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Pearl Harbor Survivors: An Oral History of 24 Servicemen

Don Coleman

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On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed over 2,400 Americans and crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Pearl Harbor Survivors is an oral history of 24 servicemen who survived the attack. The book tells the stories of these men, their experiences during the attack, and their lives after the war.

The servicemen interviewed for the book come from all walks of life. They served in a variety of roles, from sailors to Marines to airmen. They were stationed on a variety of ships and aircraft, from the USS Arizona to the USS Nevada to the USS Enterprise. They experienced the attack from different perspectives, from the deck of a burning ship to the cockpit of a fighter plane. But they all shared one thing: they survived.

Pearl Harbor Survivors: An Oral History of 24 Servicemen

by Harry Spiller

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	29813 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	224 pages

The stories in Pearl Harbor Survivors are both harrowing and inspiring. They are stories of courage, resilience, and hope. They are stories that remind us of the sacrifices that were made by the men and women who fought in World War II.

Pearl Harbor Survivors is an important book. It is a testament to the courage and resilience of the American people. It is a reminder of the sacrifices that were made by the men and women who fought in World War II. And it is a warning that we must never forget the lessons of that war.

The Servicemen

The 24 servicemen interviewed for Pearl Harbor Survivors come from all walks of life. They served in a variety of roles, from sailors to Marines to airmen. They were stationed on a variety of ships and aircraft, from the USS Arizona to the USS Nevada to the USS Enterprise. They experienced the attack from different perspectives, from the deck of a burning ship to the cockpit of a fighter plane. But they all shared one thing: they survived.

Here are brief biographies of each of the servicemen:

John D. Bulkeley was a Navy pilot who was flying a patrol mission over Pearl Harbor when the attack occurred. He shot down two Japanese planes before his own plane was damaged and he was forced to bail out. He survived the attack and went on to become a successful naval aviator.
William H. Dickey was a Marine who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Joseph E. Foss was a Marine pilot who was flying a combat air patrol over Pearl Harbor when the attack occurred. He shot down three Japanese planes before his own plane was damaged and he was forced to bail out. He survived the attack and went on to become a successful Marine aviator.
George H. Gay Jr. was a Navy pilot who was flying a patrol mission over Pearl Harbor when the attack occurred. He shot down one Japanese plane before his own plane was damaged and he was forced to bail out. He survived the attack and went on to become a successful naval aviator.
William Halford was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Nevada. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
William G. Hull was a Marine who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Louis E. Koppen was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
William L. Larsen was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Nevada. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Harry L. Martin was a Navy pilot who was flying a patrol mission over Pearl Harbor when the attack occurred. He shot down one Japanese plane before his own plane was damaged and he was forced to bail out. He survived the attack and went on to become a successful naval aviator.
John P. McCarthy was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
George K. McKelvey was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Donald K. Moore was a Navy pilot who was flying a combat air patrol over Pearl Harbor when the attack occurred. He shot down one Japanese plane before his own plane was damaged and he was forced to bail out. He survived the attack and went on to become a successful naval aviator.
William H. Mullinnix was a Marine who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Joseph F. O'Flaherty was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Charles W. Phillips was a Navy pilot who was flying a combat air patrol over Pearl Harbor when the attack occurred. He shot down one Japanese plane before his own plane was damaged and he was forced to bail out. He survived the attack and went on to become a successful naval aviator.
Joe R. Purcell was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Homer M. Ramsdell was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
George E. Ray was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Raymond H. Reid was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
William G. Reyer was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
William R. Roloff was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Carl O. Schrieber was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Arthur J. Sullivan was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.
Paul E. Thomas was a Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Arizona. He was below deck when the ship was attacked and he survived by climbing out through a porthole.

The Attack

The attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 AM on December 7, 1941. Japanese planes attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in two waves. The first wave of attackers consisted of 183 planes, which attacked the battleships USS Arizona, USS California, USS Nevada, USS Oklahoma, and USS West Virginia. The second wave of attackers consisted of 171 planes, which attacked the ships USS Shaw, USS Utah, and USS Cassin. The attack lasted for two hours and 40 minutes, and it resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 Americans and the sinking of 19 ships.

The servicemen interviewed for Pearl Harbor Survivors experienced the attack from different perspectives. Some were on the deck of a burning ship, while others were in the cockpit of a fighter plane. But they all shared one thing: they survived.

Here are excerpts from the servicemen's accounts of the attack:

Pearl Harbor Survivors: An Oral History of 24 Servicemen

by Harry Spiller

4.7 out of 5