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Arles E. Cole Enlisted USN USS West Virginia 1941 |
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Arles E. Cole Enlisted USN USS West Virginia 1941 |
Arles Cole is a Pearl Harbor Survivor on the USS West Virginia. He enlisted in the Navy December 31, 1940 - just a couple of weeks after
turning 17. After training and Navigational School he went aboard his first
assignment, the newest battleship in the Pacific Fleet, the USS West
Virginia.
During the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, his position was four decks below the main deck. It is there that he was trapped.
"When the torpedoes began to hit I saw oil and water coming in down that
long passage way. Just pouring in," says Cole.
He escaped by squeezing through a hole to the next deck. There he
picked up a wounded sailor and carried him up three ladders to the main
deck.
"I looked back and the Arizona had blown up. And, fire everywhere, all on
the water and all around.” On reaching the main deck, he realized that there was no American flag flying on the ship. Cole said it was his duty to find
one and fly it for everyone to see. He did. "Some of the sailors on other ships saw that flag and they said that it was
an encouragement to them so it gives me good feeling that I had a part in
putting that up there,”
He served as a sailor for 3 years 8 months and 20 days in almost
continious battle conditions. |
