As we honor the seventh anniversary of death of 3000 innocent Americans on 9-11, this article is very appropriate about another one of those fateful days so ingrained in our collective conscious.
This was from the June 28th Oklahoman, by John Greiner. "Vets recall fateful day in Hawaii."
Just seven former members of the USS Oklahoma made it to the reunion in Oklahoma City this year. There are an estimated 85 survivors altogether.
GEORGE A. SMITH, "I was running like hell to my battle station. I didn't go anywhere." he saw a Japanese pilot turn his plane and come in straight toward the USS Oklahoma, drop his torpedo, and wave goodbye.
He finally got to his battle station, but didn't know how to operate the 5-inch gun.
PAUL GOODYEAR, 90, of Casa Grande, Arizona, was there. His efforts played a major role in the establishment of the USS Oklahoma Memorial to the 429 crew members who died that day.
BILL HENDLEY, 88, of Wilmington, NC, served on the ship from 1937 to November 1941 and was transferred to New Jersey. From there, he shipped off to the European Theatre and served on a ship that took part in the invasions of Italy at Salerno and Anzio.
More to Come... --Cooter
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