Blown overboard

William W. Parker

“I was on the deck of the Arizona when we became aware of the attack,” Parker said. Amid “planes diving and bombing,” crew members scrambled to their battle stations.

“My station was anti-aircraft gun No. 1. When we were told to seek cover, I could see no way of escape as the ship was being ripped apart.”

During the attack, Parker said, a buddy in the gun crew was killed. “I remained at my station, loading and firing until I was blown overboard by an explosion. The next thing I knew, I was wading in water near Ford Island.”

‘The big hit’

Clay Henry Musick

“I was polishing bright work on a motorboat for an 8:05 a.m. trip to pick up officers,” Musick said.

Upon spotting a Japanese plane in “throwing distance,” the hoistman in port AA (anti-aircraft) magazine hurried to his battle station and had just started “sending up ammo when the Arizona took the first hit, knocking me down.”

After getting up to “crank up the ammo,” he said, “the big hit, one down the stack,” knocked him down again and left everyone in the battle station area soaked in “live steam.”

Musick said the explosion left him unconscious, and he was then lifted up two 10-foot ladders. “I came to as I stepped out on top deck.” After making his way into the water, Musick was picked up by a tugboat and later transported to a hospital.

From the Arizona to the Nevada

G.H. Lane

“When the attack started on December 7, 1941, it was just before 0800 and I was on the forecastle of the USS Arizona. I saw torpedo planes, with the rising sun insignia under their wings, attacking ships ahead of us. General alarm was then sounded and we were all told to seek cover. I went aft to the aviation workshop and helped wake men who were still sleeping there and closed battle ports in the optical shop.”

Lane continued, “The order came for all hands not assigned to anti-aircraft batteries to go to the third deck. I started for the third deck but just then general quarters was sounded. I came back and started for my general quarters station which is a repair station (patrol five). We were hit aft and also in one or two other places on the ship.”

Then, he said, “Word came, ‘Fire in the Executive Officer’s Office.’” Lane and others manned a fire hose and went on the quarterdeck to connect it and fight the fire aft on the quarterdeck.” Lt. Cmdr. Fuqua was at his post on the quarterdeck where the bomb had hit.

Lane was on the nozzle end of the hose and told the others to turn on the water. “They did, but no water came. I turned around to see if the hose had any kinks in it and at that time there was an explosion, which knocked me off the ship.”

“I was taken aboard the Nevada where I was brought to my senses,” Lane said, adding that he realized he had been in the water because “I was soaked with oil.”

At that time, he said, “The Nevada was underway and I helped handle powder for the 5-inch gun. When the Nevada was hit in the dry dock channel, the gun was put out and the ship was afire. I helped get wounded aft and fought fire until I was choked by smoke and fumes. They sent me from the Nevada to the Solace where I was put to bed and cuts and bruises treated. I couldn’t see either until my eyes were washed out and treated.”

Lane was released from the hospital ship Dec. 10 and sent to Receiving Barracks where Fuqua told him to rejoin the aviation unit at Ford Island.