A Short Story of the Attack (Pearl Harbor) James W. Dittoe, U.S.N. (Ret) Copyright 2013 - J. Michael Dittoe - All Rights Reserved Contents Pearl Harbor Notebook Photo of James W. Dittoe in 1941 Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Prayer Speeches given by James W. Dittoe TWX Message following loss of U.S.S. Lexington (2nd ship sunk that he was on) Obituary I have decided to write this short story, because someday I may want to look back and remember what happened December 7, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I was getting ready to go on liberty in Honolulu on Sunday morning, when all of a sudden fire and rescue sounded. Not having any fire and rescue station on the West Virginia, I casually took my time going to quarters. About thirty seconds later G. Q. sounded and at the same time, a torpedo hit somewhere on the port side of the ship. I, as well as every other man aboard was on his way to his battle station, on the double. Before I reached my battle station (which incidentally was a machine gun) another torpedo hit on Copyright 2013 - J. Michael Dittoe - All Rights Reserved on the port side, before any gun on the West Va returned fire. By this time the ship was listing quite a bit to port. On arriving at my battle station, I found there was no gun or ammunition present. I hastily left and went to the machine gun armory, hoping to get gun and ammunition on my station, so I could fire back at the enemy. The Japanese torpedo planes were coming in so close before launching their torpedoes, that it seemed possible to throw stones and hit them. It sure made one feel helpless, not to have something to fight back with. All in all, I would venture to say that there were seventy planes in the air that were enemy. There were torpedo and bombers attacking all vital points of Pearl Harbor, Army and Marine bases exactly at the same time. It appeared to me, as a well planned blitzkrieg. I know for a fact that the West Virginia received four torpedoes on the port side, and I've been told there were six. I know for certain there were four. We also received two bombs. One going through number three turret, exploding the gasoline in the plane on the catapult, and starting a large fire in the after part of the ship. All hands that were not engaged on some guns, immediately began breaking out fire hoses for the purpose of trying to put the fire out. After connecting the hoses, it was discovered that there were no pressure on the water main, so it was useless to try any more. The Copyright 2013 - J. Michael Dittoe - All Rights Reserved other bomb hit in the foremast, causing the most damage, as far as bombs are concerned. It came through the navigation bridge, through the signal bridge, through the life jacket lockers and finally exploding in the galley. It ignited the gases in the galley, and caused the largest fire aboard. It was not put out until the following afternoon. In the meantime, the five inch anti-aircraft guns on the starboard side had commenced firing. The port side was listed so bad, that it was impossible to point and train the guns. There were approximately thirty rounds of five inch ammunition on top side. One of the broadside battery officers tried to take an ammunition train below to get some ammunition, but already the water and oil was up to the main deck, so that idea had to be dropped. When all the rounds had been suspended on the battery, there was nothing left to do, but abandon ship. Of the two machine guns that were mounted in the forward group, only one of these would fire. While two of the men worked desperately to get the faulty gun in firing condition, the other machine gun was blazing away. The good gun fired about one hundred and fifty rounds, before the Officer in charge ordered them to leave. The Captain had already ordered abandon ship twice, but these group of men stubbornly disobeyed and continued to fight back at Copyright 2013 - J. Michael Dittoe - All Rights Reserved the enemy forces. By this time, the ship had settled straight down, instead of turning over. It was only because of the quick thinking of one of our Officers that she didn't roll over. He , regardless of his own safety, went below and cut in the counter balancing valve, flooding the starboard side, thereby, making it possible for the ship to settle properly. Most of the men had either gone to Ford island on the Tennessee by this time. I went to Ford island because that was the first thing that entered my mind. Incidentally, our Captain was hit by shrapnel in his stomach and died late that night. I made Ford island before the Japs started strafing swimmers. While either swimming or in lift boats, the Japs were strafing everything in their path. There are a group of trees on Ford island that received some bitter punishment from Japanese machine gun fire. The pilots of the Jap planes knew or either guessed that a lot of sailors were among the trees, so they let them have it. There was a house afire as I hit the island, and assisted putting it out. Of the seventy Japanese planes in the attack, forty were shot down in the three hour attack,. The U. S. Army claims twenty of these, leaving twenty as the Navy's score. The damage was high throughout the harbor in my estimation, but it always could have been worse. The Oklahoma received four torpedoes and turned upside down in about thirteen minutes. I have no knowledge as to whether Copyright 2013 - J. Michael Dittoe - All Rights Reserved she got any of her battery's in operation or not. Casualties were very high aboard her. While I was on watch the following day (on the Tennessee), they were removing men alive from the double bottoms. It was more than a miracle they remained alive. The Arizona also had many casualties. from the reports I have gathered to date, one-hundred and sixty men are accounted for, out of a complement of twelve to fifteen hundred men. She was struck by a bomb which went down her stack and exploded the boilers. She burned until the afternoon of the following day. Beside the bomb in the stack, she received a bomb between her forward turrets, which exploded both forward magazines. The only return fire she had was machine gun fire, and a few rounds of five inch. There is one person off the Arizona that alone, fired several rounds of five inch. He would train then load, and then wait until a plane came within his train, and then would point it and fire. I think he showed bravery beyond words. I have talked to one of the men that was in the main top on the machine guns, and he was certain that one of their guns accounted for at least one plane. The Maryland received but one torpedo only, thanks to the Oklahoma, which was tied outboard of her. She received several bombs, which apparently caused little damage. Work was started immediately on her, and a crash mat was put over the torpedo Copyright 2013 - J. Michael Dittoe - All Rights Reserved hole and she was moved to Berth 17 for further repairs. The California received two torpedoes. One forward and one aft. The ship sank down by the head and down by the stern, causing the ship to buckle amidships, finally settling straight down a couple days later. Her casualty list isn't so terribly high. The Pennsylvania was in dry dock, and was fortunate enough to receive only two bombs, causing no serious damage. Incidentally, one of her five inch guns fired so many rounds, that when it cooled off, the muzzle just warped all out of shape. One of the West Virginia's five inch guns replaced it. The Nevada also received her quota of torpedoes and bombs. She attempted to get underway, and did in seven minutes. She didn't get far, since it would have been very nice for the Japs if she was sunk in the middle of the channel causing the rest of the fleet to be blocked in the harbor. Her crew realized this and saw that they were being attacked fiercely. The men fought bitterly against large odds. The Nevada was a main objective now. A quartermaster saw it was impossible to make the open sea, so with the aid of two tugs, the battleship was beached. It was quick thinking on the part of the quartermaster. By beaching the ship, he kept the channel open for the rest of the fleet. In the mean time, she was hit by a bomb somewhere unknown to me, and a Copyright 2013 - J. Michael Dittoe - All Rights Reserved terrible fire was raging. The fire was very hot on some of the men firing the A. A. battery, but regardless of their own safety, they continued fighting the Japanese. The Utah, (which hasn't a gun aboard) received more torpedoes than any one ship in the harbor. She was tied up at F-10, and it is everyone's opinion that the enemy thought she was an aircraft carrier. She received eleven torpedoes and turned upside down in from seven to ten minutes.