Mr. Praksti was a Pearl Harbor Survivor from the USS West Virginia.

The following was sent in by Mike Praksti's son Pete.

When the attack started he was in the infirmary having his temperature taken.  When the first torpedo hit, he ran out to meet the captain, as he was his yeoman.  They made their way towards the bridge and when the Captain reached the bridge, my Dad was on the ladder a few feet below him.  Another bomb exploded and my Dad was blown off the ladder and the captain was mortally wounded.  My Dad said he thought he broke all his teeth because he felt the chips in his mouth but it turned out to be the thermometer that he still had in his mouth from the infirmary.