Over the side into boats went hundreds of men while others jumped into the water and swam to Ford Island. A number crossed over to the Tennessee-a few by walking tightrope over the barrel of a 5-inch gun-and were impressed to help her defenders. On the signal bridge, Ensign Delano recruited a couple of men, including Mess Attendant Doris Miller, to man two idle machine guns to help cover the exodus. In no time Miller, a tall black man innocent of previous gunnery drill, was shooting merrily wearing the first smile anyone could recall his having since his recent Pacific Fleet Heavyweight Boxing triumph. As the fires raged out of control and the clouds of black smoke blocked out all vision, even these stalwarts were forced to flee. The West Virginia was lost with two officers and 103 men.
Readers should remember that as in any major battle, a number of events were unfolding simultaneously, even as they affected this one ship. While the crew was abandoning her, others moved to help. Chief Boatswains Mate L.M. Jansen, commander of the YG-17, acted on his own "hook" to bring his garbage lighter, or "honey barge" alongside to fight the fires. This little craft valiantly held her position pumping water in spite of repeated explosions of ammunition in the battleships ready boxes. Following Jansen's lead, the Commander Battleships soon ordered the USS Tern and Widgeon to assist. At one point in this episode, a motor whaleboat from the USS Honolulu expended CO2 extinguishers on the fire making repeated runs along the edge. Each time this was done, the sides of the little craft broke into flames, which had to be put out before the next run. The heat was so intense that the men in the boat had to lean way over the unexposed side to protect themselves. These impromptu fire boats continued their war for hours, eventually checking the inferno.
The great oil fire aboard the West Virginia continued despite the best efforts of all for nearly 30 hours, during which time extensive additional damage was done. For about three quarters of her length, the heat buckled all of the deck plating above the second deck and some of the bulkheading. When Nagumo's planes came in, she was carrying approximately 70 percent of her fuel capacity, which now leaked out to join the burning oil and debris in the water alongside.
Following the exodus of the ship's crew, her officers organized details from among able and unhurt men to return aboard. Working in relays, these sailors fought the smoky flames into Monday, winning the contest late that afternoon. It was a hard and grimy toil from which three vigenettes can be chosen to demonstrate the sadness of the situation.
Quartermaster Edward Vecera ran up battle colors with a new flag borrowed from another ship. What should he do with the soiled ragged bunting just hauled down? An officer noted that such items were usually sent to Annapolis for preservation, but in this case, amid such tragedy, it seemed unimportant. The West Virginia's flag was burned. The Pearl Harbor Flag she later supposedly wore into the Battle of Surigao Straits was the second ensign,
When Lt. Commander Dior Johnson's party was driven from the quarterdeck by gushing flame, that tired officer observed the melted port hold glass. Against fire so hot, how