Salvage of Pearl Harbor – Part III
This is Part III of the series by Drachinifel – Recovering Pearl Harbor – recovery and repair of USS Shaw as well as the two battleships Utah and Oklahoma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eibt2gYuFD4
Category: Historical, Navy
Japanese High Command; “We have destroyed the American Battle Ship Fleet beyond repair!”
American Ingenuity; “Hold mah beer and watch this!”
Tanks again Ex, a little back and forth, some pausing and restarts but got ‘er done. Now I gots to get some Apple Juice for Mr. Chromie. His batt-trees are like E. Porter Alexander’s on July 3, 1863 after a two hour bombardment…running low.
Hope a couple folks see this as I am rather late to the party.
Great videos! Thanks for posting them.
When my uncle passed away, I found out he was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania (in dry dock) when Pearl harbor was attacked. Since then and for years I have pestered my cousin to give me service info on his dad but to no avail. While watching a Tom Selleck narrated Pearl Harbor documentary on Monday, I once again pestered him. Here is what he sent to me –
“from what i understand, dad was at an open-air mass when the attack started (7:55 a.m. local) and when dismissed and blessed by the priest, they immediately started back to the base, he probably spent most of the duration of the first wave on getting back to the ship, but he had gotten back to his gun to see at least some of the second attack. half of his gun crew were killed after having been sent to the opposite-side gun when theirs was rendered inoperable. dad’s half of said crew was sent to the next gun down the same side. there’s a very famous picture of the “Pennsy” floating in a drydock after the attack, with the USS Cassin and the USS Downes, two destroyers which have been decimated in the foreground.
he was stationed aboard the USS Pennsylvania from 12-8-40 to april of ’43 (i don’t know the exact date).
he then served aboard the USS Sangamon (a “crashboat”) 9-10-43 to November of that same year.” (my comment: dates for the Sangamon service are likely incorrect.)
At least I got my cousin to give me his dad’s service number and I’ll proceed to get his records. I think I finally have my cousin convinced that the fact that his dad was witness and participant to the attack is a big deal in terms of family lore. Incidentally, the Selleck documentary had a picture of sailors at the mass. I hope to see if I can get the picture and try to determine if my uncle is in it.
Thank you for sharing aGrimm. Rest assured that there is at least one of us micreanted d’weeded deplorables that sees your post. I always go back every morning and catch what came in overnight. Maybe when you get Uncle’s records you can further share with us. Good to see you again Brother, hope you and yours are doing well.
You’re a gentleman and a scholar!
Well, if nothing else, you’re a gentleman.
Well, at least you’re a man.
Maybe. 🙂
(I always read your comments with a good degree of enjoyment though about a quarter of the time I need an interpreter.)
GO Navy!
Sweeet! As I was typing the above my cousin sent his dad’s NAVPERS equivalent to today’s DD-214. Uncle Joe was definitely assigned to the Pennsylvania at the time of the attack, thus the oral history is reasonably confirmed. Enlisted from 1940-1946, he made the E-5 equivalent rank of BM2c (Boatswain Mate 2nd Class). It might make a semi-interesting story to compare today’s DD-214 to the discharge papers of the past. Interested in seeing it? Let me know and I’ll email it.
One of my pet peeves and another angle to pursue might be the difference of medal/commendation awards in the past to today’s everything gets an award. I’m pretty sure I read recently that an Army puke got a commendation for the heroic action in the face of Covid of sweeping up a cigarette butt. Anyway, Uncle Joe got two awards: American Theater and the Victory Ribbon. I’ve always suspected that the military back then just considered combat action to just be doing one’s job. Shheeett, I got 3 medals and two ribbons for my actions in Nam which I consider far less than Joe’s actions. I find it annoying to compare today’s general/admiral’s chest to a picture of the chest of a WWI general/admiral. I remember seeing a WWI general and he only had 4 ribbons on his chest.
Heh Heh! My Man! And yeah, I’m a pointer not a setter. Can’t point as long as I used to, so I just get closer to what Imma pointing at. And betwists the Southern American and gun bunonics, I can understand needing an interpreter. Me being a smart interpreter, or as it’s been called, a “cunninglinguist” I can generally get my “point” across.
Kool as all hell you got Unkles’ records. I think that Mason or AW1Ed would have a lot of interest in making a thread on his Service. And comparing the paperwork from that ERA to what has come along since would be very interesting. And 10-4 on the bling. As mentioned before, Pop was in the ETO serving on the 8 inch guns, his bling after 1 year and change of daily combat was EARNED not given. Many of the Warriors that I served with were 3 war men and they had less bling than you see now on a FIRST (ht 2 Hack Stone) Termer.
Send ’em a note thru the contact us linky, if you don’t already have an admin direct. They spot check the comments, but don’t have the time to read them all, so little nuggets like this can get missed. Plus with the skilz setz of the ninja, they can glean out more info and the “rest of the story” that you or I can’t always find.
I look forward to it! Tell Mama and ’em I said Hey!
OH…and BTW…GO ARMY BEAT NAVY! and I appreciate you continued disrespect! 😀