Monday, September 15, 2008

Pearl Harbor Vets Remember that Fateful Day-- Part 2

Continuing with the USS Oklahoma Survivors Reunion in Oklahoma City.


FIRST WW II MESSAGE?

GERALD HALTERMAN, 87, of Farmingham, Massachusetts, had served seventeen months on the USS Oklahoma before being assigned to naval headquarters on land and was on the midnight watch Dec. 7th. He typed a message to headquarters from the USS Ward that reported seeing seeing a submarine in Pearl Harbor and dropping depth charges on it. "I think I typed the first message of World War II."

He had just gotten off duty and back to his room when he heard loud explosions and the attack had begun. "They were using our building to make a left turn and fly down on the ships."


ED VEZEY, 88, of Center, Colorado, a USS Oklahoma survivor, said that he later talked with the commander of the USS Ward who told him, "At 4 o'clock in the morning, I'm already sinking subs and nobody is paying any attention to me."

Before Dec. 7th, Americans had standing orders to fire on any vessel entering operational areas that didn't respond to challenge.

From June 26th Oklahoman.

More to Come. --Cooter

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