How Did The Uss Arizonaon Attack On Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked in one of the worst attacks in American History. The attack on Pearl Harbor cost the United States 2,500 lives, wounded 1,000 people, heavily damaged or destroyed 18 ships, and destroyed or put out of action close to 300 airplanes (History). The USS Arizona was hit the hardest and lost the most. Almost nine minutes after being hit four times by Japanese bombers, the USS Arizona sank taking 1,177 crew members with her (History). This is the story of the surviving crew members on the "date which will live in infamy," as President Roosevelt described it. The morning of December 7, 1941 was a Sunday that started out like any other Sunday morning. The men that were aboard the USS Arizona were either sleeping or
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getting ready for shift change.
Unperceived to the sailors the Japanese ships reached the position they were going to launch their attack from. The first fighters, bombers and torpedo planes, were launched at 6:00 in the morning. By 6:40 a.m. a midget submarine was spotted heading toward Pearl Harbor. The USS Ward spotted it and sank the sub, reporting the incident to headquarters (NPS). A large group of planes approaching from the north was picked up at the Opana Point radar station just before seven that morning. This was written off as expected incoming B-117's from the mainland or aircraft from the Enterprise (NPS).
Lieutenant Commander Samuel G. Fuqua and some of his men were in the ward room eating breakfast (USSarizona). Little did they know at 7:55 am their lives would be forever altered as the Japanese aircraft were directly over their intended targets, starting the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua described the attack as follows, "...about 0755 when a short signal on the ship's air raid alarm was made. I immediately went to the phone and called the officer-of-the-deck to
sound general quarters and then shortly thereafter ran up to the starboard side of the quarter deck to see if he had received work. On coming out of the ward room hatch on the port side, I saw a Japanese plane go by, the machine guns firing, at an altitude of about 100 feet." (ussarizona.org). Sergent John McCray Baker was having breakfast in the Marine Compartment when he heard the air raid alarm (ussarizona). Sergent Baker describes the scene, "Our anit-aircraft guns came into action, I think, a little before General Quarters sounded. I started up the starboard ladder, and as there was considerable congestion there, 22nd Lieutenant Simensen, USMC forced his way up the ladder, which led through the Casemate #9; the gun was already manned and I heard Corporal Bond yell train out to 90" (ussarizona.org). GCM John Andrew Doherty was in the Cheif's quarters during these events. All of a sudden he heard something hit, "I went immediately to my battle station which is the A.A. Battery. When I arrived on the boat deck, I saw the forecastle waving up and down and fire and smoke coming up through seams of the deck.” (ussarizona.org). The first hit that Doherty describes happened at 8:10 am. The USS Arizona was hit by a 1,760 pound armor piercing shell that went right through her deck and landed smack dab in just the right spot, sparking the forward ammunition magazine (History). Caos was taking over as the men were fighting to save their ship and defend her from further damage. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua describes his next moves, "As I was running forward on the starboard side of the quarter deck, approximately by the starboard gangway, I was apparently knocked out by the blast of a bomb which I later learned had struck the face plate of #4 turrent on the starboard side and had glanced off and gone through the deck just forward of the captains hatch, penetrating the decks and exploding on the third deck" (ussarizona). As Lieutenant Commander Fuqua was knocked out by one bomb, Sergeant Baker was following Lieutenant Simensen to the first platform of the main mast. As soon as Lieutenant Simensen stepped around the superstructure a bomb struck the boat, sending fragments flying (ussarizona). Lieutenant Simensen was struck in the mid section and died right before Sergeant Baker's eyes (ussarizona). Seargent Baker made his way to the Secondary Aft's control station. He was the range keeper operator for Group Three (ussarizona). Sergeant Baker describes the next moments as follows, "Less than a minute later what seemed to be a very large bomb, went directly down our stack. A tremendous shock shook the ship and she seemed afire at once" (ussarizona). While Sergeant Baker was in the Second Aft's control station, GCM Doherty was on the deck, "I noticed No. 3 gun wasn't firing due to safety bearing when the foot firing mechanism cut out. I was then shocked and surrounded by smoke and flames. (ussarizona). GCM Doherty was backing away from the smoke and flames when somehow he ended up in the water and doesn't remember how (ussarizona.org). Sergeant Baker was trying to find a way to the deck, "The Major shouted we might as well go below as we were no good there; I was the first, I think, to start down the ladder. When I reached the search-light platform someone hollered, "You can't use the ladder" (ussarizona). The men who are able are frantic to find their way to the top deck. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua regains consciousness only to find the ship engulfed in flames on the deck. He could still hear the anti-aircraft and machine guns firing away trying to take down as many Japanese planes as they could (ussarizona.org). The USS Arizona was being taken over by the blaze that had started on the deck and was now taking over the quarter deck. The men were trying to extinguish the flames, but there was no water in the fire mains (ussarizona.org). Fire extinguishers allowed the men to hold off enough of the fire to grab their wounded brothers. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua describes his next moves, "Not knowing whether the Captain or the Admiral had ever reached the bridge, I had the Captain's hatch opened up, immediately after I came to, and sent officers Ensign G.B. Lenning, USNR and Ensign J.D. Miller, USN down to search the Captain's and Admirals cabins to see if they were there." (ussarizona.org). The cabins were both abandoned so the men proceeded saving all but three or four men in this area of the ship (ussarizona). At 9:oo am Lieutenant Commander Fuqua becomes aware that the ship is sinking and there is no saving it. He orders all of the men to abandon ship. At this time Sergeant Baker is running through the massive amount of damage and fire to the Officer's ladder that lead to the Quarterdeck. (ussarizona.org). Sergeant Baker recounts what he saw, "The first person I saw was Lt. Cmdr. Fuqua; he was very calm and aiding men over the side--these men who had been burned so severely were barely able to stand, and many apparently could not see, they would not have made it to shore if it had not been for the presence of mind of the Commander. He was assisting two wounded men. I took off my clothes to swim for it. His calmness gave me courage and I looked around the deck to see if I could help" (ussarizona). These men were lucky. They survived and now the horrible task of finding survivors and helping them get to safety quickly began. There were several men who were not even on the boat that morning. Galen Owen Ballard, F1 USN, was one of those lucky men. He had an overnight pass to stay on the island. He met a girl and spent the night with her. The next morning, a little before 8:00 am, he decided he wanted to listen to the radio. “The announcer was excited, repeating over and over, “Seek cover, this is no drill. Rising Sun has been spotted on the wing tips. It's a raid. Clear the streets, seek cover. Then all military personnel report to your base, posts, or ships,”” is what Ballard was facing that morning (ussarizona). That was all Ballard needed to hear to go full speed ahead. He made his way over to where he could get a cab to return to the base. The entire way hearing bombs overhead and anit-aircraft fire blazing on making the soldiers afraid of being hit before even making it to their ship (ussarizona). Ballard describes what he saw as they approached the ship, “It was a terrible sight to see the battleship so mutilated the havoc was just to immense to grasp. Across was the Arizona burning. We'd seen the smoke in the distance and thought it was from oil dumps being hit. But it was our ship.” (ussarizona). Ballard was assigned to the No. 6 fire room. He was told that one of the bombs the large powder storage, the forward powder magazine that serviced the No. 1 and No. 2 turrents exploded. The large amount of ammunition stored on the USS Arizona combined with this bomb is what conclusively sank her. (nps). The crew that called the massive ship, The USS Arizona, did everything in their power to save her. Sadly, she sank in spite of their best efforts, taking over 900 men into the depths with her. Ballard describes the ship fondly, “The Arizona had been my home since March 1936, and I had many fine shipmates aboard. The Arizona was so big, that I was on it for six years and never got to every place. We were a self-contained city with ship service store, barber shop with four chairs, soda fountain, post office, print shop, a newspaper, dentist's office, sick bay, brig, and over 1,500 men” (ussarizona). Many men died calling this ship home. Thirty three sets of brothers and the ships only father and son pair were all claimed by this attack. The surviving men live carrying a massive burden. They don't see themselves as hero's but hero's they are.
getting ready for shift change.
Unperceived to the sailors the Japanese ships reached the position they were going to launch their attack from. The first fighters, bombers and torpedo planes, were launched at 6:00 in the morning. By 6:40 a.m. a midget submarine was spotted heading toward Pearl Harbor. The USS Ward spotted it and sank the sub, reporting the incident to headquarters (NPS). A large group of planes approaching from the north was picked up at the Opana Point radar station just before seven that morning. This was written off as expected incoming B-117's from the mainland or aircraft from the Enterprise (NPS).
Lieutenant Commander Samuel G. Fuqua and some of his men were in the ward room eating breakfast (USSarizona). Little did they know at 7:55 am their lives would be forever altered as the Japanese aircraft were directly over their intended targets, starting the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua described the attack as follows, "...about 0755 when a short signal on the ship's air raid alarm was made. I immediately went to the phone and called the officer-of-the-deck to
sound general quarters and then shortly thereafter ran up to the starboard side of the quarter deck to see if he had received work. On coming out of the ward room hatch on the port side, I saw a Japanese plane go by, the machine guns firing, at an altitude of about 100 feet." (ussarizona.org). Sergent John McCray Baker was having breakfast in the Marine Compartment when he heard the air raid alarm (ussarizona). Sergent Baker describes the scene, "Our anit-aircraft guns came into action, I think, a little before General Quarters sounded. I started up the starboard ladder, and as there was considerable congestion there, 22nd Lieutenant Simensen, USMC forced his way up the ladder, which led through the Casemate #9; the gun was already manned and I heard Corporal Bond yell train out to 90" (ussarizona.org). GCM John Andrew Doherty was in the Cheif's quarters during these events. All of a sudden he heard something hit, "I went immediately to my battle station which is the A.A. Battery. When I arrived on the boat deck, I saw the forecastle waving up and down and fire and smoke coming up through seams of the deck.” (ussarizona.org). The first hit that Doherty describes happened at 8:10 am. The USS Arizona was hit by a 1,760 pound armor piercing shell that went right through her deck and landed smack dab in just the right spot, sparking the forward ammunition magazine (History). Caos was taking over as the men were fighting to save their ship and defend her from further damage. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua describes his next moves, "As I was running forward on the starboard side of the quarter deck, approximately by the starboard gangway, I was apparently knocked out by the blast of a bomb which I later learned had struck the face plate of #4 turrent on the starboard side and had glanced off and gone through the deck just forward of the captains hatch, penetrating the decks and exploding on the third deck" (ussarizona). As Lieutenant Commander Fuqua was knocked out by one bomb, Sergeant Baker was following Lieutenant Simensen to the first platform of the main mast. As soon as Lieutenant Simensen stepped around the superstructure a bomb struck the boat, sending fragments flying (ussarizona). Lieutenant Simensen was struck in the mid section and died right before Sergeant Baker's eyes (ussarizona). Seargent Baker made his way to the Secondary Aft's control station. He was the range keeper operator for Group Three (ussarizona). Sergeant Baker describes the next moments as follows, "Less than a minute later what seemed to be a very large bomb, went directly down our stack. A tremendous shock shook the ship and she seemed afire at once" (ussarizona). While Sergeant Baker was in the Second Aft's control station, GCM Doherty was on the deck, "I noticed No. 3 gun wasn't firing due to safety bearing when the foot firing mechanism cut out. I was then shocked and surrounded by smoke and flames. (ussarizona). GCM Doherty was backing away from the smoke and flames when somehow he ended up in the water and doesn't remember how (ussarizona.org). Sergeant Baker was trying to find a way to the deck, "The Major shouted we might as well go below as we were no good there; I was the first, I think, to start down the ladder. When I reached the search-light platform someone hollered, "You can't use the ladder" (ussarizona). The men who are able are frantic to find their way to the top deck. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua regains consciousness only to find the ship engulfed in flames on the deck. He could still hear the anti-aircraft and machine guns firing away trying to take down as many Japanese planes as they could (ussarizona.org). The USS Arizona was being taken over by the blaze that had started on the deck and was now taking over the quarter deck. The men were trying to extinguish the flames, but there was no water in the fire mains (ussarizona.org). Fire extinguishers allowed the men to hold off enough of the fire to grab their wounded brothers. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua describes his next moves, "Not knowing whether the Captain or the Admiral had ever reached the bridge, I had the Captain's hatch opened up, immediately after I came to, and sent officers Ensign G.B. Lenning, USNR and Ensign J.D. Miller, USN down to search the Captain's and Admirals cabins to see if they were there." (ussarizona.org). The cabins were both abandoned so the men proceeded saving all but three or four men in this area of the ship (ussarizona). At 9:oo am Lieutenant Commander Fuqua becomes aware that the ship is sinking and there is no saving it. He orders all of the men to abandon ship. At this time Sergeant Baker is running through the massive amount of damage and fire to the Officer's ladder that lead to the Quarterdeck. (ussarizona.org). Sergeant Baker recounts what he saw, "The first person I saw was Lt. Cmdr. Fuqua; he was very calm and aiding men over the side--these men who had been burned so severely were barely able to stand, and many apparently could not see, they would not have made it to shore if it had not been for the presence of mind of the Commander. He was assisting two wounded men. I took off my clothes to swim for it. His calmness gave me courage and I looked around the deck to see if I could help" (ussarizona). These men were lucky. They survived and now the horrible task of finding survivors and helping them get to safety quickly began. There were several men who were not even on the boat that morning. Galen Owen Ballard, F1 USN, was one of those lucky men. He had an overnight pass to stay on the island. He met a girl and spent the night with her. The next morning, a little before 8:00 am, he decided he wanted to listen to the radio. “The announcer was excited, repeating over and over, “Seek cover, this is no drill. Rising Sun has been spotted on the wing tips. It's a raid. Clear the streets, seek cover. Then all military personnel report to your base, posts, or ships,”” is what Ballard was facing that morning (ussarizona). That was all Ballard needed to hear to go full speed ahead. He made his way over to where he could get a cab to return to the base. The entire way hearing bombs overhead and anit-aircraft fire blazing on making the soldiers afraid of being hit before even making it to their ship (ussarizona). Ballard describes what he saw as they approached the ship, “It was a terrible sight to see the battleship so mutilated the havoc was just to immense to grasp. Across was the Arizona burning. We'd seen the smoke in the distance and thought it was from oil dumps being hit. But it was our ship.” (ussarizona). Ballard was assigned to the No. 6 fire room. He was told that one of the bombs the large powder storage, the forward powder magazine that serviced the No. 1 and No. 2 turrents exploded. The large amount of ammunition stored on the USS Arizona combined with this bomb is what conclusively sank her. (nps). The crew that called the massive ship, The USS Arizona, did everything in their power to save her. Sadly, she sank in spite of their best efforts, taking over 900 men into the depths with her. Ballard describes the ship fondly, “The Arizona had been my home since March 1936, and I had many fine shipmates aboard. The Arizona was so big, that I was on it for six years and never got to every place. We were a self-contained city with ship service store, barber shop with four chairs, soda fountain, post office, print shop, a newspaper, dentist's office, sick bay, brig, and over 1,500 men” (ussarizona). Many men died calling this ship home. Thirty three sets of brothers and the ships only father and son pair were all claimed by this attack. The surviving men live carrying a massive burden. They don't see themselves as hero's but hero's they are.