i n g
the geyse1� that fol l owed, he raced up another ladder to the p i loth ouse
top, where the AA directors were located.
Stepping throu,gh the door of the s tarboard side director he was
surprised to find that o n ly o n e other c rewmate had preceded h i m ,
Fire m a n First Class Robert ''Bobbie" Jones. They'd barely had time to
acknowledge each other wl1e n Bowde n saw a torpedo plane·h e aded
for the California, and still an other angl i n g for the Oklahoma.
Bowden positioned h imself be h i n d the telescopic sight o n the port
side of the director, e ndeavoring to align it o n a target whe n h e real
ized there was n 't any power. Withou t electric ity the d i rector was use
less. A momen t later, the telescope would be useless as wel l . Bowd e n
recoiled as the eye piece was j e rked from his fac e w h e n t h e telescope
was struck by some proj e c t i l e .
Starin g at the tubular casing i 11 disbel ief, h e realized t h at h e was
u tt e rly defenseless. H e steadied h imself o n the tilting deck and p re
pared for the explosions h e knew were forthcoming. H i s w a i t would
be short. Mome n ts later, Bowden heard the direc tive to abandon s h i p
from a n earby PA speaker, which fort u n ately was o n a diffe r e n t c i rcu i t
than the director.
"Let's get the h e l l out of h ere! " h e shouted to Jones. Bowd e n
unlatched the portside door. B ecause of the ship's portside list, i t swun g
open without prompti ng. Looki n g below, Bowd e n could see sailors
...
TOP IDE-7:55 A 1 91
already b e gi n n i n g to 1 av e . Off to hi right, sailors aboard t h e Maryland

were t 1 i n g es to ct1t tl1e 11 w 1� tl1at t th r d th two hip together.
Dec idin°' to l e ave 11 th ta1,b oard id , he desc nde d a ladd er to
the wino- of the n \rio-a tion b1-i dge a11d wa abot1t to descend a11oth er
w h e n 11 n ticed t h bod of a ailor i n an adj acen t cuppe1-. Bowden
recogi1 i zed t l1e n1a 11 face . I t wa We t, 0 1 1 of h is men from the moto r
l au n c h .
Upor1 reach i 1 1 g t l1 e ignal b1-idge , Bowde n desce11ded the doubl e
ladder to the boat d ck, tt1rned to starboa rd, and walke d up along
the s l o p i 11 g deck abot1t fifteen feet. Gra ping the aft porti on of the
waist-hig h gu11 sl1 ie l d that e11 c i rcled the No. 5 5-i nch/ 25-cal iber AA
gun h e p11lled h i m e lf up t,o the edge of the deck. After cli mbing
through the l i fe l i 11 e Bowd e n lid down the fron t of an exterior bulk
head to the upper deck. Yet h e sti l l had to cross a section of deck to
reach the ide of the hip. H e wasn 't sure he could make it. The ship
wa now l i ting m o re than 45 degrees. H e was close to six feet tall , but
t he l i fe l i 11 e were a good eight to ten fee t away. H e couldn 't reach them
by j umping. I nstead he would have to crawl . Dropping to his knees,
h e crabbed h is way upwa1·d. After pulling himself through the lines,
h e tood up and tarted wal king.
Though h e wa i n i tially walking at a decli11e, tl1 e slope had been
reduced to almost nothing by the time h e ' d reached the blister ledge
which was now nearly ve rtical . Scaling i t, he glanced down to survey
the ship' bottom . After fi n d i 11g a route that was clear of protruding
pump i n takes, h e h ad j ust sat down when he saw a tremendous plume
of smoke e rupting to his right. He realized that i t was the Arizona. An
i ns ta n t l ater, i t exploded i n to a fiery i nferno.
H e took a final look and t h e n pushed h i mself off. When h e reached
the tu1� n of the kee l , he s h o t off i nto the air, arci ng outward before
dropping some e i g h t fe e t to the water below. S urfacing, he swam
toward t h e Maryland) now some fifty fe et away. H e started toward a
cane fe nder suspended fro m her blister. Though he encoun tered oil
along the way, he was able to avoid it by splashing i t from his tra i l .
Reach in g the fe nder, h e s h i m m ied up t h e rope to the blister ledge .
Fortuna tely, two Maryland sailors hustled over to help h i m aboard. As
they p u l l ed h i m up, Bowden n oticed another group of sailors j ust a
few fee t to his right helping someone else aboard. Glan cing toward
them as he gathere d h is breath , h e realize d i t was h is bro ther, Tom .
92 BATTLE H I P OKLA HON/A
•
I 11 r dibly r li ved he gath r d hi yot1 nge r iblin g i n a m a ive bea r

hug . Fol l owi ng a £ w quic k word , Tom a ked Ray wha t he hou ld do
i1e t. Ray a11swered that he h ot1ld repo rt to hi regu lar batt l
�
tatio n .
As To 111 h t1 tl d ofl' , Ray h ded hi own advi ce, p r eedi n g to the
b 1idge to if he coul d b u til ized o n th AA d i rect r.
A gunn ry office r i 11strr 1 c t d him to po t him e l f on the flyi n g bridge
as a looko ut for targ ts . Dur i n g the econd wav of the attack , Bowd en
\Va tl�llCk in the r}1 t by a piece of hra p n e l , the re u] t of 2 50-pou nd
bomb blast on the Maryla nd's foreca tl e . The man sta11 d i n g to his left
wa wot1nd d i n th leg. An officer tan d i n g to h i righ t wa killed.
Seaman Fi r. t Class Jame A. E h le rt was perc h e d in the foremast on
a pai 11ting stage wh e n the attack began. S e e i n g aJapane e plane zoom
over the ship, he to ed a hand towel over a haw e r, creating a zip-l i n e
that he used to descend to the boat deck. Whe n word was p a sed to
abandon ship, he himmied upside down aero s another haw. er to
the Maryland.
Mar i n e Private Ch arles M . Risher was on tl1 e fan tail w h e n machine
gun bull e t began p l i n teri n g the deck arot1nd h i m . S cond late1� h e
was bl own off the ship when the fi rst torpedo h i t .
Seaman Fi rst Class Charles R. Curti was i n t h e cab of o n e of the
ship' crane whe11 the attack bega n . Whe n the s h i p rol l e d ove1" , h e
rode the cab dowi1ward , j u m p i n g ot1t a m om e 11 t before i t h i t the water.
Positioned high i 11 t l1e mai n ma t when the e c o n d torpedo h i t
Seaman Fi1-st Clas H arry L. Scott, Jr. , wa catapulte d i 11to t h e a i r when
the resul ting explo i o 11 side-wh i pped t h e n1a thead. I nc re d i bly, h e
lancled 0 11 the Maryland . H e survived becat1 e a n aw11i n g broke h i
fal l . A bomb blast ome ten in i nt 1 te late r wou l d blow h i m off t h e
M a rylan d, and h e would su rvive that fal l as wel l .
Wh en the attack bega11 , Private Fir t Clas Ji mmy D . Black was i n
the mari n e qt1ar ter o n the eco11d deck aft port side. He had j ust fi n
ished the fo t1r- to-eight watch and was e nj oyi n g a c igarette and a c u p
of coffe e . After the colors were rai ed at 8:00 he planned o n eajoyi n g
a lei l 1 rely breakfa t .
H e h ad n ' t heard the ge n e ral alarm before th e fi rst torpedo h i t .
A10 11g wi th Private First Clas E l m e r E . Drefa h l , h e scrambled for t h e
n earest l adder. Because their battle stati o n was located high i n t h e fore
ma t, they'd have to h t1stle to get there . Whi l e they were e n route, t h e
second torpedo h i t .
TOPSIDE-7:55 M 93
V\lh e 11 tl1 e rea 11ed a ladde 1- on tl1 tarboa 1 d ide of the tu1-ret 4
barbe tte tl1e 1 seal d it to the qt1art l'd ck. Se i ng bull t spli11 te1-i 11g
th e d e c k a the e it d the hatc h , tl1ey immed i ately j t1 mped back
th 1-0L 1gh i t barel 1 a,,o i d i n g 0 111 otl1ers who had tarted up the lad
der beh i n d tl1 e 1n . T 11 e q t 1 ic kl 11eaded fo rward to climb aloft through
tl1e ship super trt1ctt11- e .
Ai-rivi n g amid l1i p th e caled a ladde1- to the main deck, another
to the upper deck and tl1 e n a th i rd that took tl1em to the boat deck.
H u tli 11 g forward the)' caled the tarboard leg of tl1e foremast to th eir
battle ta tion i n tl1e h i p' e c o 11dary AA batter y . Located above tl1e
ra n ge fi n d e r the a1-ea, 'Nas a la rge platform su1-rounded by a waist-high
shield featu1-i11g fot1r air-cooled .SO-caliber mac h i n e gun s . B ecause the
gun s fi riI1g locks h ad bee n s towed for M o n day's iI1spec tio n , no11 e of
the gun wa operati,re .
A mon1 e n t later the third to1pedo h it, and shortly thereafter a fourth
o n e . With the resulting geysers spouti11g up along the port side, Black
stared i n disbel i ef at the torpedo planes closin g i n on Battleship Row
from the southeast loc h . Powe1-less to do anyth i ng but watc h , he saw
the lead plane a n gle south towa rd the California. Knowi ng what lay
ahead h e had n o desire to watch i t happe n . I nstead, he turned h i s
thoughts to their escape.
Becat1se the ship was l istin g, he knew that if they didn ' t leave the
foremast soon they would eve n tually be thrown out. If that happened,
they co1 1 l d be sucked under when the ship ke eled ove r. H e decided
they s h o u l dj um p but ¥\ran ted to wait u n ti l the platform was ca11 ted over
the water. Whe n Black re layed his plan to Drefa h l , Drefa h l refused,
despite B l ac k s c o n te n ti o n that they would drown if they didn 't. Black
d i d n 't p u rsue the matte r further. Gla n c i ng across the chan n el , he saw
another torpedo plane com i n g i n ove r the southeast loch. After a few
m o re seconds, he decided i t was time to go . Steppi11g ove r the port
side of th e gu n shield, he stared down at the wate r. The platform was
usually about eigh ty-five feet above the waterl i n e . With the ship l ist
i ng, i t was somewhat less. E i th e r way, i t was a lo ng drop. Though he
c o u l d see men i n the 'va te r, none were d i rectly below h i m .
H e took a m o m e n t to prepare h imse l f. At the fi n a l i nsta n t, he
decided to d i,1e i nstead ofj um p . I n c re d ibly, i t wo uld be h is fi rst divi ng
atte mpt eve r, from any heigh t. He fortunately had the foresigh t to posi
tion h is hands above h is head as he departed the platfo rm.
Severa l seconds l1ad elapsed by the time he reac h ed t h e water. H e

pierced t h e surface and con tin ued down . Though he was stu n n e d a n d
had the wind knocked o u t o f h i m , h had th e p rese n ce o f m i n d to
propel h i mself upward. Fi11al ly, he breached the s u r face and began to
swi m . I t wasn 't until he was sufficiently c l e ar of the s h i p that h e topped
to catch his breath . He rolled ove r o n to his bac k a n d used h is legs to
stay afloat. Having absorbed the bru nt o f his i m pact, h i arms felt like
they ' d been torn from their socke ts.
Though the torpedo attack was still i n process, Black's battle was
over. He had never fel t so exhausted or alone in h is l i fe . The Oklahoma'
list was i n c reasi ng, and there was no doubt that she wou l d soon be o n
her side. H i s only duty n ow was to survive . Turni n g toward t h e chan
nel e n tran c e , he kic ked h i s feet to propel himself forward, aided by
an occasional flutter from his arms. M ovin g parall e l to the Oklahoma
u n ti l he drew eve 11 wi th h e r bow, Black t h e n angled toward the
Maryland) which h e bypassed i n favor of a landfa l l o n Ford I s l a n d .
Finally, h e touched bottom. When the \Vater was waist deep , h e real
ized he had lost 11i s u 11 i form . All that remained were h i s skivvies, h i s
socks, a n d a singl e shoe .
..
C H APTER 10
Chaos Bel ow
The O klahom a liad Jo ilr deck hatche on the quarterdeck, th,ree on the for-ecas
tle a n d five o n the boat deck. Each of the four turrets liad a1i escape hatch on
tlie under· ide of tlie overha 1ig.
Gun ne1- s M ate Second Class Leon C . Kolb was the gun captai n of
the c e n te r gu11 i n turret 1 . Whe n the attack began , h e was i-el axing i n
t h e turret l ower s h e l l deck. H e had j ust rett1rned from breakfast. The
fi rst i ndication that o m e th i n g was amiss was a thud that se n t a quiver
t h rough t h e deck . For ome reason , his i n i tial reaction was to c heck
t h e time on an old alarm clock that was hangi n g by a string from the
overh ead. I t V\ras 7 : 5 5 .
Seconds later, the re was an explosi o n , this one wit h i n the s h i p . The
deck h eave d u pward a good foot and fel l , a sensation similar to a ris
i11g elevator top p i n g udden ly. H e coul d n 't i m agi n e how something
could rai e a battleshi p . Following a second explosio11 , sailors began
s trea m i n g down o n to the s h e l l deck fro m the turre t's upper levels.
Wh e11 o n e i nform e d him ''th e e n e my is off Diamond Head attac king
us, " Kol b assumed that a Ge1Tilan battlesh ip was shelling Battleship
Row. C l i m b i n g a series of ladder , he asce11 ded the equivale n t of four
d e c ks to h is battle station i n t h e gun roo m . After s towing his army cot
( th e gun room was also where he slept) , Kol b formulated a plan of
a c ti o n . A season e d vetera n h e ' d served o n the battles hip Texas prior
to Oklahoma h e k n ew that i n order to re turn fi r e , the turr e t 's cen
t e ri n g p i n wou l d h ave to be remov ed to allow the turret to rotate . He
also wan te d to close tl1e turret 's ven tilatio n system to preve n t a11y
s m o ke e nter ing fro m o u tside .
95
96 BATTL ES H I P OKLAHOMA
...
N edin g app rova l t o do both , he desc end ed to the shel l dec k to fin d
hi supe rvi or, G t 1 n 11e1�' M a te Fir t la s Wi l l i a m G . S ilva, who m h e ' d
seen there earli er. Wh e n he foun d h i m , S i lva answe red n o to both h i
proposals, ayi ng he wou ld take care of them h i m e l f. He told Kol b to
retur n to l1i batt l e tati on . B fore Kol b could l e ave , a n o th e r torpe do
11i t . He g1-abb ed hold of a towe l bar to kee p his fee t . The n a n o th e r
one h i t . The alarm clock was swi ngiI1 g l i ke a p e n du l um . Wh e n t h e
swi ngin g started t o s low, h e started up the ladder.
I n the gun room , he coul d do noth i ng but wait . H e still had n o idea
what was happe n i n g outside . Neither the d ivi i o n officer n o r his assi -
tant had arrived, nor the c hief petty offi c e r. H e d heard Rom m e l '
war11 i n g on the PA but n o t h i n g s i n c e . Why were n ' t the gu n s b e i n g
trained? I f there was a n e n e my ship off D i a m o n d Head, the t u rre t
should be rotated to port. I t didn't make sense . Consumed wi th frus
tration, he ducked out thro11gh the hatch i n the overhang t o fin d out.
Hearin g the ping, ping, ping of ricoc h e t i n g bullets he i m m ed i a te }
glanced to his iigh t. The bullets had c hipped a l i n e of pockmarks i n
the barbette of turret 2. H e looked aft to deter1n i n e the sourc e . What
h e saw was a Japanese dive bomber desc e r1ding o n the n orth e n d of
Battleship Row. H e could clearly see t h e red balls 011 i ts win gs. U n ti l
that moment, i t 11 ad never o c c t1rred to h i m that the assail a n ts might
be Japan ese .
He saw a bomb drop, watching its trajec tory as the plane pulled out
of its dive . Mome11 ts later there wa a volcani c explosion a111 d a n e nor
mous fireball e 1-upted i n to the sky. Because of i ts e normity, h e was sure
the bomb had h i t a powder m agaz i 11 e . Wi th Oklahoma havi n g e n t e red
the harbor with A rizona and Nevadajt1st two days before, h e knew that
both were moored at the no rth end of the row, b u t from h i s van tage ,
he coul d n ' t deter1n i n e which of the two had been h i t .
Now that he realized the ships we re u 11 d e r aerial assau l t , h e n atu
ral ly assumed the explosions h e ' d fel t earl i e r were tl1e res u l t of bombs .
As he h ad come out from b e n eath the turret 's ove rh a n g o n the star
board side of the s l1 i p , h e h ad n o idea that torpedo b o mb e rs were
assaulti n g the port side . His fi 1�st thought was to j o i n an AA c rew, h i s
secondary battle s tati o n . Aware that the gun 's fi ri n g l o c ks h a d b ee n
stowed fo r M o11day's i nspec tion , h e decided aga i n s t i t . H i s secon d
though t was to fl ood the p owder m agazi n e s . I f i t could b e d o 11 e , i t
wot1ld m i tigate the sort of devastation h e h ad j us t witnessed. A t t h e
C H AOS B E L OV\7 97
very l e a t if the ould flood t11 ta1-bo a 1 d maga z i n , they could cou11 -
terb al a 1 1 c e the l i t wl1 i c h h gt1 d wa abo11 t t 11 d g1-ee . He has
tened to get bel vv. Th I� we 1 e otl1 r doi n g tl1e same .
H e locate d Sil,,a a11 d oft r d h i t1gg ti o11 . Tl1e an wer was n o .
0 1 1 c e aga i n h e V\ra told to i- tt11�n to tl1e gt1 n 1�oom which 'va diffi c u l t
to do n o\¥ b cau e the h i p wa listi11g . C l i mbi11g from the e m e rgen cy
batter)' roo1n to tl1e gu11 roon1 , 11 e fot 1 n d h i m e l f using t h e ladder s
cor11e r i n tead of t h e rt1ng . By the t i 1n e 11e reached the gun room, he
had c o t 1 n t e d si.1 explo i o 11 . Though h e still d i d 11 ' t know they had
re t 1 l ted fro m torpedo hits, h e had n o dot1bt that the;r had caused con
s i d e 1-ab l e damage. H e l1 ad g-l i mpsed t h e Maryland when h e ' d been
abo,1e . H e had11 t een an damage . I f h e cot1ld ge t to her, he might
be able to j oi n an AA c rew to fight back. Believin g that th e order to
abandon s h i p wou l d ha\1e been give n i f there were some o n e there to
is ue i t h e decided to take the i n i ti ative . He assessed the si tuation with
Gun ner s Mate Second Class Jo l1 n C. Carlso n a n d Gun n e r's Mate
Second C las Edgar E . Dish m a n , and the trio decided to transfe r to
the J\1aryland. Kol b fol l owed t h e m out through the ove rhang.
Looking to port, he saw that the outer portion of the teakwood deck
was already t 1n der water. Tl1 e s h i p was goi n g down . I t never occurred
to h i m t h a t it would capsize .
Sudde n ly he realized h e ' d l e ft his fiancee's e n gage m e n t ring i n his
locker on the s h e l l deck. He had purc h ased i t i n H o n o l t1lu a couple
of weeks earl i e r. I t had cost h i m two h undred dollars, a s u m i t had
taken h i m 5� years to save . H e was about to go below to retrieve i t
when he recall e d t h e biblical story of Lot and his escape from Sodom
a n d Gomorra h , a c i ty that God was destroyi ng because i t was evi l .
Because L o t was good, God h ad commanded h i m to leave wit h his wife,
with i ns tructions that t h ey should n ever look back. Concerned for her
j ewelry, L o t 's wife disobeyed, turn ing i n stan tly i n to a pillar of salt.
Kol b took the story's message to h e a 1�t. H ad he gon e back, h e most
l i ke ly would h ave died. The two Oklalioma sai l o rs who rec e ived the
Congressional Medal of H o n o r pos thumously, E nsign Francis C.
Flaherty and Seaman First Class James R. Ward, both died i n th e bow-
e l s o f turret 1 .
Seaman Second Class Melvin L. Vaugh n was standing opposi te the
refrigerators on t h e thi rd deck when the fi rs t torpedo h i t. The con
cussion ruptured a refrigera n t condui t and tweaked the doorframes.
9 BATTL H I P OKLAHOMA
�
Th doo rs agg ed o p n , in und atin g the com par tme n t wit h a m m o n i a

f11m . 1
Coxswain Cl1 ester G. Shackle t t moo n ligh ted a a m o n ey le n der. H i s

s ta11 dard loan was five for six : h e ' d l e n d five d o l l a r wi th s i x d o l l a r
du the n e x t payday. Qui te t1cce s ful , h e had t h re e h u n dred d o l l a r
s towed i n his lock er on the mor n i n g of Dec emb er 7 , q u i te a sum 'vh e n
the avera ge seam an mad e only twen ty-on e dolla r a m o n t h . Tho ugh
he raced to man his AA battl e tatio 11 when the ge n e ral alarm ound ed,
i t wa a diffe re n t story when word was p a ed to trans fe r to t h e
Maryland. F i n d i ng t h e neare t ladde 1�, h e raced below to ret ri eve t h e
mo11ey f1-om h i s locker. Fol l owi ng a torped o explos i o n , 11e c a m e acros
an e nsign whose h ead h ad becom e wedge d i n t h e framew ork of a
bunk. S h acklett freed h i m , t h e n swam to the Marylan d) th e m o n ey
tucked deeply i n h i s pocke t.
E11sign Paul H . Backus was the Oklahoma' ignal offi c e r, quite an
accom p l i s h m e n t for a m aI1 who had b e e n o n the h i p for o n ly fi e
mon ths and out of college for o nly ten . H e shared a e c o n d deck c ab i n
wi th Ens ign Lewis Bailey Pride, .. J r. , a cla mate from t h e Naval
Acade my.
Bac kus spe n t Saturday n ight aboard s h i p , re tiring h ortly after m i d
n ight. Pride spe n t the eve11 i n g i n H o n o l u l u , c e l e b ratin g a gt1 n n e ry
award wi th fe llow officers from the 5-in c h / 5 1 -cal i be r broad i d e bat
te ry. Because their revel ry had stretc hed well i 1 1 to t h e eve n i 1'1g, t h ey d
m issed the liberty boat to tl1e ship and had p e n t the n i g h t i n t h e i r
cars. Pride had been i n his bunk o n ly a c o u p l e of h o u rs w h e n
Rommel 's warni n g resounded ove r the PA. Stil l se m i-inebriated, Pride
n ever heard i t .
Tl1e ge neral alarm awake ned the dee p-sl e e p i n g Backus, b u t h e o n ly
half com prehended its mear1 i 11 g . H e was sti ll i n h i b u n k w h e 11 h e
heard Rommel 's war11i 11g. Backt1s knew Rom m e l ; h e was n o t t h e type
to wear even casually, mucl1 l ess over t h e s h i p 's PA. T l1 e n h e h eard
the annou nceme n t that all perso n n e l n o t e n gaged i 11 repe l l i n g t h e air
attaclz shot1ld take shelter below th e armored deck. I t spurned Backus
to his fee t . Pride n ever stirred. Tl1e alarm sounded aga i 11 as B ackus
t 1-ied to s l1 ake h i 1n awake . I t took a considerable effort, b u t h e fin a l ly
got h im u p . Stil l i n a stupor, Pride began to d ress . The task, diffic u l t
to begi n wit h , became even h arder wh e n the cabi n s tarted shaking,
the result of the fi rst torpedo h i t. B ecause th e i r cab i n was on t h e oppo-
..
C H AOS BELO'J\7 99
it id o f tl1 ship B kt1 did11 t 11 a1� tl1 r p l o i o n , bt1t h kn w,

tha n k to Rom m I th t tl1 1 ' '' i- t1nd r ttack and t1r 1n ised that t h e
tre m o r was r l a te d . D i ct1 i 1 1 g tl1eir amaz m n t tl1at an e n e m)' could
reach the h a 1 bo1- t 1 1 1 d t ct d tl1 y q11ickly fin i bed dres i n g .
P ri de da h e d ot1t tl1 doo1- fi r t fol l o'"' d by Backus a few seco11 ds
later. Backt1 was rot111di11 g· tl1e barbette of tur1-et I wl1en he ran i n to
Li ute11a11t Lawre11ce H . Bi1-tl1i 1 J r. , Pride s divi ion officer. Birthi el
had c o m e to fi n d P i-id b cat1 tl1e t\vo had bee 11 out together tl1 e
n ial1 t befo r . Some'"rl1at i 11 a daze , h e asked Backt1s to fi n d out wh ere
h e ,, as. H e ''\1a i nfi11 i te l 1 re l ie\red '"'he n Backus tol d h i m tl1at P ride was
a''v ake a n d e 11 route to l 1 is battle stati o n . 2 Wl1en the two m e n parted,
Backu tarted aft a l o 11 g tl1e port side . Pas i 11 g the barbette of turret
2 he e 11 c o un tered Seco11 d Lieutenan t H e n ry H . Gaver, J r. , a mari ne
vvho l i\1ed ac1-oss t h e pa sageway fro m h i m . Ga\rer was attempting to
c l o e a trt 1 n k hatch de pite t h e ailors trying to c l i m b through i t from
the deck bel ow. T h e general a la1-m requi red that the hatch be sealed.
It \\'a Ga,Ter duty to ee that i t V\ras don e . He had no idea they would
i1 e\1er get out.
C o n t i 11 u i n g aft, Backus tepped tl1rough a bul khead h atch to
another p a age' a , the n started up a l adder toward the signal bridge .
O n the way u p h e saw a sailor o n the deck of the damage con trol
office gat h e ri n g paper catte1-ed rougl1shod across the deck. Guessi ng
that the torpedo had struck di rectly below, Backus co11 tinued movi11g,
c l i m b i n g two decks to the captai n 's cabi n . One of his duties as a com
n1u n i c atio n s officer wa to re m ove the c rypto material from the cap
tai n 's safe , secure i t i n a weigh ted watertigh t canister, arid toss i t
overboard. Because· the capta i n had go n e ashore earlier, Backus was
u n able to p e r fo rm the ta k; the safe was l oc ked a n d too la1�ge to move .
Frustrated , he l e ft.
E x i ti n g the c ab i n by the No. 3 5-in c h/ 25-ca l i b i- AA gun , h e stopp ed
to ask a gun n e r why t h e gun wasn ' t firin g. I 11 disgu st , the sai l o r re torte d
that the a m m u n i ti o n was locked up, ther e was n o com pres sed air to
o p e ra te t h e gun 's ram m e rs a n d the firin g l ocks were i n the arm ory.
Bac kus' s frus trat ion mou ntin g, he scal ed a star boa rd-s ide s tairway to
his bat tle stati o n o n the sign al brid ge . H e arri ved to fin d n o o n e the re.
H e wa s a ngr y u n ti l h e saw flag s on the halyar d. H i men had been there
a n d had d o n e the ir duty. Fo1- the fi rs t tim e that mo rnin g, Bac kus had
som e t h i n g to fee l goo d abo ut. B u t the fee l i n g disa ppe are d whe n he
1 00 BATTLE H I P OKLAHOM
..
aw t h A rizorl(l expl c )c l . A 11101 1 1 e 11 t lat r, h h a1-d th wor d to aba n

do11 s l 1 i p on t h l1i1) P .
Aft r de c n d i n g f'1�c ) tn t h brid g on t l1 larb oard ide , Back u
pa d t l1 roug h tl1e li f' l i n e. , t h e n lid dow n t h id C)f the h u l l t o tl1 e
wat t". wi 1n m i 11 g for th bow of th Marylan(l h . aw a whal eboa t
sec t11' d to the tarbo ard a11 h o r c h ai n . He a n gled towa rd i t, pt1l led
l1i1n� I f aboa 1-d, and di ·cov i- d that two o th r Oklah oma unrivo r
al r ady occt1pied it. l1ort ly th i-eafter, t h ey w r j o i n d by a fou rt h .
Bac kt1s atte m pted to tart th en gin but coul d n ' t locate t h e tarter
wi tch . O n e of the o t h e r f i 11 a l ly fou n d it and tart d t h e e n gi n e .
Asst1 1ning the position of e 11 gineer, Bac kus ordered n e of the m e n
to act as coxswa in a11 d the others to posi tio11 them elve a m i d h i p to
pick people out of the wate r. One of th e m di obeyed j um p i n g ove r
the ide to swim to Ford Island.
Movi n g sl owly between the two h i ps, the t h ree of them began
pulling people aboard , many of them cove red wit h oil. One ' a the
Oklalioma's doctor, Commander Fred Rohow. Fifty year old he prob
ably wot1ld have drown ed were it not for a young mari n e who had h e l d
h is head above wa ter t 1 n ti l t h e boat could pt1ll along ide h i m .
They circled to the channel side of the ship, which by now ha,d flipped
over, and were cruising along the starboard ide '"'h e n udder1 l a s tew
ard popped up, having escaped th rough 011e of the portholes. After di -
embarki n g him with the other near the ga dock 011 Ford I sla11 d, they
headed out agai n . Wl1 e n the couldn t find a11 one el e i n the water
they saw an ensign and two i1 listed me11 standing on Oklahoma' o'rer
turned stern . All th ree were attired i n their navy wh ite . Pull i n g along
side them, Backus told them to board o that he cot1ld take then1 a hore.
The ensign took 011e look at the boat' filth y in teri o r and told th em to
hov off because the boat wa too di rty. I 11 di b lief Backu left.
Coi11cide11 tally, he wot1ld spe nd the n ight along ide tl1e ame office r on
the floor of the Ford I land bachelor' officer ' ql1a rters ( BOQ) .
Wh en Shi p 's Cook Thi rd Clas George A. BroW1 1 ' mothe r WTote a let
ter to Cap tai11 Foy comp lainin g that she was11 't receiving any mail from
her son, tl1e youn g cook was repri mand ed and or dered to write 11er o n ce
a week . Aft er comp osing a letter Saturday n igh t, Brow n awakened early
Sun day mor11ing to finish hi dutie s i n the spud locke r, plan ning to
addre the e11 velop e wl1e n hi work was com plete d. H e was in the p roce s
C H A O S B E LO 101
of doi11 gjt1 t that whe 11 th ge1 1 ral alaI111 ot111d d . Drop pi11g t l1e e11ve
lope he ht1 tled to tl1 r1ea1, t d c k l1 atcl1 climbed doW1 1 th rough the
armo red deck , and rac d for 11i tl1ir d d c l bat tle stati o11 , alongside the
port.side 5-i 11 cl1 cor 1,1e 1 i� b I t . B)r tl1e ti1ne l1e ar1ived three torpe
doe had hit. Th ro,vi 11g 011 11i h adpl1 on he r-e porte d that l1i statio n
'Nas ma11 n ed and read . But th r wa� 110 reply. Th e 11 a fourth torped o
hit gashi 11g hole i 11 tl1e port bt1lkh ead some twe n ty feet away. As water
explod ed th rot1gh the void Browi1 a11 d o th e rs were swept dowi1 the pas
sageV\ra i nto an adj acent c 1-e'v space. Thougl 1 they were able to close the
pas agewa door to pre\len t the space fro m floodi11g this left o nly a sin
gle ave n t1e of escape a11 overhead hatcl1 tl1at had been wedged open by
o n e of the e plo io11s. The ope11ing was na1Tow, but B rown was slim and
was able to pt1ll h imself througl1 i t. U n fo rtunate ly, only a few of the oth
er we1"e light e 11 ot 1gh . to follow him.
After exiting 011 to the m a i 11 deck, they had j ust started aft whe11 the
l i ghts we n t out. They lowered th e mselves to the deck and c o n ti nued
aft o n th e i r hand and knees. A hort tin1e later, o n e of them located
a ladder a n d one by o n e , tl1 ey scaled it to the quarterdeck. B rown was
o n e of the fi r t ones out. Afte r exi ting th rough a ports ide h a tch j ust
fo rward o f tt1 rret 3 he slid i n to the water. Th ough Brown had li ttle
difficulty p u h i n g his way th rot1gh the myriad fl o tsam al ongside the
ship such as case of apples, o ranges, and po tatoes i t was a diffe r
e n t matter wi th the bodies he e11coun tered, of wh ich there were ma ny.
Swim m i n g toward the chan n e l , he pushed them aside as reve rently as
possible. After a b rief re spite along ide one of the j e t tisoned float
planes, h e co11 tin ued i n to the chan 11el , where h e was even tually res
cued by a whaleboat.
Heari n g the word to aba11 don ship, Pharmacist's Mate Fi1�st Cl ass
D . L . Wes tfall j o i n e d a line of m e 11 passi11 g wou n ,ded along tl1 e port
side passageway to a ladder by the den tal office. Once th ere , they were
h o iste d u pward to th e s e c o n d deck. The passageway was thick wi th
the s m e l l o f fue l o i l . S tan d i n g alongside h i m was E n sign W. M .
M c Lell o n , who sai d he fe l t fai n t , th en st1dde nly collapsed. Stooping
to p i c k h i n1 up, Westfall became di zzy. Soon otl1 e rs were fall i n g .
F i n d i n g i t diffi c u l t to breath e , We s tfa l l m a n aged to drag h i mself to
the ladder before collapsing a n d passing out. I n c redibly, both m e n
would survive .
BATTLE H I P OKLAHOMA
1 02
•
Fi reman Second Class Arthur M . Grand Pre a n d Fi reman First Clas s

John D . Grand P re were broth e r . Th ough diffe re n t i n age , they
l ooked like twi 11s . Both would make it i n to the wate r on the morning
of December 7. After swi m m i n g to the Maryland, J o h n was i n formed
that Art had boarded a few m i n u tes earlier. Re lieved, he was ass igned
to a battle s tation, where he fough t u n ti l the attac k was ove r. Th o ugh
he wou ld spend the ens uing hours tryi n g to locate Art, he n ever fou n d
him. Two days l ater, he would learn t h e h o rri ble tru t h . While swi m
m i n g to the Maryland, Art had been killed by s trafi ng. The man seen
boarding had actually been J o h 11 .
Yeoman Third Class Raym o n d L . Ric hm o n d 's battl e s tation was a t
the No. 5 broadside gu n . His l iving c o mp artm e n t was o n t h e second
deck, s tarboard side. Kn own througho u t the s h i p for hi c harcoal
sketches, Richmond spe n t his off-duty hours on the fa n tail sketc h i n g
portraits, chargin g three dollars apiece. The extra i n c o m e came i n
h andy o n l iberties, wh ere Ric h m o n d sp e n t i t freely with Seaman
Second Class Jesse C. Foglesong, a baker in the officer s galley. To recip
rocate, Foglesong kept Ric h m o n d supplied wi th fresl1 d o n u ts .
Rating l iberty on St1nday, Ric h m o n d awakened earl y t o prepare to
go ashore . Bel ievi ng that the starboard washroom closest to h is area
would be ful l , he c rossed the c e n te r of the ship to the portside wash
roo m . Surprised to fi nd i t packed, he re treated t o the s tarboard side .
He fo und an em pty s tall i n t l1 e amidsh i ps was h ro o m , showere d , and
was shavi ng when the first torpedo h i t . Th ough i t exploded on t h e
opposite side of t h e ship, i t fe l t as if someone had '' picked u p t h e s h i p ,
shook i t u p , then dropped i t back down . " I m m ediately thereafter, h e
heard the ge neral alarm . T h e n the second to1-pedo h i t . B y t h e time
he 11ad ga thered his gear, two more had l 1i t .
H e h astened aft toward h i s l iving space. H e had j ust s towe d h i s gear
when the lights went out. Deciding there was n o time to d ress, h e
grabbed a railing i n tl1e galley passageway and p t1 lled himself fo rwa1�d
to the ne arest ladder. Afte r scaling i t t o t h e m a i n d e c k , h e climbe d
another t o the upper deck.
Aided by the light from portholes, h e saw a group of sailors cl us
tered bene ath a deck hatc h . Extendi n g down through th e h atch were
two pai1�s of hands. Slowed by the cl utter of gear aligning the bulkhead,
the grou p h ad al ready been pulled aloft when h e reach e d the h atch .
Ric h mo 11 d gazed up a11d exte11 ded h is h a nds. To h i s surprise , t h e
C H A O S B ELOW 1 03
h a n ds rea c h i n g d oV\TJ1 to 111 et 11 i 1n bel o 1 1 ged to Co m man cler

Ke nwo rthy and Liet1tena11t Com m a 11 d e 1� H o bby. Becau e Ri c h m o n d
was too short , th i r ha11d wotil d n t ine t . They suggested he go ot1t
th rough the case mat .
Tu r n i n g to sta 1�b o a 1--d , Ri c h 1 n o n d crawl ed up t h e slopi n g declz to
the N o . 5 5 -inch / 5 1 -c alibe i- b roadside gun , his n o rmal battle station ,
a n d th e 11 c r awled Ollt through the gun port. Movi n g ac ross the cat
wal k t o th e lifelines he looked down toward the water. Though it was
le thar1 a twe n ty-foot drop to the water's surface, he realized h e ' d
h ave to j u m p outward to clear the blis·ter l edge because the ship was
c a n ted over. After ste p p i n g th rough the lifelines, he steadied hi mse lf,
t he n j u mped outward as far as he could. I t wasn ' t far enough . H is legs
c l eared the blister but his bi_1 ttocks didn 't, and his tai lbone smacked
h a rd against the outer corn e r of the ledge . U n able to feel h i s legs, he
scooted down th e re m a i n d e r of the hull o n his hands. Because i t was
c o n s truc te d of overlapping plates, his kn uckles were bloodied when
he reached the water.
With o n ly his arms to propel himse l f, he started swi m m i n g toward
the Maryland. D i re c tly ahead was a pool of oil . H e dove beneath i t and
swam u n ti l h is breath gave out. Raisi n g his hands upward i n to the oil ,
h e shook them rigorously to clear a n ope ning. H e rose up through
the void gulped some air, a n d the n we n t under agai n . By th e time h e ' d
made i t ac ross , he was n auseated. Fightin g to keep his chin above water,
he threw up. H e reme mbe rs the c o n te n t distinc tly waffles.
D ra i n e d of his s tre n gth , h e was begi n n i n g to si n k when someone
grabbed him by the hair. It was Foglesong. He heaved h i m from the
water a n d t h e n h e l d him u n ti l Rich m o n d could get a toe hold on a
rope ladder. Grasp i n g i t wi th his hands, he scaled i t to the bliste r le dge .
Wh i l e Foglesong h e l p e d s o m e o n e else, Rich m o n d s tagge1�ed to his
fe et, and then hobbled to a boarding l adder. O n the main deck, he
was d i r e ,c te d to j o i n a n AA c rew. H e would fight alongside them for
n e arly two hours. Whe n t1:1e attack e n ded, he c o l lapsed. D e p rived of
the adre n a l i n e t h a t had sus ta i n e d him through his i nj u ri es, he was
overwhe l m e d by the sudden o n slaught of p a i 11 . U n able to walk, h e
was secured to a board a n d c arried from the s h i p . 3
Seam a n First Class Gen e Byers V\Tas l iste n i n g to a record wl1e11 the
fi rs t torpedo h i t . The resu l ti n g t re m o r caused the n eedle to skip.
Oblivio us to the cause, he repositioned the needle, and B i n g Crosby
1 04 BAT'"fLE H I P OKLAHOMA
re n d i t i o n o f' "Cl em e11 ti n e . " I t wa n ' t t1n til t h e n e edl e

co1 1 t i 1 1 t 1ed 11 i
kipp d two more t i n1 tha t By r hea rd the g n e ral ala rm . H e cale d
·
a ladd er to the mai n d ck, bt1 t hi atte m p t to u , an ove rlan d rou te to

ge t to h i s battl e stati on in t u rret 1 end ed in a hail of bul l e ts from a
strafi ng torpedo pla11e. He r, t r ated t h rou gh two l owe r dec ks to acce 0
th turre t from below, whe1,.. h even tual ly e cap ed thro ugh the h atch
i n tl1 overhang.
Fireman First Cla Franci R. Parki11 on ha ten d to his battle ta-
tior1 at the N o . 6 boiler, o n ly to be i n forme d t h a t the boiler room had
alr ady floode d. Wh i l e congre gated with other c rewm ember i n boiler
co11 trol, he was orde red aloft t ,o seal the hatch in the overhea d becau e
efforts to seal it from below h ad been fhl i tle . Th ough h e and two
other wot1ld c l i m b t1p through the hatch and e c t1re i t fro m above ,
they would be unable to reopen i t when word was pa e d to abandon
ship a short time later. The o rder to seal th hatch w h i c h they had
pe1-ceived as sending them back i n to h arm way, would i n tead ave
their l ives, dooming the oth e rs they had u nwittin gly trapped bel ow.
Ensign Joseph C. Spitler was the assista n t division office1� i n turr e t
4 . As suc h , he was the assista n t to Ensig11 Rommel the divisi o n officer.
On Sunday morni ng, h e ' d worked the four-to-e ight watch a the j u n
ior officer of the deck. Rel i eved at 7 : 45 he rett1rn ed to h i s tateroom
i n the j u n i o r officer ' cou11 t ry on the econd deck.
After removing hi blou e a11d white service un iform he d gon e to
the j un i o r officers ' '"'a hroo m , the s h i p ' s mo t fo1\iVard compar tme n t
and was seated o n the toilet whe11 he h eard Rom m e l s war11 i n g , fol
lowed i m m ediate ly by the ge n e ral alarm . D parti 11 g as q u i ckly as h e
cot1ld , h e called out the alarm as h e race d t h 1-ot1gh the j u n i o r office r
cou n t ry, repea ti11g it again as he c o n t i nued aft i n to tl1 e warra 11 t offi
ce1�' coun try. Able to mov e t h roug h both a1�ea q u i ckly, h e h i t a j ug
ger11aut whe n he i-eac hed the portside pass ageway. I t wa clut tere d with
som e two h u n dred ailo r a n d mar i n e s , man y ru11 n i ng tow ard h i m
i n tead of aft, c o n trar y to tl1e c o 11ve n ti o n tha t por ts i de traffi c b e
dire cted aft. Dod gi ng th rou gl1 the m , S p i tl e r was abo u t a t h i rd of t h e
way aft wh en the fi rst lwo tor ped oes h i t , the firs t o n e alm ost d i rec tly
below h i m , liftin g the deck a foot .
He was in the crew spa ce alo ngs ide the tu1� re t 3 barb e t te wh e n t h e
third and fou rth torp edo e h i t. W ith t h e sh ip at a p ro n o u nc e d lis t, h e
ha ten ed i n to the adj ace nt com pa rtm e n t, wh ere h e de sce n de d a l ad-
•
CH O S B E LO W 1 05
d e r a l o n g id tt1 1-1·et 4. Aft r arrivi 11g at th ca1-p n t r' h op , he

de c e r1 de d anoth r ladder to tl1 lo,1ve r l1a11 d l i n g 1 oom o n the fi rst
platfo rm deck. B t h e t i 1n 11 11t r d tl1 t t 1 1-r t, t\,yo mo1-e to rpedo es
had h i t and the l i g h t ' e 1, ot1t.
Becat1 e tl1e l owe1� handli11 g roon1 wa l 1 i s battle statio n , h e would
i10 1-mall l1a'' i- n1,a i 11 d tl1e 1-e. I nfo 1·med that E n ign Ro1n m e l was
not at h i battle tation i 11 the tu1-ret offic e r s booth , Spi tl e r assumed
that Ro111m e l 'iVa the acti11g office1- of the deck, because 11e ' d issued
the vvar11i ng and a u c h had been n eeded el ewh e re . As Rom m e l 's
assistant Spitle1- dL1ty was to act i n h i s absen c e , so h e i m m ediately
started t i p to the turre t offi cer boot h .
C l i 1n b i ng thro t1gh the tur1-e t' five level s , Spitler was shocked to fi n d
t h at the t u 1-ret ' a i1ear·ly e m p ty. N o t h aving h eard the order to aba11-
do11 s h i p ( and ob,ri o t1sly the m e n in the lower handling room h ad n ' t
e i th er ) h e could o n ly assume that the m e n had left of their own voli
tio n \iVl1i c h he fou n d perplexing. After e nduring two more torpedo
h i ts 'vhi l e h e c l im b e d 11e fi n al ly reac h e d the turret officer's bootl1 .
U nable to make telephone c o n tact with m a i n battery con trol, 11e
decided to exit the tur1-et to assess the s i tuation h i m se lf. He propelled
l1 i mself feet fi rst t h rough th,e escape hatch i n the overhang, the 11
dropped to the deck below, o n ly to have h is feet slide out from u11der
h i m the i nstant he h i t it. Due to a combination of sinking and l isting,
the port h al f of the quarterdeck, the lowest of the s h i p 's three weather
decks, was now u n d e rwater. M o m e n ts later, he was j o i 11 ed i 11 the water
by two sai lors who had exi ted the turret the same way.
Realizin g the seri ousness of the sitL1ation, Spitle1� fel t compelled to
return to the turre t to order the o th e rs out, but i t was i mpossible to
ge t back i n . Because the s h i p was h olding steady at a forty-five-degree
angl e , h e s u rmised that i t was a l ready on the botto m , a11 d that the m e n
c o u l d eve n tually c l i m b o u t o n t h e i r own accord. Consoled by this
b e l ief, w h i c h he would soon reali ze was wrong, h e turned h is atten
tion to the others who were w i t h h i m .
Glan c i n g behi n d h i m , h e saw two more who were cli nging to the
coaming of a deck h a tc h . T hough the hatch was submerged, i t was
o n e o f t h e few h a n d h olds ava i l able. Looki11 g beyon d the m , Spitl e r sur
veyed the southeast l o c h . Though h e heard rampant gunfi re , h e didn 't
see any p l anes. I t wasn ' t u n t i l h e looked up that h e realized where the
fi re was d i re c ted. Approach i n g Battleshi p Row fro m the south west was
1 06
a for ma tion of hig h-I vel bo1 n ber . Fly i ng in V- h ape d gro u p of five ,
tl1 for ma tion exte nd d a. far a he cou ld e . Rea lizi ng the l ead gro u p
wot 1ld soo n be ove rh ad, h orde red the oth er m e n to tart swi m m i n g
bec at1s e h e fel t cer tai 1 1 the h i p wo uld be targ ete d, a n d h e kne w th a t
they cou ld be kille d by the c o n c ussi ve i m pac t of any bom bs tha t stru ck
the water.
After they left, the hip ta rted tu rn i n g. H orri fied by the real izati on
that it coul d caps ize Spitl er sudd e n ly beca me awar e of a gang pl a n k
dang l i ng prec ari ously abov e h i m . Thou gh i t wa e c t1red with h aw e r ,
i t cot1ld crush t h e m if the s h i p c o n t i n ued m ovi n g a n d t h e h aw e r
parte d. Pus h i ng off with his feet, h e began swi m m i n g fran tically, n ever
dari 11g to look back. But the dange r was n o t i n t h e gan gp l a n k , wh i c h
remai ned secure d; the danger was i n the deck. Gain i n g m o m e n tu m
from the rotatio n of the superstru c tt1re, the deck, w h i c h was n o"\iV
i nverte d, was dropping toward the water at an accelerate d rate . H e ' d
h ave to swim more tl1an forty fee t to c lear i t . H e d gone n early fifty
whe n i t crashed i n to the water be h i n d h i m .
After escaping from the overhang of turre t 4 , Boatswai n s Mate
Second Class Westley F. Potts swam to th,e floatplane that had been atop
turret 3 . It was floating uprigl1t i n the water amidship . Though he didn 't
know h ow to fly, he was determ i ned to try. After tea1i11g tl1 e c anvas cover
off the canopy, he climbed i n to the cockpit and started m a nipulatin g
switches. When h e cot1ldn 't start the engi n e , h e c l i m bed i n to the back
to look for a machine gun . U n fortunately, the gun had been removed.
When h e saw that the ship was turn ing over, and that the mai nmast was
falling toward h i m , he dove i nto the water a n d started swi m m in g .
Moments later, the floatplane was crushed by the mainmast.
Sh ipfi tte r Seco11d Class Wayn e Vickrey was run n i ng down a t h i rd
deck passageway when he aw a group of sai l o rs who h ad stopped to
pray. Attempting to nap t h e m out of t h e i r appare n t hock, h e yel l e d ,
'' Pray later. Ge t your asses off the boat! ''
W i th the s h i p nearly 011 i ts side , Fire1n a n S e c o n d Class Robert
B1-omm attempted to escape by c rawli n g through a ven ti l a t i o n shaft
i n the overh ead of the tl1i rd deck m ac h i n e s h o p . By the t i m e h e ' d
reach e d the outl e t , the s h i p was n e arly h o rizon ta l , and t h e shaft was
fi l l i n g with water. Though h e was able to pull o n e otheI' m a n out, t h e
sh aft filled i m m e di ately thereafter, trap p i ng some twen ty m e n i n the
mach i n e shop beh i n d t h e m .
C H AOS BELO' 1 07
Whe 11 the attack b gan eaman Fi 1 st l ass Donald A. Les te r wa i n

the carp e n te r's s h o p vi itir1g a f1-i e n d . Assigned to t h e N o . 5 gu11 in the
5-i n c h / 25-caliber AA battery 11e h astened to starboard when he heard
the gen e ral ala1n1 . While he wa e n r ute, the fi rst torpedo hit. By tl1e
tiin e h e d reach e d the stri ke r s hatch ladder ( a ladder ge n e rally used
by appre n tice sean1e n ) 0 11 t h e starboard side of tt1 rret 4 , two more
h a d h i t and th e h i p was l i ting. Guard i n g the ladder was Boatswain 's
Mate Seco11d Class William M . Washa m . I n his bel t was a . 45-caliber
pisto l . His 'vords were pecific: n o one '"' as goi n g u p . Whe 11 Lester told
h i m h e was assigned to the AA batte ry, Wash a m assured him he
woul d n t be n eeded and ordered him to stand firm. F1-ustrated , he si1n
ply stood there as the ship e ndured another hit. Below h i m , l1e could
h ear the sound of rushi n g wate r. Soon the deck was listing severely.
Finall the word was passed to abandon ship. 4
Lester tu1ned toward the ladder which was o n i ts side, so he h ad to

s h i m my along the railing i 11 s tead of usi n g the rungs. Some fiftee n fee t
l o n g, t h e ladder wen t up through the second deck to the main deck
aft. Fortunately, the deck hatch was ope n . By the time Lester reached
i t, the wate r was pouring i n .
P u l l i n g h imself through the hatc h , Lester glanced u p . H e saw that
the deck was desc e n di n g . Te rrified, h e began to swim . Still wearin g
h is shoes and clothes, he had to struggle to m ake any headway. H e ' d
h ave to swim m o re than twen ty feet to clear the deck's traj e c tory. He
made it but couldn 't escape the ensui 11 g vortex. As the deck disap
pe ared b e neath t h e wate r, t h e resulting suction pulled him under.
I n describing the eve n t m o re than sixty years l ater, Lester said his
desc e n t was so rapid that he could literally feel the hair standing up on
top of his head. H e also experie11ced a change in temperature in his
lower extre m i ties. H e did n ' t know if this was from going through a ther
mocline or because his legs had become impaled i n the mud at the bot
tom of the harbor. He survived because of the blowback when the sl1ip
h i t bottom. I t was so powe rful, i t rocke ted him upward th1-ough forty
fee t of water. Amazed that he was still alive, he began to swi m .
Nearby was a floatp l a n e . A t t h e begi n ning of the attack, it h ad been
o n the q u ar terdeck. Thrown off when the ship wen t over, it was float
i n g upside down some thirty fee t from the hull. A dozen sailors were
already c l i n gi n g to the p o n to o n . Leste r swam over to i t o n ly to fi n d
that i t was s i n king. Grasping h ol d of i t anyway, h e ' d barely c aught his
10 BATTLE HIP OKIJAHOJ\!JA
bi- ' l t h wl1 11 t l1 e f l oa t 1)la1 1 was t rafi d . Rea l izi n g tha t it m ad e a n i n vi t

a t ' 1 1--ge t
in 0 11 aba n d o 11 cl i t a ft r th s t rafi 11 (g a d.
L
win1 m i n g a ho rt clista n h aw a t o rp do pla n zoo m i n g i n , t h i
on · o low he cou ld s e th pilo t' fac e . I t wa. h aded fo r t h e West

Virgvin,ia . Wh e n he aw tl1 to1-p edo d ro p , h t u rne d away. H e ' d ee11
en ot1gh . H heard the expl o i o n and m o m r 1 ts l a t r fel t t h e conc u -

sio11 . Thot 1gh his t r i 1 gth wa wa 1 1 i n g , he c o 1 1 t i n u d to swi m . I t wa
ov l' ix h u 1 1 d 1-ed yard to th o th e r � i d e of th c h a n n e l . Were i t n o t
f0 1 th sudde n appea rance of Boatswai n ' M a t Secon d Cla We tley

F. Pott , i t ' doubtfu l he wo t1ld have u rvived. After e caping fro m tur
re t 4 , Potts had fou n d two woode n p l a n k i n the water. With o n under
each arm , he was swi m m i n g toward Lester wh e n h e n o ti c e d h e wa
strt1ggl ing. Wi thot1t a word, he pas ed o n e of the p l a n k ove r to h i m
and then c o n ti n ued 0 11 .
Decidir1g that Ford I land would provi de a quicker afe h ave n than
cros ing the char1nel, Leste r turned arot1nd. He d m ade it h alfv,ra back
wh e11 he saw an officer's l aunch filled wit h su rvivor e plode. H o rrified
by the sigh t of flyi 1 1 g body pa rts he turned a ro u 11 d agai n . Stai-ti n g
across the cha11nel, he saw a n other lau11 c h . Tl1ough pote n t i al ly a tar
ge t too, i t was11 ' t n ear the battleships, and i t wa rn ovi ng slowly.
Wh en he fel t he wa close e nough fo r the er w to ee h i m , h e treaded
water to c o 11 e 1-ve hi e11ergy. I nc redibly, the lat1 ncl1 pa ed wi thou t top
ping. Bel ievi ng h e wa doomed agai11 he wa abot1t to give u p when 11e
saw it was trailing a rope. St11n mo11 ing l1 is fi11al ve tig of s tren gth , h e
struggl ed toward i t more l u n ging thar1 swi 111ming. I 11 a fi n a l burst of
ene rgy, he lashed ot1t, grabbed hold of it, and nvisted it a round his wri t.
Rota ting his body o he wa facing t1pwar d to breath e he ignore d th e
pain in h is wrist and imply held 011 . By the ti1ne they had spotte d h i m
and toppe d, the turbt1 le11 c l1 ad torn h i s clothe off.
Eve n tually taker1 to the t1b1na ri n e base Le ter ran i n to t h e s h i p
fo rm er skip per, Ca ptain Foy. Re cog1 1 izi ng Le ter fro m h i s n u m e rous
cap tai 1 1 ' s ma t app eara nce , Foy i n truc ted h i m to m uste r a l l the
Oklcthoma st1rvivors he cot1 ld fi n d so that Foy cou ld add ress t h e m that
eve ni ng. I n the pro cess , Les ter fou n d the Oklaho ma' s mai l o rd erly wor k
ing tran celi ke be nea th a tree . H avi n g rus hed to t h e m a i n pos t o ffic e
afte r esc api ng the s h i p , the n1 a n was figh ti n g bac k the o n ly way he
kn ew. H e was sor ti n g the h i p ' m a i l . Aft er tak i n g a few m i n u tes to s i t
an d co nso le l1 i m , L e te r c o n t i 11u ed o n .
CHAOS B E LOV 1 09
B 6:00 P. f . '' 1 1 u1-vi,10 1- w 1� co11g rega ted at tl1 t1b111 ari n e

ba e to hear tl1e capt a i 11 p a k . Co11 o l i 1 1 g then1 a n1L1c l1 by h i s pres
e n c e a h e did '"ri th 1 1 i vvor·d\ Fo told tl1en 1 tl1at he woul d ge t anot her
c o m 1na11d a11d tl1at h '1'' 0 t1ld d l1 i best to h av th m a igned to i t .
H e also gav ina11'I' of t he 111 ino n ev.
I
Th ot1gh L te1� great l ' appr ciated tl1 captai r1 's i n te n t, he l aclzed
the pati 11ce to be11efit fro1n i t . Anxiot1s to fight bac k , h e vol u n teered
for de tro e 1� dllt)' fot 1 r h o t11� later. Joi ni 11 g the crew of the destroyer
Plielps l1 e V\1ould be patroll i 1 1 g tl1e mot1th of the 11arbor by daybreak . 5
The blo,vbac k tl1at Lester experi e n ced would also save the life of
Mac h i 11 i t Mate Seco11d Class V\Talte1� Becker. After escap i ng f1-om the
tarboard ide pt11n p r oom t h rough a ve11 tilator s haft i 11 the mach i n e
s h o p Becke1- e nte1-ed the water o n the po1�t side. Looking u p , he saw
the o ertu1-ni n g h i p l�rc h i n g d i rectly above h i m . Suddenly something
fe ll on top of h i m a 11 d he we11t under. H e 11 ad no idea what i t was, or
h ovv big. All h e kn ew was that he h ad to get out from under i t or drown .
He " am underwa ter as fa r as h e could but neve r fou n d the e n d .
ExhaL1sted and out of breatl1 , he fin al ly gave u p . As h e san k, h e fou11 d
i t odd that h i acknowledgm e 11 t of deatl1 could be so peacefu l . The
n e x t t h i n g he kr1ew he was i n a boat alongside the s h i p with people
scream i n g at h i m . The blowback had rocketed h i m to the surface , a11d
he d l a 11 ded i n a boat fi l l e d with wounded .
Seaman First. Class Nelson W. Glidewe l l was h ustling down a portside
passageway on the econd deck when the first torpedo exploded several
decks below. After falling when the deck buckled beneath his feet, he
was knocked u nconscious. When he regained his senses, he got up and
started run 11 ing, fi n ally anivin g at tl1 e battle signal station, where he
awaited orders from the signal bridge . Though the ship was listi ng and
water was gusl1i ng i n through nearby portholes, he refused to abandon
his battle stati o n , believing h e ' d be sl1ot if he did. Taking solace at the
sight of an unsealed overhead hatch n earby, h e decided to wai t for the
order to abandon ship, then use i t for his escape. But when h e saw two
sailors p re paring to seal i t from above, h is fear was overwh elmed by h is
i nstinct to survive . Screaming at them to stop, h e waded through knee
deep water to the l adder, the n scaled i t to the deck above.
Quartermaster Second Class Robert ] . McMahon was at cen tral s ta�
t i o n o n t h e fi rs t p l atform deck when smoke began pouring out the
con n i n g tower tube. H us tl i n g to the C D ivision l iving compartme n t,
1 10 BATTLES H I P OKLA HOMA
•
he used an ax to chop open a box co11 taining gas m asks. S tartin g back
toward c e n tral station, he glanced through a grate to the engine room
below. I t was i1ea1-Iy in un dated with water and oil . To h is h o rro r, h e
saw a large n umber of floating bod ies.
Chief Petty Offi cer Howard C. Fre n c h was sitting i n t h e Fiftl-1
Division l iving quarters reading a n ewspaper when he heard the gen
eral alarm , fol lowed im mediately by a call to m a n the AA batteries.
Tl1 ough h is primary battle station was the No. 8 broadside gun , which
was useless against aircraft, l1is secon dary battle sta tion was i n the AA
a1n m u n i tion supply room on the third deck. The room was o n ly o n e
deck below, but he had diffi c u l ty ge tting there because the n e arest
deck 11atch was clogged wi th sailors. H e was wai ting h is tur n i n l i n e
when the first torpedo h i t . Wh e n h e fin a l ly j oined h i s crew i n the sup
ply room, four more h ad hit, and the s h ip was listing significan tly.
Fre n c h had been aboard the ship since 1 9 32, a n d his experi e n c e
told h i m the s h i p was goi11 g to capsize . Th rowin g o n a headset, h e
wai ted fo r tl1e call to abandon ship. W h e n i t was n ' t fo rthcoming, h e
ordered l1is ine n topside. Despite h is command, a few we re unwi ll i n g
to leave . Whe ther their re l u c tance stemmed fro m gui l t or from fear
of what waited above , Fre n c h didn ' t know. Nor did h e ask. H e c h ased
them o u t , fol lowin g i n their foo tsteps a short time later.
By the time he reached a ladder, the t h i rd deck passageway was
empty. Bel ievi ng he was the l ast man o u t , he climbed tl1e ladder to t h e
secor1d deck, and t h e n took another to the main deck messing com
partmen t. With the ship tilted to port, all matter of tables, c h ai rs , and
assorted se1vice apparatus we re e n twi ned in a h eap against t h e port
side bulkhead. O t h e r i ten1s were sliding across the deck. Fren c h made
his way aft through the obstacles, fi nally reach i n g a ladder tr1at
ascended to the deck above . Seeing that the overhead hatch was closed
but u nsealed, he scaled the first few rt111gs . Wi th one h a n d secure d
around the side railing, 11e reached upward with t h e other to push t h e
hatch ope n . I t wou ld n ' t budge . Guessi n g something had fal l e n o n top
of it, 11e climbed down and c o n tinued aft.
Though i t was dark i n the i mmediate area, h e could see ligh t i n t h e
galley ahead of him . H e covered t h e remai ning distance wit h o u t i nci
dent, then exited t h rough a door i n the aft bulkhead, shielding his
eyes against the sudden brightness. H e looked aft across t h e quarter
deck to the West Virginia. She too was listing. B u t h e r AA gun s were fi r-
C H A O S B E LOW 1 11
i n g , as were th o e o n tl1e Te11/ne ee n10 0 1- d alo11g id h r. Th ough he

d i d n ' t see any p l a n e h e cot1ld hear tl1 di t i 11 c tive wl1 i n e of their
e n gi 11 e s . 1 11 sta1-k c o n t.I-a.s t the Oklahoma was sile11 t, both her gt1ns and
h e r m e n . I t was11 t t111til that mom e11t tl1at l1e realiz ed h e was alo11 e .
Tl1e re wasr1 t a sai l o r a 11ywh re . Nor could h e 11ear a11ytl1 ing fr·om the
boat deck j t1 t on l ev 1 up a11d di1-ectl )' bel1ind h i m . I t was e e 1ie. The re
l1ad bee1i_ m o re tha11 a tho u and sailors aboard wl1 e n tl1e attack began .
H e sta 1-ted aft, p assi ng the boat crane and a 3-i n c h / 50-caliber AA
gur1 . A 1non1 e n t l a t e 1- h e V\'a flat on his back, pummeled by a wal l of
water fro m a bomb blast alongside the sl1 i p . Though unhurt, he was
dazed a n d fol1n d i t difficult to get u p . Push i n g h imself u p right, he
decided h e r1eeded a life jacke t .
Retur11i n g i n the direction h e ' d come , h e clin1 bed the casemate of
the N o . 7 5-i11c h/ 5 1 -cali ber broadside gun to the boat deck. After clam-
.
bering 0\1er the side, he V\ras gree ted by Boatswai n 's Mate Firs t Class
Winfield 'Smokey' Struthers. One of h is favorite shipm a tes, Struthers
was the o n ly pe rson French saw on the boat deck, and 11e didn't see
h i m long-.
Fre n c h said , H ow you doi11 g , Winfield?'' to which Strutl1 ers
responded "OK, H oward , " afte r which h e m ade a ru11 n ing s tart, then
j um ped over the side of the ship.
M a n aging a gri n , Fre nch shuffle d down the deck to a m o to r launch.
Reac h i n g over the gunwale, he grabbed a l i fe j acke t. H e put it on and
then returned to th e main deck. S tepping through the life lines, he
s tarted down the side of the s h i p . Wi th the ship rolli11g toward him in
the opposing dire c tio n , he h ad to move fast to m ake any headway.
Glancing left , h e saw dozens of sailors s treaming down the side with
h i m , many having e m e rged from the casemates housing the broad
side gu n s , t h e remainder e merging from starboard por·tl1 ol es. He
made i t a c ross the m aj o ri ty of the ship's side wi th re lative e ase . Once
h e reac h e d the o riginal wate rl i n e , 11 e had to be carefu l because the
h u l l was coated with s l i m e . M ovi n g slowly, h e stepped past the turn of
the h u l l , and then began walking across the botto m , the ship's list hav
ing already e c lipsed ninety degrees.
Sudden ly he h eard the sound of machine-gun fi re and the ping of
ricoc h e ting bullets. H e h ad no idea where the bullets were coming from.
Seeing a docki ng keel j ust ahead, a two-foot-high steel plate welded per
p e n dicularly to the hull, h e dove behind it. When the pinging stopped,
1 12 BATTLE HIP' OKLA H OMA
•
11e looked forward along tl1e le ngth of the ship and saw about thirty or
forty others doing exactly the . ame th ing.
H e saw a laL1n ch that h ad been drag ged up the sid of the s h i p and
s tarte d towa rd i t . Wh i l e he was e n route , C o m m a n d e r Kenw orthy
appea red. Fre n c h poi n ted to the boat and told t h e c o m m a n d e r h e ' d
fi nd some men to push i t i n to the wate r. Ke nwort hy' face wa ash e n ,
and his respon se was a feebl e m t11n bl e . Fre n c h wa n ' t sure what h e
had said and did n ' t ask h i m to repeat it. The com mander was obvi-
01-lsly fi nding it diffi cul t to accept what h ad happen e d . Fre n c h left h i m
to his though ts and we n t to g.ath er some men . H e fo und about t h irty.
Together they rocked the boat i n to the water, o n ly to fi n d t ha t the bat
tery was dead . They let i t ride with the soutl1e rly C1-1rre n t , eve n tually
6
ending u p at the gas dock.
Ensigns Edward E . Vezey, Jr. , and Francis C . Flaherty shared a
bertl1ing compartment i n the officer's coun try. Vezey was i n c harge of
the 3-inch/50-caliber AA battery. Flaherty was the assista n t divi i o n offi
cer fo r turret 1 . The two were c lose frie nds . H eari n g th e call to ''man
the an tiaircraft batteries," Vezey prepared to go topside whi l e Flaherty
prepared to go below. Prior to departing, Flaherty j oked that he d be
up later to scrub Vezey's remains from the deck. Both laughed as they
departed. I ronically, i t was Vezey who survive d . Whi l e Flaherty made i t
to his battle station in the bowels of turret 1 , h e V\rould perish while hold
i ng a fl ashlight to allow h i s m e n to escape up a ladder as the s h i p began
to overturn . Flah erty was posthumotisly awarded t h e C o ngressio n al
M edal of Honor. 7
Twelve-I n c h Porth oles
Tl1 e 11z a i 11 deek liad fo1·t�v- even ttuelve-incli-d ia'meter po1At/1,oles a1id th ,ree eiglit
ee11-i 11 clz po1-tho le per ide: tlie econd deck lictd ixty-tli ,ree twelve- incTi jJort holes
a ?i d eiglz t eigli tee11-in cli po1-tlioles per· ide · a n d tlie tliird deck liad eiglit twelve
i n ch po11/201R pe1� ide all of 1uhich zueJ'f! i n the ter·n .
\l\'h e 11 t h e attack began Fi re Con trolman F i rst Class George L .

Coburn '"'a i n t h e plotting room o n the fi rst platfo 1�m deck. A mem
b e r- of the AA battery, h e ,,,,a testing tl1 e c i rcui ts o n the s h i p 's tar
board d i rector i 11 preparatio11 for Monday's inspecti o n . Wh i l e worki ng,
he heard a h iss o n the ove rhead speaker of the PA syste m , as i f so1ne·-
0 11 e h a d pre sed the ke o n the m icrophone but wasn 't tal king. The
h issing continued fo r everal seco11 ds. Finally, he heard a voice.
All h a11d man our battle ta tion ! All ha11d man yot1r battle station ! '
Not 1.Ire what to make of i t he h u tled i n to cen tral stati o n , where
h e fou11d an electricia n . V\lh at the h e l l ' going 0 11 ? ' Cobt1n1 exclai med.
Before the man could re pond Rommel warn i 11g sounded over t h e
PA. They stared at o n e another i11 di be l ief.
Soun d l ike o m e d ru n k , ;; Coburn expounded. Wh e n t h e ge neral
alarm fol l owed, he re alized that h e wa n ' t weari11g a h i rt. Iillowi n g
that i t was agai11 t regu l ations to be o n deck without o n e , he sc11rried
up the n e arest ladder to the th i rd deck, and t h e n raced f01ward to the
fi re-c o n trol l iving compart m e n t where h i locker was l ocated .
H e was O il the way back whe11 the fi rst torpedo h i t . Thougl1 the deck
was shaking h e c o n ti n ued movin g h a ten i 11 g for the i1 eare. t up lad
der on t h e tarboard side . V\lh e11 h e reac h ed it, h e was s tartled to f i n d
t h a t t h e ove rh ead hatch h a d already been ealed. Beca11 e i t was a dou
ble hatch ( wi th tvvo ladder ) , h e knew h e ' d never be able to open i t
1 13
1 14
•
by h i 111 · lf. Aware th r wa an oth r lad der in th adj a c e n t a m m u n i
t i on pa · age way, h e n tered i t, h ead ing aft alo ng ·ide a wai st-h igh c o n-
veyor b l t.
0th rs wer app 1-oa ch i ng t h e lad der fro m the o ppo i te d i rec ti o n .
I t wa a stra ng sigh t. I n the flicke ri n g l i g h t , th e i r move m e n ts were
alm o ·t kal eido cop i c , like a n old mov i e . Co n ti n u i n g aft, obu rn
reac h ed th e ladd er j t1st i n ti me to see t h e over h ead h atch slam h u t.

His h i pma t on the econ d deck were d o i n g exac tly wha t they ' d been
train d to do. He wa joi ned by the otl1 e rs, and they we re conve rsi n g
when two m o re torpedoes h i t .
Tl1 n the ligl1 ts ',ye n t out. O n e of the o t h e r m e n prodt1ced a fl ash
l ight. Wl1 iJ,e he poi11 ted i t at the h atch cove r, they h eard the sot1nd of
1-ush i ng water from the deck below. Before long, i t wa a torre n t .
Realizing there was n owhere to go but up, two of them caled the l ad
der to work on the hatc h . The others wai ted below, grabbing h o l d of
whateve r they could to remain upright.
CobL1rn was alongside the conveyor wh e n he realize d he wa tan d
i ng i n oil. H e didn 't know wh ere i t was coming from , but he could see
i n the shadowy light that i t was abundan t. With the deck o n an i nc l i 11 e
i t was pooli n g against the portside bulkheads.
Whe11 a fifth torpedo h i t rocked the h i p , n1e n began losin g thei 1-
h andl1olds,. Several we n t s l i d i n g across the deck , s l a m m i n g . h ard
again t the bt1lkheads. Banged up and i m m e rsed i n oil 011e of them
s ta1-ted yell i ng for h i mother. His pleas we1-e petrifying.
W11en the shaking ubsided the ailors o n the ladder resum e d t h e i r
work 011 the h atch . Final ly, th ey opened the l ast dog. They ' d bare ly
opened the h atch when the ladder started movi 11g. Rush i n g to get out,
the others reached the ladder simultaneously. Becat1se i t was can ted
sidewa)'S and was not secured to the deck, tl1 e i r mo1ne11tum a n d com
bined wei g h t heared the ou tboard teel p i n sect1 ri 11 g t h e ladd e r to the
coaming. W11en i t rotated around the i 11 bo ard p i n , seve ral of th e m fel l .
Realizing that none would e cape if t h e second piI1 b roke , they placed
tl1 e i r motion i n ch eck a11 d ascended the ladder o n e at a tim e .
Havi ng witn essed tl1e mayl 1 e 1n from the rel a tive safety of tl1e con
veyor bel t , Cobt1r11 wa one of the last to go. Sca l i n g the l adde r to the
second deck, he finally saw some natural l i gh t, because the deck had
porth oles. Heading aft with the others , h e quickl y ascended the n ear
est ladde r. Climbi n g i n to a sleep i n g compartm e n t o n the m a i n deck,
1 15
Cobu r11 looke d aft. o ng1-- g t d a t tl1 doo1way i t i 11g to t l 1 qt1ar

t e 1-de c k 'N"a a l· r-o- o-1-ot1 p of ail i- , i1 11 e of wl1 om wa n1ovi ng.
Decidi11g h COllld r i t q t 1 i c k l' throt 1gl1 o n of tl1 larbo ard port
holes obt1 1 11 tt1 1,11 d to l1i l ft . I 11 h i patl1 w re lo k r and five rows
of tiiple- tacked bt1 11k . Al ig11 d paralle l to tl1e s h i p 's ce11 terl i 11 e , the
bur1k '''er ttacl1 d to bot l1 t l1 deck a11d the o erhead . Becau the
locke1- ' i- fre tanding t l 1 e 1 l1ad fal l e 1 1 over on t h i r ides. Climbin g
over th m Cobt1r·11 u ed the bu11k s ve rtical st1ppo1-t s as handl1 olds to
pull h i 111 elf tip tl1 e d ck.
After i-- a c h i n o- th third roV\1 of bt1 n k l1 e c rossed an aisle to a bunk
po i t io n ed l e n gthvvi e O il a tran e r e bulkhead. Though the aisle was
c l uttered V\rith gear he wa abl e to step over i t a 11e pt1lled h imself
tipward along the bu11 k ' s l e 11 gth as we l l as that of the bunk abu t t i n g
i t v\1hi c h wa adj ac e n t to a porth o l e . Fortu11 ately, the porth ole was
large allowi ng h i m to pull h i 1nself throt1gh withot1t much difficul ty.
C l imbi11g out 0 11 to the side of th e s h i p , he 1-e mai 11ed a t tl1e porthole
to h e l p i x other escap e . By the time the last man 11ad exited, the sl1 i p
was o n i t ide .
Movi n g tarboa1�d they h aste 11ed to the tt1rn of the ship, where they
slid dovvn the bottom of the h t1ll to the water. Lum ped together, they
swam a c i rcuitou rot1te through the patches of oil. There were bullet
splashe evel)"·Vhere . Finall reach i 11g the Maryland, they had problems
getting out of the water. The o n ly available mea11s were the parted
hawser draped down her side. But the haw e rs wer,e covered with sailors,
and there were ot11er waiti11g in the wate r, most of them struggling to
rem a i n afloat. Coburn was a11 excellent swimmer and could have swum
to Ford I land. Concerned for the others , he decided to stay.
Up above, h e aw Maryland ail ors watc h i n g from the life l i n es. Livi d ,
h e started screa m i n g a t them to toss ome l i n e . They mtist h ave
ass u m e d he had ran k because l i n es began dropping mome11 ts later.
F i n al ly arriving 0 11 deck, he j o i n ed an AA a m m u n i tion detail.
S h i p fi tter Seco n d Class J o h n H . B i rnel was i n h i s l iving com part
m e n t o n the third deck aft, port side, w h e n the attack bega n . H e was
p repari n g to go ash o re o n l i berty wh e n he l1ea1-d the gen e ral alarm .
The n e a rest ladde r was forward, so he 11eaded fo r i t i m mediately,
despite the conve n t i o n req u i ring h i m to go up and forward on the
sta1-board side, dovvn a n d aft on the port side. E n teri ng the B- 1 00 pas
sageway, he ran forward along a wai s t-h igl1 conveyor belt, bum p i n g
1 16 BATT LFJ H I P OKLAHONIA
i 1 1 to i 1 1 e at te11d a11ts who we 1� man 11 i ng t h e i r batt le tat i o n s ·at des ig-

11at d loca tio11 alo1 1g it� leng t l1 . Pas. i n g th dam ag c o n trol lock er,
l1e i,ache d a 'dow n '' ladd er fr-om tl1e ,. c o n d d c k . Wi t h m o r m e
a t t n da n t d ce11 d i 1 1 g i t , he L pped a i d e t o 1 t them pa . Th n t h e
fir t to1�pe do h i t foll ( >W d mom i 1 t lat r by a econ d o n e .
Desp erat to get t o J1i bat tl tation , he w n t tl p th ladde r ide
wa , doi11g l1i be t to void t l1 att ndant rac i n g d wnwa rd . After
exiti11g o n to t h e secon cl deck, 11 took a n o t h r ladder t hi b a t tl ta
tion o n t h e main deck. H e wa a sign ed to r pai r s tation I , a n d a he
atten1 pted to lo e a porth ole on the port ide, two m o r h i ts occt1 rred
i11 rapid t1cc i o n . The resu l t i n g explo i o r1 hot a d luge of \Vater
th rough the t i n sealed ope11i n gs , dre n c h i n g h i m to the ki n . M o m e n ts
later t h e hip began to l ist.
Wi tl1 a pronounced ense of urge n cy he realized h had t h e key
to tl1e damage con trol locker. I n the locker were t h e keys t o c e n t ral
flood co11trol. Per damage con t rol protoco l , Shipfi tt e r Fir t Cla I rvi n
F. Rice would n ormally open t h e locker for S h i p fi t t e r T h i rd C l a
P at1ick L . Chess, who would t h e n take t h e key to c e n tral fl ood c o 11-
tro l . Birnel had seen n e i t h e r when h e pa ed t h e damage c o n trol
locker, nor had he seen t h e m or1 the ladders. Knowin g t h ey wo1-1ld h ave
to cou n te r-fl ood the tarboard voids t o preve11 t the h i p fro m capsiz
i ng, he decided to get the key h i mself.
Run n i n g to a nearby double 11atc l1 , 11e looked doV\rn at the econd
deck. I t wa floodi n g . Getti ng t o the da1n age con t ro l locker vvould be
i m possibl e . Becaus e battle stati o n p 1-otoco l d i c tated that the h a t c h be
ealed, he olicited the help of a nearby sailor to c l o e i t . W hi l e t h ey
tigl1te ned the dogs, word was Ot,1nd ed o,re r t h e PA t o aban don h i p .
Look ing aft, Birn el aw a large grou p of men i n the aft leep in g corr1-
part men t wa iting to x i t a doo r to t l1 e quart rdec k . B caus e t h e l i n e
they we re i n was 1 0 11 g, Birn el d e c ided l1e ' d 11ave a bett e r c h a n c e of
. urv ival goi n g to star boa rd. H e mov ed dow n a pa age way, t h e n
e n te red the h i p 's laun d ry. Whe n he tepp ed i n ide, h l i p p e d o n the
c e ra1n ic ti l e floo r, s i i d i n g ben eat h a was h i n g ma c h i n e . D e s p i t e h i s
effo rts, h e cot 1ldn ' t ge t out u n t i l 11e sec u red a l1an dho ld o n the sur
rou ndi ng coa min g a 11 d fi 11al ly pul led h i mse lf free .
Th ou gh t h e ove rh ead l i gh t we re ou t, e n ou gh l i g h t wa s c o m i n g
th rou gh the po rth ole for h i m to see . All typ e of m ac h i n e ry ha d b ro
ke n loo se , he lvi ng h a d fal l e n down , an d car ts an d ass or ted eq u i p m e nt
1 17
w i-e m o,ri11 g ab t i t . H ''ro 1 k d l 1 i .. '"'a 1 t1p t l 1 slopi 11g d k t t l1

D t1 t c l1 d o o r e pa1 a t i 11 � t 11 l·� t111d1 ro 111 f1� 111 t l 1 i � l l i 11g co111p art-
111 i1 t. cabin t 11 d fal l i1 ao�ai 11 t tl1 t1pp i- doo1-, s a l i 1 1 g i t sl1 u t .
Fortt1 11 t 1 , a lat111d 1- , ba - 11ad f 1 1 11 b n 11 t h low i-- door and th
bt1lkh ad allovvi 1 1 g j l l t 11 110·}1 i-oon1 fo r l1in1 to c rawl out .
Thot1 gl1 t h e 11i p h d b 11 I olli11g t adi ly, it pcl l l ed as 11 e11 t red
th adj c i1t be1 tl1i 11 0- 0111pa1- t 111e n t . H look d aero tl1e co1npa r·t
m nt t tl1 tarboa1 d id of t h e h i p . The1 e w i-e portho les l i 11 i n g
th bt1lkh a d m� rb fi,� i- i x of tl1e 1n witl1 ail r i 11 f1-o n t of acl1
0 11 e . Tl1 o t10-h t h e bt1lkhead wa les than thi rty fee t away, 11 e ' d h ave to
c 1-a,vl th 1-ot1gh fot 1 1- i-ow of b1111 ks to i-eacl1 i t . As the s h i p re t1med i t
I oll h pt1lled 1 1 i 1n lf aero tl1e co111pa1-tme 11 t by grabb i 11 g l1old of
t1cce i' e b t1 n k ta11c h i o 11 . Fi11ally, h e was able to join the other .
V\7h e n tl1 e h i p i-eached i1i n e t;1 degree the rol l i n g topped agai n .
Bi r11 e l '''aited ' 11 i l e a ma11 pulled h i mself th rougl1 a porth o l e , wh i c h
''ra n ov d i rectl)T 0'1e rhead . Whe n the man di appeared Birn e l latched
o n to t h e coa m i n g. e c t 1 red h i fe et o n a ta nch io11 , then c h i n ned h i m-
elf u p . Because h e had a h a lyard s11ap ft1 l l of keys on h i s b e l t , he was
un able to pull h imself through . D ropping back down , he th re'"' them
0 11 the floor the11 tried agai n . This time he ucceeded.
He could fe el the hip begi n ni n g to move aga i n . He looked around.
o more than a han dful of ailors were on the e n ti re sl1 i p. H e sta1-ted
u p the i d e \vh i c h wa begi n 11 in g to ri e toward h i m as the hip
re u rn e d i ts rol l . Be 011 d i t h e could see the ma ts and uppe1- deck of
t h e Marylan d and could hea1- the report of h e 1- AA gu11 .
Gla n c i n g skyward he aw five h i gh-al ti tude bombers approac h i 11 g
fro m th e south . The roar of AA fire rose to a e re cendo. H e saw tl1 e
shell b u r ti n g b e h i n d t h e format i o n . H e c u r e d i n fru trati on .
M o me n ts later, h e aw fiv black dot de. c e n d i 11 g on Battles h i p Row.
H e fel t certa i n they we re heade d traigh t toward h i m . Birnel was a good
Ch ristia n and b e l i eved the Lord wa with him wh e rever he we11 t. Wh en
the bom bs m i ssed the h i p he fel t c e rtai n that the hand of God had
reac h e d u p to alter th e i r traj ectory. P icked up by a boat a short time
later, h e was taken to Ford Islan d, wh e re he w·en t a hore n ear the gas
dock.
After fi n i s h i n g c h ow, P harmacist's M a te T h i rd Cl ass W i l l iam E.
D u n ca n hus tled to the d e n tal offic e to com plete hi preparation fo r
M o n day' s i nspe ction . At 7:55 A . M . h e wa tartl ed by the soun d of t h e
1 1 BATTLE H I P OKLAHOMA
ge 11 ral alarm . H e wa, . tartl d agai n wh e n h e heard a voi c e boom ing

ov r th PA with ot1t th bugl call and boats wai n ' p i pe t h a t gene r-
ally pr ceded i t.
"All hand man your battle s tations. This i. a real attack wi th real
bomb and real torpedoes. N o hit. N ow, goddamn i t, get goin g ! "
H e immediate ly dropped h i work and h u tled forwar d to a l adder
011 the tarboard side. H i battle s tation was locate d amidsh ips on the
deck below. Rt1nning pa t sickbay, h e saw Pharmac i t' Mate Fir t Cla
J . H . Sc l10011 0,1er and Pharmacist's Mate Third Cla K. M . D ean car
ryi ng a Stoke stre tc h e r wit l1 a pati e n t aboard . The pati e n t, Seaman
Second Class Wil liam F. Pask, had j us t h ad h i s appendix rem oved two
days prior. A second later, D u n can fe l t a j ar and h e ard an explosion.
Thot1gh the explosion was on the opposi te ide of the s h i p , the
resu l t i ng j o l t knocked over locke rs and mes tables and shatte1�ed a
number of l igh t bulbs behind h i m . Wh e n the m e l e e was ove r D u ncan
hastened i n to sickbay to lend a h an d with t h e tretcher. U nable to fi t
the stretcher through the deck hatc h , D u n can h oisted Pask i n to h i s
arms, t h e n descended sideways down t h e staircase , Pask's i n cision
pressed tigh tly against his body. Whe n th ey arrived at the d ressing sta
tio11 , i t was nearly f"L1l l . Duncan had j ust found a vacan t spot whe n two
mo1�e torpedoes h i t in rapid succession .
When the s h i p settled , he canned the compa rtm e n t for L i e t1 te n a n t
Com mand er H ugl1 R. Alexa nder, the s h i p 's dentis t. Alexa nder was i n
charge of the m i dship s battle dress ing statio n and hould h ave been
in the comp artm e n t with them . Dunc an knew that the office r n o rmal ly
cam e aft alon g the port side and "''on de red if the torp edoe s had forc ed
him to seek ano th e r cou rse. Wh e 11 h e didn ' t arriv e , Dt1n can wai ted
for the ord er to aba ndo n s h i p , doin g h i s best to con sole P ask. Wh en
i t fin ally sou nde d, the com par tme nt and adj ac e n t pas sag ewa y were
al rea dy filli ng wit h wat er, a11d the s h i p had a ubs tan tial l ist. I n i mm e
dia te com plia 11 c e , the me n began c rowdi n g for the doo r.
Tl1en another torpedo h i t .
When the aftereffects subsided, D uncan yelled a t the others to c lear
the way so that he could carry Pask through . They q ui ckly formed a cor
ridor to allow h i m passage . Cradling Pask i n h i arms, D uncan waded
to the door, then out i n to the darkened passageway. With o n e foo t o n
the bulkh e ad and the other on the deck, h e shuffled th rough t h e water.
Reaching a ladder, h e hoisted Pask as high as h e could whi l e yel l i n g for
'
1 19
omeo ne to grab h i m fron1 b ve. c 1.. wma11 r po11d d and pulled

h i m tl1 rot10-h . Thot1 gl1 Dt111c a11 tt mpt d to fol lo1w him it wa , diffict1lt
becau th ladd r '"'a ''ri11gi 11 b i ts top pi11 . Wl1 n h finally made
i t t h rot1gh the hatch Pask "''a 0-011 . D iding 11ot to join ome crew
m e n who were atte1npting to ale a ladd r to the mai n deck, Dt111 can
tarted to' ard th op rat i 11g 1- om wh icl1 he knew 11ad porthole .
As h e opened t h e doo1- t l1 peratin g table and an i 11 t rl.11ne n t cab
i n e t came l i d i n g dow11 tl1e t i l d £1001- toward h i m . They barely missed
him la1nn1 i ng aaa i 11 t the b11 lkhead. Fol l owed by Dean , D u 11ca11 used
t h e s i d e of the tabl the '"' ate 1- steri l i zer, and the water pipes t o pull
h i n1self u pvvard a l o 11 g the sloping deck. The porth o l es were now
almo t direc tly ove1-head. H e could n ' t open them because t hey we re
tigh tl ec11re d . Movi n g to Ii.is right, h e opened t h e door to the adja
c e n t i c kba ' compartm e n t. Th ough both he and Dean were able to
get th 1-ough, t h e i r passage was diffict1lt because the door, whicl1 was
h i n ged 0 11 tl1e tarboard side of the bulkhead, kept closin g on the m .
O n c e i n i de D t1 n can i i1 structed Dean to exit the poi-thole, saying
that h e would h e l p by push i n g h i m t h rough . Dean pulled h i mself
through wi th relati,re ease . D u ncan followe d, b u t he was larger and
barely got his s h o u lders th rough . Wedged i n at the hips, i t would
req u i re the efforts of both Dean and a nearby boat wain 's mate to pull
h i m out.
The t h ree of t h e m decided to wai t u n ti l t h e s h i p was o n i ts side
befo re l i p p i n g i n to the water on the p o rt side. D u e to a sudden traf
i ng they j umped off the tarboar d side i n s tead. As they swam toward
the Maryl and) they heard a tre m endou s expl osio n . Looki ng down the
voi d b e twee n the Ten nessee a11 d th e West Virgin ia Dt111ca n saw t h e
A rizona e n gulfe d i n fl a m e s . H e also saw bodie s being h urle d t h rough
t h e air.
Though shocked, they managed t o swim to a n earby whaleboat and
c l i mb aboard . U n fortunate ly, the engine was i n operable. H i tching a
tow fro m several boats they fi n ally arrived at the 1 0 1 0 dock.
Seaman Second Class Duane H . Reye l ts was a leep when the gen
era l alarm soun d e d . Leap i n g from h i s th i rd deck bunk, he was trying
to c l e a r h i s m i n d w h e n a t h u n derous explos i o 11 brot1ght h i m to h i s
senses. Clad i n h i s u n dersh orts, he raced down a portside passageway
toward h i s battle s tati o n , pushi n g and dodging among other crewme n
who were rac i n g to t h e i rs . As he passed through tl1 e doors of tl1e
BATTLE S HIP OKLA HOMA
1 20
...
va1· i o t 1 . c o 1 1 1 p cl r t m e 1 1 t s , m e n we r·e yel l i n g to "l,e ep m ovin g! ' a the

door we r ·1 ] d b 1 1 i 1 1 d th 1 1 1 .
Wl1 i1 11 t' ach c l (:l l 1 up ladd i- to tl1 <)nd d k, a n o t h r tor-
p edo to1-e i n t o the s h i p n ear t h are a h e h ad j u t vac ated . T h e hip
e e 1 1 1 e d to ri ot1t o f t h e wat r l)y the bow. R l i n g a n d twi ting , the

L l l1 e rpec ted n10ti o n � 11t him swi n gi n g a rO l l O d the ladd er. Wl1 11 the
hip ettled , 11 cur1-i d t1p the laclde r t h e n rac d for h i · battle tation
a t the aft e r f l ag bag. H i uperv i or, Signa l m a n Th i rd la Andrew P.
Saue 1 , had a l ready arrive d, as had eve ral o t h e rs . They e x c h anged
gla nces, the11 rolled tl1 cove r o ff the flag bag. H e a ri n g the o u n d of
gt111 Reyel t wo nde r d what i t wa l i ke o u t ide. H e c uld e e l ig h t
-t h rough the halyard scu ttle i n t h e ove rl1e ad but n o t h i n g e l s e .
T h e n a n o ther torp do h i t. T h e explo ion wa ear b a tteri n g . Agai n
the ship rose , the twi ting metal maki ng a 11 eerie sound a i t tra i n e d
agai11st tl1 e rive ts. I t settled gen tly, l isti n g farther to port. Water wa
gush ing in the deck below. I t sounde d l i ke a wate r fa l l . Mome n ts later
t hey were i 11s tru c ted to get below the t h i rd deck, w h i c h was a1�mored.
Turning for the n earest hatch Reye l t stopped dead i n h i t1-ack .
Standi11g i n fro nt of h i m was Seama11 First Cla Rob e rt V. Yot 1 11 g . H i
cloth i 11 g was soaked wi tl1 blood. Havi ng m ade i t to h i battle tation
he would col lapse a11d die a few mom e n ts lat i-. 1
As o rde red, Reyel t a11d t h e o t h e r 11urri d bel ow. Desce n di n g a
ladder to tl1e third decl,, he had diffi c u l ty m a i n tai11 i n g his gra p 0 11
the ladder ru11gs becat1se the ladder was at an a 11 gl e . Tl1e com part
m e n t was al ready c rowded with ailo1-s, each c l i 11 gi 11g to whateve r h e
could fi nd to re main 011 t h e high ide of the la11 t i 11 g d ck. Water and
o i l were gt1 l1 i n g in th rougl1 a porth o l e . I t wa e cepti o11ally q u i e t t h e
me11 seemi 11gly awaiti 11g furth e r orde1- . T h e o n ly s o u n d was t h e teady
hamm eri n g of AA fi r ot1tsid . Bt1t the s t i l l n e was oon h a t te re d .
Wi th an ago11 i zi n g y 1 1 , a man lost l1 is grip a11d we n t l i d i n g i 11 to the
dark ness of o i l and wa te r. 5001 1 t h e re was a n o t h e 1� yel l , a n d t h e n
ano ther. The men still cli ngi n g to ome t h i ng, o r o m eo n e wer e beg in
n i n g to pa n i c .
Reye lts gla n ced at Sc1u er. Wl1 e n t h e i r eyes inet , t h e i r fear s h owe d
t h rou gl1 , a n d with o u t a wor d, they i-ea lize d tha t i t wa tim e t,o leav e .
Wi th a slig ht pt1s h , Sat ter ges tt11- ed h i 1n to the lad der. " N ow ! '' h e sai d .
Th ey bot h s tart ed u p , foll owe d by a t h ro n g o f oth ers wh o had rea ch e d
tl1 e sam e con clu sio 11 ..
TWEL E- 1 C H P O RT H O L E 1 21
Th h i p vva n arl 1 o n it -id wh n R lt wa pu hed t h rou gh

the hatc h o pe n i n cr o n t o t h nd d ck. U nabl to g t hi foot i ng,
h wa k n o ked backward gain t t h b u l l h ad . Trap p d beca use of
th m n ta1np d i 11 g pa t l 1 i 1n 11 '"'ait d t111ti l t h la t 0 1 1 e l1ad gon e .
Wi t h h t r·ia f1 l l i 11 a t h e ai1- t l 1 n1 i1 d i pe1- ed i i 1 the ge nera l direc
tio11 of t h e t rn , l l i 11 a a t 11 11oth i- i1d i 1 1 d t 1 c i r1g o t h e r to follow
t h e m . I t W'3. ma l1en1 . M 11 fell bou n c i 11 g off th e bulkh eads . Whe n
Re e l t c o t 1 l d n t locat Sat1 r h 11eade d for the 11 ea1-e t h a tc h . 2 H e
fot 1 n d 011e but tl1e ladde r 11ad broke 11 awa .
Thi V\Ta ! so111eo 11 e yel l e d . Reyel t j o i n ed h i m and tl1ey h astene d
fo1- the ta1-bo ard i d e . U nable to keep t 1 p wi th h i m , Reyel ts found h i m-
e l f alo n e . l i 11 g i n g to anyth i ng that p1rot1-ud ed from t h e bulkh ead,
h e g1-oped h i ' a alo11g the darkene d passageway. H e recalled there
' e re po1�tholes i n the ickba . I t wa j u t up ahead. H e gri tted his tee t h .
H alf c ra\.v li11g h e c l u t c hed t11 e pipe a n d wiring along the b t 1 l kh ead,
p u l l i n g h i way towa1-d the i ckbay. Whe n he reached it, the ship was
0 11 i ts i d e . H e ea ed his wa in ide. T here was a porth o l e , but i t was
twe n ty fee t above h i m ( th e width of the com partm e n t ) . H e lay back
again t the bulkhead to fi�1re o u t how to get to i t . There were three
rovvs of a n c hored b u n ks that he could scale to ge t h imself within ten
fee t , a n d then a cabin e t he could c l i m b to gai n anoth e r two . Though
the porthole wa l ight! rem oved from the e n d of the cabinet, a11 gle
irons at the top of the bulkh ead were situated be tween tl1 e two. If he
could l1ang 0 11 to the a11gle i ron with one hand, he could reach out
with the other to grab h o l d of the porthole's ri m . But i f h is hand
slipped, h e would fal l t h rough the doorway and t l1en go crasl1 i ng i n to
t h e bul.khead of t h e n e x t c o m partme n t . H e was scared and tired, but
h e also fel t a surge of adre n a l i n e .
H e rose to h i feet and c a l e d the t h ree bun k without i 11cident.
T h e n he c l imbed a top the cabinet. H e took a breath and steadied h i m
self for t h e fi nal o bs tacle. Gri pping the angle i ro n , he reach ed out for
the port h o l e , exten d i 11 g h i arm to i ts fullest l engtl1 . H e touche d t h e
p o rth o l e . Lea n i n g as much as he dared , he twi ted h is fi ngerti ps
around t h e rim . H e release d th e angle i ron, swu ng out ben eath the
open ing, and t h e n i m m e d i a tely grasp ed the rim wi th hi other hand.
M uste rin g h i s stre ngth , he c h inned hi mself upwar d. He got his head
t h ro ugh , and then a shoul der. Rotat in g his shoul ders towa1� d h is ster
n u m , h e was able to l evera ge his other shou lder throu gh by push ing
BATT LE H I P OKLA HOMA
1 22
aga inst the h u l l 's xte rior wi th his el bow. Con ti n u i n g to pus h wh i l e h e
wiggled upw ard, h e fi nall y got his oth er a rm th rou g h . Layin g t h e palm s
of his han d on the h ul l , he pt1 hed u n til his h i ps we re ot1t . Exh auste d ,
he slipped hi kne es and fee t out, then colla p ed o n h is sto m ac h .
An tern i ty later, he glan ced at the port hol . S e e i n g a rope nearby
that was sect1 red at one e11d, he grab bed i t and to ed the othe r e n d
into tl1e portl1ole, l1opi 11g it woul d be of use to some one e l s e . Slowl y
he pushe d h imsel f uprigh t . Walk ing up the hip' ide, he tared at
the urrou ndi 11 g devas tation . There seeme d to be moke b i llowi n g
everyw here. A thousa nd feet astern , the Arizon a was an i n ferno. I n the
water below h i m , men were swi m m i n g i n desper ation toward a moto r
launc h .
Believing the attack was over because of the absence of gunfire, he
stopped to consider his options. He could either remain aboard the ship,
which could either sink or explode , or h e could j u m p i n to the water
and swim to either the launch or the Maryland. Fearful of the long drop,
he sat down to thin k it over.
Glancing at the Maryland, he noticed that h e r AA c rews were e l e
vating their guns. Assuming that the attack was about to res u m e , and
that the Oklahoma would be targeted again , h e slid off the hull feet first.
Dropping some fifty feet, his knees buckled as h i s feet h i t t h e water,
which u n fortun ately did l i ttle to slow his desce n t . H e we nr deep
ben eath the surface. Though ce rtain that h is lungs would expl ode first,
he somehow managed to claw his way back.
By the time h e ' d regained h is breatl1 , his options h ad d i r n i n ished
by one. Overloaded with sailors, the launch had sunk. He started for
the Maryland. Though it was o n ly about fifty feet away, he wasn ' t sure
he could make i t . H is fight to regai n the surface h ad taken i ts toll . H e
was utterly exhauste d . Bt1t h e also wan ted despe rately to l ive . W i th each
kick and stroke seemi ngly more despe rate than the o n e before, h e
made i t across to the Maryland's port side . Latcl1 i 1'lg onto a rop e , he
was hauled aboard by a group of h e r sailors.
Seaman Fi rst Class Schuyler C . " Bob" B u rn s , J r. , headed aft along
the Oklaho1na's starboard passageway after making 11i s way to the sec
ond deck from the lower powder-handling room of turret 1 . As h e
passed an ou tboard compartment, a m an yelled out to h i m . I t was
Lieute nan t U . g. ) Aloysius H . Sch m i tt the s h i p 's c h aplai n . B u rns was
an altar boy and knew Fath er Al wel l . Along with C hief Watertender
T W E LV E- I N C H PORT H O LE 1 23
F r anci D . Da and th hip d 11 ti t , Li ut na11 t Com ma n d e r

Al exand e r Fath r Al \Vas h l p i 11 mall r er wm n escape t h rough a
porth o l e .
Wh i l e Burn "'' d d to'�' rd 11 i m 11 watcl 1ed the chap lain pt1sh
a11 o th e r m a 11 th 1 ough . Bu1-11 wa somew hat larger t l1 a11 the man and
wo11de red i f h e ' OL1ld fi t tl1 r·ot1gh th twelve -in c h h o l e . Father Al saw
the dot1bt i 11 l1i e es and a i d wi th final i ty, "Burns , we are going to get
you o u t ! Tl1 re are two t1-011g g11y up there , and o n e is a big marine ! ''
H e the 11 told h i m to tick o n e a rm through first and then fol low i t with
the o th e r. Bt1 rn d i d a he was told and got his shoulders th rough as
wel l . Bt1t h i hip '1ve1�e too wid e . With Father Al pus h i ng, and the
marine p t1 l l i ng h e fi 11 a l ly po,pped out, his waist covered with blood. 3
Firen1 a n Seco11 d Class James]. Saul was reading a newspaper i n the
engineer s compartm e n t on the second deck when the gen e ral alarm
sounded. I m mediately, he descended two decks to h is battle sta tion in
the fire room pump room . He had only been there a few minutes when
the fi r t torpedo h i t, shaking the deck p lates loose. After several more
h i ts, the root steam l i 11 e to the fue l oil pump snapped. Live s team per
m e a ted the com partm e n t. Moments later, someone passed the word
to abandon ship. Knowing that the overhead deck hatch had been
secured Saul grabbed a hammer and started up a l adder to work i t
ope n . Becau e there were n o lights, he had to use h is hands to locate
the dogs. Pou11ding their handles with the ha1n m e r, he opened them
all exce p t two. Because the adj acent bulkh ead had been bent inward
against both of them, he was unable to get a good striking angle with
the h a m m e r. Mustering h is strength , h e opened them with his bare
hands. Placing h i back against the hatc h , he forced i t open and crawled
throug h . A n um b e r of others followed h i m . Finding another ladder i n
the darlu1 ess, Saul held i t while the others c l i mbed. When t h e last man
was gon e , he scaled i t i n to a third deck living compartment.
The compa1�tm e n t was a shambles. Bunks and lockers had fal l e n
fro m the b u l khead, p i n n i ng seve ral m e n against t h e bulkhead on the
opposite side. But there was n o time to help them, even i f they were
alive . As the s h i p s tarted to capsize, h e j um ped th rough the nearest
h a tc h . Whe n the superstructure settled i 11 to the bottom, he was i n the
e n g i n e e r ' s wash room on the second deck. The compartme n t was
upside down, and water was pouring i n . There were about twen ty crew
m e n w it h h i m . They tri ed to close the door aga i n s t the water, but i t
was n ' t wat ertig h t. Th wat er c o n t i n u d to pou r t h rou gh, risin g tead ily.
The o n ly way aul o u l d ri abov i t wa by tan d i n g on an inve rted
i 11 k. 1 11 the cl(:lrk 11 . , l i e c t 1 l d hear me f th oth r pray i ng.
Ki1 owin g t l 1 re w re port h o l e b ide th i n k, h duc ked u n d e r-
11eat h the wat r to fe l a lo11 g th bulk h ad. H foun d o n e but coul d n ' t
fi nd a wre n c h to l oo. i1 th dog . H fi nally loos en d o n e with h i
ha11d but had to r L1rfac e for a i r. Tim and aga i n , h e wen t u n d e r u n t i l
fi n a l ly t h ey a l l were loo e . H e open ed t h e cove r yel l i n g at t h e o t h e r
t hat 11 e ' d fou11d a way out.
Strippin g down to his short , he tried to fore h i way th rough t h e
open i ng. H e tried twice withou t succe . Ri i n g for a i r, h e b gan to
skim oil from the wate r's st1rface to lubricat e h i body, then h e tried
agai11 . Placing both hands on the out ide of the h i p , h e fi nal l p u l l e d
h i mself t h 1�ough . Im mediately he s tarted swi m m i n g toward t h e ur
face . H e gasped as h e n eared i t , swa l l ow i n g both saltwater and oil .
Final ly, h e broke through .
Rubbi 1'1 g tl1e oil from his eyes, he tt1 1�n e d toward the � h i p . St1dd e n l
there was a terrific explosi o n . An i nsta n t later h e fel t a pa i n i n h i
righ t legj ust below the knee. He we n t u11 de r agai n . Wh e n h e regained
the surface , 11e raised his leg. I t was bleeding. Wi th n o way of top p i n g
i t , he started swi m m i n g toward a floatp l a n e that wa tip ide down i n
the water. He reached i t, but h is hand were o oily that he co.u l d n t
pull l1 imself onto the pontoon . I n tead, he tarte d wi m m i n g ac ross
the c h an n e l . En rou te he found a seat ct1sh i o n from a motor la11 n c h .
Crawli n g o n top of i t, he s tarted padd l i ng. S e i ng th 1·ee o t h e r i n the
water ahead of h i m , he angled toward them and ha11led them aboard .
Later the fou r of then1 were picked t1p by a lat111 c h a n d taken to a beach
near the submaii 1 1 e base . Heari 11g trafi n g, Saul h aste1 1ed for t h e n e a r
est bui ldi r1 g. I t was fi lled with torpedoe o 11 qt1ic kly left. Afte r h i tch
ing a ride to the subma 1i n e ba e , h e drew a gi1n fro m the armory a n d
then wai ted for the i 11vasio n tl1at everyo n e was certain was forthc om
i ng. I t would be late i 11 the afte rnoon before h i wou n d was tended to .
After the l 1 i p capsized, E nsign Adolph D . Mor tensen was p ro p e l l ed
i n to the s h i p 's medical dispensary by a su1�ge of rus h i n g water. Finally
broac h i n g the surface he found h i m e l f t rapped wit h fou r oth e rs , o n e
of them t h e h i p 's carpen te r, John A . Austi n . M o r te n s e n , fi nd i n g a
porthole with h i s fee t , reached down a11d removed the knobs secur
i ng the po1�t to i ts fram e . H o l d i n g i t ope n , h e ushered two of t h e m e n
TWE L E- I C H PORT H O L E, 1 25
t h 1,oug l1 . T l1 th i 1 d i11,1 11 ,\1' l a -- r wa1�ct i� lt1 t ' 1 11 t t o g . M o rte n n

p t 1 l1ed h i m t 1 n d 1- a 1 1 d th 11 o t1 t . All t l 1 a t 1 111ai11 d w r M o rte 11 n
a11d Au t i n . V\ e i 5l1 i 11 g t\vo h t 1 11 d 1 d poL1 11d At1 ti 11 kn w h co uld11 t
m a ke i t t h 1� t1gl1 t\\' 1'1e-i 11 h p r t l1 I . V\Ti tl1 tl t a wo rd , 11 h Id it
o p e n fo 1 M i�t e11 11 .4
H o p i tal i t 11t Fi1- t 1 ., ne R. D i c k b ga 11 h i 1n or11 i n g i�ou
t i n e b r c l1 e c k i n a t l1 e vital .. io-n .. of a a i l o 1- who ' d l1ad his append ix
r n10,, d at 4:00 tl1 t m r 11 i 11 g . H tl1 11 cl1eck d the ta tu of two other
patier1 t botl1 ''ri tl1 n1 i 11 o r i l l 11 e . H wa n ew to the 11 i p a n d we 11 t
abot1t 11i v\ro 1-k q t 1 i tl;r t ryi n g to avoi d the i re of h is boss, wl10 was slee p
i 11 0- . Tl1 )' '' re th e 0 11 1 r t\ o n duty i 1 1 the hip ic kbay, wl1 ich was
located o n tl1e econd deck.
Sudde11l ,. the t i l l 11 e ploded wi t h the bla1�e of a bugle over the
hip P )' tern fo llo'"red b Battle sta t i o n s ! Battle tati o n s ! All hands,
battle tatio11 ! Thi i 110 d1i l l ! '
The fi rst c l ass flew fro m h i b u n k , scre a m i n g Ge t the patie 11 ts below
the a1-1n o red de c k . '
D i c k ht1 tled the pat i e n ts out and the11 fo rward along a passageway
to a ladder- de c e n d i n g to the th i rd deck. O n c e they were si tuated , he
h a t e n e d to the m i d h i p s battle dre s i n g stati o n , which was also o n
th e t h i rd deck. He d barely a rrived w h e n the first torpedo s truck.
The explo i o n '' a cl ose the hip ri i n g beneath his fe et. The con
cussion tore a hole i n the i n te ri o r bulkhead, fo rgi n g a path fo r a del
uge of water a n d o i l . Th ough both he a n d the fi rst c l a s we1-e drenched,
they escaped the c o m partm e n t . They hustled Lip a ladder to the sec
o n d deck, t h e n back along the p a sageway to the sickbay where they ' d
starte d . Th o ugh D i c k was c o n te n t to re m a i n t h e re , the fi rs t class
th ough t o th e rwi e .
Come o n l e t ge t o u t of h e re ! " he barke d .
They rushe d o u t of ickba y then up a ladde r to a leepin g comp art
m e n t on the main deck . At th e rear of th e com partm e n t wa a door that
o pe n ed o n to the quar terde c k. The com partm e n t wa full of sailo rs wai t
i n g to exit. D i c k a n d the fi rst c las took their plac e at the end of the line
wi n d i n g thei r way th roug h tl1 e bun ks a the line i1 aked forward.
With o n ly two m e n ahead of D i c k, a wall of water came gush i n g
t h rough the o p e n e d door. H e was kn ocked off his fe et. H e began tum
bling, the wate r carryi ng h i m away, j am 1n i n g h i m aga i n t bL111 ks and
bulkheads. He struggled to keep his head above water. Sudd e 11 ly, there
wa dark ne and a d afe n i n g silen c . The wat r was up to 11i hou l

der . Pan i c t ri cken , he foug h t h ard t o rega in h i c o m posu re the a i r
foul with th ste n c h of ft 1el o i l .
Mome n ts later, h e heard voices from an adj acen t compartm e n t.
Then he saw a l igh t. He swam toward it, rel ieved that h e was n ' t a l o n e .
Soon other began to appear. In the eerie i l l u m i n atio n , h e c o u l d see
theiI' l1eads above tl1 e blacke n e d water. H e could a l o ee bodie .
They talked u n t i l omeone fo und a porthole . I t wa s m a l l , o n ly
twelve i nc hes across, and under water. Though i t gave them hope, i t
also posed a probl e m . Because no o n e kneV\r which compart m e n t they
were i n , they had i1 0 idea where i t led. There we re porthol e i n the
i n terior of the ship as we ll as i n tl1e h u l l . If i t was a n i n te ri o r p o rthole,
i t could open i n to a compartme n t that was ful ly fl ooded.
There was a great deal of anxiety as they d iscussed the pros and cons.
Some we re sure that the porthole offe re d escape· others were j us t as
sure that i t didn 't. As th e moments waned, the c h oice became obvi
ous. Witl1 o n ly a limi ted amot1 n t of air, they wot1ld h ave to try i t or suf
focate. Gatheri n g stoically around the porthole, a sailor took everal
deep breaths, then d isappeared be11eath the t1rfa c e . Squirn1 i n g and
twisting, h e made i t th rough the narrow opening.
Dick wai ted his turn . Final ly, the ma11 ahead of h i m wen t u n d e r b u t
he got stuck as he tried to squ i rm through . D i c k grabbed th e . man 's
legs and pt1shed. The i m petu s wa all that was n e e d e d . T h e man
cleared the orifice .
Now i t was D ick's turn . H e s l i d h i s legs i n to the porthole bt1t then
realized that he cou l d n ' t get th rough wi th his shorts on. H e resurfaced.
Believi n g h e ' d have a probl em wi th his shoulde1-s, h e asked the o th
ers if he could make a11 oth e r attempt goi n g headfirst. H e took a d e e p
breath, descended two feet to the porth ole, and tested h i s wid t h . To
his surprise, he found that h e fi t . Sl.1rfac i n g ,agai n h e told t h e o t h e rs
he could m ake i t , and he removed h is shorts. /
Positio n i n g h imself i 11 fron t of the porthole aga i n , h e took several

deep breaths, then reached down and grabbed the ri m . H e pulled h i m
self underwater, then thrust h i s head and o n e arm th rough th e open
i 11g. Pt1shi n g h i mself partway through , h e twisted h i s other arm and
shoulder through . But h i s h i ps became stt1ck. Panicked, h e reached
back and pl1sl1 e d agai 11st the bulkhead as h ard as h e could. I t worke d .
H e was o u t, and free .
..
TvV ELV E- I N C H P O RTH O LE "' 1 27
H e tar ted wim n1 i 11 0- upw i-d . H e ot1ld , li bl1 t abov bt1t wa ru11-
n i 11 g out o f b re a t l1 . H kick d l 1 ard r a 11d h a I'd e r hi u ts tretch d
ar1n w eping do\t\Tll. hi bod i11 gia11 t wa t l1e . I t 1ned l i ke a 11 eter-
11ity bL1t the light wa g tti 1 1 g lo r. Sudd 11 ly hi h ad bro ke the t1r
fa ce. H e t ook h L1ge gL1lp of a i 1-. He was sicl to his stomach and dizzy.
H e tread d wate1- '"' l1 il wa iting for a ne arby whaleboat. When it fi n ally
ar1ived a11d the m e 11 11ad pt1lled him i n , l1e wa stru c k by an incredi
ble chill and l1 is teetl1 began c l1 a ttering. A ailo1- fo t1nd a foul-weath e 1-
j acket a 11 d \\Tl�apped i t a 1-o u 11d h i m . Consoled by 11is newfound warm tl1 ,
D i c k tared at the deva tation around the harbor.
Seama11 First Cla s Dani 1 We i ma11 also escaped after the sl1ip had
ove rtur11 e d . Bt1t i11 tead of wi mming 0L1t a subme rged poi-thole, he
swam dowi1ward t h ro ugh a tru n k space, exiting the ship a t the bottom
of the harbor. After pt1lling h i m elf clear of the tru11 k 's deck hatc h , he
,,va m fo rty-five fe et beneath the i nve rted deck, cleared the lifelines,
and then v a m a n o th e r thi rty fee t to the wate r's surface. I n cluding
the tru n k pace, h e ' d 'Vllm inore than n i n ety fee t , most of i t in total
d arknes .
Though Seaman Second Class William E . Ward, J r. , m ade· i t to the
relative a fety of the Maryland, h e couldn ' t help but look back at the
Oklahoma. As i t rol led over on i ts side , h e saw the head of a man he
knew tic king up t h rough o n e of the portholes. I t was a terrifyi ng a11d
haun ting experience. Because the man was l arge , Ward knew he was
trap ped a n d m os t ce rtai nly would die .
•
C HAPT E R 12
Trapped !
l\lfctny Oklah oma crezumen had battle station s below the third deck) in partic
ular tlie ship ' 'black gang" (men a igned to boiler room a n d engineering pace ).
Once they had descended through tlie deck tlie hatches r.uere e{tled behind them.
Despite the hatches being spring loaded, it was extremely difficult to open t he1n
ftvm below. Becailse the third deck was at water letJel there ivere n o portliole i n
tlie decks below it.
At the s tart of the attack, Seaman Fir t Cla T h o m a F. H a n n o n '<\'a

mess striking ( aiding the s h i p 's cook as a food-se rvice atte ndant) in
the No. 6 5-inc h / 5 1-caliber c asemate . Deciding to take a break when
he heard planes over Fo1-d I land, he c limbed through the � n port
to watch t he m . H e didn ' t re alize they we re combative u n t i l he saw
smoke billowi ng above the seaplane hanger. Looking forward h e saw
a torpedo plane flyi ng low aero s the wate r toward the 1 0 1 0 dock. H e
saw it launch its torpedo and contint1ed to watch tintil the torpedo
exploded alongside tl1e doubl e-berthed Oglala a11 d Hele1ia. M o m e n ts
later, he heard the ge neral alarm, followed by t h e call to '' M a n your
battle s tatio11 ! "
H e had jt1 t ree n tered the casemate whe11 Oklahonia was h i t . Rac ing
to get bel ow, he was c1longsid the gedu nk ta11d o n the second deck
whe 11 the second torpedo h i t . The re tilting e plo ion knocked h i m
agai11st the oda fot111 tai n . D renche d by a h ower of water t h a t
explod ed th 1�ot1gh a g1�ate in t h e overhe ad, he j oi 11 ed up with Seama n
Fir t Class Raym ond A. Cyme rman a11 d they race d below to their bat
tle statio n in radio IV, located on the fi rs t platform deck .
When t h ey arrived , Radioman Th ird Class Me rton R. S m i th , Seaman
Fir t Clas N o rman 0 . Robert. , Seaman Fir t Class George ] . T l1 a tc h e r,
1 28
TRA PPED ! 1 29
a11d S a m a 11 Fir t la H a i-old S . Roila 11d l1ad alrea dy n1a 1 1 n e d t h

comp art m e n t . Ro ila11d l1ad tl1 bat tl pl1on 011 . Wh i l 11 awai ted
i n trr1ct ion t h e otl1 r aled t h e omp art1n e 11 t .
Fol l o"\i\ri11g e'' i-al m o 1- e plo i o n the l ights we nt out. When tl1 e
battle lamp ca1ne o n , Roila11 d lled that tl1e battle phone s were dead.
Roberts tried th tel phon . H a 1 1 n o n tried th 0L1nd-p owered phone .
Their efforts w e 1-e t111 ucce ft1l . Everyt h i ng wa dead . If the order had
b e e n given to aba11 d o n h i p , they 11ad 110 way of k11owin g i t.
v\7he n the l o p i 11g deck wa too steep for them t10 stand, they decided
to tl)1 to go top i d e . Tl1e 01pened a door and c rossed t h e cobbler's
h o p c o mpartme n t then tried to open a11other door to an adj ac e n t
passagev,ra, . B"Llt i t had been sealed from the other side . Trapped, they
re turned to radio IV. With t h e s h i p at a heavy list, they had to crawl up
the deck to ge t t h e re A short time later the battle lamps we n t out. For
. .
a m o m e n t i t wa t i l l the silence almost tranq u i l . Then all hell broke

loose a the s h i p s tarted goi n g over. I n a multitude of to nes, both dull
a n d m e ta l l i c obj e c ts began fal l i n g on the l inoleum-covered deck, oth
e rs slamm i ng aga i nst the teel bulkl1 e ads .
There "''as a short pause and the n th,e rolling resumed. I mmediate ly
t h e m e n s tarted tumbling landing firs t along the bulkhead, and the11
along the overhead, which h ad n ow become the floor. M i raculot1sly
11 0 o n e was h urt b u t 'vater was pouri ng i n from a ven tilator i n the cob
bler s h o p . There was also gas, though they couldn ' t determ i n e the
source. They began to cough and c h oke. Sudde n ly, th e gas cleared,
and a beam of light appeared i n the cobbler shop.
I t was a group of sailors from steeri ng aft. They h ad left thei1� com
partm e n t to fin d a n escape route . Roi l a n d slid dow11 i n to the cobbler
shop to tal k with them . Concludi ng that tl1 ey were trapped, the group
returne d to s teeri I1g aft whi l e Roiland a tte mpted to return to radio IV.
D isori e n te d by the darkn ess, he lost h i s way. Ligh ting matches while
he yel l e d , he was eve n tually guided back by the o thers. Afte r pul l i n g
h i m back i n to t h e compartm e n t, t h ey atte m p ted to seal the door
b e h i n d h i m , but t h e dogs we re on the opposi te side of tl1 e door, so i t
was difficult to seat th e m . If the door was not secu 1�ed, the rising wa ter
i n t h e cobbler's s h o p would even tually e n te r radio IV.
Whi l e the others worked to close i t, Hannon maneuvered his way
through the darkness to the opposite side of the compartment. Feeling
a bulkhead in fron t of h i m , he raised h is hands to locate the ove1-h ead.
..
Instead, he fo und a m e tal tabletop. Atta c h ed to what had p reviously

bee11 the deck, it was n ow uspe n ded from the ceiling. Locating a n edge,
11e grasped it and chin11ed h imself upward, locked a foo t behind o n e
o f the legs, and leveraged himself aboard. After repositioning h is body
so that he was seated, he located an e cape hatch o n the overh ead.
Run n i 11g h is hands around the p e rimete r, he fo und a dog wre n ch .
When h e i n formed the o ther , Cymerman hu rried ove r to h e l p h i m .
Lighting a piece of paper with a match, Cym e rm a n h e l d i t aloft so that
Han n o n could see the door. H a n n o n removed t h e dogs w i t h th e
wrench but was unable to open the hatch because of t h e air pressure.
Blowing out the torc l1, Cymerman climbed up to h e l p h i m . D e p i te
their combined efforts, they could n ' t pull i t open.
On the o th e r side of the compartm e nt, t h e o th e 1�s were sti l l tryi n g
to seal the door against the rapidly rising water. I t was secured except
for one dog. Roiland knocked the h e e l off his s h o e tryin g to kick i t
c losed, but to n o avail . I t would be dangero,us to u nclog t h e e n ti re hatch
to set the remaining dog because the water in the cobbler's shop wou l d
gush i n before they could close i t . They decided to leave i t as i t was .
Even tually H a n n o n becam e dizzy from the lack of air and c limbed
down fro m the table . Sitting o n the floor below, he h e ard SOS's being
tapped. The tapping diminished ove r time, until a l l they could h ear
were two, one of them from steeri n g aft. They sat o r l ay down in the
most comfortable posi tio11s they could fi nd and waited. H a n n o n h e ard
firing outside, an occasional explosi o 11 , and some gurgli n g water i n
the compartme n ts below.
At times the air became so fot1l that h is ton gue wou l d swe l l . O n occa
sion , h e found himself pan ting. The effort made h i m drowsy. I n rare
momen ts , the air would freshe n , a11d wi th i t their spiri ts . They seldom
talked. Wh en they did, i t was o n ly for a word or two . Th ough Roberts
had a watc h , he was unable to read i t because the darkness was t h i c k
and solid. I t was growi ng cold, a n d t h e bulkh eads were sweati n g .
Han non was lyin g alongside the aft bulkhead whe n h e h eard voices
o n the other side. H e lznocked. A man responded. H e said h i s n am e
was Stepl1 e n Yot1ng and that t h e re were ten other m e n wit h h i m i n
t h e lucky bag ( th e n aval versio n of a lost and found) . They tal ked for
a short time and the n qt1 i t as the air seemed to thicke n .
Sometime later, H a n n o n h eard drill i n g o n t h e h u l l u p forward.
Wan ti n g to pass the word , h e s tumbled to t h e rear of t h e c o m part-
TRAPPED! 131
m e n t a 11 d yelle d to th a i l or in t e 1-i 11g aft . A ailor n a m e d Beal

a n swer d . H e said 11 d h ard re ct1 party worki 11g 011 t l1 e hull but
added no t h i 11 g ft 1rtl1 1-.
Soon the dri l l i 11 g d i- w i 1 a 1� r. I t wa i 11 t rm i tte 11t tarti n g a11d top
p i 11 g at i rregul a 1- i 11t rvalr.. H a n n o 11 h Id h i s breath wl1en ever i t
topped not dari 11g to br a t h t1ntil i t r u1ned. St1 dden ly, th ere was
a loud l1i a n d t h e ' ater ta1 t d ri i n g . The com partm e n t had been
p e 11 e trated t h ey d i d n t la.1ow wl1ere , a n d the hiss i 11 g was the sound of
e capina a i 1-. Th i 1 1 k i 11 g that t h los of pressure m ight allow them to
o p e 11 t h e e cape h at c h Th atcher a 11 d Roi l a n d c l i mbed aboard the
table to make a 11 o th er a t te m p t . Sudde11ly, it flew ope n .
Ab o e i t was a 1na11 wi th a ligh t. 1
Low on fu nds Seaman First Class Russell M . Dave 11 port decided to
forego liberty on San1rda1 i1 ight. I nstead he re mained aboard to watch
a m ovie . Awake n i n g early Sun day morning, h e went directly to bre ak
fast return i n g a fte1-ward to s h o,iVer a n d shave . By 7 : 5 0 he was a t his
d uty station aboard th e N o . 2 m o tor laun c h , wip i 11 g the morn i n g dew
off the e ats . The fifty-foot l a u n c h , which was teth ered to a boat boom
on t h e port quarter of the h i p , was o n e of the desig11ated duty boats
a n d as u c h would h ave to be re ady to take o n passengers at 8 : 00 .
S i m ilar prep arations were being made i n the No. 3 launc h , which was
tethered alongside.
As the time approached 7:55, D ave n p ort he ard airplanes approach
i n g . T h e n suddenly h e he a1-d an explosion o n Ford I sland. Seeing the
s m o ke that fo l lowe d , h e h ad no doubt tl1at they were under attack.
H e i m me d i a te ly dropped what he was doing, scurried up a Jac ob's lad
der to t h e boom p o l e , then s h t 1 ffled across i t to the side o f the sh ip.
After ju m p i n g over a l i feboat, he raced across t h e deck to the Fourth
D ivision deck h a tc h . Looki n g to his l e ft as h e started down the south
fac i n g staircase , h e saw low-flying planes zoo m i n g across t h e c h a n n e l
toward him . O n e after the other, they augured upward above the void
b e twee n Oklahoma s fa n tail a n d West Virginia's bow.
H e h a d n ' t ye t reached t h e bo ttom o f the s tairs when the first tor
pedo h i t . B ec ause i t h i t we l l forward, a n d o n the opposite side of the
s h i p , th e effe c t was l i t tle m ore than a jarring bump, but i t was e n o t1gh
to c ause him to fal l off the ladder.
H e was rac i n g through the Fourth Division's living c o mpartm e n t
w h e n th e se c o n d torpedo h i t . Expl o d i n g much cl oser than the first
I\ '1 ·r·1.l�SHIP OKL f-!Q1\,l
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tl1 , l1ip, l'Ollt tl1·1t 11 �·it t d ''ri111111i110- d wi1 tl1r ugl1 a t1-t1nk
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tip to tl1e t11,1ace il di ta11 f abot1t i1i11et)1 £ t. Dav 11port w t1ld be
TRAPPED! 133
o n e of then1 . Thot1gh 11e mad .. v 1 l att inpts , h wa , 11ev r able to

get beyo n d the poi 11 t wl1e1 tl1e tiu11 k 11 atcl1 ri ted 011to tl1e d ck.
D e c i d i 11 g th.at t h e cot1ld con r\re air· by pulli 11g the1ns elve throu gh
t h e trt1 n k 11atch i n t ad of wimmi 11g Dave r1 port a n d Seam an First
Class Fra 11k H . Sc ott tore th i 1� clothi 1 1 g i n to s tri ps to make a rope . After
s'rVi1n m i n g d owi1 t h e t1 t 1 n k to ti 0 11 e 11 d to tl1e h atch , th ey took turns
trying to wim o t 1 t . U nfortt111 ately eacl1 tri p wa tin t1cce sful becat1se
the knot kept co 111i n g loo e .
bando11 i 11 g the rope Da,re11 port made o n e last atte1n p t . Reach ing
t h e h a tch, he fot 1 n d th ere was very l i ttle space ren1 a i n i 11 g be·tween the
coamin g an d the bo ttom of the h arbor. Re turni n g to the l ucky bag,
l1e told the other th at i f anyone wa going to try agai n , they needed
to do it soon becau e th e sli.ip was s i n king i n to the mud . Wi th one
e ception the i de a \!\fa abandoned.
Cox ' a i 11 H oward E. Roberts who h ad tri ed before , decided to give
i t o n e m ore c h a n c e . H e l e ft a n d n ever re t11rne d . Assumin g h e had
made i t D a,1enport and Scott were co11sideri n g a nother atte m p t them
selves wh e n they uddenly h e ard cutti ng up above. 3
Musi cian First C l a Robert D . Wes t was a c l arin e t player i n t h e

Oklahoma s ban d . O n t h e morn i n g o f December 7, the band mustered
o n the q t1 arterdeck at 7:45 . They had j ust fi nished warm i n g up when
We t saw a l i n e of p l a n es de cending on Ford Island. See i n g the lead
p l a n e go i n to a dive, he watc h e d i 11 amaze m e n t as a n object descended
from i ts bell . At th:at m o m e n t the bugl e 1- ounded firs t call on the PA.
Th e time wa exac tly 7:55.
D i s tracted by th e bugl e , West didn t fol low the bom b 's t1�ajec tory.
Bec ause i t l a n d e d i n the wate1-, he didn 't hear an explosion e i t h er.
P erhaps i t was a n o th er dri l l . Ye t h e co uld n ' t recall seei n g so many
planes above the island a t o n e time .
At t h e con clusion of first cal l , the l)a n d marc h e d aft toward the fa n
tai l . Ahead was the s h i p 's M arine Color Guard. Asse 1n bled i 11 fro11 t of
the flagstaff o n t h e s tern , they were making final preparatio n s to raise
the fl ag a t 8:00. Suddenly th ere was a n explosion a t the 1 0 1 0 dock.
Gla n c i n g over h i s right sh oul der, West saw the Oglala squeezed i n l i ke
an accordi o n , wit h a h uge waterspout risi ng upward alo11 g her port
q uarter. A mo m e n t l ater, h e h eard t h e gen eral alarm, and then
Romm e l 's warning.
1 34 BATTLE HIP OKLAHOMA
•
The band <lisper ed i m m ediately. After rac i ng forward to a deck

hatch on the port side, Wes t h ustled down a taircase to the second
deck. Re alizing he wo ul d n ' t n e e d h i i n strum e n t, h e tossed i t d own
the passageway and then desc e n ded another fligh t of s tairs to the th ird
deck. Arrivi ng at h i s battle s ta tion i n the carp e n ter's h o p , h e p osi
tioned h i m self alongside the door because i t was h is j o b to secure i t
whe n everyo n e h ad arrived. 4
I 11form e d by the l ast man to e n ter th at a torpedo wa h eaded s traig h t
for tl1 e ship, West closed the door. Wh ile doggi ng i t down , h e h eard a
thud, fo l l owed by a large explosi o n . I t was a task he would n ever fin
ish because tl1e explosion fro m the seco n d torpedo spru n g th e h i nges.
With the ship listing he avily fol l owi n g two m ore h i ts, h e tri e d to
make his way across the compartm e n t to the starboard side . Due to
the slan ting deck, h e was u nable to m ake any headway. A sailor,
perc h e d along the starboard bulkh ead, saw h e was i n trouble a n d
tossed h i m a l i n e . West grabbed i t and pulled h imself upward.
N e aring the bulkhead, he told the sailor tha t if t h e ship took another
h i t , i t was goi n g to capsize . H i s words were pro p h e t i c . H i t aga i n , t h e
ship started to rol l , a n d water began gushi n g i n to the c o m p artm e n t .
Overwhelmed b y the sudde n deluge , five sailors were swe p t i n to adj a
c e n t comp artm e n ts , and another five wou l d drown . We s t would be
trapped i n the c o m partm e n t wi th Yeoman S e c o n d C l ass Bert W.
Cre nshaw, Fireman Second C l ass H orace W. H arre ls o n , Seama11
Second Class De lbert L . Pittm a n , and Seaman First Class Ge orge E .
Russel l . S oo n , only a foo t of air space remai n e d . Though the l a m ps
and battle lanterns were out, t h ere was some ligh t fro m the p h ospho
rescence being stirred up by t h e i n c o m i n g water. I t was11't 1n u c h , b u t
i t was e nough for them to see o n e anoth er's sil h ou e ttes. Re alizi n g that
the compartment would soon be fi l l e d , t h ey swam to the starboard side
of the turret 4 barbette , wh ere they located a doorway to an adj ac e n t
com partm e n t . They dove bene ath tl1e water, swam tl1rough t h e open
ing, and surfaced i n the s h i pfi t ter's s h o p . A searc h of t h e c o mpartm e n t
yielded a ladd er. T h ey gathered aro u n d i t to disc uss t h e ir o p t i o n s .
Tl1 ough the ladder led to a h a tc h , t h ey decided not to o p e n i t u n til
they'd const1med the air wh ere, they were. I nstead, t h ey simply c l i mb e d
u p the ladder to dry out. A while l ater, they saw a b e am of l i gh t o n t h e
opposi te side of the compartme n t. I t was a sailor hol d i n g a flash l ig h t
above his h ead. Spotting the five m e n o n t h e ladder, h e swam over to
...
TRi\PPED! 135
talk V\rit h the m . H e aid h kr1e w a w y t 1 t and ask d i f tl1ey wan ted to
com e alon g. All five decl i 11 e d . At l east on tl1 e l adde r they were d ry.
Wit h the pas i n g o f h ours i t beca me i n creas ingly u 11 l i ke ly that they
woul d b e rescu d . U nwil l i n g to wai t any longer, o n e man trie d to kill
h i msel f by h o l d i 11 g l1is head u n derw ater-. West trie d to cons ole anoth er
w h o wa sobb i 1 1 g be ide h i m . Ther e was l it tle 1 1e cot1ld say to h e l p; h e
d i d n ' t t h i n k the ' d tlrvi,r e e i tl1e1�.
Ris i n g steadily the water was c h asi11g them u p the l ad d er.
Whe 11 the c o m partm e n t was n e arly fil l e d , they opened the hatc h
o n t h e overh ead. Cl i m b i ng through i t, they took another l adder to
t h e secor1d platfo 1-m deck where the ladder e n d e d . Al l that remai ned
above vvas the h o l d and the i 11 n er botto1n . T h er e was no way of get
t i n g to e i th er o n e .
Fi n d i n g a locked d oor i 11 the bulkhead, they pounded o n i t with a
"\vre n c h u n t i l the l o ck broke . I t took n e arly ten m i n utes . E n tering t h e
c o mpartm e n t , t h ey real i ze d that th ey were· i n an ammu11 i ti o n m aga
z i n e ; th e fl oor was s trewn wit h 5-in c h / 25-caliber AA shells. Fortt1nately,
i t was dry.
Clear in g a space o n t h e fl oor, West took a seat alon gside Bert
Cre n s h aw. Th ere was n o th i n g to do b u t talk. They were terribly th irsty
a n d discussed the perils of dri n ki n g t h e water, talked about 11 ow go o d
a m i l ks h ake wou l d taste , and talked o f h o m e . N obody was h u n gry.
Tl1ere was l it tle c o m p l ai ni n g . E're ry o n ce i n a while, th ey would cou n t
off to be sure that everyon e was still alive . O n occasion , they would
p o u n d o n the bulkhead with the wre n c h .
F i n a lly, t h ere was a respo nse.
Seaman First Class James C. Bounds was a quartermaster striker i n
the N D ivisio n . H is l iving space was i n s teering aft. Located o n the first
p l a tform deck, t h e deck directly below the arm ored deck, the com
partme n t 's floor was approxi m a tely e ight fee t below t h e waterli n e .
B ecause i t was located i n the convergin g section of the h u l l, the thirty
e i g h t-fo o t-long compartm e n t was tapere d : sixty-five fee t wid e along the
forward bulkhead, forty fee t wi de aft. I t con ta i n ed fiftee n bunks and
loc kers,, an assor tm e n t of hardware kept i n bins, and an array of weight
l iftin g e qu i p me n t for the s h i p 's wres tling team. Posi tioned atop verti
cal supports that ran the l en gt h of the comp artment was the s h i p ' s
primary s teering s haft. Starboard of t h e shaft was an auxiliary shaft sur
roun d e d by fo ur wood e n s te e ri n g wheels. Six fee t i n d i a m e ter, the
..
spi ndle d wl1e els, simi lar i n app aran ce to the type o n old sai l i n g s h i ps ,
were u ed t o steer the . hip by hand i11 th eve n t that elec tri c i ty was lost.
Bot1n ds spen t most of Satu rday pol i c i n g the com partmen t a a favo r
to a11oth e r quar term aste r wl10 was away o n leave . B y t h e e n d o f th e
day, most o f the work l1ad bee n c o 1n plete d . Pla n n i ng to p e n d Sunday
o n tl1e beach at Waiki ki , Bou11 ds awoke e arly to fi n is h . Dec i d i n g h e
would eat ash ore , h e skippe d breakfa st a n d we n t d i rectly to t h e car
p e 1J.ter's shop for a swab and bucke t then de cended to teeri n g aft.
H e had just fi lled the bucket wi th soap a n d water wh e n h e h eard the
ge neral alarm . M o m e n ts later, h e h eard Rommel 's warn i n g a n d t h e n
the sound o f a clos i n g deck hatch as t h e hatch i n to th e carpen ter's
shop was sealed fro m above .
W11 en the fi rst torpedo hit, the explosi o n luJ.o cked h i m off h i fee t .
I t also knocked the bucket ove r, sending a wave of soapy water across
the linoleum deck. Seaman F i rst C lass Willard A. Beal n ever saw i t .
Racing i n to s teeri ng aft, he slipped and we n t ski m m i n g across t h e deck
o n his rear end, slam ming hard i n to a bulkhead.
Bou11ds had i�e turned to his fe et when the econd torpedo h it . H e
we n t down agai n , hard. Somewhat dazed , he considered re m a i 11 in g
there . Then the l igh ts we n t out. Followin g a short silence, h e h eard
movement and vo i c es from wi thi n the compa rtme 11 t . T l1 o t1gl1 h e
coul d n ' t see the m , there were six other m e n i n the com part m e nt with
h i m . M o m e n ts later, th ere would be seve11 as Electrician's M ate First
C lass I rvin g H . Thesn1an appeared fro m a 11 adj ace11t passageway.
Arrivi ng wi th his tool bag and a flas h l ight, h e was the last one i n . Whe11
the watertight door was sealed be h i n d hi1n , h e would find h i mself i n
the compa11 y of seve n qt1artermaste rs: Bounds Beal Sea m a 11 F i rs t
Class Albert L . Ellis, J r. , Seam a n F i rst Class Ric l1a rd L . Artley, Seaman
F i rst Class Geo rge F. Jone s, Seaman Firs t C l a s H e rbert S . Ke n nedy,
and Seaman Sec ond Class Geo rge A. DeLong. They would all s h a 1�e a
co111mon fate . With the deck 1 1 a tcl1 es a n d watertigh t doors d ogged
shut, they 11ad effectively sealed themselves i n .
I n an effort to determine the status of t l1 e sl1 i p , Bounds wen t to the
booth i n the fo rward part of the space to l isten o n the soun d-powered
phones. The booths were lo cated all over t h e s h i p . H e could h e a r m e n
talking, some from the engine ro o m , o t h ers from t h e bridge . Some
were hollering, tryin g to locate peopl e . They were n ' t o n t h e p h o n e ,
b u t h e could hear th e m . H e l istened u n t i l the voices grew quiet.
TRAPPED! 137
Follo wi n g thre m o r l1 i t tl1 L l1ip ta1-r d tu1-1 1 ing. Bou nd watc hed
i n h orror as pare-pa 1-t boxe b 1 ok loo from tl1 i r fi tting and objec ts
bega n ca 1�ee n i ng a c 1-o th floo r. Ki1 owi n g th re woul d be more to
con1 e as t h e Ii t in r1ea d 11 r
lized that the 0 11 ly place h e would be
safe wa agai 11 t th s tarboa 1-d bL1 lkhead . H e d l 1 a,re to climb ove r the
ste e ri ng 1 1aft to get th i-e . G 1-a pi11g tl1e top of a six-foo t-high locker,
l1e "L1sed i t a a pivot p o i n t to swi1 1 g l1 is legs upward to get a foothold
on the h aft. As t h e deck cor1 t i 11ued to rise, an adjac e 11 t locker sl i d
a ga i 11 s t t h e o n e h e '''a h o l d i 11 g p i n n in g h i thumb i n betwe e n .
Incredibl h e wa able to e parate tl1 e two with h i s other h a n d a n d
j t1n1p to tl1e tarboard i d e of t h e s haft . M o me n ts later the l ig h ts we n t
out a 11 d tl1e h i p rolled ove r.
Miract1lot1 ly, n o one was h u rt . I n subdued sile11 ce , the eigl1 t men
c lan1 bered to t h e i r fe e t . Thesma11 turned on his flash light. H e ari ng
gus h i n g \Vater h e c e 11 tered t h e beam o n a n air-c o 11 d i ti o n i n g ve n t o n
the bottom o f the c ompart m e n t , wl1 i c h h a d been the ove rhead . The
quare-s h a ped ve n t which extended th ree fe e t above t h e floor, led to
a m t1 h ro o 1n ve n t o n the q t1arte rde ck. T hough i t should h ave been
clo e d d u ri n g ge n e ral quarte rs, i t 11ad n ' t bee n , a11d water was gush ing
i n to it fro m the bottom of the harbor. In desperation they began stuff
i n g cloth i n g a n d blan kets i n to t h e opening, but the press u 1-e drivi ng
t h e vvater V\ras too p owerful to overcom e . Wha teve r they put i n i t was
blown back out. They grabbed a m a ttress from one of the bunks, rolled
i t tightl , t h e n j am m ed i t i n to the opening. To hold i t i n place , Beal,
who was t h e h e aviest, climbe d on top . Though i t slowed the inflow,
water wa stil l seepi n g i 11 a t t h e corn e rs . Tl1 e n the flashlig ht went out.
Re m ovin g the bulb a n d batteries fron1 the caniste r, they we re able
to get sporadic f l ashes of l i g h t by holding the ba tteI'ies e n d to end,
a n d t h e n i�ubbing the me tal e n d of the bulb agai n s t the posi tive pole
of tl1 e top battery. D uring o n e of the flashes, they saw an ac ey-deucey
board floating o n the wate 1-. Fortu i tously, i t was t h e same shape as the
ve n t ope n i ng. Beckon i n g Beal fro m h i s p e rc h , they remove d the mat
tress a n d replaced i t with t h e board. They fo u11 d a le ngth of rope a n d
crisscrossed i t ove r t h e board, t h e n secure d i t i n to p lace by c i n c h i ng
the rope to some p l u m b i n g o n the floor. Whe n the final knot was tied,
o n ly three i nches of rope rem ained. The water slowed to a trickle, even
tually sto p p i ng wh e n the a i r i n the compartm e n t was stiffi c ie n tly com
p ressed to h o l d i t back completely. By t h e n the water was waist h igh .
1 38 BATTLESHIP OKLAHOMA
Th ough the floor was u n d e rwater, i ts angl e , a p p roximately t h i rty

degrees from horiz o n tal , re u l ted i n shal lower water on the h igh e n d .
They would take refuge there fo r more than twe n ty ho u rs . B u t when
th e air became stale , they had to move o r p e r is h . T h e re was a wate r
tight door in the bul khead that acces ed the tiller roo m . I f t h ey opened
it, and i t was dry, they'd have a fresh source of a i r. I f i t we re flooded,
they ' d be seal ing their own doom.
They h e ld a vote a n d decided to o p e n i t . Lean i n g again s t i t, they
loose n e d the dogs. Whe n n o wa ter came th rough , t h ey rushed i n ,
quickly sealing the h a tch b e h i n d them. They foun,d a d ry space where
they could l i e down , the n se ttled i n to wai t for whatever l ay i 11 store.
Th e o n ly n oise was the sound of their breathing. But there was water
i n the compartme n t, and i t was rising steadily. After a whi l e , they were
fo rced to s tand.
On occasion they would pound o n the bulkh ead w ith wre 1' 1 ches.
Fi11 ally, the re was an answer. After pounding several more times to con
firm , the rescuers s tarte d communicating i n Mo rse code. Fortunate ly,
both Beal and DeLong were familiar with th e code and were able to
respon d . When asked whe re they were located, they responded wi th
''Stg aft. " Tol d , ''Your aid i s com i ng soo n , " they were i ns truc ted to s top
sending. All they had to do n ow was wait . Sta n d i n g i 11 waist-h igh water,
they could o n ly h o pe there was e n ough tim e . An e ternal optimist,
Bol1n ds was certain there was .
Carp e n ter's M a te Seco n d C l ass Wal t e r F. Staff was re p l ac i n g th e
canvas backin g on l1is '' movie-watchi ng'' chair i n the carpen ter's shop ,
th i rd deck aft, wh e n h e h e ard t h e ge n e ral alarm . Wh e n h e h e ard
Rom1n e l 's warn i n g a few m o m e n ts later, h e s tarted forward o n the
starboard s i d e . Be cause h i s battle s ta t i o n was located i n t h e b ow,
he'd h ave to run t h e l e 11 gth o f a fo otball fi eld to g e t t h e re . H e h ad n ' t
go n e far w h e n the fi rst torp e d o h i t . T h ough i t h i t fo rward o n t h e
oppo s i te side of t h e sl1 ip , t h e effec ts were suffici e n t to k n o c k h i m off
h i s fee t.
By the tim e h e ' d run th e l e n gth of the fo rward ammu n i ti o n p as
sageway lead i n g to re pair I I , the sh i p h ad b e e n h i t again . P u t t i n g o n
a set of headphones to establish communicati o n s , h e a tte m p te d to
grab a fl ashligh t from a n e arby locke r. F i n d i 11 g the l ocker secured,
and n o i n format i o n forthcoming on the h e ad p h o n e s , h e c o n ti n u e d
fo rward i n to the bow. Arrivi n g a t a ladder near t h e turre t 1 barb ette,
TRAPPED! 139
h e desc e nded to th first plat£ i-1n d ck t h e n took a11 o t h e r ladd e1� to

h i batt le tatio n i n th A-2 ai1-- omp r i- room on the secon d plat
form deck.
Follow i n g battl tation pr tocol h h imm i ed th roug h a c rawl
space to turn off the freshwater pump i n tl1 e adjac e n t comp art1n e n t,
a mea t 1 re d e i g11 d to p reve nt fre h wat r from bei ng pu1n ped i n to
the s h i p a orted comp artme 11 ts i n t h e ve11 t o f a pipel i n e ruptur e.
W h e n h e reeme rged M o to r M acl1 i n is t s Mate First C l ass Jackso n P.
C e n te1� had e n te re d A-28 along wi th Electric ian ' Mate Th i rd Cl ass
C h arle H . H arri a n d Fi rema11 T h i rd Cla s Clare nce A. Blaylock .
Mo m e n ts later tl1 e explo i o n fro 1n a th i rd torpedo sh attered the
com partin e 11 t s ligh ts , lea,ri n g t h e fou r of t h e m i 11 complete darkness.
Fortunate! one of them had a cigarette ligh ter. I n the d i m n ess of i ts
l i g h t the located a ladder to the deck above .
'' Let ge t t h e h e l l out of h e re!" Staff commanded.
They raced up the ladder and exited i n to the wi nd lass m a c h i n e ry
roo m o n t h e fi rst p l a tfo rm deck. With th e ship at a substan tial l i st, they
we re attemp ti n g to scale another ladder to the th i rd deck when a tor
re n t of water exploded t h ro ugh the h a tch i n tl1e overh ead. Knocked
off the ladder, they were consumed by the ensuing deluge of oil-laden
wa t e 1-. Wh e n the o n slaugh t was ove r, o n ly Staff a n d Cen ters resurface d .
U nable to e e , they atte m p te d to locate the o th e rs by voice. Whe n their
calls we n t u n answe red, t h ey could only assu m e th at Harris and
Blaylock had e i th e r d rown e d or been carried away. 5
B e n t o n t h e i r own sal\1a ti o n , they waded around the l a rge pi tch
black c o m partm e n t i n search of the ladder. Finally discoveri ng o n e ,
they scaled i t to t h ,e d e c k above . Exi ting i n to another darken e d com
partm e n t , Staff n oticed a ci rcular l u m i n escence on one o f the bulk
h e ads. M oving toward i t , h e real ized i t was a p h o n e dial . M oving eve n
cl oser, h e saw that i t was upside down . I t was n ' t u n ti l then that h e real
i z e d t h e s h i p had capsiz ed a n d that they were i n the same comp art
m e nt t h ey had l e ft, the forw ard air-c omp resso r roo m .
A t least t h ey were fam i l i ar wi th i t . Th ough they we re obvi ously
t rappe d , Staff still h a d a sense o f h u m o r. ''I fou n d a p h o ne," h e
exclaimed to C e n te rs. '' I ' ll call the O D to have h i m come and ge t us
out o f h ere . " Centers retorte d i t was n o time fo r j o kes. He would fi n d
i t eve n less h u m o rous w h e n Staff i n formed h i m that t h e s h i p was
upside d ow n .
Knowi n g tl1 a t the aft bulkh ead was olid , and tha t t h e ove rh ead com
pa1· t1n n t was in the h i p 's hol d, wi tl1 only the h ull d i r c tly abo ve i t
tl1ey dec ided to acce s the li 11en com pa rtmen t , w h i c h was forw ard .
1Th oug h i t would be a dead e n d as well , a t leas t they ' d h ave som e th i n g
to l i e on . With a wre n c h they fo u11d on top of t h e com pre o r, they
beat the lock off the door. Desp i te t h e i r e ffo rt , whic h co nsum ed sev
e ral hour s, they were unab le to e n te r the room beca u �e some t h i n g
was wedg ed again st the door o n t h e o t h e r s i d e . Wi th t h a t ave n u e
block ed , they a t temp ted to access the ove rhead comp artme n t , b u t that
effort e nded in fai l u re as well becau se t h ey were u n able to get i n to a
pos i tion to beat the lock off.
Wi th water ris i 11 g from the deck below, they moved to the h igh side
of the compartme n t, taking reft1ge i n a d ry corne r. Knovving that the
rema i n i n g air would eve n tually be depleted, they resolved themselves
to the fac t that th e i r si tuation was h o peless. U l t i mately, they would
simply fal l asleep and expi re . Remai n i n g silent to conse rve what air
they l1 ad, they were left to th e i r own though ts a n d prayers fo r more
than thirty ho urs .
Late M o nday eve 11 ing, they h e ard po u n d i n g o n tl1 e h u l l d i re c tly
above them. H avi n g abandoned the l a rger wre n c h e a rl i e r, Staff
scot1red the submerged fl oor fo r someth i ng to re spond vvith . F i n d i n g
a small open-end w re n c h , h e tapped o n the overh ead as h ard.as h e
1could . Heari 11g a response , h e tapped again, twi c e . VVh e n his taps we re
mimicke d , he k11 ew that they were i n dire c t commu n icati o n . The tap
ping conti nued i n i n tervals fo r more t h a 11 an hour.
Sudde nly, they l1eard vo ices di rectly above and t h e wh i n e of a drill
mo tor. A short time l a te r a hole appeared, fo llowed imn1 e d iately by the
s h rill of escapi ng air. I n i ti ally exuberan t, they were stu nned i n to silence
by the risin g water, which was ra p idly approac h i ng t h e i r necks. Because
the ship was on a slight angl e , there was a dry space b e twee n the drill
hole and the uppermost corn e r of the c ompartme n t. Reali z i n g t h a t
the rising water would soon reach th e h o l e , they moved late rally to t h e
dry spac e , tilti ng t h e i r h eads backward for t h e fi n al ves tiges o f a i r.
Heari ng a sudden commotion above , they guessed t h a t t 11 e water h ad
pene trated the hole a11d was spewi n g t h rough t h e overh e a d . T h e com
motion e n ded rath e r abruptly. Tl1e n there was silence.
They h ad been so close, so very close.
TRAPPED! 141
Beli ving t h e I ti i- "'' r till in t l 1 \ri c i 1 1 i ty taff d c i d d t t ry

to acce tl1 l ir1 11 0 1 n p rt111 i 1 t agai 11 . Movi11g i d way t o tl1 bul k-
h ad h r h e d b 1 ' tl1 ' t i- a11d pt1 11 d . Wl1at v r 11ad wedged
it h u t b fo r '"a - 11 b at1 it p n d wi th rel tiv a e . He k11ew
t l1 e l i n n compa1-t 111 i 1 t wa wi d i- tl1a11 the one th y were i n , so he
a t1m d tl1 re '" uld be a 1 1-ae 1- pock t of air 0 11 the l1 i gh ide.
Po i ti o 1 1 i 11 0- 1 1 i 1n l f i i1 ft"On t o f tl1e opening he told Ce11 ters to follow
h i m . Th 'both i1 t l d ea l i n g the hatcl1 be h i 11 d t h e 1n . A short time
later th h e ard \' ic .
The l1ad i1ot bee 11 abar1 don d .
CHAPTER 13
Thirty-Two Came Back
The efforts to rescue Oklahom,ci 's trap p e d crew m e n began w h i l e the

attack was still under way. Th ough m os t o f the torpedo p l a n e had
departed the h arbor by 8: 1 0, a second wave o f figh ters a n d d ive
bombers resu m e d the attack around 8:50. Captain Bode boarded the
Maryland a few m i n u tes la ter, but he was ordered to the Lauluai
Ammuniti o n Depot by Rear Ad m iral Walter S. An derson to overse e
the rep lenish m e n t of ammun i ti o n .
Lieute n a n t Comman der H obby, Oklahoma's damage c o n tro l officer,
boarded the overturn ed h t1 l l at 9:15 to d ire c t t h e rescue e fforts .
U n fortunately, the o n ly e q t1i p m e n t a t h i s disposal wa a twe n ty-four
foot whal e boat from the Oklahoma a n d a twe n ty- ix-foot m o tor launch
from the Argonne. Tl1 e launch had divi ng equipm e n t for o n ly o n e d iver.
Informed that a sl1rvivor, who h ad escaped the h i p by wi m m i n g dowi1
a tru 11 k h a tch near frame 1 17, had s tated that otl1ers were trapped a t
the top of the trunk, Hobby dispatched t h e diver to i nves tigate .
H obby then m e t with Com mander Ed gar Kran zfeld er, the combat
sh ips materiel officer who had arrived a few m i r1 u te ea1�l i er. They
agreed that pumpi n g equ i p m e n t , cutting equipme n t, and additional
d ivi ng equipme n t would be required to facilitate a ny further rescue
a ttempts .
Aro und 9:30 Lieutenant Com m a nder H erbert P fi n gs ta g crossed
over from the navy yard . After surveyi n g t h e si tL1a ti o n , h e d e p arted for
the Maryland to confer with Com ma nder Kra nzfe l der. Toge t h er t h ey
compiled a list of equipment arid t h e n d i spatch e d a boat to t h e yard
to obtain i t. I n the i n teri m , Oklahoma e nsign Joe Spi tler was s e n t to t h e
navy yard for a set o f plans, a n d a sound-powered p h o n e l i n e was run
from the Maryland to Oklahoma's h t1ll so that t h ere wou l d b e dire c t
1 42 '
THIRTY-TWO CAME BACK 143
c ommu n i cati o n wi th tl1e b a t tl fleet taff. Shor tly ther after, a boat
arrived frorn tl1 e Rigel wi th cutti11g torch e s and asso rted fire and res
cue gear. Boats also ar1ived from tl1e MaryJland, the Solace, and the st1b
mari n e bas e . T h e boat from t l1 b a e fully e q uipped for divi n g, was
s e 11 t to t h e area a I· o t 1 11d frame 117. Al thol, 1gl1 t l1 e diver t h a t Hobby
had dispatched h a d i�eleased a buoy i n to the tru n k , there had been
n o response from '!\Ti tl1 i n . 1
Meanw hile H obby directe d others to s tart tap p i 11g on the h u l l wi th

h amme rs . T h e re ' e re respor1s es i n the vic i n i ties of frames 1 3 1 , 1 1 6,
78 a n d 2 2 . Ir1 additi o n ''oice con tact was made via a sea suction l i 11 e
wi t h t\!\TO m e n t rapp e d i n a n evapora to r pump room. Fittingly, the con
tact would be i n i ti ated through the effo rts of two Oklaho1na survivors ,
F i reman Second C lass Robert Bromm and Fir·eman Third Class
Charles]. Blai dell botp of w h o 1n had swum back to th e Oklahoma after
esc aping to the Maryland. 2
Afte 1 � Spitler returned wit h the bluepri n ts , two e ntry poin ts were
selected n ear t h e stern . A t h i rd was chosen amidships to access the
sailors trapped i n the evaporator pump room near frame 78. The e n try
p o i n ts h a d to be specific because most of the compartme n ts align ing
the bottom of the h ul l c o n tained fuel o i l , and the rescuers we re using
cutting to rches.
The work was slow due to small fires and the p resence of related
fumes. T hough air h o ses were rigged from the Maryland to h e l p ve n
tilate the cutting areas, th ey proved to be i nadequate. Despite the warn
i ngs of M ac h i n ist's M a te Seco n d Class Wal t Becker, who knew that the
evaporator pump room had a cork lining, the fumes that p e rmeated
from the cork as i t was c u t as p h yxiated the two me n trapped i nside:
Machinis t's M a te F i rs t Class Winfred 0. Woods and Machinist's Mate
Seco n d Class U lis C . Steely. I t was a h o rrifying experience for Becker
as well as for B romm and Blaisdell , who had spe n t more than a dozen
h o u rs c o n soling the two me n . The torches were aband o n e d in favor
of p n e u ma tic h amme rs wit h cutting tips.
RADIO IV AND THE LUCKY BAG
An h o u r pas t mid n ig h t, a b arge arrived from the shipyard with air

compress ors a n d c hipping h amme rs. Aboard was the chipping gang
from Shop 1 1 . Comprising twe n ty me n , i t was l e d by Julio D eCas tro,
BA.-fTl,E HIP OKLAHOMA
1 44 •
a 11at ive Hawai ian . Ano the r b<)al arri ved , carr yi ngJ o e Bul go, a Hawaiia n
re11ow11 d fo r l1 i . t reng th a11d un can ny e1-id ura n c e . R lievi ng
exha u ted wor ker who we r att mp ting to ct1t a h ol th rougr1 th lowe r
blister, Bt1lg o tarte cl hi gu n, con tinu ing wh re th y had stop ped. To
cool the ch i ppin g blad e, buck ts of wa ter w r brot 1gh t up fro m the
harbor.
Thre e hole wer cut betw n fram e 1 22 and fram 1 1 5 . O nly o n e
provid ed access to t h e s h i p ' i n te rior, a two-fo ot- qu are h ole a t frame
1 1 6 , at the level of tl1e fi rst platfo rm deck. Bt1lgo e n t red t h e h ole i n
the aft e n d of th e port ide antito rpedo bli t r. O n ce i n i d e h e cut a
hole i n the adj a c e n t bulkhea d to acce a fre hwat r t o rag tan k .
Pumps were brough t aboard and the tank was d rai n e d . Aft e r wi den
ing the hole, Bulgo e n te re d the tan k . U i 11 g t h e ligh t fro m a c age
lan te rn , he fo und a manh ole i n the d i ago nal bulkh e a d . He cut
through i t to e n ter a voi d spac e . H earing a disti n c t tap) tap) tap he h a -
tened toward a spli n te r hatc h . Kneeli n g be ide i t h e tapped o n the
cover and h eard a voice i n re ponse . Trapped b e n eath h i m i n i� adio
IV were Seaman F i r t Clas T h omas F. Han11 0 11 , Seaman F i r t Cla
Raymo n d A. Cyrne r1n a n , Rad ioman T h i rd Clas Merton R. Sm i t h ,
Seaman Fi rst Class Norman 0. Ro berts , Sea m a n F i r t Class George J .
Thatcher and Seama n First Cla Harold S. Roila n d . Though the dog
had already been opened from belo\\r, t h e co,1e r rema i n e d sealed due
to the pressuri zed a i r press i 11g it against the h a tc h 's coamin g. The only
way i t cot1ld be opene d was to reduce t h e p r u 1�e . A d rill wa l owered
i n to the void spac e , and witl1 i11 mom e n ts , the tI'app ed n1 e n c ot1ld h e a r
the whi n e of i ts moto r. It woul d be quit e a con tra t to t h e sh rill
whist li n g of the drill bit p e 11e trati11g the deck . As t h e a i r s h o t t h ro ugh
the drill 11ole , how ver, the redt 1ced pre u re i n t h e com part m e n t
allowed tl1e wate r t o ri se. Fort t1n ately i t d i d not tak lon g fo r the a i r
pres sure to b e redt 1ced to the poin t vvl1e re i t was n o long e r seal in g t h e
ma 11ho le . The cov e r fell o p e n and Bul go c 1�am ble d t h rou gh to t h e
dec k below. Bec au e the com par tme n t wa n ear ly eve n fee t h i gh, h e
ord ere d the nea re s t ailo r to clim b on h i s bac k . Bulgo h ois ted the ma n
th rou gh the op e n i n g, an d the 11 the five o t h e 1·s.
On e of the firs t to rea cl1 the l1 ull , H a n n o n wo uld ret urn to tell t h e
resc ue rs tha t oth er we re tra pp e d i n t h e luc ky ba g a n d i n ste eri
n g aft.
Th e wo rd was im me dia tely relayed to Bu lgo . Waist de ep i n wa
ter, Bu lgo
ma de co n tac t wi th the sai lors i n th e lu c ky ba g. Te lli ng th
em to ba ck
TH I RTY-TV\1 A 1 E B c: 1z 145
ff h e d ri l l d a 11 l e i 11 tl1 t p f tl1 b t 1 lkh ad. 1- t d b t l1 , am

hi i n o� h 11ad t1 t 1 1 1 t 1 d b�fi i� h r·ai cl 11 i 11an1 1 n e r a11d b ga 11
c l 1 i eli 1 1 g . I11fo 1 111 d tl1at t h e 'i\'(l t e 1- I v I wa ri ing i n id , Bt 1 lgo c t 1 t a
h I'izo11 tal l i n a r th top f th bt1lkh ad a11d t h n two ve 1-t ical

li11e 011 a t e it l1 r i1d f th 11ori zo11 tal l i 11 . Realiz ing t h e 1 was 110t
e 11 ot 1 g h t i 111e t ct1t c 111 pl t qt1a1- 11e t l, ed a l e d gel1 amm r to
p t1nd th top f tl1 c t 1 to t 1 t a 1- a backwa rd . Wh e 1 1 i t '"'as wide e 11 ougl1
fo1- a n 1 a 11 to pa t h ro t1gl1 , '"' t e r tart d sl1 i fti 11g ot1t a l o n g t l1 e bot
t in . H e t ld tl1 111 11 t ta1-t c o 111 i 11 g out. T h e fi 1- t two t o emerg
'", re Sea111an F i r t Cla M i c h ael Savarese a n d Se aman First Cla
St ph 1 1 B. Oll l1cr . 3
V\ i t h 'vat r t 1 p t o th e i 1� c h e ts they made t h e i r way ac ross the com
partme 1 1 t t o th a 1ne h a t c h that the m e n from radio IV had use d .
B h i 11 d tl1 m "'' i-e Seaman Fir t Cla Se lden Goi ns, Seama 1 1 Seco11 d
la Ga1�1 e n W. E l i c k Electrician ' Mate Se cond Class Rogers L .
Tillma n , Boats'"'a i n Mate F i r t C l a H oward Aldri dge , Seaman Firs t
Cla Wil l i am P. Schauf Seaman First Class Fra n k H . Sco t t , Seama n
F i 1- t C l a Ru
e l l M . Dave n port, Seaman Seco11d Class Wilbur T.
H i nsperger a 11 d Mu icia11 F i r t Cla s John K. Enge n . 4
By t h e ti1ne B t 1 l go e caped i-adio IV, i t was completely flooded. The
re cuer would h ave to fi n d a d i ffere n t route i 11 to teeri n g aft, which
ablitted radio IV aft bulkhead. Time was ru nning short. I t was 8 : 00
Monda morn i n g .
AM I D S H I P
A n o t h e r i-e c u e c rew was alre ady a t work amid h i p where addi

t i o n al tappin g h a d been h ea rd . A hole cut betwee n fra m e 1 00 a n d
1 0 1 re 1.Ilted i n a dead e n d . Decid i 11 g on a d i ffe re 1 1 t cot1rs e o f ac t i o n ,
t h ey ree n tered t h e hull thro ugh the h o le u ed to acce t h e evapo ra
tor p u m p room . E n te ri n g t h e tra 11 sve r e coffe rdam betwe e n frame
76 a n d 77 they c u t throu gh the fo rward bu lkhea d to gai n acces s to a
re e rve fre hwate r stora ge ta11 k . Afte 1- c t 1 tting th roug h the floor, they
desc ende d i n to a ports ide fire roo m . Cutt ing th ro·ug h on e bt1lk head
after a n o t h e r, t h ey mad e t h e i r way aft t l1 rough the evap o rator pt1m p
room a n d the starb oard engi ne roo m , trave l i n g near ly eigh ty-five fe e t
i n the proc ess. E n te ri n g t h e shaft a l l ey that abut ted the e n gi n e room ,
t h ey c u t th roug h the floo r to acce s the 5-i n c h / 25-c al iber hand ling
146 BATTLE HIP OKLA HOMA
i-oon 1 . 1 11 ide w 1� Mt1 i ian Fi rst las Rob rt D . W t , Yeo man Seco n d
la B rt W. r n h aw, Fi rema n econ d la s H o race W. H arr 1 o n ,
S a 1na11 Seco nd Cla Geo rg E . Ru el l , and Seam an Sec o n d Class
Delb ert L. Pi ttman . Aided by a torc h , they were pulle d from the com
partm n t then e co rted back tl 1 ro ugh the h i p . I t wa 2:00 P. M . M o nday
whe11 t hey finally emerged from the h u l l . They h ad been trap ped for
t h i rty l1ours . 5
STEE RING AFT
Mea11while, Joe Bulgo and l1 i s men were attem pting to reach the
men wh o had been heard i n the vic i n i ty of frame 1 31. After h i tting
deadwood i n the two h o les resc uers cut between frames 1 29 a n d 1 34,
they rett1rned to the h ole they had cut at frame 1 1 6 to access radi o IV
and the lucky bag. Reen teri ng the fres hwater storage tan k , they cut
i n to an emerge11cy fuel oil tan k . From there, they c u t i n to an adj acen t
void space, where they found a m a n h o le i n the floor. Cutting a h ole
alo11gside i t , they reac hed th rough the h ole to i-emove the n u ts fro m
tl1e bolts securi ng the manhole cover. They then removed the cover
and slipped th rough the manhole to the deck below.. They were n ow
i n steering aft. The compartmen t con tair1ed a great deal of wate1- but
n o men , because the s u rvivors had already m oved aft i n to the tiller
i-001n . Pumps were brotigh t aboard to lower the water level so t h a t the
rescuers could work. Finally, the compartme11 t wa dewatered to the
point where they c o t1 l d wade across i t. Arrivi n g at the til ler room door,
they di cussed the sitt1ation wi th the men i n side. Info rmed that the
door's dogs had already been opened but that the air pre sure wa eal
i n g i t , they told the men i n side to rem ove the cap from a nearby air
tes t plug. 6
Seaman Fir t Class Albert L. Ellis, J r. , i m mediately ackn owledged the
instruction and removed the cap. The m omen t he did, the water level
started climbing. When the air pressure equalized, the door came o pen.
Becau e he wa close t to i t, Ellis i m mediately began push i n g men out.
O ne by one, they emerged then waded from hole to h ole. Eacl1 h ole
had bee11 lined wi th rags to cover the ragged edges, and a rescuer was
stationed alongside each one to help the survivors through .
By 4 : 00 P. M . Monday, E l l i s , Seaman First C l ass Ri c h ard L. Artley,
Seaman Fi 1�st Cl ass J a mes C . Bounds, Seam a n Firs t Class Wil l ard A .
THIRTY-TWO C A M E BA K 147
Beal Seam an S 0 11 d Cla G i-g . D Long a 1nan Fi 1- t las

Georg F. J 0 11 S a m a 11 F i 1.. t la H rb r t S . Ke n n dy, and
E lectrici a n Mat Fi 1-- t Cla I 1-vi 11g H . Tl1 e m a 11 w re breath i 11g f1 sh
H awa i i a n a i r fo1-- t h e fi 1- t ti1ne i 11 nea1-l thi rty-two h ou1 .
LI N E N STORAGE
Wh i l e th afo 1-e1n i1tio11 d I� ct1e occurred i n the i-e ar portio11 of

t h e s h i p the final r cue occur-re d i 11 the bow. Accessi 11g the hull i n
t h e vi c i n i ty of fra m e 2 2 , a h o l e was c u t i n to a c o m partm e 11 t i 11 the
hip i n 11 e r hull a11d the11 another V\ras c t1 t to access a storage com
partm e n t i 11 the h o l d . On t h e bottom of the c o m partment was a man
h o l e . T h e i-e cuer tapped on the cove r and rece ived a i-esponse from
t h e compa rtm e n t below. Whe n asked if the com partm e n t was d ry,
Carpe n te r Mate Seco n d C lass Wal te r F. S taff responded i n the affir
m a ti e eve n though i t was n o t . The rescuers tol d h i m to s tand clear,
and t h e n they beat t h e dogs open w i t h a 11a m m e r. Wh en the cove r
dropped o n ly two m e n e m e rged: S taff and Motor Mac h i n ist's Mate
F i r t C l ass Jack o n P. C e n t e rs . Esco1-ted back to the h u l l , Wal t S taff
would be the l a t ' cut-o ut" to escape fro m the Oklalioma. The time was
2 :30 A. 1 . I t was Tue day, D e ce mber 9 . S taff and Cen ters h ad been
trapped i n ide fo r m o re t h a n forty-two ho u rs.
Because of the determ i n ed effo rts of the twe nty-o ne m e n from Shop
1 1 , t h irty-two m e n would be save d. T h ough c u t t i 11g c o n t i n t1ed i n to
spaces w h e re others migh t still be trapped, and a liste n i ng wa tch was
posted t h rough o u t the above-wa ter areas of the s h i p , no o n e e lse was
located. Th e re cue efforts e n ded a t 9:00 A . M . o n December 1 1 . 7
C HAPT E R 14
Resurrection
In the weeks fo ll owi ng the attack, survey were conducted to d term i n e

if a11y of the five sunken battle h i p could b alvaged. Pre l i m i n ary
results in dica ted that Nevada, Crtlifornia, and West Virgjnia could be re -
t1rrected, but additional studie wo uld be reqt1i red to make a de term i
natio11 on Arizona and Oklahomct.
Wh e n an underwate r exa m i nation of A rizona h u l l i n e a rly 1 942
i n dicated her back had been broke 11 i t was decided to re m ove h e r
st1perstructt1 re and salvage h e 1- gun . T h e h u l l wo uld i-e m a i n wh ere i t
lay, a the fi nal re sting place for the ailors and marin w h o had p e r
ished aboard her 0 11 the morning of De ce111ber 7 . A i m i l ar tudy of
Oklalioma in dicated that . he cot1ld be rai e d bt1 t tl1at the co t of i-e tora
tio11 was p roh ibitive . Becau e sl1 e had rolled i 11 to the h arbo r mai n
chan11el, he posed a navi ga t i o nal hazard. Thu p 1-e e rva tion as a
me111orial wa i1ot a11 option , a11d the r mai n of l1e r 429 fal l e n c rew
meI1 would b rem oved for burial afte r h e wa rai e d .
The tudy r vealed the fo llowi n g : T h e s h i p wa re t i n g i 11 forty fe et
of wa te r at a11 angle of 1 5 1 degrees from ve rtica l . Soundings i 11 d icated
that the ma t St,1per trt1cture a11d tu rrets we1-e e n t i rely ubm e rged i n
mud. Tl1e uppe1� deck of the port side of t h e l 1 i p '""e re e mbedded i n
i1early twe n ty-five fe t of mud, a nd th two t1-i pod masts 've re e i th e r
broke 11 or badly be 1 1 t . St1-11ctt1 ral da1n age 011 the p o rt side exte11d ed
over a distanc of 260 fee t . Add i tional ly, t h e rear two-t l1i rds of the s h i p
re ted on solid oil wh i l e t h e fo rward t h i rd was fl oati n g i n m u d .
Fortt 1 1 1 a te ly, tl1e h i p ' ce11 te r of gravi ty wa locate d on solid s o i l .
Becat1se rai i n g a11 ove rtuI·ned battleship had 11 eve r b e e n a t t e m p ted
befo1 , the Oklahoma proj e ct required inuch p rovocative though t and
c reative e ngineering. The fi nal plan co11sisted of five b as i c s tages:
1 48
R E U R R E CT I O N
1 49
1 . Re m o a 1 n t 1 l1 f tl1 i- i11 a i 11 i 11 · ft 1 I o i l <:l, p o -. ibl to d i- a

t l1 e O\' ral l '" igh t . ( Oklalio11za ' b l 1 1 1 k i- co11 t<1i11 d 1 1 h 000 ga l l o11.
of ft1 I i l ,,, 1 1 11 11 11k. )
2. 1 th ht1ll r1d i- at 1 1 . i r bt1bb l '"ri t h i 1 1 i t t i 1 1c1- a e bt1oy a11 cy.
. Ro t a t th e l 1 i p t a11 t1prig h t po i t i 11 t 1 i 11 g 11at 1 l i n g wi n 11e i 11 tall d
0 1 1 Fo1�ct I l a 1 1d .
4 . I r1 t a l l patcl1 to al t l 1 e p 1-t s i d t o 1-pedo d a 1nage .

5 . De, vat r t h l 1 t1ll tl i 1 1 o- pt1111 p .
ST GE 0 E
The p h ' ical ''rork bega11 011 J u ly 1 2 1 942. A wo1-ki11g pla tform wa
c o 11 truc ted adj ac e n t to the h u l l . Wh e n the platform was c o m pleted ,
c t1tti11g p o i 11 ts to obtain acce to the ft1el bu11 ke r we re m arked on
the h ull . B eca11 e the po1-t ide bunke r were t 1 b m e rged, oil could be
rem o,1ed f1-om the tarboa1�d ide o n ly. The following day wo rkers
b gan Cl1tti 11 g at the i ndicated p o i n ts o n the hu ll 's ot1ter s h e l l . Because
the h i p had a double bottom addi tional h ole had to be cut th rough
t h e i n n e 1� h u l l , tl1e hold to gai 11 access to the fu el bunkers. The pump
i n g plan i-equire d a m i n i 1n u m of fiftee n acce locations.
Becat1 e tl1 e fue l bunke rs we re a e ries of c o m partm e n t , a11oth e1-
n e t\\1ork of hole had to be cut th rougl1 the bulkhead betwee n the
compartm e n ts to allow oil to drain from o n e com partm e11t to the
o t h e r. T h e o i l wo uld eve 11 t11ally be ro uted to a 1c e n tralize d compart
m e n t vvh e re i t would be p t1 m p e d i n to oil barge . I t would take five day
to cut t h e requ i red acces h oles a n d another t h i r ty- 11 ine to rem ove tl1e
o i l . Wh e n the oil rem oval pha e conclL1ded on Augu t 26, the i n take
h o ses were rem oved and s teel plate we re we lded ove r tl1e acces
holes. Approx i m a tely 350,000 gal lon of fuel oil had been re move d .
STAGE TWO
To c reate an ai r bubbl e , the h i p wa divided i n to seven transver e

secti ons, and the bulkhe ads that fo rmed the forwa1�d and aft bound
a ries of each sec tion were ealed to make them ai rtigl1t. To allow air to
be pum ped i nto the ship to force the wa ter out th rough the torped o
h oles o n the port side, divers closed th e deck and bt1lkh ead ha tches on
the d e c ks above the wate rl i n e , then closed the hatch e on the deck
below i t.
1 50 BATTLE HJ P OKLAHOMA
H owev r, tl1 r wa a con e rn t h a t t h e a i r poc ket wou ld be lost

wh i1 tl1 h i p wa righ ted to n i ne ty d gree . Wit h the s h i p lyi n g o n
i ts si d e , i t wa pos ibl that the com pre sed air wou ld leak o u t t h roug h
t111d tecte d hole in th com pa r tm e n ts a n d then trave l alon g t h e h i p '
pas agew ay to the fi r -roo m t 1 p take , be low the h i p ' m o ke tack . To
p1�eve nt this, the t 1 p takes h ad to be ealed.
Th e fire room 1.iptake opening wa approximately thirty fee t quare.
To al it wo t1ld req t1ire the con truction of a con crete patc h . Since the
ope11 ing was subme rged, the patch wot1ld have to be constructed u n der
water a n d in total darkness. I n addition , the room c o n ta i n e d a high
concen tration of odorless hydrogen sulfide gas, req u i ri n g the d ivers to
wear facemasks. The masks made the work cumber ome because air
was supplied through a h ose, the location of which required consta n t
mon itoring, and because hand signals were the only means o f commu
n ication . Building the patch requi red that a massive thi rty-foot-square
box be constructed to form a mold fo r the conc rete.
Once the necessary access ope n i n gs were cut th rough t h e h ul l , tim
ber was l owe red i n to the s h i p and tra n sported m a n ually to t h e fire
ro o m . The room c o n tained fou r fe e t of water, so the timbers were
fl oated to predete rm ined l ocations above the u p take o pe n i n g.
Separa ti n g the u p take from the smoke tack was an armored steel gri l l .
The timbers were fl o a ted i n to position arot1nd t h e perimeter ·o f the
gri l l , weigh ted with sandbags , a n d t h e n wired to the grillwork wi th steel
cable. Once the timber peri me te r was fixed i n place , m e ta l p l a ti n g
was a ttach ed to the gri ll to fo rm the base of the m o l d . Final ly, a fi n e
wire-mesh scree n i ng was overl aid on the plati n g to p reve n t th e ceme n t
from leac h i n g out. 0 11ce the fo rms were i n place, underwater c o ncre te
was pt1mped i r1 .
The fi n al step i n seali n g t h e hull was the i n stal l a ti o n of an air l o c k
chamber above each access h o l e . The ch ambers were cyli nd ri cal com
partm e n ts approxi m a tely eigh t fee t i n diameter a n d t e n fee t l o n g .
Each c o n tained two separate i 11 terior compaI·tm e n ts . A t o tal o f seven
were cons tructed o ff s i te and t h e n tra n sported to t h e Oklahom a in
boats. They were then attache d to the h ul l ove r e ac h of the seven access
hole .
A diver wottld e n te r the cham ber th rough a n exterior door a n d t h e n
seal i t behind h i m . H e could then open t h e i nteri o r door ( located i n
the bulkh ead separating the com partm e n ts ) wi th o u t t h e l oss of a i r
RE URRECTION 151
p ressu re . Ai r wa pt1n1p d i nt th i n t l'io 1- c l1a m b r via an a i 1-tigh t noz

zle that wa t h r a d d i n to th c lind i-' xt 1 i o r wa l l . O n e in side th
p 1-essu ri z d port i o r1 of th c h n1b r th d iv 1 could d c e n d i n to the
h i p th 1�o t1gh t l1 acce 11ole i 11 tl1 h t1 l l .
The airlock c h amber '"'e r tem p o 1 a ry ; tl1 e i r ole fu n c t i o 11 was t o
all ow d i er ace to t h i n t ii o r of t l1 s h i p o that tl1ey could seal i t
to fac i l i tate the creation of air bubbles. 0 11 ce the bt1bbles were formed,
t h e d iver exited the h i p the acce s h oles were welded s h u t, and tl1 e
c h am b e r were re111oved a 11 d taken ashore .
To c o n tr o l the pre ure i n each air-bt1bble sec tion duri n g righ ting,
an e teri o 1- p i p i n g 11etwork was i nstalled along the outer portion of
the hull . i th valve-c o 11 trolled ve 1 1ti11g and i n take pi pes a t tached to
each ection the p resst1re wi t h i n the sections could be i n dependently
m o n i t o red and adj u�ted. If the air p ressure was decreas i n g due to leak
age additi o 11 a l a i r could be pumped i n . Conversely, a section could
be ven ted i f i t was rising too quic kly relative to the others . The abi l i ty
to ve n t the sections was i m portant, b ecause i t was feared that the ship
wo u l d lide fo rward i n to t h e l agoon ( turning basi n ) if the stern came
u p faster than t h e bow. To con trol t h e airflow, a barge was positioned
at the s tern to con trol the fl ow to the three a i r-bubble sections aft, wh ile
a second barge was s tationed at the bow to con trol the middle and fo r
'vard sections. As a fu rther d e terre n t to sliding, 4,500 tons of coral soil
was depo i te d i n fro n t of t h e bow.
U p o n comple ti o n of t h e air-pumping s tage , the water level i n the
i n te rior of the h i p was twenty-five fee t lower than the Oll t ide leve l .
The air bubbles had a ttain e d their desired goa l . Their creation had
fo rced the exi t o f nearly twen ty t h o usand tons of water th rough the
po r tside torpedo h o les.
STAGE T H REE
A p l a n was devised to p u l l the s h i p upright using electric wi nches

a n d w ire-hauling cables. Followi ng the removal of a block of e n listed
m e n 's qu arters on Ford Island, twe n ty-o n e con cre te pedestals we re
cons tructed alo n g the shore l i n e . The pedestals were positioned i n two
parall e l rows: eigh t abuttin g the shore , the rem ain i n g thi rteen d i rectly
b e h i n d t h e m . An e lectric w in c h was t h e n m o u n ted atop each of the
pedes tals.
1 52 BATT LE H I P OKJ-JAHOMA
To i11c1� as t l1 p u l l i 1 1g i n o m n tt 1 rn , twe11 ty- n e ti 1n b r A-fra m e

w re ' l t ta c h e d t o Ol<.la homa ' · � trl r·boa 1-d k el a t � i xte n-foo t i n t e rval .
To acl1i v th 11 c ,rlry lev rag , th A-fram x te n d d fo rty-ei gh t
fi t ab ve t h i11 ea11 lo,N-w at r l vel . 0 11c th A-f'ram . w re i n place ,
l i gh t w r pla d atop ach o n o t h a t t h y could b ee11 a t n i g h t
by app1�oac h i 11g ai 1�p1an .
U i 1 1g a blo k-and- ta kle a rra 11gem n t wi r cable w r l u n g fro m
t h e wi 11che on Ford I land to t h e A-fram e on th hip. trai n gat1ge
were a t t ac h ed t o each t of cable to m o n i tor t h e p u l l . T h i s wa a n e c
ar precau tion becau e the h i p might lid i n tead of rotat if the
pt1ll wa not t1niform . I f requir d , adj u ting t h e p e d o f t h e wi n c h
could modify the pull. Because t h e h ei g h t of t h e two con cret q t1ays
posed a h i r1 d rance to the cable a the h i p rota ted u pward i t \ a n ec
essary to re move the upper ten fe e t of each quay. As a fi nal m e a u re
the starboard propeller was re moved as well a the blade of t h e p o r t
p ropeller, a n d a bridle was attac hed to t h e n1dder to p re\1e n t i t fro m
movi ng. N o am m u n i tion a n d o n ly a l i m i t e d amount of mac h i n I)' was
rem oved prior to righ t i n g. Floodligh t were i n ta lled o n the b ach o
t h a t operation could c o n ti 11 ue a t night.
The righ ting began on M a rc h 8, 1 9 43. Pu l l i n g t h e h i p u p righ t at
a ra te of 1 . 4 degrees p e r hour the i n i tial righ ti11g took el eve n da
i n cluding a brief delay fo r dive r to d redge t h e displaced mt1d fro m
tl1e shoreward i de of t h e sl1 i p . By daybre a k of Ma1�c h 1 9 t h e h i p wa
lyi ng 0 11 i ts sid . The i 11i tial righ ting cea d so1n t e n hou1- lat i- V\ri t h
the sh i p a t a n an gle o f ixty-eigh t deg1-ee fro n1 verti cal . At thi po i n t,
the A-frames 11ad ro tated i1 ea1-ly igh ty-th 1-ee d g1-ees. Wl1e reas t l1 e rea1�
n1e mber o f each fram e had be 11 clo e t o ve 1-tical w h e n t h e p t1 l l i n g
bega11 , they were now 11early l1 orizon tal , wi t h t h e i r tops d i rected toward
t h e sl1ore. Though t h e l1au l i 11g cable i- m a i n d i 11 t e 11 i o 11 , th we re
110 1 0 11ger i n contact w i tl1 the p t 1lley a to p the A-fram e . Becau e t h e A
fra1nes had lost t h e i r leverage , t h ey we re rem oved .
0 11 Marc l1 20 t h ere was a fi 11al pull wi t h the cable s till attach ed to
t h e i r 0 1-igi nal pos i ti o n on t h e tarboa rd bli ter a n d docki n g ke e l .
When the s h i p was righ ted t o forty deg1-e es fro m vertic al , the cables
we re re move d then re posi tio11 e d at 11 igher eleva ti o n s fo r bette r l ever
age . Witl1 t h e cable loop ed arot1 n d the fo 'L1r turre t barb ettes , t h e con-
1 1 i r1 g towe r, and tl1e s ta rboar d k i n g p o s t p u l l i n g resum ed o n Marc h
29 . The ptil l i n g wou ld cont i n ue u n til Apri l 20, wh e n i t was t e rm i n ated
RE U RR E TIO 1 53
d t 1 e to .r7 C ive load i 11 g 0 11 tl1 "''i n 1 1 � . I 11 a n ffi 1 t t o red l 1 c e t l1e

load d p-' 1 1 p t 1 1n p ' r 11 d to d w·'.l t r t h e portio n o f t h 11ip
b t h f0 1 wa1-d a11d aft f th t i-p do-dan1 ag d 1
' 1--ea. . Tl1 d wateri 11g
wa a tl c red t 1 i 1 1 0- th load b 11 arl 3 500 to11 .
Ar1 oth r pt1ll b1-ot10-l1 t th h i p t o ar1 a 11 ale of fo u r degre es f1-om ve 1-
tical b t 1 t tl1i effo 1-t ,,, t1ld l o b t rn1 i 11ated due to wi n c h ove rload.
Be au i11 i--e ' i -}1 t 'vot1 l d ha\'e to b 1- m oved d ive r were ent
beloV\r to c t 1 t a\va, w1- c kage a 1 1 d re 1nove tl1 soil t h a t had been scooped
i 11 t o th hip i 11 t ri i- as t h e h t 1 l l had rotated ac1�os the bottom of
the h a 1-bo1-. o i l '' a 1 o re1no'' d fro m the exterior of the starboa1�d
ide to allo,, the h i p to settle n1 ore eve 11 ly, and m e asure m e n ts were
take11 for the c o 11 tr11ction of patc h e s.
Ther '\ra one fi n al pull o n j t 1 n e 1 6 . Whe n i t e n de d , the botto m of
t h e h i p '' a 1-esti 11g o l i dly o n the harbor floor, with a po1�tside l i st of
rnro de gre e . ub equ 11 tly, five of the twe n ty-o ne ri gl1 ting c ables were
remove d . As the te 11 i o n s d e c re ased wi th con t i n ued dewateri 11g, the
n u m b e 1- of cable '\ra decre a ed to te n . O n july 8 the s h i p was m oore d
with rnro a n c h o r fo rward a n d rnro a n c h o r aft. T h ree days later, the
presenrat i o n of h e r 1 4-i n c h m a i n guns bega n .
T h e righ ting h a d taken m o re than t h re e m o 11 t h .
STAGE F O U R
The i n i tial p h a e of the refloatin g requi red the con struc tion and
i nstal latio n of patc h e along the port side. A concret e patch , extend ing
fro m the upper deck to the seco n d deck, was co11 s tructed be tween
frame s 3 1 a n d 43. Then a se1i e of five concre te-seale d tius patche s were
i n s talled betwe en frame s 43 and 75 , a d istanc e of 1 32 feet. The e mas
s ive s teel and timbe r truss patc h e were fifty-s i x fee t tall and exten ded
fro m abov e the uppe r deck to a posit ion be neath the turn of the bilge .
Two con c re te patch es were insta lled between the main and secon d decks
fro m fram e 75 to 96, a11d a t h i rd was i n talle d betw ee n the first platfo r1n
deck and the seco n d platform deck betw ee n fram e 85 and 96. Fi11a lly
a t h ree-foot-h igh con cre te p a tch was con stIU c ted alon g the l evel of the
t h i rd platform dec k between fram es 76 a11d 86. The patc h i n g was com
ple te d o n Sep tem ber 9 . H owe ver, the hul l was not yet wat erti gh t.
D urin g t h e righ t i n g operati o n , wi t n esses had heard a great deal of
grin d i n g a n d snapping. An u n d e rwa ter inspection revealed t h a t many
1 54 BATT IJE HIP OKLAHOMA
...
of thrivet s hold ing t h e ove rlap pi ng stee l plate i n plac e had ' n app ed,
expo ing d rill hole wh e re wate r wa bein g suck ed in ide the h u l l by
subm r sible pum p . A oluti o n was di c over ed by o n e o f t h e n avy sal
vage d ivers . Po i t i o n i n g t h e m elve bene ath the h i p , t h e d ivers
relea ed han dful of kapo k i n fron t of the h o le . The kapo k wa ucke d
i n to the l1 oles by the pump s in side , e ffe c tively seali n g them s h t l t .
STAGE FIVE
Prior to dewatering, a cofferdam was con tructed. Basically a four

foot-high wal l , the coffe rdam extended ac ross t h e wid t h o f the s h i p
j u st fo rward of turret 1 and j us t aft o f turret 4 , t h e n exte n d e d l en gth
wise along either side. The water confi n ed by the cofferdam wa t h e n
pumped ove rboard , allowi ng a d ry working area ove r most o f the s h i p 's
l e 11gth . The cofferdam was completed o n O c tober 3.
Calculations i nd i cated that the ship would n o t float u n t i l the in te
rior level of water had been reduced t o a level below t h e t h i rd deck.
Addi tionally, the t h i rd deck had to be free of wate r to p rovid e a work
ing level fro m which to i 11ves tigate and m i tigate the watertight spaces
below so that the s h i p could be ballasted for refloating. By Oc tober
1 5 , 1 943, thi goal had been achieved . H owever, c o n d i tions i n t h e t h i rd
deck sto re rooms, which it was ne cessary to e n ter t o gai n access to the
compartm e n ts below, i mpede,d i m m edia te progress because tores and
equipment were blocking most of the ha tc h e . O n ce t h e ob trt1 c ti o n s
were rem oved, the hatches were ope n e d . I n the instances where t h e
h a tches were dogged shut, access holes h a d to b e c u t through t h e adj a
cent bulkhead. When acce s to the lower decks wa ach ieve d , d ivers
desce nded i n to the liquid darkness. The pumps were t h e n ac tivated
and the water level lowered u n ti l k11ee h igh . Because o f t h e p resen c e
of bodies, the water level was m o n i to re d the e n ti re time.
More than fou r h un dred sailors h ad sough t refuge beneat h the sec
ond deck on the m o r11i n g of Decem ber 7, 1 94 1 , seeki n g t h e p ro te c
tion of i ts h eavy armor. T h e p reservation o f th e i r remai n s was as
impo rta n t as the ship's resur re c ti o n , a n d appro priate m easur es were
unde rtaken to ensure a thoro ugh and l1o n o rable rem oval . The p rocess
of remo val was very speci fic . Whe n a body was locat ed, the skull woul d
be place d in one bag, the re main ing bone s i n a n o ther. Both bags wou ld
then be mark ed wi th th e same n u mbe r. A M a 1i n e H o n o r Gua rd s i m- '
RE URRECTION 1 55
i l a r to t h e 0 11 e tl1at gua 1�ct tl1 Ton1 b of th U n l n own S o l d i e r at

Arli ngto11 Virgi n i a tood t a t t 11tio11 011 the h t1ll both n i g h t and day
u n ti l eve ry bod wa locat d a n d take 11 abov . The re mai n i n the
i m mediate vici n i of the pu1np wer placed i 11 canvas bags and take11
above . T h e we1� th e n placed i 11 ca k ts. Each caske t was tl1 e n
s h rouded vvi t h a11 Ainerican flag and taken ash o re fo r burial. The
remai n d e r woul d be r m oved later when the s h i p was raise d .
U s i 11 g ''a riol1 t1bn1 e r i b l e pt1m ps , t h e s h i p was re fl oated o n the
eve n i n g of N o' e m be r 3 . A week later, the re maining cables were
rerno e d . B Dece1nber 1 0 fo ur pontoons were secured to the main
patch fo r added buoyancy. 0 11 Decem ber 1 9, a s ix h u 11dre,d-ki lowatt
D i e el g e 11 e rator was broug h t aboard to powe r the pumps while the
s h i p wa towed to d IJ' dock. Prior to towi ng, roughly a third o f tl1e ship's
5-i n c h / 25-caliber AA p roj e c tiles and 5-i n c h / 5 1 -caliber broadside gun
p roj ec t i l e were remove d . The 1 4-i n c h / 45-caliber mai11 gu n proj e c
tile re m a i 11 e d aboard .
T h re e da after C h ristmas, two years and thre e weeks afte r she had
been s u n k Oklahoma was agai n under way. After being towed across
the harbor, she e n tered d ry dock at 7 : 4 5 A . M . Following the re moval
o f h e r patches, h er port side was rec o nstructed, and her 1 4-inch/ 45-
1
caliber guns we re remove d . Tl1ey we re go n e but not silenced.
Transported to her sister the gu ns would wreak h avoc o n the
Nevada,
beaches of Normandy, Iwo Jima and fi n al ly, O ki nawa. 2
The Oklahoma and Arizona were the o n ly U . S . battleships perma
n e n tly re m oved fro m service during Wo rld War I I . N o U . S. battleships
were s u n k afte r Pearl H arbo r. The t h ree Japanese airc raft carri e rs
wh ose planes lau n c hed torpedoes a t Oklahoma, the Akagi, Kaga, and
Hiryu, were all s u n k at the Battle of M idway i n 1 942. On O c tober 25,
1 944, the Pearl H arbor battles h i ps Pennsylvania, Maryland, California,
Tennessee a n d West Virginia, j oi n e d wi th the battlesh i p Mississippi to sink
the Japan ese battleships Fuso and Yamashiro at the Battle o f Surigao
Stra i t , n um e ri cally ave n gi n g the loss o f their two s is te r battleships at
Pearl H arbor. 3
Ca kets carry ing the re111 ains of ten Okla homa crewmen are take n asho re. Cou rte
·
Okla hom a Histo rical Soci ety, Sola ce Coll ectio n .
Ship rotated to about ni nety degree , l\/Iarc h 1 943. Note the twenty-on e A-frames
ecur d to the h t1ll and the tw n ty-one wincl1es pos i tioned along tl1e shore.
CoL11�te y Natio11al Arcl1 iv s.
1 56
�
ln
-..} Righ ting operation, March 1 943. Note that the A-frames have been removed. Courtesy National Archives.
O
(}r/'.D..Al IJ�¥ ffKJl
OOfvFIOElvT!AL
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View of the starboa1-d side of the superstruc ture and boat deck. Gun at left is 3-
inch/ 50-caliber antiaircraft. From left to right are the No. 1 , No. 3, No. 5, and
No. 7 5-inch/25-caliber antiaircraft gun . Above and inboard of the o. 3 gun i
the remains of the signal bridge, where Signalman Third Cla Paul A. Goodyear
was standi ng when he wi tnessed the dive-bombing attack o n Ford Islan d . Twisted
structure to right of the No. 7 gun is a boat crane. Courtesy a tional Archive .
View of ship, looking forward from quarterdeck, March 1 943. Turret 4 is i n the
foregroun d . Courtesy National Arcl1ives .
..
1 58
CONFICENTIAL
Gun at upper left on the boat deck i the No. 1 5-inch/ 25-caliber antiaircraft.
Gun a t center i a 3-i n c h /50-caliber an tiaircraft. Gun at lower center in No. 1
casemate is a 5-inch/5 1 -caliber broadside gun . Courtesy National Arch ives.
1 59
Salvage ope1�atio11 , September 1 943. Bow i on left ide of picture. Cou1-teS)'
Histo1ical Cen ter.
•
1 60
� -_..____
-
' -
Okla homa e nter i11g dry dock on D ecem ber 28, l 943 . Cou rtesy Nati onal Arch ives.
Oklahoma i n dry dock i n ea1�1y 1 944. For size reference, n o te the man standing to
the left of the bow. Courtesy National Archives.
161
OrrJCIAL USN PHOTO
"�"' "/-fc �
GONF/lfNTIAI
Oklaho'ma i n dry dock with her port side exposed. N o te the armor belt p lati ng
that extends from the inain deck to the t l1ird deck. A p late i missing at the left
of the pic tu r and the econd plate from the left is cracked, both the result of
torpedo h i ts. The anti torpedo bli ,ter began at the third deck and extended down
to tl1e turr1 of the hul l . A torpedo l1 i t blew off the portior1 of the blister shown on
the left ide of the pictt1re . Cot1rte y National Archives.
1 62
'
l·t-------.-.1 --
l f) J' ( l \ " 1l· l l I)
\ut11crtt' }J)Jf) 1&$..0.�0

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Main deck looking forward along port passageway. Bt1lkh ead on the left is the
i n terior bulkh ead of the wardroom officer's berthing compartments. Note the
l adder with an open deck hatch below i t. Courtesy National Arch ives.
1 63
On the mai11 deck looki11g aft to the oute1�111ost port door of bulkhead 85. Note
tl1 eight dog on the bt1lkhead aro u 11d tl1e door. The e were Ll ed to eal the do o r
s h u t. Court y Natio11al Archive .
..
1 64
Oklalioma berthed i n t h e Y\re t loch with Wisconsin ot1 tboard November 1 944.
Cot1rte a\·al H istorical Center'.
.
Oklahoma a t Pearl Harbor i11 February 1 944. Cou rte y National Archives.
1 65
HAN N EL
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F 1·a1n s 1 3 3- 1 3 4
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NC T T . C� A L E
USS Oklahoma, rescue schematic ( plan view) .

•
1 66
C HAPTE R 15
She Chose the Sea
The U S Oklah oma 'vas deco m mi ssio11 e d 0 11 Septe mber 1 , 1 944. That
same da he wa strick en fro m th e Naval Vesse l Regis ter by Secre tary
of the N a''Y Jame V. Forre sta l . H e was the e igh th secre ta1y of the navy
s h e had se 1\1e d u n de 1�. She had been a com m ission ed vessel i n the
U n i ted S tate N avy for 10,348 days.
T H E AUCTI ON
On ove mber 26, 1946, Oklahoma was put up for auction at the
B ro oklyn N aval Yar d . The auc tion was conducted by the Navy Disposal
Ad m i n i t ration ari d admi ni s tered th rough sealed bids. The n avy
reserved the righ t to deny any bid, whether fo r price or for purpose .
The cost o f tra nsp orti n g Oklahoma fro m H awai i to the wes tern
seaboard of the U n i ted States alone was e timated at seventy-five thou
sand dol lars. If the buye r wan ted to rebuild the s h i p , he 01� she would
need the navy's perm issi o n . A foreign coun try could purchase the ship,
though to do so would re quire an extra layer of s c ru ti ny.
The salvageable i tems i n c l uded Oklahoma's two main e n gi n es, six
boil ers, fo u r turb10 ge n e rators, n u m e rous pumps, and two electri c
s teeri n g u n i ts . Be cause the m as ts , stac k, and most of the superstruc
ture h a d been re m oved, the weight of the remai n i n g salvageable steel
was esti m ated at about twe n ty-four t h ousan d tons. Moore Drydoc k
Company o f Oakl a n d , Cali fornia, submi tted the wi n n i n g bid o f
$46, 1 2 7,. The ve ssel was sold ''as is, wh e re i s . "
A s h o rt time later, Wil l i am Rosenthal vis i ted the Pearl H arbor Naval
S h i pyard o n behalf of the b uyer. Accompanied by two local consult
a n ts , h e m e t w ith M . W. Douthat o f the D esign Bra11 c h of the shipyard 's
1 67
1 68 BATTLE H I P OKLA HOMA
Pla11 n i n g Dep artm e 1 1 t to di cu th ship ' c o n d i t i o n . Du ri n g the

course of t h e i r m e ting, Ro e n thal was hown all the u n cl assifi e d
desig11 i r1 formation t l1at th e s h i pyard h ad on f i l e . This in cluded a mem
orandum dated Augt1 t 1 9 , 1 946, th a t . u m marized the tep th e s h i p
yard dee med nece ssary to m a ke the . h i p . e aworthy when th e n avy had
co11sidered towi ng it to the mai n l a n d i n 1 9 46. Wh e n the m e e t i n g
ended, the ship was inspected. At the i nspecti o n ' c o n c l us i o n , W. B.
Mu rray, represe nti n g the Am erican Bureau of S h i p ping, p repared a
list of i tems that needed to be accom plished prior to towi ng. The work
was then con trac ted . Wh e n i t was completed, Mu rray ga e h i approval
to close the ves se l . Subseque n tly, the Puget Sound Tug a n d Barge
Co1n pany was h i red to make the tow.
Two seagoing tugs would be used, the Monarch a n d t h e Hercules.
Each was 1 1 7 fe et l ong, had a c rew of fourte e n , a n d was powered by a
1 , 200-ho i�se powe r Diesel e n gi n e . Comman d i n g the Monarch was
Capta i 11 Geo rge 0. An derson . Capta i n Kel ly Sprague comma nded the
Herc1u les. To supply fuel fo1� the voyage , an eight-t housa n d-ga l lon fuel
tan k was constructed on Oklah o1na's deck. The s h i p '"' ould b e towed by
two thousand-foot-long steel cables, each two i n c h es i n diamete r, wi th
one at tac hed to each tug. N o tified of tl1e sched uled d e live ry7 date ,
Oklahoma gove rnor Roy J . T11r11er c heduled a trip to San Fr4 n c isco
to pay fi nal tribute to h is state 's n amesake battles h i p .
GOING H O M E
On the m o rn i n g of May 1 2 , 1 947, Oklah oma was a sisted fro m Pearl

H arbor by 11avy tugs. Afte r d e parti n g the moutl1 of the h a rbor, tl1 e
seagoing tugs shouldered the load, h e ading east at five k n o ts . A l l we n t
we ll fo r the first seve n ty-two h o u rs .
I 11 the early m o rn i n g h o urs of May 1 6, a search light fro m Hercules
revealed that Oklah oma was listing to port. W h e n the list had i n c re ased
to some thirty degrees by the e n d of the fourth day, the c o as t guard
was con tac ted . At a poi nt about six h u n d red m i l e s n o rth east o f
Honolul u , the tugs were i ns tructed to turn back. Fearful that Oklahoma
would founder, Captai n An d e rson disc o n nected the magne tic b rakes
on Monarch's towi n g wi n c h . Left operative , the magnetic b rakes would
e n gage automatically i f the cable were s trai n e d . Ac ting i n th e i r s tead
· HE CHO E TH E EA 1 69
was a ha11d-o perat d fri ction b 1-ak that cot1ld be di n gaged quickly
to a l l ow tl1 e cable to rt1 n out.
Toward t h e 11 d o f t l1 e i -to-m i d n igl1 t watcl1 , Ai1 d e rson aw that
Oklali o ni a wa go i 1 1 g t 1 1 1 d e 1-. As l1e r l igl1 ts disappear ed ben eath the
ocea11 ' t1 rfac h realized that Nlona rcli '"'as bei n g d ragged astern .
An d e rson i m 1nediatel r aced aft to re l e as the brake. By the time he
arri ed the te rI1 wa taking on '!\rater. H e gl anced at the wi n c h . The
cable had e n t i 1-el pla 1ed Ollt. I n a sl1owe r of sparks, it broke fre e of
the pool arid whipped th rough the gui des. Seco n ds later, Monarch
l u rc h e d to a tand ti l l .
The it1-1ati o r1 on Hercules was m uch m o re desperate . Because her
peed had been slowed when Oklahoma s tarted si n ki ng, the p resst1re
o f t he ¥\rater aga i n t t h e propeller had reversed i ts rotatio11 . Hercules's
e n gi 11 e was p ropelling h e r backwa1-d at the same speed tl1at Oklahoma
' a d raggin g h e r. With Oklah o m a h e ading s traigh t for the bottom,
Hercilles vvas on t he verge of go i n g u n d e r wl1 e n h e r wi n c h exploded,
heari n g the cable th at would h ave othe rwise pulled h e r to h e r doom.
At the request of the coast guar-d, Monarch and Hercules remained
i n the area u n ti l daylight, maki ng sure there were no floating re m nants
to po e a n avigational hazard to other s h i ps. Wh e n n o n e were fou n d ,
t h ey retl1rned to Puget Sou n d . 1
Oklahoma s e 1\Ted h e r coun try p roudly fo r twen ty-five years, partici
pati ng i n two Wo rld Wai-s. Desig11 e d to keep the peace , perhaps i t is
o n ly fi tting that h e r massive 1 4-i n c h main gu ns were never fi red i n
bellige re n c e . She was a proud l ady and a home to thousan ds. B u t the
ocean was where s h e l ived and where s h e re mains.
Epilogue
Of the 429 sailors and mari n es who perished aboard the U SS Oklahoma
on December 7 , 1 94 1 , o n ly twe n ty-n i n e were i m mediate ly i d e n tified.
Six others were buried as U n known s a n d i d e n tified later. All t h i rty
five were buried at Nuuanu Ceme tery ( also kn ow as Oahu Cemetery ) .
Whe n Oklahoma was raised i n 1 943, the re mains o f her recove red c rew
men were buried at Halawa CemeteryT because Nuuanu h a d reac h e d
i ts capacity. Dog tags were n o t common i n 1 94 1 , so the re m a i n s could
not be iden tifi e d ; they were buried beneath simple wooden cros e
wi th "Unknown , " the date o f death , a n d "USS Oklahoma'' wri tten o n
them. Whe r1 the Nati o n al M e morial Cemetery of the Pacific ( c o m
m o n ly known as the Punc hbowl ) was c onstr-i,1 c ted n e ar Ho nolulu i n
1 949 , all but twe n ty-o n e of the remai n s were exhumed a n d re i n terred
there. Of the twe n ty-on e , seven were exhumed a11d rei n terred at other
national cemeteries , twelve were re i n te rred i n n o n m i l i tary c e m e teries,
and two re mained at Nuua n u .
Unfo rtunately, the only h e adstone i n fo 1-mati o n transfe rred t o t h e
Punchbowl gravesites was the word '' U n kn own . " I t would require th e
efforts of Hawaii c o n gresswom a n Patsy M i n k to h ave the 0 1i gi n al i n fo r
mation restore d . The legislati o n she d rafted , a rider to H o u e appro
priati o n s bill H R3806, proposed that the grave markers b e replaced
with new ones, i n cluding tl1e date of death a11d th e s h i p o r stati o r1 to
which the man was assi gn e d . I n 200 1 , 74 new m arkers were laid to
replace the USS Arizona's U n k nowns . I n 2002, a n addi tional 1 77 m a rk
er we re replac e d , i n c l u d i n g 45 m arki n g the USS Oklahoma's
U nknown s .
I n researcl1 i n g casualty r·ecords n early sixty years after the attack ,
Ray E m o ry, the official h i storian of the Pearl Harbor S urvivors
Assoc iation and a survivor h i mself ( U SS Honolulu) , disc overed that
twen ty-seven of the m e n whose re m a i n s had b e e n m oved to t h e
Pt1nchbowl had ac tually b e e n ide n ti fi e d i n 1 94 1 ( i n addi ti o n t o t h e
1 70
EPILOGUE 1 71
thirty-five p revi o t1sly m e n t i o n d ) . Beca t1se the Am erica 11 Graves

Regi strat ion Servi ce faile d to obta i 11 th signa tt1r·e of a qual ified a n th ro
pol ogist prio r to tl1e buri al date the 1 main s we1 e burie d as U nknowns
with n o Llb quen t efforts made to corre ct. Emo ry was able to deter
m i n e t h e buria l locati ons o f tl1e twe nty-seve 11 sailors , a n d with the
adven t o f D NA testi11 g, lobbi ed the ar1ny 's Cen tral I d e 11 tificat ion
Labora tory H awaii to exhum e the remain s to confirm their identi
ties. O n April 1 8 2003 the believe d remain s of Ensign Eldon P. Wyman
we re disin te r-1-ed along wi th th ose of four other Oklahoma sailo rs with
vvho m h e s h ared the grave . The effo rts to identi fy h i s remai n s th rough
D NA m a tc h i n g are o n going.
Two other U n kn oV\ri1s were believed k n own but were n ever officially
i d e n tified u n ti l , t h a n ks aga i n to the effo rts of Ray E m ory, o n e of th e m ,
Fireman Third Class Alfred Euge n e Livingsto n , was fi n al ly i d e n tified
i n the summer of 2007. O n J u ly 2 1 , 2007, he was re i n terred with ful l
m i l i tary h o n ors at a cemetery i n Worthi ngto n , I ndiana, j ust footsteps
fro m where h i s m o ther a n d grandpare n ts are buri ed. An effort is n ow
u n de r way to iden tify positively the other sailor, Seaman F i rst Cl ass
Russell Clyde Ro ac h of Zanesville, O h i o .
E ffo rts are also u n der way to gather D NA i nformation to iden tify
o th e r U S S Oklahoma U n k n owi1s . DNA test k i ts are being m ade avail
able to fe male fam i ly m e m bers, free o f charge , because their DNA
marke rs are m ore readily traceable than those of m al e fam i ly mem
bers. Efforts are also u n d e r way to obtain p h o tographs of the
U nk n owns i n hopes th a t a tra,ce can be made th rough den tal patter11s.
Oklahoma survivor P au l Goodyear h as already accumulated 273 of these
p h o tographs.
The re main s of 380 of Oklahoma's U n knowns ( the re mains of the
t h i rteen others were n eve r d iscovered) are cu rre n tly buried i n forty
five diffe r e n t P u n c h bowl grave sites, which is a d i fficult situation fo r
vi siting fam ily members . I t is hoped th at the n ew USS Oklahoma
M em o ri a l the fruition o f the effort that was fo rmalized wh e n
Oklahoma sailo rs Wal t Becker, Gen e Bye rs, Paul Goodyear, Gerald
H a l te rm a n , Chet J a nkowski, Wes Potts, and George Smith addressed
the Oklahoma Sen ate on April 1 5, 2001 wil l help provide some con
solati o n . Dedicated o n December 7, 2007, the m e m orial is located
beside a s m a l l grove of banyan trees o n Ford Island. Wi thin e asy sight
o f the Missouri, n ow berthed where the Oklahoma was moore d o n
1 72 BA l"'TLE H I P OKl.JAHOMA
D ecem b r 7 , 1 94 1 , t l 1 m m( rial � a t u r i n form ative black gra n i t e

pan I a 1 1 d 429 wh i t ve rtic l · taff . Each taff co n ta i 11 the n a m e a n d
rat i n g/ ra11k o f i n d iyjd ual ca� ualti e · . Mad o u t o f m a rble m i n ed fro m
the a 1n e q u arr}' us d fo r t l1 head ton . at Arl i ngton at i o n a l
Ceme te 1y, the seve 11-foot-h igh taff a re align d '' hot1ld er to h oulde r''
to imula t t h e "ma 1 1 n i r1 g th rail " traditi on of t h e U . . Navy. D igned
by Oklaho ma City arc h i tect Don Beck tl1 m e m o ri a l was fu nded b
U SS Oklcthoma s u rvivors, priva te a n d corporate d o n o r , a n d th e
O klahom a Cente111 1ial C o m m issi o n . T h e dramati c black-an d-w h i te
m e m orial i a l asti n g and fitti ng tri b t 1 t e to the 429 a i l o r a n d m a ri n e
who called the Oklalioma th e i r home that fateful Sun day m o rn i ng.
Li ted b e l ow are the name and probable h o m e to\vn ( i n 1 94 1 ) o f

the twe n ty-seve n c a ualties i d e n t i fi e d i n 1 94 1 w h o e i1ame were l o t
during t h e i r re i n t,er m e n t at the Pu n c h bowl i n 1 9 49 . Any h e l p locat
i n g the fe m a l e desce n da n ts of a ny o f t h e e m e n 'vou l d b e m u c h
appreciat ed . I n fo rn1 a t i o n can b e e-m a i l e d t o t h e we b m a t e r a t
USSOklah o m a . c o m .
Arm s t rong, Ken n e t h Berton ( M l d r F i rs t Cla USN) a t i o n a l C i ty CA

Bor i n g, James B1� c ( Fireman Seco11d C l a US ) Rad c l iff O H
Boxrucker, Lawre nce An t o 11 ( Fi re1na11 Second C l as , US N ) , D o rc h e st e r,
WI
Carney, H arold F 1�ancis ( Ma c l 1 i 11 i t M a t e F i r t C l a U ) D u b t1q u e IA

Craig, J oh 11 W i l l i a m ( S torekeep er F i rst C l a U SN ) M o n ro e , A R
Engl a n d , J o h n Charles ( E 11 i g n , U SN R ) , Al l 1 a m bra CA
Fir1 nega11 , Wi l l i an1 M i c l1ael ( E 11 i g n U S N ) San D i ego CA
Goggi n , Daryl H e n ry ( Mac h i 11 i t, U SN ) , Lo Ange l e CA

Gordon , Dt1ff ( C h i e f M e t a l m i th U S R) a n D iego CA
H ayden Albert E ugene ( C h i ef Elec tr- i c i an ' s M a t e , U S N ) ,
M e c h a n i csvi l l e M D
H i tto1-ff, J o eph Parke r, J r. ( E n ign U S N ) We t n1 0 11 t G
H oard , H e 1-bert j o h 11 ( Cl1 i e f S torekeeper, U S N ) , Pevely, M O
Hopki11 Edwi n C l 1 e ter ( Fi re ma11 T l1 i rd C l a U S N ) East Swanzey

NH
J ayn e , Ke n n eth Lyle ( Fi re m a n T h i rd C l ass, U SN ) , Pat c h ogu e , NY
J ordan , J t t l i a n Betl1 u n e ( Li e u te n a n t , U S N ) , Easley, SC

Le h 1n a n Gera l d Geo rge ( Fi re m a n Th i rd Clas s , U S N ) , H a nco ck, M I
E P I I,,QG E 1 73
Lir1d 1 ,J h n H rb 1- t ( Fi r i11·1 11 Tl1 i 1-d l cl. , ) W t t k ga n I L

Lt1k \1 r n 11. Tl1 111 (M 11i11i 't M t F i r. t l £�s, R) Tt1rlock
N a h Pat1l Al.1d 1- ,.v ( Fi 1- 111 11 F i 1- t la , U N) a rli ' l e , I N
d 1- t ro 111 \ e1-di D 1 1n i- ( E 11 ign , U N R ) 1 n1 OR
toc kcl 1 , Lot1i t e p l 1 11 ( E 1 1 i �11 U N R) . a 1 1 Fr 11 ci c o , CA

'1va11 0 11 11arl H a i- ld ( M ac l 1 i 11 i t M a t Fir t Jla U S N ) M aywood,
Tl1 i 11 11 Ai-t h t 1 r Ra ( e n1a11 co11d Cla U ) M i lwa u k e e WI
Tl10111 p 0 1 1 I ni 1 1 g- Ai1 d r ,,. R . ( E n i g11 U ) B ave r t o n O R

\!\ ag 11 i-, Loui Lo,,1 1 ( a 111a11 e c o n d Cla U N ) Wi c h i t a KS
W l c h \t\T i l l i a1n E d'"ra1-d ( an1a11 First C l as U S N ) , Springfie l d , O H
\t\ )'Ina11 E ld o n Paul \Tyin a11 ( E 11 ig11 U S N R ) P o 1-t l a n d , O R
l
T
US S Oklaho ma Me mo 1i al Dec em ber 7, 200 7 . No te t h e bat tles l1ip USS Missouri in

1d. Th e Mis our i i n ow ber the d wh ere the Okl aho ma wa mo or d
the bac kgrot11
on t h e mo rn i ng of De cem ber 7 , 1 94 1 . Co t1rt esy of Dic k Pryor, OE
TA, O kla h o m a
City Oklahoma.
"
..
APP E N D I X A
Comman di n g Officers
and Dates of Service
Captair1 Roger V\Telle May 2 1 9 1 6 , through june 6 1 9 1 7

Rear Ad111 i ral Spencer K. Wood Ju11e 6, 1 9 1 7 , through Feb. 1 , 1 9 1 8
Commander Ed,vard T. Costein Feb . 1 1 9 1 8 , through Feb . 1 8 , 1 9 1 8
Commander Mac Gill\rra Milne Feb. 1 9 1 9 1 8 th rough March 1 , 1 9 1 8
Captain Mark L . B1i tol March 2 , 1 9 1 8 , th rough Oct. 1 4 , 1 9 1 8
Captain Charle B. McVay, Jr. Oct. 1 4 , 1 9 1 8 , through j u ly 9 , 1 9 1 9
Captain . E. I 1vvin July 9 , 1 9 1 9 , through July 5 , 1 9 2 1
Captain Ed,'\Tin T. Pol l ack July 5 , 1 9 2 1 , throt1gh jan . 1 3 , 1 922
Capta i n Stephen V. Graham J an . 1 3 , 1 9 2 2 , throt1gh j uly 4 , 1 923
Captain W. Pitt Scott J uly 4, 1 92 3 , tl1 rough June 1 5 , 1 925
Captain v\lilli McD owell June 1 5 , 1 9 2 5 , th rough May 5 , 1 9 2 7
Capta i n T. A. Kearney May 5 , 1 92 7 , through Dec. 1 0 , 1 928
Captai n ] . F. Hellweg Dec. 1 0 , 1 9 28, throt1gh May 30, 1 9 30
Captai n John D . Wai nwright May 3 1 1 93 0 , through June 2 5 , 1 9 32
Captai11 H . D . Cooke June 2 5 , 1 9 32, th rough May 1 , 1 934
Captain W. R. Van Auken May 1 , 1 9 34, tl1 rough Nov. 1 , 1 935
Captain William Alden Hall Nov. 1 , 1 9 35, through Jt1ne 25, 1 9 37
Captair1 Charles C. H artigan June 2 5 , 1 937, th rough Dec . 20, 1 938
Cap ta i n T. S. McCloy Dec. 2 1 1 938, th rough Jan. 30, 1 939
Cap ta i n E 1nmanuel A. Lofquist Jan. 30 1 939, throt1gh June 24, 1 940

Capta i n E dward J. Foy June 24, 1 9 40, th rot1gh Oct. 3 1 , 1 94 1
Captain H oward D . Bode Nov. 1 1 9 4 1 , through Dec. 7, 1 94 1
Commander Jesse L. l{enworthy, Jr. * Dec. 7 , 1 94 1
*Kenworthy became the active c o m 1nander when Captain Bode left the ship a t
approximately 7:30 A . rvr .
1 75
APP E N D I X B
Me dal Citatio n s : D e ce mber 7 , 1 94 1
FLAH E RTY, FRA N C I S C . : M E DAL O F H O OR
Ra n k and Organ ization : E nsign , U . S. N aval Re e rve

Born : Ma rc h 1 5 , 1 9 1 9 , C h arlotte , Michigan
Ac credite d to : M i ch igan
Citatio 11 : For conspicuous devotion to d u ty a n d e x t 1-ao rdinaIJ'
coL1rage and complete d i regard of h is own life , above a n d beyo n d
the call of dt1ty, dt11�ing the attack o n the fl e e t i n Pearl H arbo r b
Japanese fo 1-ces o n Decem ber 7 , 1 94 1 . V\Th e11 it was e e n t h a t the U S
Okla homa was goi 11 g to capsize a n d the order wa give n to aband o r1
sl1 i p , E n s . Flahe rty re mai 11ed in a tt1rret holding a fla 11 light o that
the re mainder of the turre t c rew could e to escape the1-e by sacri
fi cing h is own life .
WARD , JAM ES RI CHAR D : M E DAL O F H O N O R
Ra nk and Orga 11 i za tio11 : Seama11 Fir t Cla s , U . S . Navy

Born : September 1 0 , 1 92 1 , Spri n gfi e l d , O h i o
E n tered e rvice a t : Spri 11gfi e l d , Ol1 i o
C i tati on : Fo r c o 11 picuot1 devotio11 to dt1ty extraord i n a ry courage ,
and compl te disregard of h i life , above and beyond tl1e call of d u ty,
during the a t tack 0 11 the fleet i 11 Pearl H a rbor by Ja panese fo rces o n
December 7 , 1 94 1 . V\Th e n i t was seen that the U S S Oklah oma was goi n g
to capsize and the order was give 11 to abandon s h i p , Ward re mained
i n a turret holding a flash ligh t so that the re m ai n d e 1- o f the turret c rew
cot1ld see to escap e , thereby acrifi c i n g h i s own l ife .
1 76
�1ED L )I T IO 1 77
• •
Fo1- xc ptio11al r\i p 1, . 11c f m i 1 1 d a 1 1 d d voti 11 to du ty d u r

i 11 a t h J a p'?t11e a t t a k ( ) 1 1 tl1 U 11 i t d tat s Pacific Fl e e t i n P arl
H ·1 1 bo1· Ti i-1-i to11 ,, of� H avv·1 ii 011 D e c e 1 n b r 7 1 9 4 1 . Wl1 en t h e U SS
Ol?.lah o111 a p i z d 11 a11d a i 1 t 1 111b i- o f tl1 c 1� w "'' e 1-e e n t rapp d i 11
011 of tl1e l1 i p c o 111 pa1-t 111 1 1 t . B)1 l1i e ffo rts a porthol under wa ter
''' located a 11 d 11 a i t d fift n of t h c re'v to cap . H i co11 d t 1 c t
''Ta i 1 1 k e p i 11 g \\i tl1 tl1 11io-I1 t traditio11 o f tl1e U 11 i ted State Naval
S r\i c . H ga lla11 tl)' aa\1 hi life i n tl1e e rvi c of 11is count1-y.
Fo r l1eroic co11 dt1ct 'vh ile e 1-vi n g o n board the U SS Oklalio ma d t 1 r

i n g th J apar1e e attack 011 Pea1-l Harbor on December 7 , 1 9 4 1 . Wh en
hi hip cap ized a 11 d t1-a pped h i m a11 d i1 u 1n e rou c1-e'iV member i n a
con1 pa 1-t 1n e 11 t a t l1 e re ult of dam age by the e n e my, Lieute n a n t
C o 1n m a n d e 1� Al exander e l e c te d those men i11all e 11 o ugh to ma ke
tl1 e i r e cape th roL1gh the i1a rrow portholes and conti n u e d givi ng all
a i tan c e in h i s p ower u n til the end. H is h e roic spiri t of self-s acrifice
a n d h i d e,·otio11 to the we lfa re of others were i 11 ke eping wi th the hi gh
e t trad i t i o n of the U 11 i te d S tate N aval Servi c e . H e gall a 11 tly gave hi
l i fe i n t h e e rvice of h i c o t 1 n try.
DAY FRAN C ! D.: AW AND MARJ E CORPS M E DAL
For di tinguished heroism and in trepidity duri 11 g the attack by enemy

J apane e forces on the Unite d States Pacifi c Flee t, Pearl Harbo r, Te rri t O l)'
of H a,�raii on Dece mber 7 1 94 1 . When the USS Oklah oma capsi zed, Day,
entrapped i n one of the h i p ' comp artm e n ts with a i1 t 1mbe r of the crew
courageo usly ii ked hi . life i n a i ting fiftee 11 of the crew to e cape
th roug h a st1bm erge d port h ole. His utter di regard fo r hi OW11 per 011al
safe ty was i n keep ing wi th the fine st trad i tio 11s of t h e U 11 i ted State s Naval
Service. H e gall an tly gave hi life i 11 the serv ice of h i cou n try.
SC H M ITT, ALOYS I U S H . : NAVY AN D MARI N E C O RP S M E DAL
Fo r d i s ti ngu i s h e d h e roi in a11d sub l i m e devotio n to h i fe llow n1an

w h i l e abo ard the U SS Oklaho ma d u 1i n g a t tack 0 11 the U n i ted Stat e
1 78 A PP EN D I X B
\,..
Pac i fic Fle e t in Pearl H arbor by enemy J apanese forces o n De cember

7, 1 94 1 . When the v . el cap ized a n d he became en trapped, along
wi t h other members of the c rew, i n a c o m partm e n t where only a small
portl1 ole provi ded o u tl e t fo r escape, L i e u te n a n t U un i o r grade )
Sch m i t t , with unselfish d isregard for his own pligh t, a isted h i s h i p
n1ates tl1 rot1gh the ape rtt1re . W h e n th ey, i n turn , were i n t h e p rocess
of resc u i n g h i m a n d his body became tigh t ly wedged i n t h e n arrow
openi ng, h e , realizing that oth e r m e n had come i n to the com partm e n t
loolzi ng fo r a way ot1t, in sisted that h e be pushed back i n to th e s h i p so
that they m i gh t leave . Calmly u rgin g them on with a p ro n o u n c e m e n t
of his blessing, h e remained be h i n d while they c rawle d o u t to safe ty.
H is magn anim ous cou rage and self-sacrifice were i n keep i n g wit h t h e
highest trad itio11 s o f the U n i te d States N aval Servi c e . H e gallan tly gave
h is life i n the servic e of his coun try.
'
APP E N D I X C
USS Oklahoma Crew Roster:

December 7, 1 9 4 1
O f t h e 429 ailor and m a ri n e w h o perish e d aboard t h e USS

Oklaho11ia o n Decembe r 7 , 1 9 4 1 , only 3 6 have been posi tively identi
fi e d . T h e e are l i ted as Killed in Ac tion ( KIA ) along wi th their place
o f buri a l . The re m a i n i n g 394 are listed as Missing in Ac tion ( M IA) . Of
these 3 0 are buried a t t h e P u n c h bowl ( N ational Cemetery of the
Pacific H o nolulu Hawai i ) i n graves ma1-ked U nkI1own . The remains
of the t h i rteen o t h e r were n eve 1- d iscove red.
ame Rank StatllS
Adams George, D . S2c USS Cliester

Adams, John E . Slc U SS Loui ville
Adams Th omas E . GM2c USS Northct mpton
Adamson Wesley G. Slc USS Tennessee
Ad kins Marvi n B . GM3c M IA
Aguon Felix T. Mat l c M IA
Albe rt, ewtor1 J . Slc USS Nortliampton
Alb i n , M i l ton A. Slc Fleet machi negun school
Alb i tz , Dona l d ] . Slc USS Hele1i a
Aldridge, Howard BM l e S1 1rvive d: rea i g11n1 i1 t

t 1 11 k n own
Aldridge , Willard H . Slc M IA
Al exa11 de r, Howard J . PFC ( USMC) Mari ne ba1-ra c k
Alexa11der, H ug h R. Lt. Cmdr. M IA
Al l e n , Sta11ley W. E n sign MIA
Al l ison, H al J . F2c M IA
1 79
A P PENDIX C
Na111 Ra n k S ta t u
Ai1d r o n , Arvicl W. Ph M l c US Enterprise

Aii.derson , Ca 1�y1 C. S2c N aval a i r d is p e n s a ry
Ai1d i� o n , Edwa 1-d A. LL. Ug) M U. . avy H o p i ta!
Ai1d t' o n , To m as B. StM l c US Jarvi.5
A i 1 d e 1� on , W i l l i a 1n L,. CTC USS Pen n.'>ylva n ia
Arn1 l i 11 J a m F. C K Rece ivi 11g tation
Arin t rong, J o h 11 V. S K3c USS Lou isville
Ar'ITI t rong, Ke n n e t l1 B. M l dr l c M IA
Ai�m t ro n g , Te rre n ce J . S K3c Rece i vi n g t a t i o n
Armstror1g, Thomas E . S K2c USS Lou isville
Ai- i c k l , Leon Sl c MIA
Arr i 11gto n , Cec i l E . S2c USS L o u isville
Art h u r, E dwi n P. E n ,s i g n , DV-G U S S Maryla n d
Art h u rl1 olz, Marley R. PFC ( US M C ) M IA
Artl ey, D a ry l E . QM 2c M IA
Artley, R i c h a rd L. Slc U SS Helen a
Aschbre n n er, Paul E . Slc U S S Lou isville

As h , Payton C. P FC ( US M C ) M ar i n e barra c ks
Ash by, Ea1�1 B . Y2c U SS Peli,as
Atl1as, Nla ri o n H . Slc Fleet p oo l i n g off. r e c . �ks .
Atki n s , M a 1 1 ry L . GM l c U SS Helen a
Auge 11 s te i n , J o h n A. Slc U SS JVortliampton
Aul d , J o h n C . S2c MIA
A11st i n , J o h n A. Ch ief M IA
Carpen ter
Avery, Edwi n G . S M2c S i g 11 a l tower, Ford I s l a n d
Aym o n d , Jam es J . WT2c USS Nortlia mpton
Bac k m a n , Wal te r H . RM2c M IA
Bac k t1 s , Patil H . E n s i gn Com batWi n gTwo
Bai l ey, D o n a l d E . S2c Rece i vi n g t a t i o n
Bail ey, Gerald J . Slc M IA
Bail ey, Robert E . SF3c M IA
Bal l a 11 c e , W i l b t 1 r F. Slc M IA
Banks, Laytor1 L . Cox M IA
Barar 1 , S te· p h e n B . EM2c U SS Northampton
Barber, L eroy K . Flc M IA
181
Name Ra11k t a t t1
Barber Mal lm J. Fl MlA

Ba1,ber Ra11d lph H. F2 MlA
Barela)' H a 1-1 , . US Louisz;ille
Barker Al\ri11 F. 1 US Loili ville
Ba1,kle''I a1,tl1 L . 1 US or1tl1r111ipton
BarloV\r L t r· E. 2c USS Nort/1,a1npto11
Ba1�I1co 1-d, il E. EM3 MIA
Bar1-ett \'\rilbt1r C. 2c MIA
Ba1,tlett, Dot10-la Y3c Ca t1alty off. rec. bk .
Ba Da11 C. le USS Pelia
Bate Hai-old E. Flc M IA
Battle . Ral pl1 C. F2c MIA
Bauer Joh n A. AMM2c Naval air tation ( aviatio11
unit)
Bat1m Earl P. le M IA
Baumgart Ed,vin P. (Jr.) SF2c USS Pelia
Baxle)l Iar hall E. S2'c USS Te1ine ee
Baza Pre beterio A. Mat l c USS Reid
Beal Y\ illard A. S2c USS Hele1irl
Bean H o'"'Tard \\T. RM3c MIA

Beasley, Che ter Bkr2c Naval ai 1� tation
Beaver Robert G. le USS HeZen c1
Beck Edgar B. GM2c USS Loui ville
Becker Walter MM2c USS Blue
Belt V\alter S. (Jr. ) Flc M IA

Bennett Robert]. F3c MIA
Ben o n Ol11ey D . le USS Worde1i
Benson William L. Lt . Cmdr. St1bmarine ba e

Bentley, Robert M. Flc USS Blue
Bergstro1n , Royal E. S2c USS Honolillu
Be rkley H oward J. F2c USS Salt Lrtke City
Bern hei el Deastill S. Bkr2c USS Northctmpton

Ber nsd en Sim on B. F2c tirvi\ ed: r a ignmen t
llilkI10Wl1.
Berry, Jan1es G. (Jr.) Slc USS Northa,mpton
Bertrand , Donald R. GM l e USS Mahon

,.._
APPEN DIX C
Na1n Rank Status
B ttldick, Patil P. MM l U Hull

Bewley, Bill N. BM2c U Penn ylvania
Bickley Le I y C. CWT U Enterpri e
Bier1nan, G orge B. Pvt . ( USM ) U Indianapolis
Bill Robert G. En ign Naval air di pensary
Bird, Harold S. Mu 2c Yard c raft
Bi r11el,Johr1 H . SF2c US Medu a
Birthi el, Lawre11ce H . (Jr. ) Lt. Shore patrol
Bi 11 op, Jo 11 11 L. E11 ign We t loch
Bivia no, Lucian S. SM3c Signal towe r Ford I sland
Black, Jimmy D. Pvt. ( USMC) USS Chicctgo
Black, Van T. CBM Com 14
Black, Waldean Pvt. ( USMC) M IA
Blackard, Wi llard D. RM l c USS Chester
Blackburn, Harding C. Y3c M IA
Blaisdel l Charles J . F3c USS Helm
Blanchard William E . Bmker2c M IA
Blaylock, Clarence A. F3c M IA
Blitz, Leo MM2c M IA
Blitz, Rt1dol pl1 Flc M IA
Blo1nsted t, Leonard M . Slc USS Ttlcker
Blondin, Clat1de W. SC3c U SS Northampton
Bobbitt, Will iam S. S2c U SS Blue
Bock, John G. (Jr. ) S2c M IA
Bode, H owa1-d D. Captain Fot1rteenth Naval D istrict
Navy Yard
Boemer, Pat1l L. Co MIA
Boney, John F. Slc USS Farragut
Bonham, Roy D . GM3c USS Helen a
Booe Jaine B . Bin str M IA
Boor111an , James A. Lt. Qg) Fou rteentl1 Naval District
Boreen , Roy S. SK2c Receivi n g station
Bore n , Robert S. Slc USS Dewey
Bori n g,Jame B . F2c MIA
Botl1 ne, Adolph M . Bos'n USS Nevada
Boudreaux, Ralph M c H . StM l c M IA
183
an1e R i1k t tll
Bound J ame C . 1 U Hele'na

Bowde11 Raymond L . Co"' Coin 14
Bowde11 Tl101nas A. 2c USS Lo1uisville
Boxrt1cker La,l\Tfe11ce . F2c M IA
Bo rd Bill 1 D . GM3c USS La1mson
Bo 1e1- 1illard L. BM l e U alt Lake City
Bo 1to11 Ra,rinond
I
D. le M IA
Bradford Robert R. En ign Naval ho pital
Bradle ' Carl M. F2c M IA
Bi-ad , Allen E. S2c M IA
B i-amble H t1bert R. Slc USS Louisville
Brandt Or'ri V. Slc M IA
Bra hier Wil lard L . PFC ( USMC ) USS Indianapolis
Bra11 on Joh 11 J . Lt. Rec . bk . fleet pooling off.
Bratager Kermi t 0. E M3c Receiving station
Breedlo\re Jack A. F1C3c M IA
Bre nder Bernard W. Y2c West loch
Brewer, Randall W. StM l c MIA
Brewer Raymond PFC ( USMC ) U SS Chicago
Brier Frank H . S2c USS Louisville
Brislen John R. PFC ( USMC) Mari ne barracks
Bromm Robert F2c USS Helm
Bronson Charles H . S2c USS Blue
Brooks, Wil l iam Slc M IA
Brosky Stan ley Slc USS Helena
Brower Richard Slc USS Pen1isylvania
Brown , Alvin L. Slc USS Helni
Brown , Garth G. GM3c USS Helena
Brown , George A. SC3c USS Worden
Brown , Leonard W. Pvt. ( USM C ) USS Indianapolis
Brown , M aurice M. CTC USS Honolulu
Brown , Wesley J. Flc MIA
Browne, Kingsley F. M M2c USS Hull
Browne, Wallace B. CWT USS Jarvis
Bruce, Ray E. PFC ( USMC ) USS Inclianapolis
Bruesewitz, William G. Slc M IA
184 APPEND I X C
Na1n Ran lz Status
B1�11mback , Rob rt Sl c USS Helena

B1�t111111eier, Leopold Sl USS Pennsylvania
Brt111 ner, Lela11d H. Slc U Pen n ylvania
Bucl1anan, James R. MM 2c MIA
Buch 1neier, Leonard W. Slc USS Hull
Buco11 , Louis F. F lc USS Helm
Budlze, Ralph A. Slc USS Pennsylvania
Bue low, John F. Pvt. ( USMC) Marine barrac ks
Bt1r1 c h , John W. EM2c On leave in tate
Bt1nn, William H . Slc USS Helena
Bur�c h , Earl G. B kr3c KIA/Punchbowl ( C-0 763)
B11rge r, Oliver K. WT l c M IA
B111�gin , Ervin D . S2c Naval air station
Burgin , M ulli n D . EM3c USS Blue
Burk, Millard (Jr.) Slc MIA
Burkett, Horace S. CEM USS Pelias
Burks, James F. Slc USS Louisville
Burnett, Roscoe L. Slc USS Pennsylvania
Burns, Charles F. Cox USS Chester
Burns, Sc h uyler C. (Jr.) Slc USS Pennsylvania
Burr, Roland E. Y3c Receiving station
Busch, Martin L. WT2c USS Worden
Butorac, Nicholas J . QM3c USS Enterprise
Butts, Roger C. SC l c M IA
Byers, Eugene Slc USS Dew01
Caguj as, F . l stMus Receiving station
Cair1 , Carl E . GM3c USS Salt Lake City
Callal1a11 , Arc h i e (Jr.) StM2c M IA
Ca1nery, Raym ond R. Flc MIA
Campbe l l , Will iam V. S2c MIA
Canady, Cecil F. S2c USS Jarvis
Cardinal, Lyman E. F2c USS Loilisville
Cargile, M 11r1�ay R. S2c MIA
Carlson , Donald P. Slc West loch
Carlson , J ol1n C. GM2c USS Selfridge
Carlson , Robert 0. M us l e Yard c raft
U S OKLAHO.NLi. C REW RO TER 1 85
Name Ra11k Stat t1s
Carls trom Ver11011 E. K3c USS Dobbin

Carne H arold F. MM l c MIA
Carpe11 ter VT
\ illiam, NI. En ig11 Com batWingTwo
Ca1-ri er William R. Ml.is l e Ya1-d craft
Carrol l Jere1niah F. WT2c USS Indianapolis
Carrol l Joseph W. F2c M IA
Ca1�son Fran k L. GM3c USS Helm
Carter Robe 1-t M. AO M l c Naval a i 1- station
Carter Roy D . CM2c USS Pelias
Carter \l\Tarren B. S2c USS Jarvis
Carter V\ illiam R. CM3c Tem porary duty Camp
An drews
Case Melvi n Pvt. ( USMC) Marine barracks
Cassinger Edwin E . F2c M IA
Casola B iacio Slc MIA
Casto Charles R. Fl c M IA
Casto Richard E. F2c KIA/ Punchbowl ( P-0668)
Cen ters Jac kson P. MoMM l c Receiving station
C harrier Roy P. EM3c USS Helm
Chassereau Jacob F. (Jr. ) Slc USS Louisville
Ches h ire Jam es T. CPhM M IA
Chesney Roman P. MMlc On leave i n States
Chess , Patrick L. SF3c M IA
Ch iger, H arry G. FC3c USS Jarvis
Christ Stratis C. CMM USS Enterprise
Clark Alto B. Lt. Ug) Medusa Kingfisher Unit
Clark, David (Jr. ) S2c M IA
Claudman tle Arth ur (Ji-. ) BM2c USS Salt Lake City
Clayton , Clarence L. SM l c Sigr1al tower, Ford Island
Clayton, Gerald L. SK2c MIA
Clemer1 t, H ubert P. FC l c M IA
Clevenger, William L. Sl c USS Louisville
Clifford, Floyd F. Slc MIA
Coburn, George L. FC l c USS Louisville
Coffm a n , William K Slc USS Penns)1lvania
Cohe n , Paul ] . Ptr l c Medusa Kingfisher Uni t
APPENDIX C
Nan1 Ran k ta tu
Cok , George A. le MIA

Col , J ohn A. (Jr. ) le U Helena
Col 0 car W.
, Slc U Helena
Col lier, Wal te1- L. PFC ( USMC) MIA
Col lins, Glen D. 2c U S Pennsylvania
Col l i n , Jame E. le KIA/ Ro edale Cemetery,
Pem broke, KY
Comb , Clarer1ce A. Qr. ) BM2c USS Chester

Comorat, Vi nce n t ] . BM2c USS alt Lake City
Com pto11 , Harry CSK Com 1 4 (emergency disb.
off. )
Con nolly, John G. ChPC l k M IA
Connolly, Keefe R. HAl c M IA
Conrad, Andrew H . Pvt. ( USMC ) USS Chicago
Conway, Edward L. EM l c M IA
Cook, Grant C. (Jr. ) Flc M IA
Cook,Joh11 B. Pvt. ( USMC) Mari ne barracks
Cooper, Claud W. Slc USS Louisville
Copeland, Louis L. Slc USS Loui ville
Corkern, Carl W. Slc USS Helena •
Corn , Robert L. FC l c M IA
Cornwell, Ai-nold L. Pvt. ( USM C) USS I1idianapolis
Corrato, Carmine Flc USS Maury
Corse tte, Ted L. E11 si gn St1rvived: reassign m e n t
tin known
Corzatt, Beoin H . Flc MLt\
Cotchefer, Gordon , H . Lt. Ug) USS En terprise
Cowdry, Paul J. Slc USS Louisville
Cozart, Robe rt E. S2c USS Loilisville
Craig, John W. SK l c M IA
Cremean, Alva ] . PFC ( USMC ) MIA
Cre11shaw, Bert W. Y2c Detailed at casualty office
Cress, Larkin Slc USS Pennsylvania
Cress, Lloyd B. Slc USS Helena
Crim, Warren H . F3c M IA
Croghan , William D . S2c USS Helena
US OKLAH01'1A REW RO TER 187
N an1e R i1k tatt1
C1-owde1- Sam t1el W. Flc M IA

Crunk Jame G. Flc USS Bl ,u,e
Crt1z An thon F3c USS Cliester
Ct1 l l i n Th orr1a 0. (J r. ) Lt. indr' . We t loch
Ct11-1-an J a me H . (Jr. ) PFC ( U SMC ) Mari 11 barrack
Ct1r1-en i rgil J . 2c USS Portlan,d
Ct11-1-ie r orrnan L. G 1Sgt. ( USMC ) Mari11e barracks
C t1 1 1 L o nard L. (J r. ) Y3c Bishop Poi n t
Cu rry V\li l l iam McK. EM l c MIA
Curti Albert F. S2c USS Helena
Ct1rtis Ch ai-le R. Sl c Naval air dispensary
Cu 11i n g V\ a rne A. S2c USS San Francisco
Ct1zzort J a1ne A. 2c USS Louisville
C rrnem1ar1 Raymon d A. Slc Receivir1 g station
Cyrlack Glenn G. SK2c M IA
Daigle George J . Sl c USS Pen nsylvania
Daniels Stewart A. GM3c USS Helena
Dan neels, Francis C. S2c USS Helena
Darby, Marshall E. (Jr. ) Ensign KIA/ Punchbowl ( P-1 1 40)
Darli ng Wil lard D . PFC ( USMC ) Marine barracks
Darulis Frank BM l c USS Northampton
Da enport I rvi n , ] . Ensign Com batWingTwo
Dave nport, James W. Flc M IA
Davenport, John B. Ensign Com batWingTwo
Davenport, Rtissell 11. Slc USS Honolulu
Davis, George F. Lt. Com BaseFour shore patrol
Davis, Lawrence M . Y2c Survived: reassignment
un known
Davis, Luther L. BM l e Bishop Poi nt
Davis, Robert S. FC3c USS Patterso1i
Day, Francis D. CWT MIA
Dean , Kenneth P h M 3c Naval hospi tal (duty )
Dean , Nathan iel G. Fl c USS Louisville
DeLeon, Rafael OClc Rece ivir1g s tation
DeLong, George A. S2c USS Helena
DeMers, Adam W. Ensign Naval hospi tal
188 APPEN DIX C
Na1ne tatus
De1 1 11 y, Artl1 u r E. GM3 M IA

Denton,Josepl1 A. S2c U Loilisville
Derri 11gto n, Ra lpl1 A. CM M M IA
Diaz J uaquin M . Mal2c US Jarvis
Diel , Francis E. Mtis2c M IA
Dick Gene R. HAlc Naval h10 pi tal ( duty )
D i l l, Leaman R. EM2c M IA
Dishman, Edgar E. GM2c USS Balch
D ittman, Calvi 11, L. S2c Sub ba e fleet school
Dobbins, Joseph A. SC3c We t locl1
Dobosz Jacob M M le USS Jarvis
Dobrowolski Marvi 11 E. Slc USS Penn ylvania
Doerne11 burg, Kenneth E. Fl c M IA
Doherty, Joseph M. Ensign Sub base
Doman , George A. RM le Naval air statio n
Donald, J ol1n M. SF3c M IA
Donley, Jack L. SM2c USS Helm
Doore, Lyle W. GM le USS Po'rter
Dor11 , Wi llard McE. Bk1�2c Naval a i 1� tation
Dorr Carl D. F2c M IA
Dougherty, Ernest L. Slc USS Hele1ia
Dot1gl1erty, Jerry S. S2c USS Northampton
Douglass, Gordon E . E 11 sign CINCPAC
Dow11s, Leo B. SC l c Naval air statio1i.
Doyle, Bernard V. S2c M IA
D rake, Arvel PFC ( USMC) Mari11e ba rrac ks
D refahl, El111e1-- E . Cpl . (U SM C)
D1�uktenis, Artht1r J . PFC (USMC) Marine ba1�racks
Drwall, Stanislaw F. Pni.krlc MIA
Dunca11 , Ct1rtis L. Y3c Recei,ring station
Duncan, Will iam E . P h M3c Naval 11ospi tal (du ty)
Du1111 , Artl1t1r R. Sl c USS Louisville
Du11n, Cli fford A. Slc Signal tower, Ford Island
D u n n , James E . M M le Survived: reassig111nent
un known
Durbi n , Ed1nund P. Flc USS Louisville
Na111e Sta tl1
D t1 et j
i-il I. t 11 MIA
D i- Bt1f' i-d H. 9
- M IA
Eak Wal lae E. 1(3 MIA
Ea l e, H r 11 1 1 U .fc1rvi
Ebberhardt, Et1ge11 K. M IA
Eb' Eug 11 . (Jr. ) USS Cliicago
Ed111o n t 11 Da,id B. MIA
Ed,,1ard J ol111 T. (Ji-.) le USS Dewev -
Eggert H r111 i1 �1. \ l\'T l c U SS ortlirL 1njJto11

Egr1ato,rich L ,,,ri J . Flc USS Far·r�agut
E l1l ert J a111 e le Naval air di pen ary
Elli Albert L. (J 1-. ) le USS Hele11a
Elli Earl M. RM3e MIA
Elli 0 11 Br11ce H . RM3c MIA
Ell berry J ul i t1 StM l e KIA/ Grae Hill Ceme tery
Bi1-mi nghan1 , AL
E 11 gen John . Ml1 l e t1rvived reassignm e11 t
·
t1nlu.1ow11
E ngland J oh n C. En ign MIA
E 1-vvin Je L. Slc USS jct·rvi
Eslick, Garlen W. S2c Survived: reassig11 me11 t
llnknown
Ezzel Le ter W. GM3c USS Worderi
Farfan , Ign acio C. StM l c MIA
Farley Bernard H . Slc USS Helenci
Fa1-ley Paul G. En ig11 Medu a Ki ngfi her U11 it
Farmer Luther J . MM l e KIA/ ew Zion Ce1n etery,
New Zion KY
Fecho, Lawre nce H . Flc MIA

Felumlee Meda W. Qr. ) Slc USS Per·t1i ylr1an irl
Ferguson Charleton H . Ml1 2c MIA

Ferguson , Donald L. Slc U SS � an Fr·a1icisco
Ferguson Fran k H . GM l e West loch

Ferlet, Warren]. Cox USS Blue
Fields, Robert A. E M2c KIA/Wil n1 i ngton Na tio11al
Cemetery, Wil111 i11gto11 NC
1 90 APPENDIX C
Name Ran k Status
Finch, Ke11n th W. Cpl ( USMC) Mari n e barracks

Fi n 11egan, William M. Ensign M IA
Fitzgerald, Robert D. S2c USS Louisville
Flaherty, Francis C. Ens ign M IA
Flanagan, James M. S2c M IA
Florese, Fe lic is1no StM2c M IA
Foerst, Arthur T. S2c USS Helm
Fogelsong, Jesse L. S2c Com 1 4
Foley, Walter C. Slc M IA
Fo1nby, William W. GM l e Receivi11g station
Foote , George P. SK3c M IA
Ford, George, C. F2c M IA
Foreman , Gerald E. QM2c On leave i n States
Forsyth , Lytle J. Cox USS Helena
Foster, H art E. PhM3c USS Enterprise
Foster, Idel l, R. Y3 c Detailed at casual ty office
Fournier, Louis 0. Y2c Receiving statior1
Francis, Paul L. S2c USS Louisville
Francisco, Pedro OS2c USS Helen a
Frazier, Jack R. Slc West loc h
Freen1an , Claude P. Slc USS Wo·rden
Freeman , Guy R. Slc USS Northampton
French, H oward C. CPO Yard craft office ( Coin 1 4 )
Frencl1 , Joy C. S2c KIA/ Golden Gate National
Cemete ry , San BrL1no, CA
Frey, Emant1al H . Y3c USS Saratog,a
Friclzman , Robert ] . CWT USS Schley
Fry, Richard G. Pvt. ( USMC) Marine barracks
Ft1ller, D arwin L. PFC ( USMC) Ma1�i ne bar�racks
Fu1�r, Ted McK. CCM M IA
Galajdik, Michael Flc M IA
Gal os, Lino OS l e Fleet landing
Gara, Martin A. F2c M IA
Garcia, Jesus F. StM2c MIA
Garrett, Clifford T. Slc USS San Francisco
US OKLAHO 1A REW RO TER 191
Name Ra11k tatt1
Carri Et1g 11 tM_ I UA/ oldi r' Home

Natio11al C met 171,
Washi ngto n , D . C .
Ga kill Fo1�e t R. Y3c D tailed at cast1al ty office
Ga er H ar·l)1 H . (Jr. ) 211d Lt. ( USMC ) M IA
Geb er Pat1l H . MM l c
Geier Melvi n F. Slc
Geller Leona1-d R . Flc
Ge11 h e ime1- Jol111 V\1• BM le Receivi ng tation
George G 01-ge T. S2c M IA
George V\ i l lia1n G. S2c USS Northampton
Gerce,ic John V\. QM3c Receiving tation
Gerlach F1-ede1-ick H . F3c USS Northampton
G iambruno Ai-mando S. PFC ( USMC ) USS Chicago
Gib o n George H . EM3c M IA
Gie a George E. F2c M IA
Gifford Quen ti n J. RM2c MIA
G ilbert, George FC2c M IA
G ilbert V\ alte1- H . (Jr.) Cpl. ( USMC ) Marine barracks
Gillett Alvah G. Y2c Detailed at casualty office
Gillette, Warren C. Slc M IA
Gilliard, B e nj am i n E. StM l c KIA/ Beauford National
Cemetery, Beauford, SC
Gilmore, FIO)'d H . Sl c USS Helena
Gip o n , Frank W. FC2c Survived: rea signment
lln known
Gleason , H arry A. F2c USS Northa1npton
Gle n n , Artl1ur MM l c M IA
Glidewell, Nelson W. ACM2c Signal tower, Ford Isla11d
G loor, Paul W. Flc USS Blue
Godfrey, H arris G. EM le USS Selfridge
Godwin , Orvil l 0. Sl c USS Nortliampto1i
Goggin , Daryl H . Mac h M IA
Goins, Selden Slc USS Honolulu
Goins, Tl1omas 0. S2c USS Blue
Goldwater, J ac k R. RM 3c M IA
192 APPEND I
Ra 11k lattl
i11 z Cha1�1e . (Jr.) 2c M IA

Gooc h , George M . E M 3c MIA
Goodwi n, Cliffo1-d G. 1 MIA
Goodwin , Da11 iel B. T le R e ivi ng 'tation
Goodwin , Ra lph R. 2c U HelP1ia
G d't\Ti 11, Ro bert C3e M IA
Goodyear, Paul A. M3e ignal tow r Ford I land
Gordon D11ff M mth MIA
Go1�don Jack R. K3e U Dobbin
Go,vey, Claude 0. Fle M IA
Graff, Ken neth E. S2e U Hele1ia
Graham, Wesley E . le MIA
Grand Pre, Arthu r M . F2e KI A/St. John the Bapti t
C m etel)' Condo, D
Gra11 d Pre, John D . Fle U orthampton
Gray, Eugene L. Y2c USS Dobbi1i
Gray, Robert C . F3e U S ]a rv i
Greenaway, William F. BM le USS E,1iterprise
Gregory, Wendell C. Sle U S Pe1?n ylvania
Griffith, Ken neth le U Hilll
Griffith, Tho1nas E . RM3e MIA

Gro , Edgar D . WT2c MIA
G1--o s, George W. C2e t1nrived: reassignment
u11 k11ow11
Grow, Vernon N. S2c M IA
Grt1nder, Cai-I C. Cox U S Nortliampton
Grt111der Joh11 D . AS US an Francisco
Gt1i i 11ger, Daniel L . (Jr.) le MIA
Gu11 n i 11g, Everett G . S2c USS a n Francisco
Guoan , Jol1 n F. F3e USS Pelia
Gt1rgan u Wi l l iam I.
, CEM MIA
Gtlsie, Wil l i a1n F. FC3e MIA
G11yd ry, Geo1-ge RM l e USS Gridl�
H ailey, Thomas E . Sgt. ( USMC) Marine barracks
Hall H erbert P. S2e M IA
H a l l , Ted Pvt. ( USMC) MIA
193
am Ra11k L tll
H alt rn1an Robe1-t E . 1 M IA

Ham H arold V\ . M�1- KIA/ Hill ide C metery, St.
Cha1 l MN
Ha1nbl i 11 Fra11k C . BM_ u 1-,ri ,, d : r as ig11me11t
t111know11
Ha1nilto11 El,,· od F. le US 1alia11
Ha111l i n Dale R. M3 !<IA/Galva Cen1etery Galva
He11ry Cou11ty, IL
Ha111n1 Ma11 11 Lt. USS Pen n ylvarlia
Han1mond John E . le Recei\ri ng tation
H a1npl eo1-ge E . le USS Helena
H a 11 11 Et1ge 11 e P. GM3c KIA/ Al liance City Cemetery
Al liance OH
H a n 11on Fra11cis L. F3c MIA
H a n 11on J o h 11 E . AMM2c Sunrived : i-eassig11ment
t111knovvn
Hannor1 Thomas F. le Recei,ri11g station
Han on George MMl e M IA
H an on H arr;' E . WT2c USS Hele1ia
Harber. Jame D. P\1t. ( USMC) USS Indian apolis
Hard)' Le Roy B . Flc USS Blue
Harkema Pear on le USS Northampton
H arlen Robert T. Pvt. (USMC) USS Chicago
Harne Kermit L. BM l e Bishop Poi nt
H arr Robe rt ] . Flc M IA
H arrelso n , Horace W. F2c USS Helena
Harrelso11 , Isaac W. Y3c Medt1 a Kingfi 11er Unit
H arri ngton Fra n k B. S2c USS orthampton
Harris, Benj am i 11 F. Slc USS Helenct
H arri Charles H . Cox USS Nortlia1npto1i
H arris Charles H . E M 3c M IA
Harris, Daniel F. CFC M IA
H arris H a rol d ] . CM l e USS Cilmmings
H arris, John W. S2c USS Helena
H arri , Louis E . (Jr. ) M11s2c M IA
Hartl i ng Gerald A. M11s l c Yard c raft
1 94 APPEND I X C
Na1n Ra11 k ta tu
Ha , Do11 ald W. l U Helena

Hatton, Antl1ony J . CCStd Receivi ng sta tion
Hat1 laden, Antl1ony J . PF ( USM C) U Indianctpolis
Hat1 man , Eldred E . 2c U 4S'an Francisco
Hawki ns, H . J. S2c St1 rvived: rea sign ment
unknown
Hawki ns,Joh11 W. Slc U Helena
Hayden , Albert E . CEM MIA
Haye , Robert F. Slc U S Phelps
Head, H arold L. S2c MIA
Headington, James FC3c USS Detroit
Headi ngton, Robert W. Slc M IA
Heffernan , Lloyd T. Cox USS Tenne see
Held, Ke n neth G. Slc USS Pennsylvania
Hellstern, Wil liam F. GM2c M IA
Helton, Floyd D. S2c M IA
H enderso n , H arry H . Lt. Cmdr. COM 1 4 ordnance alvage
Henrichsen, Jimmie L. S2c M IA
Henry, Otis W. Pvt. ( USMC) KIA/ Kittle Cemetery, West
Brancl1 , M I
Henry, Wal ter F. FC l c USS Mitgford
Hensen, William E . (Jr. ) S2c KIA/ Asl1do'N11 Cemetery
Ashdown TX
Hentschel, Robert K AOM3c Naval air s tation
Herber, Harvey C. EM l c M IA
Herbert, George GM l c M IA
Herman, Wa rren H . Slc USS ]a'rvi
Herms, Gunther A. Slc USS Hele1ia
H eslar, Robert L. S2c USS Mahan
Hesler, Austin H . SM3c M IA
Hicks Charles C. GM3c USS McCall
Hi gday, Gilbert H . F2c USS Clieste'r
Hi gh , Joh n M . SC l c On leave i n Sta tes
Hill, Willis W. F3c USS Helena
Hil ton, Fred T. BM l c USS Enterprise
Hines, Ll oyd A. Pvt. ( USMC) USS Indianapolis
1 95
Name Ra11 k tattl
H i 11 ri c h H e 1�1na11 J . F3 U Helen,a
H ir1 berge r Wilbur T. 2c USS Ho1iolulu
H iskett De11 i H . Flc M IA
H ittorff Jo epl1 P. (Jr. ) E n ig11 MIA
H ixon Cl de le USS Nortliampton
H oag F1-a11k . (Ji-. ) RM3c MIA
H oard H e rbert ] . K M IA
H obb)' Willian1 M . (Jr. ) Lt. Cmdr. Sub base
Hob on Tom p,,t. ( USMC) USS Cliicago
Hoffma11 , Jo eph W . M t1s l c M IA
H offman Mel,r i n H . S2c U SS Northampton
H offma11 Iorman C. Lt. Ug) COM 14, naval district
H olden .l\rnold L . CWT USS EnterjJrise
Holli D o n . Slc USS Pen nsylvania
Hol1n Ker1neth L. F3c M IA
Holmes H arry R. F3c MIA
Hol1nes La11nie L. Slc USS Northampton
H olmes, Robert K PFC ( USMC) MIA
H o l t Floyd . S2c Na val air dispensary
H o l tel Alp honse B . B M2c USS Louisville
Holtel, Paul J . S2c USS San Francisco
Holzhauer James W. Slc M IA
Hopkins E dwin C. F3c M IA
Hord, Chester C. SI<.3c M IA
Hornkohl Irvin W. AS Sub base fleet schoo l
Hovatter, Branson G. Fl c On leave in States
H owland Frar1 k S. BM l e Bishop Poi n t
H ryniewicz, Frank A. Slc MIA
H udson, Cha1-les E. WT l c M IA
Huey, D e n n is L. RM 2c Survived: reassign ment
unknown
Huff, Robert L. Cpl . ( USMC) Mari ne barracks
H ughes, Vincent E . CM3c USS Pelias
Hull, Donald L. PFC ( USMC) USS Chicago
Hull, Irvin M . CM2c USS Medusa
H ul tgren, Loren tz E . M M2c MIA
1 APPEND I
a111 Ra1 1k ta tu
Ht111 t Harold F. 2 U Dewey

H t111t, Harry M. 2c U Pfnn. ylvania
Ht 111t Lt1cia11 J . Qr. ) Er1 ·ign ·t lo1c h
H t111t 1-, Maj or L. EM3c U Ja1-vi
H1 111t r, Robert M . En. ign KIA/Punch bowl ( P-0681)
H t1 t d, Ri ha rd C. le Dewey
Hlt to11, Ja1n A. 2 U orthampton

Hutcher1 s Pa u l C. le U , a n Francisco
Hu tchi on Jo eph E. pl. ( USMC) Marine barrac ks
Ingran1, Darrell L. Cox CINCPAC
I ng1-am, W i l lia1n T. Lt. Ug) Naval air tation
I nlow, Roy W. Slc CI CPAC
I zard , Howard E. S2c US Honolulu
Iver 011 Glaydon I . C . F3c M IA
Jack on, Rober t B. S2c U Helena
Jackson, Robert F. BM le aval ho pital
Jackson, Willie OC l c M IA
J acobs, Charlie B. PFC ( USMC) Mari11e barracks
Jacobson , H erbert B. F3c M IA
Jaqt1es, Loney EM3c U Allen
J ames, Challis R. S2c M IA
Jankowski, Chester F. F3c U Hele'7?a
Ja11 en, Ralph N . 2c a al a i 1- ta ti on ( aviation
t1nit)
Jard i 11g, George W. F3c KIA/St . Ai1 11 Ce1ne tery
H t1mbo l t SD
Jayne Kenneth W. F3c MIA
J e11n ings Charles R. P\1t. ( U S MC ) U !11dianapolis
J e ri en,Je e B. GM3c KIA / l.l t1a11 u Cemetery ,
Honol u l t1 H I
Je11 en , S tanley K. FC3c US Enterpr..i e
Je11 e11, Theodore Q. RM3c M IA
Johannes, Charles H . S2c M IA
Jol111 on, Billy J . Flc M IA
J oh11 on, Charles A. SF2c USS Medu a
Jol1 11 on Dwigl1 t L. Lt. (jg) Yard office
197
ame Ra 11k tattl
J oh11 on Ed,,, i-d D. Fl �1IA

Jol111 on H 1-d' . PF ( M ) India11 apoli
Joh11 0 11 H a1--old E . 2c USS WordP11.
Joh 11 on , H i- l d 0. 1 lT Hele11a
J o h 11 on J el '\r. M3 Clie ter
J o h 11 011 J ol111 \. 2c USS No1"tliampto 1i
Jol1 11 on , J o pl11\1. 1c 1IA
J 011 11 on Ke11 11eth F. le USS Hull
Jo l1 11 011. Ral igh E . K2c t1nri,1ed: rea ignment
t1nknown
J o h n on Ral p h E . le USS Northanipton
J o h 1 1 to11 J i 111 H . Flc MIA
Jone Bobbie G. Flc USS Northampton

Jone Cl1arle A. 2c MIA
J 011e F1-ed �1. M�1 l c MIA
J 011e Geo rge F. Slc USS Helena

Jone He1�111an GM2c USS Porter
Jone Ho'"'ard E . AMM3c aval air tation
Jone J err; tM3c MIA
Jone Ral p h E. (Jr. ) Cox USS orthampton
Jone Star1 ton E. Slc USS Helenct
Jordon Julia11 B. Lt. MIA
J 01 �d on V\ e le}T V. Slc MIA

J u Aire, Jean j . F2c USS Farrag;ut
J1-1anick Jo eph j . Slc urvived: r a signment
t1nknowi1
J ura h e n Cha rles S . SF l c U SS Enterp 1i e
J ura h e n Tho mas . Slc Died Decem ber 1 5
1 94 1 /Mt. Carm el Ce1netery,
Bellevi.l l e t. Clair Co. IL
J t1rashen Wil l iam M. F3c USS ara toga
Kalman, Jesse T. SC3c Naval air tation

Kalt 1�eider Dan iel R. BM le Recei,rir1g tation
Kane, Albe rt U . Flc MIA
Karli John A. Slc M IA
Keaton , Ve rnon P. Pvt. ( U SMC) M IA
19 APPENDIX C
Na111 Ra11 k ta tu
En ign Dale
Ke num, Carl W. CBM Receiving ta tion
Keffi r Howard V. RM3c M IA
Kegley, E 1n i l W. Flc U Chester
Keil, Ralp h H. Slc M IA
Kel l r, Do11ald G. le M IA
Kelley, H 1 1bert P. Slc US Northampton
Kelley, Joe M. S2c M IA
Kellogg, Gayle H . Flc USS Louisville
Kel ly, Chester E . Flc USS Hull
Kelly, Gilbert L. S2c US Northampton
Kelly, James Mat3c USS Dale
Kel ly, Joseph L. Slc Naval air di pensary
Kempf, Warre n ] . RM3c M IA
Keninger, Leo T. Flc M IA
Kennedy, Herbert S. QM3c Receivi ng tation
Kennedy, Jesse S. GM3c USS Helencl
Kennedy, Wil liam H . Flc M IA
Kenworthy, Jesse L. Qr. ) Cmdr. We t loch
Kenyon, Vern W. Slc U S Helena
Kerestes, Elmer T. Flc M IA
Ke ler, David L. B kr2c M IA
Kesler, Gerald L. Slc USS Nortliampton
Kiefer, Wilbur E . GM3c USS Louisville
Kiley, Charles W. Cox USS Saratoga
Kimmons, Earl F. Slc USS Pen nsylvania
Ki nart, Keith N. Slc USS Northampton
Ki 11derm an, Robert R. Flc USS Hull
Ki ng, Daniel CTC USS Maryland
Ki11 g, Edker L. GM3c USS Nor·thampton
Ki ng, James H . S2c USS Helena
Kirk, Lyl e 0. E M 2c USS Ho1iolulu
Kirves, Elmer E . C. CM l e USS Oklalioma post office
Klasi ng, William A. E M3c M IA
Klein, Edward G. GM3c Receivi ng station
Knight, Francis W. SM3c Signal tower, Ford Island
USS OKLAHOJ)!JA REW RO TER 199
Name R i1k tattt.
Knight Georg S. le Rec ivi11g tati on

Knights Richard P. EM l USS Honolulu
Ki1ipp Verne F. ox M IA
Koch Ro be rt 0. Flc USS Che ter
Koe ter N!elvi11 L. le USS Pennsylvania
Kol b Leo11 . M2c USS Balch
Kolb V\ i l l ia111 le USS a1i Fra1ici co
l{olodziej Ja11 EM l c USS Pelias
Ko k Be11 le USS an Franci co
Ko to,r\rski Henry P. BM2c USS Pelias
Kottong H arold Fle USS Indianapolis
Ko\'ein Donald M. Slc USS Phelps
Kozlowitz Robert . S2e USS San Francisco
Kozlo' ki Stanle)· j . FC3c USS Northampton
Kra1nes E dward C. Slc USS Helena
Krau e Ke n neth R. S2e USS Louisville
Krat1 e Llo d S. Sl e USS San Francisco
Krel l Don F. S2e Sub base fleet school
Krueger D oi-an C. GM3c West loch
Kuhn Malvin G. Sle USS Northampton
Kval11es H an C. S2e KIA/ Pt1 nc hbowl ( C-1062)
Kvidera Wil l iam L. CM3c M IA
Kyser D. T. S2c MIA
Laing, Kirk D . Sl c U SS Northampton
Lakers, John B . Y3c Naval air dispensary
Laman, Charles E . (Jr. ) Flc M IA
Langford, Alva D. Slc USS Northampton
Larson , E l liott D. Sle M IA
Larson , H arry 0. Sl e USS Helena
Latoure t te, John G. Sle Naval air station
Laurie , Johnnie C. StM l c M IA
Lawrence, Elmer P. Sl e M IA
Lawrence, Evere tt L. Sl c USS Helena
Lawrence, L. R. Elec. Survived: reassignment
t1nknown
Lawson , Willard I . F3c M IA
200 APPEND I
111 Ra11k ta tu
Lawt r Jo ph M . F111 fi Marin e barracks

Lay, L o M . PhM lc U \ PPnn.�ylvania
L a h Oti C. PFC (USMC) U Chicrtgo
L l1 man, Gerald G. F3c MIA
Lel1111a 11, La w1..ence K. 2c U Loui ville
Le h111a11, M i�on K. 2c M IA
Leigh, Mile J . 2 u Helena
L i1 tz Franci G. Flc u Blue
L oma cola, Vi11ce n t 2c U a,r�a toga
Leon-Guerrero, Jesus A. Matlc U Honolu,lu
Leonard, Cecil B. F3c US ctlt Lake City
Leonardi Lewis F. 2c U Hull
Le cau l t, Lion e l W. BgMstr2c M IA
Le ter Do11 A. le U Phelp
Letot1rneau, Marsallj. CGM Survived:rea ignrnent
t.in kn ow11
Lett, James H . Wflc St1nrived:re a signment
t1n know11
Leva eur, J t1lian J. Lt. Cmdr. (SC) St1pply dept. na ard
L wi Hai-old L.Mt1 le Yard c1-aft •
Lewis, Robert ]. S2c U S a1i FrrL11cisco

Lin d ey, Harold W. 2c MIA
Li11d ley, J ol1n H. F3c M IA
Li11 k, Wil l ian1 T. CSF U S Nledil a
Li1111artz, Luther L . F3c MIA
Little, Pl1ili p E . AS U S Hull
Livi 11g to n AlfI·ed E . F3c KIA/ Worth ington Ce1ne tery,
Wo1-th i n gton IN
Lochner, Robert C. Sc3c Receivi11 g tation
Lockwood Claren c e M . Wf2c M IA
Lo bac h , Adol p l1 J . FC3c M IA
Logan , Robert L. ACMM Naval air station
Loganbt1h l , Bernard J . Bkr2c USS Nledu a
Long H e n ry A. RM3c USS Schley
Lov Jo eph E . BM2c USS Waters
Lovrien Warren G. Fm ( USMC) M ari11e barracks
l� R 201
a111 l ' l t ll
Lo,,rel l H i- ld F. Hflf1il1,
Lo'\Ter ' D 11ald B . U Clz icaucJ
Lt1ba11 ki Fra11 k A. U Fa l'"ragut
Lt1ca a1-l t o 11 Lt . M dt1 a Ki 11 gfi 11er U 11 i t
L t 1 c kado , J a c k H . le U Teri 1ie ee
Lt1ebk ele t i 11 e . x U Hele'n a,
Lt1ke \rer11 r 1 T. MMl M IA
L u cl1 Ca1,roll G . l1Ck ( U M ) M arir1 b ar1-acks
Lt1te11 gg i-, v \ l te1- J . U S Te1i nes fe
Lt1t t1- 1 1 Ri c l1a1-d . Si g11al to,iVe 1-, Ford Island
L '11n l a r i1 c D. U S A llen
Mabi11e O c t a\it1 tM l c M IA
l a d d e n H a ro l d S . Y2c USS Ja rvis
� 1 age1� H o,,·a 1-d S. 2c M IA
1 a h a ffe)T, J e se �.\. Slc U S Nortlia 1npton
1. a l e k M i c h ael S2c M IA
1alfa n te Al geo \'. F2c M IA
M a l l o n Charle \1\1. PFC ( U S M C ) Marine barracks
M a 11 11 i ng V\7al te r B . EM l e M IA
fark man Paul A. Slc U S Hele n a
Mar 1 1 a l l William H . EM3c Recei,ri ng s tation
Iarti11ez Fra n c i c o P. Mat l c U S S Detroit
Mason H a rold G. S2c U SS Northa1np ton
M ason H e n nT C. I
Mu l e MIA
M a t h i e o n Harr , L. Flc Coin 14

M a t h i e on L o u i R. Flc USS Hull
Matthews Geo rge \A.r. (J r. ) Flc U S Hel1n
M atth ews J a m e E. Bkr3c U S Lo1lisville
M at t i n gly J oseph P. S2c U SS No,rtlict 'Jlipton
Maule Jo e p h K. Slc M IA
Maxo11 Robert P. Slc U S Ten nessPe
M axwe l l J a m es A. GM3c USS Louisville
Mayfield, Everett R. Slc U S Sa 11 Fra n cisco
M c B e t h , Charles F. GM l e U S Blile
M c B r i d e , J a c k L. S2c U SS San Fra n cisco
M c Cabe, Edwin B. Wf l c M IA
202 APPENDIX C
...
Name Ra 11 k Status
McCleary, Malcolm .. J . 2c U S San Francisco

McCloud, Do11ald R. FC2c M IA
McCullo11gh , M . L. (Jr. ) Lt. Naval air dispensary
McDonald, Douglas G. S2c USS Helena
McD011ald, James 0 . Flc M IA
McDowell, John R. GM3c USS Helena
McFall, John T. E 11sign Wounded. Naval air
dispensary
McGaffin, Albert A. S2c Wes t loch
McGi n ty, John A. F2c USS Farragut
McGlyn n , Jame s J . QM2c On leave i n S tates
McGuire, Charles S . S2c USS Honolulu
Mclver, Edsel V. S2c USS San Francisco
M c Kee, Wayne T. QM3c USS Fanning
McKeenan, Bert E . Flc M IA
McKinney, Wil liam R. E nsign Camp Andrews
M cKissack, Hale Slc M IA
McKn ight, Edward ]. PFC ( USMC) Mari n e barracks
McLaughli n , James W. Slc USS Northampton
McLaughlin, Lloyd E. S2c M IA
McLell o n , Waldron M . Ensign Sub base
McMah o11 , Robert ] . QM2c USS E nterprise
M c Means, Ralph H . Slc USS Louisville
McMillan, Edward G. S2c USS Portland
McMillan, John D . S2c USS Northampton
M cNary, Ralph E . S2c USS Northampton
McNeil , R. H . S2c Survived: reassignment
unknown
McPherson , Carl R. (Jr. ) Pvt. ( USMC) Mari n e barracks
M c Quay, Clayton W. TC l e USS Helena
M cQuil ki n , John M . S2c Na,ral air dispensary
McStay, H ugh F. (Jr. ) CGM Receivin g station
McVey, David G. Slc USS Northampton
Melton, Earl R. MM le M IA
Melton, Herbert F. BM2c KIA/Punchbowl ( C- 1 288)
Meyer, H erbert W. G�13c USS Enterprise
US OKLAH01\ 1A REW RO TER 203
Name Ra11k t a t t11.
Me r Lot1i B. M3c USS H1ull

M iddle wart Jol111 F. PFC ( U M ) MIA
M i halka Ale M . 0 USS Salt Lal'le City
M ihalko Michael P. le USS a,ratoga
Milam A. J . (Jr. ) 2c Receivi ng ta tion
Mile Archi e T. MM2c MIA
M i ller t1rti E . Flc M IA
Miller Do11ald H . le USS Louisville
Miller Jack . le Receivi n g station
Miller Merle L. F2c USS San Francisco
Miller Po e GM3c Survived: reassignment
t1nknow11
Mill1n a n John P. PhM2c Naval hospital ( D t1ty)
M i n k Joe P. 1 t Sgt. ( USMC ) Marine barracks
Mitchell V\1allace G. Sl c M IA
M itschek, Erwin P. Slc Receivi ng s tation
Mixter William A . Flc USS Blue
Moeller, Elmer J Y2c West loch
Monoghan John M. (Jr. ) S2c USS Northampto1i
Monroe Lero L. Slc USS Salt Lake City
Monseu Joseph P. Y2c Receivi ng s ta tion
Mon tgomery Charle A. RM3c M IA
Moone, Joseph E. ARM2c On leave in States
Moore, Clarence R. F2c USS Chester
Moorh ouse , Mars h e l RM3c Receiving s tation
Moran, George A. GM3c USS Gridley
M orey, Will iam R. Ensign AV ( N ) Medu a Kingfisher Unit
M orris Marvin L. Cox Receiving station
M ortenson , Adol p h H. Ensign Commander battle force
M oss, George L. Flc USS Blue
M ueller, Donald R. GM3c USS A llen
Mulic k , J o h n M. HA l c M IA
M u l laley, Clarence J . Sl c USS Honolulu
Mullen, E lmer H . Slc Signal tower, Ford Island
M uller, Wil l iam G. (Jr. ) 2nd Lt. ( USMC ) Marine barracks
M u rp hy, George D . (Jr. ) S1c USS San Francisco
204 APPEND ! C
Nan1 R 11k ta tu
My o k, William F. M 3c Wordfrz
My r Ray H . 2c M IA
Na gl , Geor·ge E. 1 M IA
Nail, Elme1- D. FJ c M IA
Na11c Ruf11 F. B M 2c U Entn-f;ri e
h Maurice L. 2c orth{impton
Na 11 Pa11l A. FC l c M IA
augle Edwi n C. GM3c U orthampton
N er, He11ry F. le u rvived: r as ign m e n t
11n known
Neh r Do11 0. E M 3c M IA
Neil John L. F2c U Loui ville
Nelm , Lonnie T. CGM Receiving tation
Nel on, E rvi n R. Slc U outhampton
Nel on, Everett S2c u an Francisco
Nel on, Johnnie H . Slc Receivi11 g tation
Nelson, Lewis C. Slc US Loui ville
Nelson, Mervwyn C. Slc USS Blue
Net1enschwander, Arth t1r C. GMlc M IA
Nevi l l , Sam D. Y3c M IA
Newman Jacob L. CTC St1 rvived: reassign ment
t1 11 kno,\Tl1
N wton, J oh11 F. 2c Receivi11g tation
Newto11 , Wil bt1r F. Slc MIA
Nicl1oles , John C. V\TT2c U clilev
-
Nichols, Ca1�1 S2c M IA

Nichols, Harry E . K3c M IA
i ht1 , Everild A. M 3c U Hull
Niel en Ar11old M. BM le MIA
Nigg Edward L. 2c U S Nortliampton
Ni gg, Herbert G. Slc USS No,rtliampton
Ni gg, Lave r11e A. S2c M IA
Ni gg, Robert F. S2c USS Northampton
Nigh tengale, Joe R. Slc MIA
Nil , Richard M . Er1sign U SS Maryland
Ni Charle E . S M 3c M IA
205
a1ne R i1k tatt1'"'
o J a n1 \ . ari })·rt nci co

o nan F1-a11 k .1.-\. Hel11z
N o 1-ma11 D o 11 l d 0. USS ln clianapoli
o,· c , I i c l1 a 1 F. Hel11i
ll ko l i F 1-a11 i J . Rec ivi 11 g tation
O ' D e l l H a rold E. EM CEM
O ' D o n 11 11. T h o ma U SS ortliampton
0 Do 110,,a11 h arl E. 2c U SS Nortli a 1npto1i
Ogl Ch rle R. Flc M IA
Og1-ad11 C a m i l l t 1 1. le St1 rvived : i-eassign1nen t
t111k 11 own
,O l e o n H arald R. TC l e USS Helena
O l l o m Dor1al d j . P\1t. ( U M C ) M a ri 11 e ba1-rack
01 er1 E l i K3c M IA
0 1 en o r111a11 A. S2c S u b ba e fl eet chool
0' e i l l F1-a n c i J. G M 3c U SS Helen a
Ortm an11 Jack o n H. SF2c USS Med u a
0 tberg Harr;' H. CCStd U SS Grebe

0 t e 1-by Al\in E. GM3c U SS Mon agha n
O u tl a n d J a 1\i G . Flc M IA
Overley Lavvre11ce J . FC2c M IA
o,,T l ey Alp h ar d S. E 13c M IA
Oxford Wil liam A. Cox We s t l o c h
Pace J e e M. Cox Com 14

Pace M il l ard C. Flc M IA
Padge t t , Jame F. Slc SL1 rvive d : rea s i g n 1n e 11 t
un kn own
Palides J a m e J . M t 1 2c M IA
Palmer Cal\rin H . S2c M IA
Palm er, Patil E. Flc M IA
P a l m e r, Roger A. Fc3c U S Ja rvi
Palm e r, V\T ilfred D . S2c M IA
Paradis G e o 1-ge L. Ph M3c M IA
Parker, Isacc Mat3 c M IA
Parker L i n \iVoo d P. GM3c Bi hop Point
Parker N o rm a n R. Slc U SS Lou isville

206 APPENDIX C
N ITI R I1k ta tu
Pa1'ki11 Alfred S. K3c Penn5ylvania

Parki 11s, Ellis J. GM3c U Selfridge
Parkin on, Clayton L. 2 U Jarvi.�
Parki nso11, Frar1 cis R. Flc U S Northampton
Park , William G. le U Loui ville
Parn 11 Orville E. le U Loui ville
Parn 11, Roy C. Slc US Louisville
Parri Harold]. Slc US He�na
Pa cual, Roman R. CCk Survived: rea sign ment
un known
Pa k Wi llian1 F. Flc Survived: reassign ment
un known
Patrick, Delbert J. Pl tSgt. ( USMC) Marine barracks
Pat1ly, Thomas S. Qr. ) S F3c Survived: reassignm e n t
un k11own
Peak, Robert H . Pvt. KIA/ Punchbowl (A-0524)
Pearce, Dale F. S2c M IA
Peigler, Frank K Slc USS No'rthampton
Pence, Archibald B. S2c USS Helena
Pennington, Raymond Pvt. ( USMC) KIA/Golden Gate National.
Cemetery sec. L 3-5346

Pentico, Wal ter R. S2c M IA
Penwell, Jones C. GM3c USS Fl us e1�
Pepe , Stephen Wf l c M IA
Perdok, Michael Mac h . Com 1 4
PerdL1e, Charles F. SF l e M IA
Perrett, Will iam A. EM le USS Medusa
Peterson Roy W. GM3c USS Gridlej1
Petway, Wiley J . BM2c KIA/ Hampton N a tional
Cemetery, Phoebus area, sec .
F-2 1 4
Phillips, Charles W. CM M CINCPAC
Phillips, Milo E. Wf l c M IA
Phipps, J ames N. S2c MIA
Pickett, Bernard E . Wf l c USS Chester
Pickin , Robert S. GM l e Fleet pooling off. rec . bks.
USS OKLAHOMA REW RO T E R 207
a1ne Ra11k ta tu
Pilgri1n, Lot1i H . 2 USS Lou.i ville

Pirtle Gerald H . Flc M IA
Pirtl e, G1�0,1er . (Jr. ) GM2c USS Lawson
Piskuran Rt1d lph ''· 2c M IA
Pitke Dale H . M M2c On leave in S tates
Pittman Delbert L. 2c t1rviv d : reassignment
u n kn o\iVIl
P l t1mb Ai1 thon C. 1 tMus Yard craft
Poindexte1- H 1�be1-t J . (Jr. ) le M IA
Polk Howard M . F2c USS Salt Lake City
Polk V\1endell R. Lt. (jg) Survived: i�eassignment
unk11 own
Polk Woodrow A. Sgt. ( U SMC) Survived : reassignment
unknown
Polston Samt1el L. CM2c Medusa IZingfisher Unit
Poole Julian L. Y3c Receiving station
Poplofsky Isadore K S2c USS Helena
Postlethwaite Ralph E . BM l e USS Salt Lake City
Potts We tley F. BM2c USS Wor·den
Powel l Thomas 0. Slc Naval air station
Pray Oren (Jr. ) S2c USS Dewey
Prewitt, Brady 0. S2c M IA
Pribble, Robert L. FC3c M IA
Price, George F. Flc M IA
Price, George G. Pvt. ( U SMC) USS Chicago
Price James H . Slc USS Louisville
Pride, Lewis B. (Jr. ) Ensign M IA
Prythero, Norman S2c USS Worden
Pue, Jaspe r L. (Jr. ) F3c M IA
Purcell , James Qr. ) F3c USS Ja·rvis
Quatlebaun Lanie C. GM l e Receiving station
Ragland, Norman C. (Jr. ) S2c USS Conyngham
Rahder, Donald W. BM2c USS aratoga
Rahlfs, Donal d ] . Flc USS Rigel
Raimond, Paul S. Slc Survived: reassignment
unkno\t\Til
208 APPE DI
a111 R· i 1 k tatt1 ,
Ra i11 y, f 1�a11 k W. EM 3 . fct·rvi.

Ra 111. y, Elgin D. Flc U Allen
Ra tt 11 , Edvvard C. PFC ( U M ) !ncLia'n apolis
Ray, Eldo11 . K3c M IA
Ra , J n 11i11g B. un. ( U MC) u rviv d: r a ignn1ent
unknow11
Raym ond, Glenn H . le U ort!iampton
R agan Da11 E. Flc M IA
R dyk, M i lton Flc U Fa rrap;l.-lt
Reed , Rich ard E. Pvt . ( USMC ) Mari ne ba rracks
R e, Pauline G. CM l e U Pelicl
Rega11 , Leo B. WT l c tinrived: rea i gn rn ent
unknown
Reye l ts D uane H. S2c u De1Vf>)1
Rey11olds, Clifford M. Slc aval air tation ( aviation
t1ni t )
Rice , I rvin F. RM3c MIA
Ric h , Porter L. WT2c M IA
Rich William A. Slc U Mon tg�o,mery
Rich111ond, Rayino11d L. 2c R cei,ri 11g tation
Ride11our, Clyde (Jr. ) RM 3c M IA
Rigg Fra11ci E. 0 U Pen 11 ') lvan ia
�
Ril ey, D avid J. 2c M IA

Ri her, Charles M . Pvt . ( USMC) USS In dianapolis
Ritc h , Nelson R. GM3c ur\rived: rea signmer1 t
t1nknow11
Roach, Rus ell C. le KIA/ Pt1nc l1bowl ( Q-1 04 )
grave m arked U n known
Robb, Samt1el E . 1c U S Sa n Francisco
Rob rts, Clyde MM U E'riterprise
Robe rts Howard E . (Jr. ) Cox USS Te1i11,essee
Robe 1�ts, Howard G. Lt. Ug) ( M C ) Sub base
Roberts, Nor1nan 0 . Slc Receivi ng tation
Roberts Orvi lle W. S Ic USS Louisville
Rob rtso11 Earl 0. Flc M IA
Rob rt 011 , Joh 11 B . Qr. ) Lt. Co111mander base force
U OKLA HOA11A C RE\1\1 RO TER 209
Na1ne Sta t t 1L
Robert 11 J o e pl1 • 2c MIA

Rob i n o n , Gl n 1 1 H. le US ,Sa 11 Fr·a nri�\CO
Rocl1el E m i l H. B �1 2 c USS Entnprise
Rod i r1 a J o l1 n . o r Receivir1 g· tatio11
Rodrigtlez Ri chard E 1 1 ian C I N C PAC fl ag.
Ro c h , Harold W. l ,c M IA
Roger ' ral t 1� B. Flc M IA
Rol10\1\1 F1,ed M . Cmd1-. M C \!\To 1 J n d e d . Na,1al 11 ospital
Pearl Ha1-bor
Rol1 re1- Rob e 1-t R . S2c USS Wo 1"deri
Roi l a n d H a i-o l d . Slc Receivin g station
Rom a 11 J o h 11 J . Slc USS Patterso 'n
Ro 1nmel H e r-bert F. E r 1 si g11 Sub base
Ro . George v\T. GM2c USS Pcltterson
Ro Ri c h ard P. (J r. ) Capt. ( US M C ) Mari n e barracks
Rot1 e J o eph C . Slc M IA
Ro;1 d e n J a m e H. S2c U S S Hele1i a
R11ff J o h n L . Slc USS Helena
Ru1n ril l Geo1-ge F. S J ,c Rece ivi n g sta t i o n
Rt1 e Ch arle L. Mt1s2c IUA/ P u n c l 1 bowl ( Q-0582)

Ru h H e n ry L. CV\Tf Receivi ng statior1
Rt1 e l l D avid W. (J r� ) Slc U SS Ma h a n
Ru e l l Delbe1�t L . Slc USS No·rtfiampto1i
Russell George E . S21c USS M a lian
Rus e l l , Leroy S. WT2c USS Jarvi
Russe l l , T h o m as H . CMM USS En terprise
Russ o , Fra n c i c o J . Cox U SS Pelia
Ryan E d m u n d T. Y3c M IA
Rybt1rr1 , Robert D . Slc Si g n a l tower, Ford I s l a 11 d
S ab o , Eugene PFC ( U SMC) Mari11e bai-1-ack.'
Sadl owsk i , Rom an W. E M 3c M IA
Salas k i , Art h u r A. SM2c Signal to,,yer, Ford Island
Sal m o n s , C h es t e r R. Slc USS Northampton
Salter, Glen K. PFC U SS Ch ic ago
Sam m is , Lee M . Cox USS A llen
Sam pso n Ke n n e th H . Slc M IA

210 APPEN D I X C
Name Rank Status
Sanda ll, Al be 1�t F. Cox Com 1 4

Sandall, J ol1n A. Slc US Helena
San dbe1�g, Elbert 0. T. Slc USS Northampton
Sanders, Dean S. CMM MIA
Sandl in, Jame E. S2c USS Farragut
Sands, Leslie I\.. Ensign Sub base
Sa11 tos, Miguel S. StM3c USS Saratoga
Sat1er, Andrew P. SM3c USS Blue
Saul, James J. F2c USS Farragut
Saunders, Charles L. S2c M IA
Sa,rage, Lyle J. Slc M IA
Savarese, M ichael J. Slc USS Honolulu
Savich, Stan ley G. Slc USS Louisville
Savidge, John E. Slc M IA
Saylor, Paul E. Flc MIA
Scampori no Joseph A. Slc USS Northampton
Schaid, Charles R. (Jr. ) Mus l c Yard craft
Schauf, Will iam P. S2c USS Honolulu
Schempp , John T. SM l c Signal tower, Ford Isla11 d
Schleiter, Wal ter F. Flc M IA
Scl1 leute1�, James V. Bkr3c Naval a i 1� statio11
Schli nk, Richard A. PhM2c Naval l1osp i tal (duty)
Sch midt, H e rman GM3c M IA
Scl1 m i tt, Aloysius H . Lt. (j g) ChC MIA
Schmitz , Andrew J. Flc M IA
Schoonover, John H . PhM l c M IA
Sch1--einer, Dale R. S2c USS Chester
Schul tz, Clyde I . Slc USS Hull
Schwartz, Robert ] . SKl c Coin 1 4
Schweizer, F1-ederick 0. Ensign Sub base
Scott, A. G. GM3c Receivi ng station
Scott, Be1�nard 0 . StM l c KIA/ Richmond National
Cemetery, l B-5524
Scott, Edward L. RM3c USS Northampton
Scott Fran k H . Slc USS Honolulu
Scott, Harry L. (Jr. ) Slc USS San Francisco
'
US OKLAHONIA C REW R O TER 211
Name Ra11k tatt1
Flc US Blile
I<.2 S Blile
M3c USS Hel11i
PFC ( SMC) Mari 11 ba1-rack
BM l c B ishops Point
Flc Su1\rived : i-ea ignment
t111 known
Sebo H arol d ] . Slc USS Hele1ia
Seder trom Ve1,di D. E 11 sign SC M IA
Seidel Lavvrence S. S2c USS Cliester
Sellers Leslie A . SK2c Receiving station
Sellon Robert C. RM3c USS No1-tliampton
Sellor1 , Willia1n L. S2c M IA
Se' eri n on Evere tt I . Flc KIA/ Punch bowl ( C-063 1 )
Shacklett Che ter G. (Jr. ) Cox USS Wa ters
Shafer William K F2c MIA
Shanahan William J . (Jr. ) SM3c M IA
Shannon Wi lliam W. Slc Naval a i r dispe nsary
Sheldon, Edward ]. FC l c MIA
Sherman, Gerald A. WT2c On leave in States
Sherman Thomas C. CWT USS E1iterp,rise
Sherwin , Sidney A. (J r. ) Ensig11 Sub ba e
Ship man Thurman ] . GM2c USS Ten nessee
Shoemake, Edward C. Slc USS Hull

Shook, Gordon T. Slc USS No1rtlicL rnpton
Short, H o race C. (Jr. ) Slc Naval air dispe nsary
Showalter, Howard A. Slc USS Plielps
Shrader Warren H . Slc USS Cliester
Sidener, Donald L. S2c USS 1.Sctratoga
Silva William G. GM l c KIA/9 1 00 Fore t Law11
Cemetery, Glendale, CA, sec .
I mmortal ity, lot 1 320, grave
2
Simmons, George A. BM2c USS Waters
Simons, Jack W. M us2c Yard c raft

S kaggs, E ugen e M . SM le MIA
212 APP EN DIX C
Na1ne Ra n k Stattis
Skile , Garold L. 2 KIA/ Punch bowl ( C-0623 )

Skin11 er, l{e 11neth E. S2c US Helena
Skjar t, Jalm r H . Flc U .Northampton
Slzo1�zak, Wa lt r A. RM 3c Survived: rea ignment
unknown
Slagter, Artht1r G. MM l c US Chester
Sla pikas, Edward F. Slc Survived: rea signment
u 11known
Sleeter, George F. Y3c Receiving tation
Slt1sher, Raym ond E. S2 c USS Chester
Smith George A. S2c USS Preble
Smith, George B. CY Detailed cast1alty office
Sm i th , George H . (Ji-. ) S2c USS Helena
S1n i th Harry A. Slc Signal tower Ford I land
Sn1 i t h , H e rbert 0 . CBM Com 1 4
Sn1 i th , Joe K Cox USS Ten nessee
Sm i t h , Leonard F. Ms1n t h l c M IA
Smi tl1 , Lester A. Slc USS Ten nessee
S1n i t h , Lester F. F2c USS Salt Lake City
S1n i th , Marion E. Slc USS Chester
Sm i th, Merle A. EM3c M IA
Sm i t h , Merton R. RM3c CINCPAC
Sm ith, Norman E. GM3c USS Helena
Sm i t h , Roland H . Mt1s l c M IA
Smi tl1 , Sa111 t1el D. Flc USS Louisvz:lle
Smitl1 , Virgil CGM M i ne depot, west loch
Sn1ith Wa l ter R. Slc USS Water.
Snyder, Melvin E. S2c USS Helena
Sollie, Wal ter H . WT l c M IA
Solo1non James C. Slc M IA
Son11 tag, William F. Slc USS Hull
Spa ngler, Ma urice V. Slc M IA
Spa rk , Vi c tor T. GM3c USS Benham
Spauldi11g, Al bert B . Cox USS Louisville
Speigh ts, Ellis D . Ass tCk Marin e barracks
Spe11 ce, Arl e1nando J . B M 2c USS Salt Lake City
213
Na1ne Re. i1k t at t t
Sp i1c Geo1-a T. 2c US Hele1'1 a

Sp nc r F1-a11 k R. �1- S Dra11ton
Spencer J 01111 C . E11 i o-11 11b bas
Spitl i- Jo epl1 C . E11 i -11 O M DESFLOT 011 rec .
tat1011
•
Staff V\ralter F. M2 USS Merlu a

Stal lina J an1 E. 2c USS Prit itt
Sta11 dal �1erton 0 . 2c MIA
Sta11ford Ke1111eth E . GM3 USS Helena
Stangle Leo11ard L. le USS l\!fa ryland
Stapleto11 Cl1 ri topl1 e1- G. le USS Malia1i
Stapleto11 Delbert R. FC3c USS Porter
Stapl etor1 Ki r-b)' R. Slc MIA
Stecz I i c hael QM3c USS alt Lake City
Steel U l i C. M M2c MIA
Steen Harold B. S2c USS Helena
Steen Pat1l T. Flc USS Helm
Ste i n \t\ra l ter C. Slc MIA
Steiner amt1el C. Flc MIA
Steinhauer Rt1 ell F. WT l c USS E'n terprise
Stephen Ralph V\T. le Receivi ng tation ( pool ing
office)
Stern Chai-le M. (Jr. ) E11 ig11 M IA
Stevens, C ha1-Ies H . S2c Naval air di pensary

Stewart Everett R. MM2c MIA
Stewart Roy TC l e USS Lou isville
Stien, Clyde V. WT l c USS En terjJrise
Stockdale Lot1is S. En ign M IA
Stott, Donald A. Slc M IA
Stot1t Robert T. FC2c M IA
Sto11ten Jame CBM KIA/ Nut1ant1 Cemet ry ec
1 3, 235/ 1 1 4
Stover William T. Sl c USS PlieljJ
Stowell, Finch FC3c USS Milgfor·d
Stretch James A. F2c USS Lou isville
Strong, Raymond ]. Slc USS Helen a
-. APPE N D I X C
214
Nam Ra n k Status
St1�t1 thers, Win field L. BM l e Bish ops Poi n t

Stuart, Len t1 L. Slc U S Northampton
St1e Ernest Flc USS Helena
St1mrall, Woodrow I . GM3c Survived: reassign m e n t
un known
St1rlet, Herbert W. Slc USS Blue
St1rratt, Milton R. Slc M IA
Sutton , V. E. APC l k Supply dept. navy yard
Swai11 , J . T. S2c USS Helena
Swain, Lindsay R. Slc Sub base ( fleet mac h i n e gun
school )
Swain, Ray B. Cox Survived: reassign m e n t
unknown
Swanson , Charles H . MM l c M IA
Swiderski, Stanl ey J. Prtr l c CINCPAC flag allowance
(Temporarily based on U SS
A rgon ne)
Szewerenko, Joseph V. Slc USS Chester
Szymanski, Aloysius L. Slc USS Henley
Tajalle, Vincent S. Mat2c USS Detroit
Talbert, Edward E. Slc M IA
Ta 11 ner, Rangne1� F. (Jr. ) S2c M IA
Tarbett, Ray L. Slc USS Phelps
Tarlton, Dennis C. SC3c USS Saratoga
Tate , Daniel B. SC2c Yard craft off. , NYD1
Tato, Jo h n C. CCStd Com 1 4 (yard cafeteria)
Taylor, Charles R. PFC ( USMC) M IA
Taylor, James E. S2c USS Louisville
Taylor, Murphy L. CFC USS Chester
Temple, Mo11 roe Slc M IA
Te1n ples, Houston Slc M IA
Templeton , Louis C. BM l c Bish ops Poi n t
Tener Lewis E. Slc USS Cony ngham
Ten gwa l l , Gordon E. Slc USS Louisville
Tenorio, Gregorio S. Ma t2c USS Cummings
Terh une, Berija1n i n C . F2c M IA
U S OKLAHOMA C R E W RO TER 215
Name Ra11 k Status
Teske , Owen H . Slc USS .Lou isville

Tessme1�, I nr i n G. le M IA
Thatcl1e1� George J . Slc USS Te'n,nessee
Tl1esmar1 I rv�n H . EM l e Rec eiving station
Thinne Arthur R. S2c MIA
Thon1as C. S2c Receiving statio11
Thoma Donald H . Slc USS Louisville
Thomas John R. Cox USS Enterprise
Thomas William S. Slc Fleet macl1ine gun school
Thoma William Sta11 l e SF l e USS Meditsa
Thompson Charles W Flc M IA
Tl1omp on Clare11ce SC l e MIA
Tl1 ompson Frank E . RM2c Su1'Vived: reassign ment
unknown
Thomp o n George A. S2c MIA
Thompson I rvi11 A. R. E 11 sign M IA
Thompson, William M . E nsign SC M IA
Thomson Ric hard ] . S2c M IA
Thornton Cecil H . S2c MIA
Thrombley, Robert L. S2c KIA/ Pur1chbowl ( P-0935)
Tidball , D avid F. Slc MIA
Tillman , Rogers L. EM2c Survived: reassignment
unknown
Tim m , Jack G. S2c USS Lou isville
Tim m , Lloyd R. S2c M IA
Ti1nmons, Glen ] . Slc USS Worden
Tindall, Lewis F. Flc M IA

Tini, Dante S. RM3c M IA
Tipton , H e n ry G. Slc MIA
Titterington, Eve1�e tt C. Flc MIA
Todd, Neal K. Flc M IA
Todd, Wesley R. Flc USS Blue
Tom h ave , Beatus C. GM3c M IA
To1n linson, John W. S2c Sub base fleet schoo l
Torres, J uan Santos Mat2c MIA
Torti, Natale I. Slc M IA
2 16 �
A PP E DI
Na111 Ra 1 1 k tatLl
Tow11 i1d D i1ald . 0 0111 14
T1�ag r, Ed,Na 1'd BM l e R c ivi n g · tation

T1-an1111 1 1 Ro b i�t L. 2 � Preble
T1-a1 1 lJarg i-, Orval A. 1 M IA
T1,ap p , Har·ol l F. F �2 MIA
T1-app Wi l l ia111 H . E 1 3c M IA
Tread,vay, Sl1 ll)y G M 3c M lA
T1-o u d a l e , J s E. Slc Worden

T1,t1op Clai1- M. F 2c U Jarvi
Tt1 c k e r W i l l ia1n D.
, Fl c M IA
Tt1 m l i11 i n , Victor P. FC3c M IA
Turner B i l ly Slc M IA
Tt irner Ra1non L. Slc US Loui v1;/le

Ttirpi n R aym o 11 d J . Pvt. ( USMC) M a r i n e ba1-rack
Tt1shla, Lot1i J . Flc M IA
Ufford Rt1 e l l 0. S2c 1 IA
U h rd a h l , My1-0 11 Flc U Cheste1·

U1 1 pi ngc o Vi11ce11 te M .
, StM2c U lVhitnty
Val e n t i n e At1bre J . Slc U Helena
Va l e 11 ti 11e Robert K. Flc M IA
Val ley, Lowe l l E. F2c M IA

Va11 Ca r l E .
Al t i n e P\rt. ( US11C) Cliicago
Va11 Cam peleare A t 1 g t1 t L. S2c Clie te1·
Van Derh e i c l , Charl W. S2c U LoiLi ville
Va11 Ne , Ea 1-I E . WT2c U Jan.Ji
Va 11 Slyke, G. L. Ch E l e c . M IA
Va t1gh n , M l \r i 11 L . S2c U HiLll

Ve 11ckeleer Theodor F. GM l c U Blue
Vezey, Edwa 1-cl E . (Jr. ) Er1 i g11 We t l oc h
Vicker V. T. MM l e U 1\1a1�vla n d
,
Vi ck re)', Wa)'11 S. SF2 a\ral air t t i o 11 ( aviat i o n
unit)
Vidito Ra11111011d C. Slc S i g n al tO\i\Ter Fo rd I l a n d
Vi l l ago1nez Pride n c i o U . Mat2c Naval a i 1- d i pe11sary
Vol kn1an , Robert B . Slc USS Maha1i
Vol l n1 e 1-, Wa l te1- G M 3c USS Blile
2 17
Na1ne t at u
Vo11dale Ear·l H . 1 Hel11i

V\7ade Dt11-r 11 M IA
'l\Tag11er L 011a1-d K.
v\Tagor1e1� Lotli L . MIA
W kema11 J o ph . le U S Lotti ville
Wal ker H ar-1 E. I le MIA
V\ alker R b r-t E . 2 USS Helena
V\7alker V\7akefield J . ox USS E11te1pri e
V\ alker V\ri l lia111 M . BM2c USS E,nterpri e
V \ alko,,iak , Ro be rt J. F3c l1t'Vived : i-eassign me11 t
L1nknowi1
,.\"'a l lace Ed''rar-d F. p,rt. ( SMC) Mari11e ba1-rack
v\7allen an1 t1el E . Sl c USS San Francisco
\!\ al pole E t1ge11e A. S2c KIA/ Punch bowl ( M- 1 1 77 )
V\ralpole Ra 1111ond 0 . Slc USS Hon olul1l
Wal ters 11arle E . S2c M IA
Walters El1ner • Slc USS Mon tgomery
Ward H o1ne1- D. S2c USS Louisville
Ward Jame R. Slc M IA
Ward V\ ill iam E. (Jr. ) 2c USS Chester
Wa1�e David A . CMM USS Salt Lake City
Warner Fred M. FC l c USS Jarvi
V\Ta ham V\i illiam M . BM2c USS Cliester
Wasie lew ki, Edward Slc M IA
Waters, V\rilliam '1\7• Slc USS Helena
Wat on Ol iver L SK3c USS Chester
Watson Richard L. Slc MIA
Waugh , At-lo E. S2c USS Lou i ville
Wears Leo G. Sgt. ( USMC) Mari11 e barrack
Wea r y oel 0 . F2c We t loch
Webb, Fra n k W. Slc Receivi n g tation
Webb James C. Flc MIA
Webb Wilbur B. ARM2c aval air tatio11 (a\riation
t1nit)
Weber, Bernard L. Cox USS Northa mpton
Weddingto n, Eugene F. Slc USS Phelps
218 � APPE N D IX C
Name Rank Status
Weidling,John F. Ensign We t loch

Weier, Oth man ] . S2c USS Helenct
We issman, Daniel Slc U S Tucker
Welch, Wi lliam E. Slc KIA/ Punchbowl ( Q- 1 77 or
P- 1 003 ) , Grave marked
Un known
Wells, Alfred F. MMlc M IA
Wells, H oward R. SF3c USS Selfridge
Werteen, Edwi r1 L. Slc USS San Francisco
We ry, Ke nneth F. Slc USS Chester
West, Arc hie C. SC l c USS Blue
West, Ernest R. Slc M IA
West, Gordon E. S2c USS Honolulu
West, Robert D . M us l c Yard c raft
Westfall, D . L. PC l k Survived: reassign ment
unknown
Whalley, Jam es R. Slc Receiving sta tion
Whatley, John R. (Jr. ) Flc USS Schley
Wheeler, John D . F2c M IA
Whisenand, Gerald F. S2c USS Helena
Whi te, Claude CWT M IA
Wh ite, Jack D . Slc M IA
Wh itefo rd, Allan P. Slc USS Blue
Wh itman, Richard F. GM2c USS Helena
Whi tson, Alton W. EM3c M IA
Wick, James F. Cox USS Blue
Wi cker, Eugene W. Slc M IA
Wickstra11d, Eugene V. Pvt. ( USMC) USS Cliicago
Wi dener, Floyd N . Qr. ) Slc USS Louisville
Wiegand , Lloyd P. M us2c M IA
Wilcox, Geo rge J. (Jr. ) S2c M IA
Wilcox, Mayland H . Flc USS Louisville
Wiley, Norman E . Slc Survived : reassign ment
unknown
Wilkerson , Cha1�1es W. Slc Receivi ng station
Wi llett, Deava G. Slc USS Blue
•
U S S OKLAHOi\!JA C REW R O S T E R 219
Name Rar1k ta tu
Willey Paul E . S2c USS Louisville

Williams Albert L. M t1 2 MIA
Will iam s Edw ard C. GM3c USS Cum1ni1igs
Williams I ra (Jr. ) le USS Louisville
Wil liams J . R. Slc USS Tennessee
Williams J a1nes C. Slc M IA
v\Til lia1n Les ter J . SM l e USS Enterprise
Williams- Wilb11r S. OS2c M IA
Will iamson Ro71 F. S2c USS San Francisco
Wil o n Do le L . EM3c USS Hull
\!\Tilson M . N . Flc Receiving station
Win1 n1 e John A . Slc M IA
Win1 mer Bernard R. FC l c M IA
Wir1ders, Louis M . Slc USS Oklahoma post office
Windle E e 1-ett G. S2c M IA
Winfield, Starring B. RM3c M IA
Win ters, D oyle E . Sl c USS Louisville
Wise Rex E . Flc M IA
Wittenburg, Arlen ] . Slc USS Tennessee
Witt1nan, Jacob P. S2c Sub base fleet school
Wood, Frank S2c M IA
Wood, Lester R. QM l e USS Honolulu
Woodford, Frank E . S2c USS Chester
Woods, Lawre nce E. Flc M IA
Woods, William F. Slc West loch
Woods, Winfred 0. MMle Died December 9,
1 94 1 / Punchbowl ( C-030 1 )
Woodward, Theodore G. Slc USS Waters
Woollum, Henry L. Slc USS Phelps
Workman , Creighton H . Slc M IA
Wortham , John L . GM2c M IA
Wosick, Raymond L. Slc USS �Saratoga
Wozn iak, Frank Slc USS Chester
Wright, Kenneth W. SF3c USS Pelias
Wright, Paul R. cwr M IA
Wrobel, Joseph Slc USS Chester
220 APPEND I
n1 L tu
Wy111an, Eldo11 P. En. ign M IA

Wyn koop, Jo epJ1 B. RM 3c Bi hop , Poi n t
Wy1�i k 1Clifton W. M u. 2c L1 rvived : r a ignme11t
t1 11known
Ya 11 a1n H . C�MM Enterpri e
Ya11d 1 1 , Ca1�1 V. 2c Worden
Ya nkavic h , Edward J . F3c U chley
Ya1�11all William K En ig11 U Pollack
Ygnacio,. Marcelo Mu le Receivi ng tation
Young, Martin D . Slc M IA
You11g, Raiford 0 . Slc U Tenne ee
You11g, Robe rt V. Slc M IA
Yot111g, Stephen B. Slc U S Honolitlu
Yt1rko Joseph ] . WT l c KIA/Pu nc hbowl ( C-0 1 06)
Zahradka, Joseph (Jr. ) EM 3c Survived: reassign ment
t1n k11own
Ziemke, Edison S2c USS Citrri1nings
Ziner, Willia1n RM3c USS Bl1te
Zony, John J . RM3c U Bl 1le
Zulawnick, Stanley W. BM l e Receivi ng tation
Zvan ki, Th omas CSM M IA
APPE N D I X D
Ships N am e d for
USS Oklahoma Crewm e n
S A usti11 D E- 1 Chief Carpe nte1·John A . Austin

USS Seder. t1,.01rz D E-3 1 En i gn Ve rdi D. Sede rstrom
USS Wy 1n a 1i D E-3 E n ign Eldor1 P. Wyman
USS Flaliert)' D E- 1 35 E n ign Franci C. Fl ahe rty
USS Barbe1 D E- 1 6 1 Firemen First Class Leroy K. a11d
Malcolm J . Barber and Fireman Second
Cla Randolph H . Barber
USS Stern D E-1 7 E n ign Charle M . Stern , J r.
USS Jorda n D E-204 Liet1te n an t J ulian B . J ordon
U SS Darby D E-2 1 8 E nsign Marshall E. Darby, J r.
USS Day D E-225 Chief Waterte nder Franci D . Day
USS Fi1? nega n D E-307 E nsign William M . Fi 11 negan
USS Pride D E-323 Ensign Lewis B. Pri de, J r.
USS Stockdale D E-399 E n ign Louis S. Stoc kdale
USS Sch mitt D E-676 Lie utenan t U · g. ) Aloysiu H . Sch m i tt
22 1
•
•
Notes
CHAPTER 1 . OKLA HOMA' S GENESIS
1 . A n 1i ual Report of tlie avy Depart1nen t for tlie Fiscal Year 1 91 6; Hone and
F1-iedman I n 11ovation and Admir1i tration in the Navy Departm ent.''
2. Barto11 and Stickne aval Reciprocating Engines and A uxiliary Machinery;
Depa1�tm e11t of Mari r1e Enginee ring Naval Macliiner)r Friedma n, U S.
Battle hips· U.S. Departme nt of the Navy, Sliips ' Data; Office of the Chief of
a\lal Ope1-a tion , Crr1i i11g Radii of U . S. Naval Vessels."
3. Hone "The Evolution of Fl eet Tactical Doctrine."
C HAP TER 2 . LIFE ON THE OKLAHOMA
1 . Annual Reports of the avy Department for the Fiscal Year 1 926, p. 29.
2. A nnual Reports of the Navy Department for the Fiscal Yea'r 1 926.
3. Our 1 avy I O no. 8 ( December 1 9 1 6 ) : 46.
4. Our Navy 29, no. 1 1 (October 1 , 1 935 ) : 1 0 .
5. Ibid.
6. A ?inual Reports) 1 926, p. 29.
7. Annual Reports of the Navy Department for the Fiscal Year 1 932) p . 333.
8. See the following issues of Our Navy) a magazine pt1bli hed by Ot1r Navy
Publishing Company of New York and San Francisco: December 1 9 1 6; April
1 9 1 7; April 1 9 1 8 (for food served aboard ship, pay scales, and athletics) ; mid
April 1 922; mid-September 1 933; July I , 1 935 ( Iron Man standings) ; October
1 , 1 935 (a critical review of fleet athletic competi tions) ; mid-October 1 935; mid
November 1 935; mid-December 1 935; 1nidJt1ne 1 936 ( everal photographs of
Oklahoma) ; September 1 , 1 936; mid-September 1 936 (coverage of Oklahoma's
deployment off the coast of Spain) , December 1 , 1 936; and mid-December 1 937.
C HAPTER 3 . OKLAHOMA's First Mission
1 . The five other Oklahoma crewmen who s uccumbed to tl1e flu virus were
Fireman Third Class B . Woody, Private Charles L. Nelson ( USMC) Seaman
223
2�4 OTE 1:.0 PA E 2 -3 5
co11d l<tss C . Loga do11, Fi r i11an Th i rd Cla J . R. D ttlaff and Gun n r's
Mat T11 i 1'd �la Fr cl B. ati n .
CHAPTER 4. T H E GREAT R U I E A D M O D E R I ZAT IO
1 . Tl1e treaty al , o s1Jawi1ed everal air r'aft carrier . The U.S. would gai11 the
rvic of t l1e Le i1igtort a11d tl1 .Sarrttoga, laid down as battle c rui r hull but
conver ted to airc1�aft arrier a a i�e tilt of the treaty and Japan wotild gain the
Ak,agi and tl1e Kagci. Origina lly a battlesh ip de tined for the crap pile, the Kaga
w re urr ted wh i1 the A m c1gi the battle cn1i er original ly lated for con
v r ion , wa wrecked during th Tokyo earthqt1ak e of l 923. The Akagi ,!Vas c m
n1i sioned on Ma1�ch 25, 1 927. I n 1 929 Captai n I oruku Yamamoto became
Akagi ' new kipper. Twelve year later Admiral Yamamoto would conceive the
attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 7 1 94 1 planes from the Akagi and Kaga
would spearhead the torpedo assault on Battleship Row.
2. The treaty was heralded worldwide a a diplomatic coup b}1 the U.S. State
Depart1nent. Spec ial acclaim was given to Secretary H t1ghes ai1d hi eem
ingly t1n ca1111y skills in the h igh-stake game of diplomatic poker. U nde11iably
brilliant, H t1ghe had been armed wi th i 11 igh t· tl1eJapa11 e e diplomatic code
had been b1�oken j ust weeks before the conference by American c ryp tologist
Herber t 0. Yardley. Knowing that the J apane e go,1er11 m e n t fa,1ored di ar
n1amen t for economic rea on , and wot1ld e'1e11tt1al l)' capitulate to the di -
proportionate 5 : 5 : 3 ratio, H t1ghes held fi rm for thirty-ni11e days er1duri n g the
ridict1le of tl1e pre for hi i11ability to compro1ni e vvl1ile the Japanese del
egation mane11verecl to up th ratio to placate the de1na11d ofJ apan s rr1ili-
.
tar1sts.
3. John McCain J i-. , 'vas commander i n cl1ief of U . S. forces i 11 the Pacific
dt1ring the height of the Viet na1n War ( 1 96 - 1 972 ) . H i o n J ol1 n Sidr1 ey
McCair1 I I I became a POW i11 October 1 967 e11dt11i 11g six year of captivity.
He i curren tly a U .S. senato1- fro1n Arizona. Vice Ad111i ral Jol1n Sid11 ey
McCain Sr. was aboard the U S Mi O'Uri duri11 g the Japa11ese t1rre11 der o n
S ptembe r 2 1 945 . Four day later, he d ied of a hea1-t attack at the family
ho1ne 011 Coronado I land, Califor11ia. H e wa prom oted to the ran k of ad1ni-
1--al postht1 mously. 1 11 1 974, J a111es L. Holloway, Jr. and James L. Holloway I I I
became th econd pair of father- on adm i ral i n the U . S. Navy.
CHAPTER 5 . EART H QU AKE S, REFUGEES AND WAR
1 . I n a tor1n two of the Macon' fi 11 were shattered sendir1g shard of

i11etal throt1gh the rear gas cell , cau ing the 785-foot-long airship to desce11d .
..
N OT E S TO PA E 3 h-h 4 225
Tvvo of 11 r igl1 t)1-t l1 1' e i, 'm 1 1 i11 b i, '"rot1ld p i-i 11: 11 111a1 1 j tlm pi11g to hi
dea tl1 a tl1 ( i 1- h i p '''a'" o� i 11g do'''11 · i1 tl1 i� d1�0,1v 11i11g wl1i ] l1e a t t mpt d
to r n t 1, tl1 floa ti i1 o- 'vr kag t I, t1-i '' 11i -- bel i1gi 11g .
2. I<. i1,¥o rtl1 r b a111 the l1 ip ' l ti11g on111 1a11d r wh 11 Captain H oward
D . Bod '' 11t a 11 1, appr xi111a t 1)1 thi 1-t)1 111 i 11t1t prior to tl1e Japa11 e
atta k.
. 1 1-t l1 ga,Te bi1-tl1 t o a11 ther 11 011 At1g1 J t 1 3, 1 936. Tl1at 011 Jol1n
L. Odorn , do11a ted tl1e flag to t l1 e Oklal 1on1a H i to1-ica l Socie ty on Nove mber
1 7 2005 .
C HAPTER 6. CO U TD OWN TO PEARL HARB OR
4. From a general pe1- pective the move wo uld prove to be warranted when
Germa11 t1b1nari11e attacked U.S. destroyer i n fall 1 941 . Greer st1rvived a
submarine attack off Iceland i 11 Septembe1-; Kearny was badly damaged, with
1 1 ailor killed on October 1 6 ; and Reuben ]a mes was sunk on October 29,
\\rith 1 1 5 k i lled including all her officer .
5 . I n te rm of p hy ical appearance, the battleships could be divided into
two di tinct group : tho e wi th cage masts and tho e with tri pod ma ts. The
ship with tripod m asts were the fot1r olde t: Nevada Oklahoma Pe1in ylvan ia,
and Arizona.J ti t as the Oklaho1nct wa identical to the Nevadct, Arizona was iden
tical to the Pe11 nsylvcl11ia. Of the cage ma t battle h i p Californ irt and Tenne see
were isters a were the Colora do We t Virgin ia, and Maryland. Tl1e cage mast
battleship were commonly known a tl1e Big Five.
6. Prange At Dazv1i We Slept 1 59.
7. Kimmel Admir·al Kim mel ' Story, 20.
8. Admi ral Kimmel di c u ed the intercept at le11gth in hi inemoirs: " I 11
the vol u m e of i n tercepted Japane e dispatches . . . about m i l i tary instal la
tion and n aval move1nen ts the d ispatche concer�ni ng Pearl Harbo1�, on and
after Septem ber 24, 1 94 1 , s tand ot1t . . . . No otl1er harbor or ba e in America 11
terri tory o r possess ions was di,rided i n to st1b-areas by Japan . In no o ther area
was theJap ane e govern ment eeki11 g inform ation a to wheth er two or more
vessel s were along ide the same wharf. . . . In the period imme diately pre
cedin g the attack the Jap consu l general i n Hawai i was directed by Tokyo to
repor t even '"'hen there were no move men ts of sh ips i n and out of Pearl
Harbo r. These Japan ese i nstruc tions and reports poi nted to an attack byJapa11
226 N OT � TO PA GES 5 5 -5 8
upo 11 the ship i11 P arl Har bor. . . . Kn wl dge of thes e in terc epte d J apa nese
di patc he wou ld hav radic ally hang d the tim ate of the i tua tion ma de
by rn and my taff. I t wou ld hav ugge l d a re-o rie n tatio n of our plan ned
ope ratio ns at the out t of hosti li ties . . . . Kno wled ge of a prob able J apa ne e
atta k on Pear l Har bor wou ld have affo rded a11 opp ortu nity to amb u h the
Japa 11ese stri king force as i t ven tt1re d to H awai i . " Admiral Kimmel ' ,)tor)J, 86-
88.
9. Fewer tl1an two hours after Arizona berthed alongside the 1 0 1 0 dock, a
divi ng party inspected her damage. The V-shaped 11 ole was fou r fee t wide
and approximate ly twelve feet long. Were it not for Oklahoma rec ip rocating
engines, which could go from full forward to full rever e m uc h fa ter than
t11rbine e ngi 11es, the damage would l i kely have been m uch more severe.
Oklalioma was the only Pacific Fleet battle hip with reci procating engi nes.
10. Though no longer in command of the Oklahoma, Foy i1ever forgot the
men. Following the Japanese attack, Foy and h is wife drove around the base
in their convertible, distributing assorted foods and toi letrie to m embers of
h is former crew. Neither Foy nor any of his men were found gi.1ilty of mi -
co11duct during the coll ision with Arizona on October 22. J.A.G. B B39/Al 7-
24 ( 4 1 1 1 1 9 ) .
1 1 . Named after Seth Porte1- Ford, wl10 assumed ownership i n 1 886, Ford
Island was appropriated by tl1e army in 1 9 1 7 , when the United Sta tes entered
World War I . An army airfield constructed on the no1-th,ve t ide of the island
was subsequently named Luke Field i n ho11or of Lieu te11ant Frank Luke , Jr. ,
a World War I aviator who was posthumously awarded the Congressional
Medal of H o11or. I n 1 923 a naval air station was commis io11ed on the island
sotitheastern side. ThoL1gh the island wot1ld increase i 11 size tl1 rough the
placement of fill material , the contint1ed expansion of both the army and
the navy facilities would eve11tL1ally ot1tstrip its new peri1neter. I n 1 939, the
army moved i ts fac i lities to Wheeler and Hickam Fields, and the island
became the domai11 of tl1e navy.
1 2. U n til 1 94 1 , battleships en tering Pearl Harbor wo uld sail d i 1-ectly u p
the main channel to Battleship Row because the waterwa)' on the northwest
side of Ford Island wasn't deep enough to allow for their passage . The bat
tleships would stop with their port side facing the qt1ays a11 d would then be
rotated 1 80 degrees by harbor tl1gs so that their bows were pointed toward
tl1 e inouth of the harbor allowi 11 g for a quick exit. The process was called
"winding ship." Once dredgi ng ope ration were completed on the northwest
side of the island, the battleshi ps c i rcled Ford Island so that their bows were
already exit orie11 ted when they were pushed alo ngside the quays.
1 3. En try in Oklahoma deck lo,g, October 26, 1 94 1 .
N O TES TO PA G E S 5 9- 7 5 227
1 4. Sea ma1 1 Fir t la Cl1a rl Elija l1 wi 11 r '\A/ t1ld die on Dec mbe 1� 7,
1 94 1 .
1 5 . Fire1na11 Fir t la Leo1 1a1�d R. Gell r w tild di on Dec 1nbe r 7 1 94 1 .
Fol lovvi ng th attac k Be11t l ' V\r r·ote a horribl1 ' lette 1, to Gell er s siste r, infor m
ing her of l1e1� l o .
C HAPTER 7 . A QU I ET SUN DAY M O RN I NG
1 . E·nte?pri e wa r tu r11ing f1�01n Wake Island ; Lexi1igton was en route to

M id,,,a r; a11d aratoga \ a app1�oachi11g San Diego.
2 . one of the Japane e midgets would st1rvive the attack.
C HAPTER 8. DAM N THE TORPEDOES
1. erie of article in aval History magazine ( December 1 999,June 2000,

December 2000 ) clain1 that an additional torpedo was launched at Oklahoma
by Japane e inidget t1b1narine I- 1 6tou. The supposition is con troversial and
lacks the t1pport of n1any Pearl Harbor h istorians.
2 . I t is i m po ible to determin e the exac t number of torpedoes that struck
Oklahoma. The al,1age report ( " Industrial Drafting Room Report'' ) prepared
after the ship was rai ed and m oved to dry dock s tated eight. H owever, some
torpedoe ma have s t1uck in the same area, allowing the possibility for more.
Probably the m ost accurate accoun ting of aerial torpedo launches was pre
sen ted by Pearl Harbor historian David Aiken in "Torpe,doi11g Pearl Harbor,"
the main reference for this text. Ai ken 's article is based on his interview with
Lt. Heita Matst1mura a torpedo-plane pilot who remained over Pearl Harbor
dl.1ri n g m ost of the torpedo assaul t on Battleship Row. The article chroni
cles eleven aerial launches on the Oklahoma: six from Akagi planes, two from
Hiryu planes, and tl1 ree from Kaga plane . If i ndeed a midget submari ne
also launched on Oklahoma) then a possible twelve were launched. I t is highly
p robable that at lea t one can be di coun ted the plane S l c john A. Cole
Jr. , saw flyi ng over the Oklahoma with i ts torpedo still attached (see cl1apter
9 ) . The plane could h ave returned fo r a second launching atte1n p t bt1t it is
dotibtfu l that i t would h ave targeted Oklahoma again. There is also a report
of a torpedo seen passing beh ind the stern of the Maryland ( Scott, "A Star
for Eac h , " 1 04) . Thi wot1ld bring the total number of possible h i t to te n.
Assuming that the preceding launching i11 formation is correct, then either
two h i ts wen t unde tec ted in the salvage report or two torpedoes are still at
the bottom of Pearl H arbor. A detailed analysis prese n ted by John D . Virgilio
22
in his tec hni �al 1- p i-t 'Jap<= 11 . Thun d rfi h " h ronic ] n i n h i t . The
Japa 11 e lai111 ed tw Iv .
3. A 1rizona st1ffered 1 , 1 77 ca ual ties, Ol� lrJ,homa 429, and Nroada 5 7 . The com-
bi11ed ca t1alti of tl1 Bat D iv i1 battl h i p ( 1 ,663 ) thL1 · acc ounte d for 7 1
p re 11t of th total . . m i l i tary asualt i ( 2 , 340 ) .
HAPTE R 9. TO P I D E 7:55 A. 1.
1 . The exact cause of the expl osion that de troyed A rizona i t1nknown .
Tl1ot1gh it ha been t111iversa l ly peculate d that the magn itude of the bla t
wa dt1e to fi res that ignited her forward powder m agazi 11e it i unclear
whether tl1e fires were caused by a delayed detonatio n of the bomb that
Goodyear wi tnessed, or by an armor-pie rcing bomb that hit later on the tar
board side of turret 2 .
2. Whe n ordered off the Maryland, Goodyear and everal other Oklahoma
signalmen '"'e11 t ashore to Ford I land. Rtinning i 11 to E n ign Paul Back11 ,
their divisio11 officer, they were i nstrt1cted to tra11 fe r dependents from the
ch ief's housing to the bac helor officer ' quarters ( BOQ) . Afte1- fi 11ding a
truck they transported several familie then dro,Te to the eapla11e hangar
at the southwest end of the island. Despite the wreckage and commotion they
obtai11ed rifles and an unasse1nbled .30-caliber 111achine gun . The took off
drivi 11g wi thout a real destination finally ending up i 11 front of a laundry.
.
Seeing that it had bee 11 broken i nto, they went i n ide and exchanged their
wet, oily sean1an 's garb for fre h clothi11g. They pe11 t the night i 1npl ' 'van
dering aro1111d. Becau e they had no iden tificatio11 tl1e11 were ref11 ed adm it
tance to the mess hall. Fortunately, they were able to obtain blar1ke ts from
the BOQ. The next day one of them remember d a twe11ty-dolla1- bill that
he'd left in hi pants at the lat1nd0r. Becau e no11 of them had m o11ey they
we1�e anxi ous to retri eve it so that they could buy t1pplie to write tl1eir par
ents. By the time they rett11-11ed, 11 o'"'eve1' a ma1-i 11e e n t1 had been posted.
W11il two of them di tracted 11im tl1 othe1- vv i1t i 11side. Fortunate ly, the
money was still there. To cor1 rve it, they wrote a letter to one set of pare n ts,
instrt1cting tl1em to contact the other . They tl1en p roceede d to the Ford
I la11d fire station, wh re they e tablishe d a rudin1 i1tary signal tower. Because
one of the sig11alm e11 l1ad bee11 i n the army, he was tasked to assemb le the
inachine gt1n. When he was fini hed l1e loaded i t a11d fi red a quick burst
receiv i ng an immed iate respon e from a host of trigge r-happy gunne rs
arot1nd tl1e harbo r. Later the igr1alm en h eard tl1at surviv ors fro1n the
Califo mia we1-e being admi tted to the me hall using cards with USS California
wri tte n or1 the1n as their only identificati o n . The signalmen mar1 ufactured
N OTES TO PA G E - 1 03 229
facsi 1nile a 11 d wer fi nall 1 abl t at. Tl1 ' wo11 ld lat 1� tak turn .. impe r-
011 atin g a11 ffi er to re ei,1e ar111 d good offlo ad d from the California,
wl1 i c h "''a itti11 g o n tl1 botto 111 of the 11arb o1-. B au the labeling had
peel d off tl1e)· n \·e1� ki1 "\!\' ,,r}1at tl1e d be eatin g 11ntil tl1e lids had bee n
rem o\"ed. Good ·ea1�' fi r t 110,,re r after� the attack '"'ot1ld be aboard the
I11 dianapolis 011 De i11b r 1 5. H e \iVould i-e1nai n at the signal tower on the
Ford I la11d fi 1- tatio11 t111til pril 1 942.
3 . T' o da;1 later Col \!\Ta a ig11ed to the light cruiser USS Hele1ia. He
' 011ld be aboard 11 e1- \\·hen he \Va t1nk dt1 1ing a i1ight urface battle i n the
l{t1la Gulf� Solon1011 I la11d Jul;1 5 1 943. Cole tirvived, retiring from the navy
a a liet1tenant con1mander.
C HAP TER 1 0 . C HAOS BELOW
1 . Val.1ghn ''ra late1- strafed 'vhile driving a pickup filled with wounded to
the Ford I land di pe11sary. Later in the day, a mari11e ordered him to carry
,a box of . 30-caliber a1nmunition up to the roof. After depositing it Vaugh n
\Vas gi\1en a rifle . Returni11g to ground leve l l1e saw a l ow-flying pla11e com
ing in on a trafing run . H e rai ed h is gun to fire, as did six or se\'en others.
Sudde11ly tl1e helmet h e 'l\Tas ¥\rearing snapped down over his face, struck by
a bt1llet from tl1e man behind him , whose rifle had discharged pre111 aturely.
2 . E n ign Lewis Bailey Pride J r. \Vas killed on December 7, 1 94 1 . Tl1e
des troyer- e co rt USS Pride was named in his honor.
3 . Richmond \vould spend eight month recuperating in a navy hospital .
I t wa a difficult period arid his o n ly salvation was his drawi ng. Every nigh t
when the vvard had quieted do\vn a n urse \Vould come sit with l1i m a11 d he'd
ketch her portrait. Wor-d spread quickly, and before long most of the staff
h ad a Ra Richmo11d o riginal. His physician would prove to be his greatest
admirer and as i t turned ot1t his greatest benefactor. Under the guise of reha
bilitation the doctor arranged for Richmon d to be transferr ed to the navy
recn1iti ng office in e\/\/ York City. There h e would find his life's wo1-k as a
c o mmerc ial a1-tist. Richmo nd s ketches would appear on cot1n tless navy
recruit ing poster s. The sketch for \iVhich he would receive the most acclaim
was of a bee toting a machi ne gun , monke y wrenc h, ancl ha1nm er, conce ived
a n d drafte d for the aVJ' s constructio n battal ion. I t not only becam e the
unit s logo i t also beca 1ne the basis for the b1atta lion ' n ame: the Seabees.
When the Oklahoma was raised in 1 943 the navy sen t Richmond the con
tents of his locker: his wallet, a coin purse a kn ife his father had owned, and
his razor. The conte n ts had bee11 identified tl1 1-ough a ban k deposi t slip in
his wallet. The o n ly th ing that was ruin ed Y\ras the rubber mouthpiece he'd
230 NOTE TO PA G E i o7- 1 25
tl d for boxin g at Friday nigh t moke r . Every th ing wa e n t to New Yor·k in

a big wood en box. The fr ight co t h i m a fortu ne. Later, the Gille tte
Comp any offere d h i m a tidy su1n for the razor, which Richm ond declin ed.
He till has it.
4. Lester and Wa ham would di cu the eve n t ome forty years later when
tl1ey ran into each other at a bank in San Diego. As i t tt1rned out, they had
be 11 livi ng wi thin a half-mil of each other for year .
5 . Like many sailor , Don Lester had a tattoo, a beau tiful girl who hap
pened to be nude. When Foy discover ed i t during an i n pecti o n , he ordered
Le ter to clean i t up. When Foy aw i t next, i t wa a mermaid or at least half
a mermaid. Because Lester didn t have the fl-1nd for a full- cale revi ion only
a tail had been added to the origi11al. Foy gri nned and moved o n , endeari n g
himself to the young sailor forever. When Lester di covered that the captain '
favori te alcoholic beverage wa Calvert's Special, he started drin king i t him
self. He still does.
6. French was at the Ford Island dispensary whe n a bomb landed i n the
patio area. Though the impact shook the entire bt1ildi ng, the bomb didn 't
explode. I t was discovered later; buried beneath a slab of concre te.
7. Ensign Flaherty's Medal of Honor c i tation i prese n ted in appendix B.
The destroyer escort USS Flaherty was 11amed i n his h onor.
CHAPTER 1 1 . TWE LVE-INCH PORTHOLES
1 . Seaman First Class Robe rt V. Yot1ng h ad been e 11 t forward to hoist the

Union Jack just mo1n e n ts befo re the attack bega n . The cause of his mortal
wound was never discerned.
2 . After divi ng off the port side of the ship, Signalman Third Class Andrew
P. Sauer was caugh t in a whirl pool as the ship tt1r11ed over. Fortunately, h e
was able to grab hold of a swi 1-ling board that was stuck between two navy
cork life rings.
3 . Lieutenant U · g. ) A1oysit1s H . Schmi tt, ChiefWatertender Francis D . Day,
and Lieutenant Com mander H ugh R. Alexander died December 7 , 1 94 1 . All
three were posthumously awarded the Navy and Mari11e Corps Medal. The
de troyer escort USS Schmitt was 11amed in tl1e chaplain 's honor. The
destroyer escort USS Day was named in honor of Chief Watertender Day. I t
is unknown why Liet1tenant Commander Alexander was n ' t honored i n the
same ina11ner. The three men 's medal citations are presen ted in appendix B .
4. Carpenter John A. Austin died on December 7 , 1 94 1 . H e was posthu
mously award the Navy Cross. The destroyer escort USS Austin was named i n
his honor. His medal citatio11 i s presen ted i r1 append i x B.
N OTES TO PAGES 1 3 1 -45 231
C HAPTER 1 2 . TRAPPED !
1 . Sea1nan First Clas Tho1nas F. H ar111on was killed in action. i n a subse

qt1en t battle . H is accot111t '"as ,m-itte11jt1st a few days after the attack. According
to Seaman Fir t Cla s H arold S. Roiland it was the fi rst account commi tted
to paper. I reV\rrote it i n t l1 i 1-d perso11 .
2 . Seaman Second Cla Fi-an k Wood died or1 December 7, 194 1 .
3 . Roberts V\rould t.1nri,1e. Surfaci11g alongside the ship, he was rescued by
a boat. H i de criptio11 of the lucky bag and the me11 trapped inside would
ini tiate the re cue effo1-ts that would eventually save them .
4. We t wa happ ; to be 1id of the clarinet. When he h ad played at a da11ce
in Bremerton Washi11gton, a drunken office1� h ad fallen into the bandstand
a11d landed on top of it. Broken in two, the instrument had been repaired at
the navy yard using a steel splice that extended its length by an inch. The
instn1men t ne\1er sounded the same again .
5. Electrician s Mate Third Class Charles H . Harris and Fireman Th ird
Clas Cla1-ence A. Blayrlock died on December 7, 1 941 .
C HAPTER 1 3. T H I R1Y-TWO CAM E BACK
1 . The sailors had already moved from the trunk to the lucky bag, where
they were eventually rescued.
2. Other Oklahoma survivors '"'ho returned to help were Lieutenar1t
Commander Willia1n L. Benson ,, Ensign Joseph C. Spitler, Machinist's Mate
Second Class Wal ter Becker, Shipfitter Second ClassJohn H . Bimel, Coxswain
Charles F. Burns, Seaman First Class Eugene Byers, Shipfitter First Class
William S. Thomas, Carpenter's Mate First Class Harold J . H arris, Chief
Boatswain's M ate Carl W. Keenum, and Boatswain Adolph M . Bothne. Burns
had two brothers-in-law trapped inside. Neither would be rescued.
3. Seaman First Class Stephen B. Young wrote an excellent account of h is
USS Oklahoma experiences in his book, Trapped at Pearl Harbor.
4. Taken to a launcl1 alongside the ship, Musician First Classjohr1 K Engen
recalled being greeted b)' three sailors, one who asked for his service num
ber, a second who gave h i m a glass of orange juice, and a third who gave him
a cigarette. He was reluctant to take the c igarette because it was against reg
ulatio11s to smoke in a launch, but the sailor calmly reassured him: "It's OK
today. " After arriving a t the Solace) Engen was cleaned a11 d then ush e red into
a compartment with a line of coffee mugs on a table. A warrant officer filled
one about a third ful l with coffee and two-th irds with twer1 ty-year-old Golden
Wedding Bourbon .
232 N OTE TO P1\ G E i 4 6-55
h . After b i ng ta k n to tl1e h spita l h i 1) olace, a1nan Seco nd Cla

Delbe rt L. Pi t t 1n a11 vva. giv n a k ro.· n . pong bath . H 11ad cut h i head
s v r ly wh n the h i p roll d ov r, o a clo tor appli d orn ort of .. alve to
11 i Ccllp, titche d h i 111 Llp, and ent h i 1n to bed. Pittm an wot1ld awak i1 with
mo t of h i 11ai1-- n1i i11g.
6. Ai1 air t t plL1g wa a t h 1.. ,aded pip ction that wa. welded arot1nd a
dri l l d 1101 . Each plttg had a t h readed cap. They were u. d to det rmi n e if
a co111par tm 11 t wa ai rtigh t and watertig h t. When a t t wa b i 11g co11d ucted,
the cap wot1ld be re moved, an air ho ·e would be attached to the t h readed
pip , and tl1 11 air would be pumped i 11 . The pre t1re ,.vot1ld then be moni
tor d with a gauge to ee if it was di1nini h i 11g.
7. The tw nty-one inen from Sl1op 1 1 were Jo eph Bulgo, I rvin g C. Carl ,
Julio DeCa tro J. Walter Drapala Duncan S. Elli Maurice G. Engle Va co
D . Ferreira, Richard A. Going Paul J . Haka11a , Tho1na V. Hill, La,vrence
VJ01--dan,John F. Madt1ra, Wi ll iam K Mahaiula, Elber F. McCutcheon Archie
R. Pittchette Joh11 K. Rasm t1s en Alexa nder M . m i th Fred V\ . Ta)'l or
Frederic k C. Twigger John M . R. Wa h l ick, and En ign F. M . P. Sextor1 .
C HAPTER 1 4 . RESU RRECTIO
1 . Most of the i 11formation pre en ted i r1 this cl1apter '"'a obtai ned from
an official re port prepa1..ed by Captain Fra11 c i H . Wh itake1- (US ) Salvag
of USS Oklalioma."
2 . The followi11g l i t describe the d i po i t i on of the other battle h i p dam-
aged at Peai-1 Harbor (Friedman U. . Battle hip ) :
Arizona: Stricken fro1n the navy l i t Dec. 1 , 1 942 as a total l o later
·
recom1ni sioned as a wa1- m em orial .

Californ ia: Rai d at Pea1-l H arbo1- i n April 1 9-12 a 11d rebuilt at Pt1get
Sot111d Na,ry Yard fro1n j t1ne 1 942 to J a n . 1 944.
Nevada: Raised at Pearl Harbo 1- i n Feb. 1 942 and rebuilt at Puget
Sound avy Yard betvve en April and Dec . 1 942.
Pen nsy lvania: R pai red fo r service by Jan . 1 942. Modernized at the
Mare I land Navy Yard between Oct. 1 942 a11d Feb . 1 943.
Ten ne. ee. Repai 1� d fo 1.. ervice by Jan . 1 942. Rebui l t at Puget Sound
Navy Ya rd from Sept. 1 942 to Ma)' 1 943.
JV!ary la n.rl: Re paired for ervice by J a11 . 1 942 .
West Virgi,nia: Raised i n J u11 e 1 942. Repaired at Pearl H arbor and
rebuilt at Pt1get Sound Navy Yard fron1 May 1 943 to J uly 1 944.
N OTE TO P A G E 1 5 h -6g 233
3. Of the ixt en . . battl 11ip (b id O/{.lalior11,a,) tl1at w 1 i11 rvi ce

whe11 Pearl Ha1�bor ' a .. a t t k d 11 i11 '"'el� '' 11tt1all ' :·crappecl ( Nnu Nlexico
Mi i ippi ldalzo Te11 11e ee California Colorado Mar)1la r1d We t Vi rg..i11 irl and
}Va liirigton) 011 '"a t111 k i11 tl1 1 946 Biki n i Bo111 b Ti t (A rl?<t 'nsas) , th1�ee
t1nri'' d t11e t "'t onl;1 t b t111k b;1 tl1 U . n1 ilita1 ]· ter ( Nezv York Nroalla,
.
Pen n -y l1Ja n ia) nvo b

.,
111 m t 1 t1111 ( Texrl a11d Nortli Ca,rolina) , and 011e
beca111e a ati i1al Pa1 k M 111 l�ial ( A 1izona) .
'
CHAPTER 1 5. SHE CHOSE THE SEA
1 . Thot1gh tl1ere l� no coa t gt1ard report to confirm i t, it is be lieved

that tl1e Oklalionza a11 k i n about seve11 teen tl1 o t 1 and feet of 'vater, approxi-
111atel 540 inil i101�t11ea t of Oaht1.
•
•
--
•
Glossary
AA. AI1 tiairc 1�aft.
aft. Rear portio n of the ship. M oving aft means movin g toward the
tern .
after flag bag. Secondary flag bridge l ocated belowdecks.
amidships. Middle portion of the ship.
barbette . The cyli n d rical sleeve for the body of the turre t.
bilge . T h e rou nded areas that form the transition between the
bottom and the sides on the exteri or of the h u l l .
b o at boom. A l o n g wooden pole that extended perpendicul arly
from the ide of the ship when the s h i p was i n port. The ship's
laun ches would secure their l ines to this pol e . When the ship
was p reparin g to go to sea, the boom would be rotated inward
and t h e n secured against the side of the ship.
broadside guns. Guns positioned on the side of the ship. Can fire
outward not forward or aft.
bow. Fro n t of the h i p .
bulkhead. Wal l .
caliber. The length of a gun 's barrel divided by th e diame ter of the
gun 's bore.
cane fender. A bumper plac e d between ships moored side by side.
casemate. An e n c l osure for guns.
coaming. A raised border around an opening in the deck to
p reve n t water from run n i n g below.
deck. Floor.
dog wrench. Hollow bar that s lides over the handle of the d,og so
that the user can apply leverage.
235
236
dogs. An L-sh a ped h a n d ! with a L h r a d d n u t o n the h ort e n d .

U d to , ecur l1l.l tc h .
fan tail. Tl1 rot 1 n d d po rt i o 1 1 of t h stern .
forecastle. Wea t h e rd ck lo ated at th fro n t f th hip.
forward. Movi ng fo rward means movi ng toward the bow.
gedunk stand. A hip' tore , ru n by mari n . I t featured i c e c ream
ca11 dy, a11d a few nece i ties uch as razor and toothpa te.
halyard. A l i n e for 11 oisti ng a par, ai l , or fl ag i n to po i ti o n for u e .
inboard. Located c l o est to the c e n ter; oppo ite of ot1tboard.
Jacob's ladder. A hangi ng ladder made of rope upporti11 g woode11
rungs.
king post. A post tl1at a secu ri11g l i n e is wrapped aroun d d u ri n g
docking.
knot. Nautical m i l e ( 6,080 feet) .
knots. Ai rspeed or waterspeed ( n t1mber of n autical m iles t ra,'e led
pe r hour) .
lifelines. Chains strt1ng be twe en m e tal po ts to form a pro tective
fe nce on the ship's \iVeatherdeck .
lucky bag. The shi p' lost-an d-fot1nd compartme n t .
outboard. Located farthest from the c e 11 ter · oppo i te of i n board.
overhead. Ce iling.
port. Left ide of t h e ship a yot1 face the fron t ( bow) of the s h i p .
quarter deck. Weathe rdeck l ocated at t h e i�ear of tl1e h i p .
ready b oxes. Storage boxe £01-- AA a m m u 11 ition l ocated c l o e to t h e
AA gun .
scupper. D rai nage gu tte r.

scuttle. A mall hatcl1 0 1� por't i n the deck, side, o r bottom of a
vessel.
shell deck. Deck i r1 a mai n tt1rret where fourteen-i n c h-di a m e te r
proj ectiles are tored.
sounding tubes. Used to measure the l evel of oil i n the fuel-oil
ta nks.
237
splinter hatch. H a t h I a t d i 11 tl1 � pli 11 t r d k wl1ic l 1 i d i r c t l y

belo' th rn1 1 d d k.
spud locker. tor t i- p tato .
starboard. Ri -h t ide f tl1 11ip ot1 fa ce t l1 fro n t ( bow) f th

hip.
stern. R a r f th l 1i p .
striker. ea111an ( e a m a n e c o n d c l a s ) .
waterplane. The h o rizo11 tal area of a s h i p w h e n m e asured a t th e

''Ta t i-l i n .
weatherdeck. A d c k �ri t l1 o t 1 t a n ove rhead ( o p e n to t h e a i r, i . e . , to

the ' eather) .
yeoman . Cle1-k.
•
--
..
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•
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a11d Reco1-d Adm i 1 1 i tra tio11 o l l ege Park M aryl a 11d .
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S Califor11 ia. D e c k l og 1 94 1 t o pre e n t RG 2 4 . at io11al Arc h i,re a n d
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U S Ca tor: Deck l o g 1 94 1 t o pre e11 t, R G 24. N a t i o n al Ai-c h ives and Records
Adn1 i n i t1-a t i o n , Col l ege Park M aryla n d .
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M a ryla 11 d .
Adm i n i tra t i o 11 Col l ege Park
USS Cro bill. Deck l o g 1 94 1 to pre e n t RG 24. National Arch ives and Records
Adm i n i t 1-a ti o n Col l ege Park Maryla11d.
USS Detroit. D e c k loo- 1 94 1 to p 1-e e n t RG 24. ational Arc l1 ive a11d Rec o1-d
Adm i 11 i t ra t i o n , Coll ege Pa rk M aryl a n d .
U SS Dolpli in. Deck l og 1 94 1 t o pre e n t R G 24. ational Arc h ive a11d Rec ord
Ad1n i 11 i t 1-a t i o n o l l ege Pa1-k Maryla n d .
USS E1itnpri e. Deck l og 1 94 1 to p re e n t RG 24. a t i o11al Ai-c h i\Te a11 d
Record Adm i n i t ra t i o n Coll ege Park, Maryl and.
USS Ga1lzble. Deck l o g 1 94 1 to p re. e n t RG 24. atio11 a l Arc h ives and Re c ord
Adm i 11 i t 1-atio n Coll ege Pa1-k M aryl a11 d .
USS G1�ebe. D e c k l o g 1 94 1 to p re e n t RG 24. a t i o n a l rc h i,1e. a11cl R c rd
Adm i 11 is t ra t i o n , Coll ege Park Maryl a n d .
USS HenleJ'· D e c k l og, 1 94 1 t o p re, e n t, RG 24. Natio nal Al-c h ives and Reco rds
Adm i n i t 1-at i o 11 Coll ege Pa1-k Maryl an d .
USS Hon olulu . D e c k l og 1 94 1 to p re e n t RG 24. Nati ona l Arc h ive. a 11 d
Rec o rds Adm i n i trat io11 , C o l lege Par k, Maryla r1 d .
USS Hulbert. Dec k l o g 1 94 1 to p re e n t RG 24. Nati ona l Ai-c h ives a n d Rec o1-d
A d 1n i n istr atio n Col l ege Par k Ma ryla n d .
242 O U RC E
USS .f(t1<Ji . D ck log, 1 94 1 to pr i1t, RG 24 . National Arch ive and Records

Ac l111ini trat io11 , oll ge Park, Ma17lancl .
USS KPosa nqurt. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pre enl, RG 24. National Arch ives and
R ord Adm i ni t1�atio11 , College Park Maryland.
USS Maco1i (ait' 11ip ) . D ck log, 1 94 1 to pr ent, RG 24. ational Arc hive
ar1cl Recorcls Adm i 11 i t ration, College Park, Marylan d .
USS Mary la n d. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pre nt, RG 24. ational Arc h ive and
R cord Ad1ninistratio11, College Park, Maryland.
USS Montg·o rnery. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. National Arch ives and
R ord Adn1ini tration, College Park, Maryla11d.
USS Milgford. Deck log 1 94 1 to pre ent, RG 24. ational Arch ive and
Records Ad min istration, College Park, M aryland.
USS Narwhal. Deck log 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. ational Arc h ive and
Records Ad1ninistration, College Park M aryland.
USS Neosho. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. National Arch ives and Records
Administration, College Park, Maryla11d.
USS Nevada. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. National Arch ives and Records
Administration College Park, Maryland.
USS New O,rleans. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pre e n t RG 24. ational Archive and
Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.
USS Oglala. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. National Arc hives and Record
Administration College Park, M aryland.
USS Oklahoma ( BB-37 ) . Booklet of General Plans. BU. CRR. No. 1 57370,
Sheets 1 -5, Records of tl1e Bureau of Ships, RG 1 9 . Natio11 al Arch ives and
Records Adn1ini tration, College Park Maryland.
USS Oklahoma,. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. National Arch ives and
Records Adm i n istration, College Park Maryland.
USS Patterson . Deck log, 1 94 1 to prese nt RG 24. National Arch ives and
Records Ad1ninistration , College Park, Maryland.
USS Pelias. Deck log 1 94 1 to pre ent, RG 24. National Archive and Records
Adm i nistratior1 , College Park, Maryland.
USS Pennsylvan ia. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pre ent, RG 24. Natio11al Archives and
R cord Administration, College Park, Maryland.
USS Prititt. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pre ent, RG 24. National Archives and Records
Adminis tratio11 , College Parlz, Maryland.
USS Ralph Talbot. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. N a tional Arch ives and
Reco1-ds Adn1 i 11 istration, College Park, Maryland .
USS Ramapo. Deck log 1 94 1 to pr·ese11t, RG 24. National Archives and Records
Ad ministration, Coll ege Park, Maryland.
USS Ramsay. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pre ent, RG 24. National Arch ives and Records
Ad ministration, Col lege Park, Maryland.
S O U RC E
243
U Rigel. D c k loo· 1 94 1 t p1· i1t RG 24. Nati i1al Arc hiv , and R co1'd
dmi11i t 1�ation Coll o- P l'k M ryrl 11d .
USS Sar·rarrie1ito. D c k loo- 1 94 1 to pr i1t, RG 24. N'1 tiona l Arcl1 ive and
Record dmi11i trati i1 oll g Pa1-k Maryla11d.
USS Sari Fr·a.11cisco. Deck loo- 1 94 1 to pr e11t RG 24. National Arcl1 ive a11d
Reco1-ds dmi11i u-ati i1 l lege Pa1-k Maryla11d.
U S cl1ll?). Deck locr 1 4 1 to p1-e nt RG 24. ationa l Ai-chi'' and Rec i-d
Adm i 11. i t1-atio11. oll o-e Pa1-k Maryla nd.
U elfi·idge. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pr ent RG 24. atio11al Arcl1ive and Record
Adm i11.i tration Coll ge Park Maryla11d.
U icartl. Deck log 1 94 1 to p re ent RG 24. Natio11al Arch ives and Records
d1n i 1 1 i tration , College Park Maryland.
USS Solace. Deck log 1 94 1 to pre ent, RG 24. Natio11al Archives a11 d Reco1-ds
d1n i n i tration College Park Maryland.
U S t. Loui . Deck log 1 94 1 to prese n t, RG 24. National Archives and
Reco1-d Adm i n i tration Col lege Park Maryland.
U S Su 1n ner. Deck log 1 94 1 to pi-e e n t RG 24. Natio11al Arc hives and Records
Ad1n i n i tratio11 College Pa1-k Maryland.
USS Sun nadin . Deck log 1 94 1 to prese n t, RG 24. Nati onal Arch ives ancl
Records Admi 11 i tration, College Pa1-k, Maryland.
US Swa n . Deck log 1 94 1 to prese11t, RG 24. Natior1al Archives and Records
Adm i r1 istration , College Park, Maryland.
USS Tautog. Deck log 1 94 1 to pre e11. t RG 24. atio11al Archives and Reco1-d
Adm i n istration, College Park, Maryla11d.
USS Ten nes ee. Deck log 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. Natio11 al Archives and
Recor·ds Ad1nini tration, College Par-k, Maryland.
USS Tern. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. National At�chives and Records
Adm i nistration , College Park, Maryland.
USS Thorn ton . Deck log, 1 94 1 to prese nt, RG 24. National Arc hives and
Records Adm i n i tration, College Park, Maryla11d.
U SS Trever. Deck log, 1 94 1 to present, RG 24. Natio11al Archives and Record
Adm i n istration , College Park, Marylan d .
USS Vestal. Deck log. 1 94 1 to presen t, RG 24. Nation al Archives and Reco1�d
Adm i n istration , College Park, Maryland.
U SS Ward. Deck log 1 94 1 to p resent, RG 24. National Archives and Reco1�ds
Adm i n istration, College Pa1-k, Maryland.
USS Wasmuth. Deck log, 1 94 1 to prese11 t RG 24. National Ai-ch ives and
Reco1-ds Adm in istratior1 , College Park, Maryla11d.
U SS West Virgi,n ia. Deck log, 1 94 1 to pres ent, RG 24. ational Archive a11d
Reco rds Adm i n is trati on, Coll ege Park , Mary land .
O U R C E.
244
I NTERVI EW
Ba kt1. , Pat1l H . I 11t r i w by . . aval 111 titt1t Oral H i torie D ivi ion .
Tra11 cript . USNI, A11 11apo l i : , M aryla 11d.
B ck i-, Wa lt t'. U Ol?lrl liom(t 't1 rvivo r. � l pl1on int rvi w by th at1tl1 oi-.
Nlar h 2, 2005.
Be11tl y R . M . U S Oklctli o rn ct t l l'Viv r. I11 t rview by th at1th or. Augu t 1 ,
2003, and Ja11uary 1, 2005.
Bir11el , J ol1 11. U S Okl(t/ioma su rvivor. I11t rview by the author. J uly 20, 2003,
a11cl Decemb r 26, 2004.
Bla k J aine . SS Oklrtho ma t1 1-vivor. Tel phone in terview by the at1thor.
Jant1ary 7, 2005.
Bot111d. , J i m . USS Oklahom a survivor. I 11 terview by the author. J t1ne 20 2003.
BoV\rde11 , Ray. USS Oklrthom a urvivor. Telepho ne i n te rvi w b the at1thor.
February 24, 2005.
Bro'Nn George. USS Oklahoma urvivor. Te lepho11 e intenrie''' by the at1thor.
Decembe1- 1 3 2005.
Burns, Charles Scht1yler 'Bob." In Interviet.v from Ll Oklahoma : Rememb ra n ce
of ct Grea t Lacly. Con1pi led by J oe L. Todd. Oklahoma City, Okla . : US
Oklahoma As ociatioi1 1 990.
Coburn , Geoi-ge . USS Oklali o 1na t 1rvivor. I ntenrie,1" b the author. AugLl t
1 8, 2003 and Jan t1ary 2, 2005 .
Daven port Jol1 n. USS Oklalio1nc1 urvivor. Ti lepho11 i 11 tenri \i\T by tllle at1thor.
.
Marcl1 l l , 2005 .
Dick Gei1e R. In Pea rl Ha rbo'r Su rvivors. B Pearl Ha1-bor Sur\ri\ror As ociatio11 .
Paclttcah , Ky. : Tt1rne1- Publi h i11g 1 992.
Eh lert J ames. USS Oklahoma t1i-vivor. Telephone i n tervi w by the author.
Mai-ch 3 2005.
Emoi11 Ra)'· P arl Harbor Sunrivo1- As ociation hi torian. Te lephone inte1-
vievv l)y the aL1thor. May 27 2005
Enge n , John. USS Oklalio'lna t1rvi\ror. Tel p ho11 e i nterview by the a t 1tl1or.
Ja11ttary 1 2 , 2005.
French, H owa rd . USS OkLa h o rn a tlrvivor. I 11 tervi '"'s by the author. Augu t
18 2003 , and januar I 2005 .
Goody ar, Patil. USS Oklahoma t1rvivor. I 11terview by the auth or. December
27, 2002, May 7 , 2003, and July 1 9 , 2003 .
Goto J i i1icl1i. I11 ter\riew b Go1�do11 W. Pra11ge . Tran c ri p ts of oral i n terviews
co11cluc ted by M r. Pra11ge o n file at the U 11 iver ity of M aryland College
Parlz.
l{alma 11 Je e. USS Oklaho 1n a t11-vivor. Teleph one i n te rview by the autho r.
Mai-ch 1 1 2005 .
SOU RCE 245
Kitaj i n1a Kazt1. o h i . I n ter 'ri \N b)' G rdo11 W. P1�ano· . Tran cr i 1J ts of oral i11 ter
.
'rie'J\T c o ndt1ct d b , N l r. P 1-a11� 011 fil e t t l1 U i1iv r ity of Maryla11d,

College Park.
Kol b Leo n . USS Oklalio111,a t1r,ri\ror. I n te1-view by tl1 au t l1or. At1gust 1 7 , 2003.
Koth Art . Tel ph n e i n te 1�,Tj ' b tl1e at1tl1or. October 2 1 2005 .
1
Le ter Do11 . U S Oklal1 o'rria t11-vivor. I11te1-vieV\r by the a u t l1 0 1-. ,J t1ly 1 9 , 2003.
Matsu1nt11--a Heita. I 11 te 1\rie,,1 b Go1 d o1 1 W. Prar1ge . Tra11 cripts of oral i r1 ter-
vievv co11ducted by M i-. Pra 11ge 0 11 file at the Ur1 ivers i ty of Maryla11d,
Col lege Park.
--- . Ir1 tenrie\v b)' National P,a1-k Service Pearl Harbor. Transcript of oral
i 11 te1\ri.e\v #22 .
Parkin on F 1-a11ci . US Oklaho1na urvivor. I n terviews by the at1th or. J une 1 9 ,
2003 and JantiaIJ' 2 2005.
P ittman Delbert. SS Oklahorrta survivo1-. Telephone ir1terview by the author.
Jant1 a 17 1 2 2005.
Richmond Ra;r. USS Oklahoma su1-vi,1or. I r1 te rview by the author. J une 20,
2003.
Sat1l James. USS Oklalio1na uivivor. Telephone i n te1view by the autl101-.
Febrl1a1y 1 200 5 .
Sebald William ] . In terview by U . S. Naval I r1sti tute, Oral Histories Division.
Tran cript. US I An napoli Ma r l an d. y
Spitler, Jo eph C. USS Oklaho1na su rvivor. Telephone i n terview by the author.

March 9 2005.
Staff Wal ter P. USS Oklahoma survivor. I n terview by National Park Service.
Tra11script. U SS A rizona Memorial, Honoll1lu, H awaii.
We t Robert D . In Interviewsfr·om USS Oklaho ma: Remembra nce of a Great Lady.
Com pi led by Joe L. Todd. Oklaho ma City, Okla.: USS Oklahom a
Association 1 990.
Woodw ard Ted. U S S Oklahoma survivor. Teleph one i n terview by the author.
Augus t 3 1 2005.
BOOKS, ARTI CLES, AND WEBSITES
Aiken, David. "Torpedoing Pearl Ha1�bor. ' Military History ( December 200 1 ) :
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Ai1napol is, M d . : Naval I n tittlt P1�e , 1 99 1 .
I ndex
Refe1·e1ice to illil t1-atio1i are in italic l)'pe.
Akagi, 47 60-6 1 7 1 -73 75 1 55 Backu , En ig11 Pat1l H . , 40, 98-1 00,

224n l ( ch . 4 ) 22 7n2 ( c h . ) 1 80 228n2 ( c h . 9 ) 244
Aldridge Boa ,,ra i 11 Mate Fi1' t Barrage balloor1s, 60
Cla H o''Tard 1 45 1 79 Battle of Jutland 1 0
Ale 'a11de1- Liet1tenant Comma11der Battle of Sa11 tiago, 4
H t1gh R. 1 1 1 23 1 77 1 79 Battle of T: u hima 4
230r13 ( c h . 1 1 ) Battlesh i p Divi ion : BatDivOne,
Ainericar1 Bl1reau of Shipping 1 68 3 2 , 5 1 57-58 , 75 228n3;
Arne1-ican Gra,/es Regis tration BatD ivTwo 5 1 , 55-56;
er\ice 1 7 1 BatDivTh ree , 5 1 ; BatDivFour, 5 1 ,
Ander on Captain George 0 . 168- 55-56· BatD ivSi x, 24;
69 BatDiv ine, 25
An der on Vice Adm i ral Wal ter . , Battleship Row 4 7 58, 64 66, 7 1 -
1 42 73, 76 83, 95-96 1 05 1 1 7,
Anti torpedo b l i ter 32 5 1 62 224n l ( c h . 4) 226n l 2
A rgon ne, 1 42 241 Beal, Seama11 First Class Wi llard A. ,
A rizo11 a 7 23 25 27 29, 5 1 , 54-55 1 3 1 , 1 36, 1 37-38, 147, 1 8 1
5 7-59 6 7 75 76, 83, 88 9 1 , 96 Becker, Mac h i 11ist' Mate Second
1 00 1 1 9 1 2 2 1 48 1 55 1 70 Cla Walter 1 09 1 43 1 7 1 , 1 8 1
225n 5 ( c h . 6) , 226n9, 228n3, 23 l n 2 ( cl1 . 1 3 ) , 244
232n2 ( c h . 1 4 ) 233n3 239 245 Bentley, Fire1nan Fi r t Class R. M . ,
247 59 , 1 8 1 , 227n l 5 , 244
Armor belt ( side armor) 5 1 62 Bilbao Spai n, 36-37
Artley, Seaman First Class Richard Birnel, Shipfitter Second Class John
L. 1 36, 1 46, 1 80 H . , 1 1 5-16, 1 82, 23 l n 2 (c h . 1 3 )
As iatic Fleet, U . S . , 50, 59 244
Astoria, 5 7 Birthise l Liet1tena11t Lawre 11ce H .
Atlan tic Fleet U . S . , 27 50 Jr. , 99, 1 82
At1stin Ship s Carp e n ter John A., Bismarck, 1 1
1 24, 1 25 1 77, 1 80 2 2 1 , Black, PFC J i m my D . , 92, 93, 94,
23011 3 ( c h . 1 1 ) 1 82 , 244
249
250 I N D EX
Blai dell, Fir man Tl1ird Cla Chicago, 5 7

Cl1arles J . , 1 43, 1 82 Chikuma, 6 1
Blaylock, Fire1nan Third Cla China, 26, 38-39
Clarenc A. , 1 39, 1 82, 23 l n 5 ( c h . hine e Natio nali t Arm y, 38
12) Ch urchi ll, Prime Minis ter Winston ,
Bloch Rec reatior1 Cen ter, 59 48
Bode , Captai11 Howard D . , 55, 58- CI LH I ( Ce11 tral Iden tification
59, 1 42, 1 75, 1 82 Laboratory, Hawaii ) , 1 7 1
Bounds, S aman Fir t Clas Jame Coast Guard, 1 68-69
C., 1 35-38, 1 46, 1 82-83, 244 Coburn , Fire Controlman First
Bowden , Coxswain Raym ond L . , Class George L., 1 1 3- 1 5, 1 85
9 1 -92, 1 83 244
Bowden, Sea1nan Second Class Cole, Seaman First Class John A. J r. ,
Thomas A. , 9 1 -92, 1 83 84-88, 1 86, 227n2 ( c h . 8 )
British Grand Fleet, 25 229n3 ( c h . 9) 239
Bromm, Fireman Second Class Colorado, 28-29, 5 1 , 58, 225, 233n3
Robert, 1 06, 1 43, 1 83 Congre , 3 1 6, 2 1 5 1
Brown , Ship's Cook Third Class Coolidge, Preside n t John Calvin Jr. ,
George A. , 1 00- 1 0 1 , 1 83, 244 28
Brown, Vice Admiral Wilson J r. , 5 1 Coontz, Admiral Robert E. 29 3 1
Bulgo, Joe, 1 41 16, 232n7 Craven , Vice Admi ral T.T. 1 9
Bureau of Navigation, 1 7 Crenshaw, Yeo1nan Secon d Class
Burns, Seaman First Class Charles Bert W. , 1 34-35 , 1 46 1 86
Schuyler "Bob", 1 22-23, 1 84, 244 Crt1ce, Gove1�nor Lee, 1 4
Burns, Coxswain Charles F. , 1 84, Cruce, Lorena, 1 4 4 1
2 3 l n 2 (ch. 1 3 ) Cu rtis, Seaman Fi r t Class Charle
Byers, Seaman First Class Ge11 e , R . , 92, 1 87 239
1 03-1 04 1 7 1 , 1 84, 2 3 l n 2 ( c h . Cymerrnan , Seaman First Class
1 3) Raymo11d A. 1 28 , 1 30 , 1 44, 1 8 7
California 2 1 , 29, 5 1 56, 72 90 93, Daniels Josephus, 14- 1 6 4 1

1 48 , 1 55, 225, 228n2, 229n2 ( c h . Dave11port, E nsign Irvin g ] . 6 1 ,
9) , 232n2, 233n3 , 241 1 87 239
Ca1�Ison, Gunner s Mate Second Davenport, E nsign joh11 B . , 40, 1 87 ,
Class John C . , 9 7 , 1 84 244
Caskey, Com mander Gardner L . , 24 Davenport Seaman First Class
Cas in, 56 Russel l M . , 1 3 1 -33, 1 45 , 1 8 7 ,
Cen ters, Motor Machinist's Mate 239
First Class Jackson P. , 1 39, 1 4 1 , Day Chief Watertender Francis D . ,
147 , 1 85 1 23 , 1 7 7, 1 87, 22 1 , 230n3
Chassereau, Seaman First Class DeCastro, Julio, 1 43 , 232117, 239
Jacob F. Jr. , 88, 1 85 DeLong, Seaman Second Class
Chess, Shipfi tter Tl1ird Class George A . , 1 36, 1 38 , 1 47 , 1 87
Patrick L., 1 1 6, 1 85 Detroit, 63, 2 4 1
I N DEX
25 1
Deutschland 3 Ft1chida Commander Mits110 6 1 -

Detve;1 53 62 7 1
Dick Ho pita l Assi tan t First la Ft1 1-lo 11g, Rear Admiral Wil liam R. ,
Gene R. 1 25-27 1 244 63
D i rector ( a 11 ti-aircraft) 2 5 1 90
92 1 1 3 Gaver econd Lieutenant H e 1 1 ry
Di hman GL1nner Mat Seco11d H . J 1·. 99 1 9 1
Clas Edgar E . 97 1 Geller, Fire1nan First Class
D NA testi11g 1 7 1 Leonard , 59, 1 9 1 , 227n l 5
Dot1 that M .V\ . 1 67 239 Genda, Commander Minoru, 60
DotJJnes 24, 56 George Washin�on, 26
D refahl P rivate Fir t Cla Elmer General Board of tl1e Navy, 5
E. 92-93 1 88 German High Seas Fleet, 25
D t1 nca11 Phar1nacist Mate Third Gibraltar, 37
Clas V\Ti lliam E . 1 1 7- 1 9 239 Glidewell, Seaman First Class
Nelson W. , 1 09, 1 9 1
E hlert Seaman Fir t Cla James A. Goins, Sean1an First Class Selden ,
92 1 89 244 1 45 , 1 9 1
E l l i Seaman First Clas Albert L . Goodyear, Signalman Third Class
J r. 1 36 1 46 1 89 Paul A. , 8 1 -84, 1 58, 1 7 1 , 1 92 ,
Emory, Ray, 1 70-7 1 , 244 228n2, 229 n3 (ch. 9) , 244, 246
Enge n , M usician First Class John Goto, LieutenantJinichi, 7 1 -72, 244
K. 1 45 1 89 2 3 l n 4 ( c h . 1 3) 244 Grand Pre, Firema11 Second Class
Enterprise, 5 1 55-56, 227n 1 (ch. 7) , Arthu1- M . , 1 02 , 1 92
24 1 Grand Pre, Fireman First Class
Eslick, Seaman Second Class John D . , 1 02, 1 92, 239
Carle n W. 1 45, 1 89 Great Cruise of 1 925, 29, 246
Grea t Depression, 1 7, 34
Firth of Forth , Scotland, 25-26 Great Whi te Fleet, 4, 29, 246
5 " /25 Handling room ( D-25-M ) , Grew, Joseph C. (Ambassador to
1 35 , 1 45- 1 46, 1 66 Peru ) , 50
Flaherty Ensign Francis G., 97, 1 1 2 Gross, Ship's Cook Second Class
1 76, 1 90, 22 1 , 230 n 7 George W. , 58, 1 92
Fleet Problem XIX, 39 Guam, 56
Flu virus, 1 9 1 8; 24, 223n l ( ch. 3 ) Guan tanamo Bay, Cuba, 1 9
Fogelsong, Seamar1 Second Class
Jesse C. 1 02- 1 03, 1 90 H al awa Cemetery, 1 70
Foy, Captain Edward ] . , 48, 49, 54, Halsey, Vice Adm i ral Wil liam F. , 5 1 ,
55, 58, 1 00, 1 08- 1 09, 1 75, 56
226n l 0, 230n5 Hal terman, Gerald, 1 7 1
Forrestal , Secretary of the Navy Hannon, Seaman First Class
J ames V. , 1 67 Thomas F. , 1 28-3 1 , 1 44, 193,
French, Chief Petty Officer How·ard 23 l r1 l (ch. 1 2 ) , 239
E . , 38, 1 1 0- 1 2, 1 90, 230n6, 244 Harding, Presiden t Warren G., 28
I N DE
252
Harr 1 011 , Fir ma11 concl Cla , Jan kow ki, Chet, 1 7 1 , 1 96
Ho1�ac W. , 1 34, 1 46, 1 93 Japa 11 : Allia nce wi th Gre at Brita i n ,
Harri , Ele tricia n 's Mate Thi re l 26; batt l o f omo n h o n , 39;
la Charl H . , 1 39, 1 93, battl f T: u hima , 4; Day of
23 1 115 ati na1 H t1mil iation 2 ;
Hart , Adm i ra] Tho111as . , 50, 59 expe rim nting wi th torpe doe ,
Hawaiian Ai r· Force, 63 5 2 · gover nm nt by as a i natio n
H 1 na, 63-64, 1 28, 22 9n3(cli. 9) 26, 34; inva ion of Ma11 ch uria,
He11 derso n, Lieutenant 34; nonaggre ion Pac t with
01n mand r Harl]', 59, 1 94 Rt1 sia, 5 1 Southern Operation,
·
Herc11 les , 168-6 9 49, 53 · U . S. Imm igration ct of

Hickam Field, 47, 63, 7 1 , 73, 85, 1 924; U . . oil embargo again t,
226n l l 53; U S Pa 1iay i n ki ng, 39·
Hiry it 4 7, 6 1 -64, 72-73, 1 55, Wash i ngton aval Treaty of
227n2 (ch. 8) 1 922 27, 28
H i nsberger, Seaman Second Clas Joh nson , Fir t Cla man D. L. , 36
Wilbur T. , 1 45 1 95 Joh nston I land 5 7
Hobby, Lieutena11 t Commander Jone , Seaman Fir t Clas George F.
William M . Jr. , 75, 1 03, 1 42-43, 1 36, 1 47, 1 9 7
1 95 239 Jone , Fireman Fir t Cla Robert
Hon olil lu, 1 70, 24 1 Bobbie 90 1 9 7
Hood, 1 1
H t1ghes, Secretary of State Charles Kaga 47 6 1 , 62 72-73 75 1 55
Evan, 28 224112 224n l ( c h . 4 ) 227n2 ( c h . )
Hunter's Point, Cali fornia, 53 IZalman , Ship Cook Th i rd Class
Je e T. 84 197 240, 244
I daho 20, 2 7 2 9, 5 1 233n3 Ke nned)', ean1an Fir t Cl a
l kki l{i ta, 2 6 Herbert S. 1 36 1 47, 1 9
Illustrious, 49 Ker1wo1�thy Co1nmander Je e L . ,
I m migration Act of 1 924· 28 3 5 5 7 6 1 7 5 4 87 1 03 1 1 2
I ndochina, 52 59 1 75 1 98 225n 2 ( c h . 5 ) , 240
I not1ye , Fi nance Mini ter, 34 Ki m 1nel, Ad m i ral Husband E . , 50-
lnt1kai Prime Mir1 ister 34 52 54-57 59 225n2 ( c h . 6) ,
!1i dianapolis, 57, 229n2 ( c h . 9 ) 225n 3 ( c h . 6 ) 225n7, 22 5118,
Ingersoll, Rear Admi ral Royal E . 5 1 226n8 247
I n gram , Lie11tenan t Q . g . ) Wi llian1 I\.i 11g Ad m i ral Ernest ] . 5 0
T. , 6 1 , 1 96 Kiri liima, 1 1
I rela11 d : Ba11 try Bay, 24-25; Bere !{i rk, Frankie, 1 8
I la11 d 24; Berehaven Harbor, Ki taj i ma Lie11tenant I c h i ro , 72,
24 42; Ca tleto,i\111 , 24; Cork, City 245
of, 25; Co1�k, Cot1 n ty of, 25; Kolb, Gt1 n ner s M a te Second Class
Qt1eenstow11 , 25; Scapa Flow, 1 8 Leon C . , 59, 95-9 7 , 1 99 , 245
26 247· Si11n Fein 25 KJ�anzfelder, Comn1ander Edgar,
I talian Battle Fleet, 49 59, 1 42
I N DE r
253
Lahai na Road 60-6 1 M Le ll i 1 , E11. io·11 Wald r 11 M . 40,

Lat1 lt1ai 11 m u11it io11 Dep t 1 4_ 1 0 1 , 202
Leagt1e of Natio11 4 3 M Mal1on Qt1art r111a ter S cond
Lee )'P Ro 3 Cla Rob i-t J . 1 09 , 202
Leigh , Ad1n i 1,al Ricl1a1'd H . 35 McVay aptain Chai-le B. 24 1 75
Lend-Lea A t 5 1 M lbot11-11e tl tralia, 30
Le t I' an1a11 Fir t la Do11<:1 ld Merl.)1 Point Landi11g Pearl H arbor
. , 1 07- 1 09, 200 2 On4 ( c h . 1 0 ) 71
_ On5, 2-±5 M e ag o. 3 54
Lexiri oto11 1 9 , - 1 5 7 , _ 24 227n l Mink Patsy, 1 70
( cl1 . 7 ) Mi issippi 19-20 27, 29 5 1 , 1 55
L i 11 e 11 to1,ao-e compa1,t1ne11t (A-28- JVlissoitri, 1 7 1
1 ) 1 4 1 1 47 1 66 Mon a'>·ch 1 68-69
Lofqt1i t Captain Emn1 a 11 t1el A. 48 Monroe Doctri ne 4
1 75 Moore Dr)'dock Co1npany, 1 67
Loftll Lt1n1 ber, Compan)' 35 Morten en En i g11 Adolph D . , 1 24-
London 35 4 6 25
Luck Bag compartment ( D-57 ) M t1 rata, Lieutenant Shigeharu 39 ,
1 3 1 - 1 33 1 43 1 44 1 46, 1 66 6 1 -62 64 7 1 72
23 l n 3 (cl1 . 1 2 ) 236
Lt1ttrell Seaman Fir t Cla Richard Nakaj ima B5N2 torpedo pla11 e, 6 1 ,
N . 82-83 20 1 66
Naval Academy, U . S . , 1 6- 1 7, 24, 33,
JVIacon 35 224 242 36, 39 98
M a ncl1 u ri a 34 39 Naval War College U . S . , 1 6, 48
M arco Polo B ridge 38 Navy D i posal Ad1nin istration 1 67
Ma 1y la n d 5 1 56, 58, 62, 68 6 9, 70 Neosho) 62, 89, 242
75 76 7 7 84 86-89, 9 1 -92 94, Neptu n u Rex, 29
97-98, 1 00, 1 02- 1 03, 1 1 5, 1 1 7, Neu trali ty Act, 38
1 1 9 1 22, 1 2 7 1 42-43 1 55, Nevada, 3-7 , 1 4 1 8 , 23-25 , 2 7 29,
225n5, 2 2 7 n 2 ( c h . 8) , 228n2, 30 32, 43, 5 1 , 53-54, 56, 57-58,
232n2 233n3, 242 75 96, 1 48 1 55 225n5, 228n3
M atst1 m u ra Lt. H e i ta 66 2 2 7 232n2 233n3, 242, 246
245 New Mexico, 7 27 29 5 1 , 233n3
M c Beth , G u nner's Mate Fir t Cla s New York, 4-7 233n3
Charle F. , 88 20 1 , 2 40 ew York Shipbttilding
McCai11 , Admiral John Sid11 ey, Sr. , Corporatio11 , 1 4
33 Nuuanu Ceme te ry 1 70
M cCai n , Adm i ral Joh n Sidney, J r.
33 Oahu Cemetery, 1 70
McCain, U . S . Senator John Sidney Odom , John L. 22511 3 (ch. 5 )
I I I , 2 2411 3 Odom, Martha, 3 7 22511 3 ( c h . 5 )
McDonougli, 53 Odom, Robert L . , 37
Mc Dowell, Capta i n Wil l is, 29, 1 75 O H I O club, 53
254 I N D EX
Oklahomri: broke11 propel! r 1 1aft, Pride, En ign Lewi B. Jr. , 40, 98-
53; colli ion wi th Arizona, 55-56; 99, 207, 22 l 229n2
coll ision with E n t rpris , 55; Prince s Pier, Melbourn e , Australia,
col l ision with t1-ain barge, 48-49; 30
Gol den Gate Bridge ceremor1y PT boats, 73
38; Great War (World Wa r I ) , 23- Puge t Sot111 d avy Yard,
26; Great Cruise of 1 925, 29-3 1 ; Washingto n , 27, 48, 5 0 65
Lo11g Beach earthq uake , 34-35; Puget Sot1nd Tug & Barge
inodernization, 3 1 -32; re cue Compa ny, 1 68
effort, 1 42-47; re urrec tion , 148- Punchbowl Cemetery, Honolulu,
66; search for the airship Macon, Hawaii , 1 70-72
35; seco11d sinking, 1 67-69; Pye, Vice Adm i ral William S. 5 1
Spanisl1 Civil War, 35-38
Our Navy magazine, 18, 223n3 (ch. Radio IV compartmen t ( D-57 1 /2 )
l ) , 223n4, 223n8 1 28-3 1 1 43-46, 1 66
Ramapo, 73, 242
Pacific Fleet, U.S. , 27, 29, 32, 35 Ramsey Lieutenant Commander
49, 5 1 , 55 Logan C., 63
Paci fic Fleet Confidential Letter Reyelts, Seaman Second Class
No. 1 4 CL-4 1 , 55 57 Duane H. 1 1 9-20, 1 2 1 208 240
Pago Pago, 30 Rice, Shi pfitter First Clas I 1'Vin F. ,
Panama Canal, 5, 2 7 , 3 1 , 32, 43 1 1 6, 208
Panay, 39 Richardson, Ad1ni ral Jame 0 . , 48-
Patrol Wing Two, 63 50, 225n l , 247
Paris Peace Conference, 26 Ric h mond, Raymond L . 1 02-1 03 ,
Parkinson, Fi remar1 First Cl ass 208 229n 3 ( c h . 1 0 ) , 230n3 ( c h .
Francis R. , 59, 1 04, 206, 245 , 1 0 ) 245
247 Risher Private Charles M . , 92, 208
Parkinson Seaman Second Cl ass 240
Clayton L . , 59, 206 Roberts, Coxswain Howard E . 1 33 ,
Pearl H arbor Navy Yard 62 73, 82, 208, 23 l n3 ( c h . 1 2)
85, 1 42 Roberts Seaman First Class
Pen 1isylvania 7, 23, 27, 29 30, 5 1 Norman 0 . 1 28-30 1 44 208
56 Rocker First Secretary Edward S . ,
Pfi11gstag, Lieutenan t Commander 50
H erbert ] . , 1 42 Rodgers, Rear Ad1ni ral Thomas S . ,
Phili ppine 3 56 24-25
Pico Street Navy Landing, Lor1g Rodham , Adm i ral H ugh , 27
Beach , Cal ifornia, 35 Roi land Seaman First C lass H arold ,
Pi ttman Seaman Second Class 1 29-3 1 , 1 44, 209, 23 l n l ( c h . 1 2 )
Delbert L . , 1 34, 146, 207, 232n5, Rommel, Ensign Herbert F. , 73-74,
245 209
Pollywogs, 29-30 Roosevelt, Presiden t Franklin D . ,
Portland, 57, 1 87, 202 38, 4 1 , 48-49, 52
I N DEX 255
R usse l l Seam an Fir t Clas Geo rge Sn1 itl1 Seam a 11 Fir t Class Mer ton
E . 1 34 1 46, 209 R. , 1 28 1 44 2 1 2
Rt1ss o:J apan ese War of 1 905 34 Soryu 6 1 -64, 72 73
Ryb ur11 , Seam an Fi1� t Cla Rob ert Spanisl1-Ainerican War, 3
D . 82, 209 Spanish Civil War 36
Spitler, Ensig11 Joseph C . , 40, 55,
Samoa 29-30 59 1 04-1 06 1 42-43, 2 1 3 ,
Sand Island Pearl H arbor 8 1 2 3 l n2 (ch. 1 3 ) , 245
San Pedro California 1 9-20 27 Spragtle, Captain Kelly, 1 68
32 34-35 53 Staff, Carpen ter's Mate Second Class
Santander Spain 36 Wal ter F. , 1 38-4 1 , 1 47, 2 1 3 , 245
Saratoga, 1 9 39 5 1 224n l (ch. 4 ) , Stark Admiral Harold R. , 50-5 1 ,
227n l ( c h . 7) 55 225n3 (ch. 6 )
Sauer Sign al man Third Class Steely, Machinist's Mate Second
Andre' P. 1 20-2 1 2 1 0 230n2 Class U lis C . , 1 43 , 2 1 3
240 Steering Aft com partment ( D-63 ) ,
Saul Fireman Second C lass James 1 29-3 1 , 1 35-38 , 1 44-47, 1 66
] . 1 2 3-24 2 1 0 , 245 Struthers, Boatswain's Mate First
Schauf Sea1nan First Class Wil liam Class Winfield L . , 1 1 1 , 2 1 4
P. , 1 45 2 1 0 Surigao Strait Philippine Islands,
Schmitt, Lt. (J.g.) Aloysius H . , 1 22, 1 55
1 77 1 78, 2 1 0 22 1 , 230n3 (ch. 1 1 ) Suttee , Seaman First Class C. E . , 53
Schoonover Pharmacist Mate First Swisher, Seaman First Class Cl1arles
Class J . H . 1 1 8, 2 1 0 E . , 59, 227n l 4
Schreiber, Peruvian E nvoy ( to Sydney, Australia, 30
Japan ) Ricardo Rivera 50
Scott, Seaman Firs t Class Frank H . , Tang}er, 63
1 33 1 45, 2 1 0 Taranto, I taly, 49, 52
Scott, Seaman First Class Harry L . , Task Force I, 5 1
92, 2 1 0, 240 Task Force I I , 5 1 , 54-56
Scouting Fle·et, 3 1 Task Force III, 5 1
Seattle, 29-30 Tennessee, 76, 1 55
Shackle tt, Coxswain Chester G. , 98, Texas, 4-7, 1 8, 32, 95, 233n3
21 1 Thatcher, Seaman Fi1-st Class
Shop 1 1 , Pearl H arbor Navy Yard, George ] . , 1 28, 1 3 1 , 1 44, 2 1 5
1 43, 232n 7 Thesn1an, Electrician 's Mate First
Shokaku, 7 1 Class I rving H . , 1 36-37, 1 47, 2 1 5
Silva Gunner's Mate First Class Tillman, Elec trician 's Mate Second
Wil liam G., 96-97, 2 1 1 Class Rogers L., 1 45, 2 1 5
Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, Titanic, 1 4
California, 20 Ton e, 6 1
Siry u, 47 Tur11 e r, Roy ] . , 1 68
Smith, Seaman Second Class
George H . J� , 84, 1 7 1 , 2 1 2 Utah, 24, 25, 63
I N D EX
256
Va q t 1 z , A.C. , 36 tfall, Ph arma cist's Mate First

Vat1g h n , an1a 11 c i1d la la D. L . , 1 0 1 , 2 1 8 24 1
Melvi11 L. 97, 2 1 6, 229n l Wf t Virgjnict, 9, 1 9 , 28, 29, 5 1 , 56,
Vezey, En ig11 Edwa rd E . , l 1 2 , 2 1 6 58, 6 7, 7 1 , 72, 76, 83, 89-90, 1 08,
Vickr y, Sl1ipfitter cond Cla 1 1 0 1 1 9,, 1 3 1 1 48 1 55,225n5,
Wa i1e, 1 06, 2 1 6 240 232n 2, 233n3
Vigo, Spai n, 37 Wilbur, Seer tary of the avy
Von Ber11 tor .ff, Ger1nan Curti , 1 6, 2 1
Am bassador to Mexico Coun t Wil on, President Thoma
Jol1ann Hei nrich 23 Wood row 1 5 26
Wisconsin 1 65
Waianae Mou ntai11s, Oahu, Hawaii Wood, Seaman Second Cla Frank,
62 1 32 2 1 9 , 23 l n 2 ( c h . 1 2 )
Waipio Poi n t, Ohau Hawaii, 8 1 Woods Mac h in ist's M a te First Class
Ward, Seaman Fir t Class Jame R. Winfred O. 1 43, 2 1 9
97, 1 76, 2 1 7 Woodward, eaman Fir t Cla s
Ward, Seaman Second Class Theodore G. Ted' 88, 22 1 , 245
Wil l iam E. Jr. , 1 27 , 2 1 7 Wyman En ign Eldon P. , 1 72-73,
Washam , Boatswain's Mate Second 2 1 9-2 1
Class Wil liam M . 1 0 7, 2 1 7 Wyoming 36
230n4 ( c h . 1 0)
Washington 1 1 , 233n3 Yamamoto Japanese Adm i ral
Wash ingto11 Naval Treaty of 1 922; 6 I oruku, 49 224n l ( c h . 4) , 246
1 3 , 28 Yarnall Third Classman W. K 36,
Weissman , Seaman Fir t Class 220
Daniel , 1 27 , 2 1 8, 240 YMCA 1 6 1 9-20 24
Wel les, Captain Roger, 1 4 1 75 Young, Sea1nan First C l ass Robert
West, M t1sician First Class Robert V. , 1 20 220, 230 n l
D . , 1 33-35, 1 46, 2 1 8
West, Ship's Cook First Cla Archie Zim me1·man , German Foreign
C., 84, 2 1 8 Secreta1 Arthur, 2 3
N orma n Wil l ia ms P u bl ic Li bra
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Jeff Phister - Battleship Oklahoma BB-37 (2008) OCR

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BATTLESHIP

and Paul Goodyear

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS : NORMAN

Copyright© 2008 by the University of Oklahoma Press, Norman,

All rights reserved. No part of this publicatio11 may be reprodl.1ced, stored

and Dorothy Vezey

List of I llt1 trations lX

P reface b ' Paul Goodyear XI

Acknov ledgments Xlll

2 Life on the Oklahoma 14

3 Oklahoma's First Mission 23

5 E arthquake Refugees, and War 34

6 Countdown to Pearl Harbor 48

7 A Quiet Sunday Morning 60

8 Damn the Torpedoes 71

9 Topside 7:55 A.M. 81

13 Thirty-Two Came Back 1 42

15 She Chose the Sea 1 67

Ch1-i t ning cer 1no11 May 2 3 1 9 1 4 41

Salvage op eration , September 1 943 1 60

Th i book i th e n1 0 t comple te , true accoun ti11g of th e USS Oklahoma

Ed Rayrrne r a11d Pat1l Good ar it begi11 with the m . Ed was my god­

' The President i 11ereb authorized to 11ave co11structed two fi1�st-class

car1 new a11d i� liabl l +i11 11 -t111 bllt t l1 w r al 011,ri11 d that

Displacement Weight of Weight of Year

New York 27,000 8,965 2,582 1911

With j ust 500 extra tons of displacement, Nevada, Oklahoma's sister

The i1avy h ad decided i n 1 9 1 0 to fuel all ft1ture battleships with oil.

that heated the boile r . Oil 1 o had m r th rm 1 n rgy p r poun d

Oklahoma's m issio n was to destroy or disable any ship that she

of enemy battlesl1ips and cruisers, detonating their powder magazines,

battle cruise1� Hood i n j ust five minutes. On November 1 5, 1 942, the

spot tir1 g top, so that her gL l n n e rs could l e arn i m m e diately if th e shells

e ri n g cage ma t a 11 a\ril / r·n101 d i1 11i 11g tow � 1� 011 m ok tacl �

Life on the Oklahoma

The l ives of many sailo1-s on the Oklahoma and on other battleships

In 1 926, th na\ had ab ut ighty-tw thou and nli ted p r n­

ag tw i1 t)1 a11 d ,, r 0 p i� i1t of all , ilo1-- wer under the age of

T H E EXPAN S I O N O F ATH LETICS

BATTLE S H I P H EALTH AND SAFETY

when a l 4-i11ch gt111 i 11 tt1rr t 1 lid ba k i11t th gu n pit wh n all tl1r

Oklahoma 's First Mission

I n February 1 9 1 7 Germany adopted a poli cy of unrestricted sub­

period as training platforms along the eastern seaboard.

In the u1n mer of 1 9 1 8, Oklaliomct wa finally di patched to Europe

ice wa on du cte d fo1- cl1 11 Oklaho.,1ia' qt1 rt rd k. To l10 11o r the

On N ovember 26, Oklahoma departed for Portland, England, with

The Great Cruise and Modernization

WASH I N GTON NAVAL TREATY

Earthquakes, Refu gees, and War

In 1 929 tl1e United States was a primary importer of Japanese goods.

OKLAHOMA TO THE RESCUE

While the G1-eat Depression gave impetus to the Japanese military,

Th ou gh no major bu ildi no- top pl d , t her wa a gr at dea l of dam ­

I n the autu m n of 1 935,Japan withdrew from the 1 922 Wasl1ington

a ba 1 1 d o n e d , and r arm am e n l b gan an w. Th wo rld was gea rin g up

bac k i n Bilbao n1b· rkin g r fuo- . B ' l U of a h avy grou nd well ,

FROM CELEBRATION TO T H E BEGI N N I N GS O F WORLD WAR

I n May 1 937 Oklahoma wa dispatched to San Francisco to partici­

arly and j o i n the fl t . Th y wo t1ld graduat in February instead of

U.S. government delegation to USS Oklalioma christe11ing ce1-emony, March 23,

At ancl1or i11 Berehave1�, Ireland, 1918. Courtesy Navy Histo1ical Center.

Countdown to Pearl Harbor

CAPTAIN FOY AND THE BARGE ENCOU TER

Ed Rayrrne r a11d Pat1l Good ar it begi11 with the m . Ed was my god

In 1 926, th na\ had ab ut ighty-tw thou and nli ted p r n

I n February 1 9 1 7 Germany adopted a poli cy of unrestricted sub

Th ou gh no major bu ildi no- top pl d , t her wa a gr at dea l of dam

I n May 1 937 Oklahoma wa dispatched to San Francisco to partici

At 1:50 A.M. Commander Minoru Genda the Japanese tactical plan

d to11at d against t l1 Helen{t'._ tarboard quarter. The resulting con

nati o 11 while the l 1 i p w at e a Oklalio11ia � p cializ d i11 atholic serv

aw t h A rizorl(l expl c )c l . A 11101 1 1 e 11 t lat r, h h a1-d th wor d to aba n