Could men work? Indeed, what could possibly be done to save the ship? No one knew that far below three sailors sat trapped in the pump room where they would cling to life until Christmas Eve.
It was just nearing sundown on the day of the attack when Ensign Edward Jacoby came ashore with more men who were also losing the anti-fire campaign. As he started for the temporary crew headquarters at the Ford Island BOQ for rest, a bugle sounded evening colors. He came to attention the simple ceremony, occurring as always despite the disaster, gave one man assurance that America would carry on.
A week later when the big fires were out and the dead buried, Commander Hillenkotter, the "WeeVee's" senior surviving officer, sat down to prepare a formal report on the ordeal. Hard pressed, the tired"Exec" concluded:
"Throughout the entire action and through all the arduous labors which followed, there was never the slightest sign of faltering or of cowardice. The actions of the officers and men were all highly commendable: their spirit was marvelous; there was no panic, no shirking nor flinching, and 3words fail in attempting to describe the truly magnificent display of courage, discipline, and devotion to duty of all officers and men."
As the year 1941 closed, it was known in Pearl Harbor circles that any thought of refloating the West Virginia would have to wait until less greviously hurt vessels could be patched up and sent into the fray. It would be months before Chief Salvage Officer Captain Homer Wallin would be able to give her his full attention. When that time came, the salvage of the Wee Vee, the last and most seriously damaged major casualty, would prove one of the engineering"miracles of World War 11.
Note: This story taken from"The Mountain State Battleship, USS West Virginia By: Myron J. Smith Jr.
Note: The second flag raised at Pearl and flown at Surigao Straits in now in our possession and will be with us at all future reunions.
Quote: From Cdr. Bob Kronberger In the movie Pearl Harbor, some of the scenes were far from the truth. The romance of the pilot and the nurse was unnecessary. Some the these things took away from the historical significants of the air assault by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. Hats off to our survivors. Our ships company salute you.