Hello Neal,
I read your post regarding the Pearl Harbor casualty list. Although there
were no Carrier casualties suffered during the Pearl Harbor attack, there was
at least one Carrier there during the invasion.
Since the movie Pearl Harbor premiered this weekend (I saw it yesterday), I
thought all of the fellow Carriers might be interested to learn that my
father, William Russell Carrier, was a 23 year-old sailor aboard the USS
Oklahoma on December 7, 1941.
Dad was a musician and was on deck during the early morning hours just before
the invasion. The band was assembled to "blow colors" (the national anthem).
Just before they began, the band members could see the planes coming towards
them. One of Dad's band mates stated "it's mighty early on a Sunday for our
planes to be practicing." Just then the planes got close enough for Dad to
see the red circle on the side and he replied "those aren't our planes."
Needless to say, the national anthem was not played that day on the USS
Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma received 5 torpedo hits, and capsized within approximately 10
minutes. Dad ended up in the water as the ship began to list. The water was
full of burning oil and fuel from the damaged ships. Dad wasn't the best
swimmer, and was drowning after swallowing sea water and the fuel/oil
contamination. He was able to catch one finger onto the rope cargo net
alongside of the ship and pull himself out of the water. The Oklahoma had
more casualties than any ship except the Arizona. In fact, all of the
battleships were ultimately put back into service except the Arizona and the
Oklahoma.
An interesting piece of history that was not mentioned in the movie is that
there was a "battle of the bands" on the evening of December 6th. All of the
ships bands competed. This was the big band era and swing music was in full
force. The prize for winning the contest was that the winning band got to
sleep in on Sunday morning.
All of the other bands had to rise early and "blow colors" as usual. Which
band won the contest? The Arizona's band won, and we now know that winning
that contest was their death sentence.
I suppose I'm rambling in this mail message, but I thought some would be
interested to hear a few tidbits. I'll finish to let everyone know that Dad
ended his Naval career about 1947 with 10 years of service. He became a
charter member of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association, and was a member
of the Sacramento Chapter.
Dad passed away on July 21st, 1994 at the age of 76. He was cremated and I
asked the US Navy to perform a burial at sea ceremony in Hawaiian waters, as
Hawaii was the only place Dad said he was ever homesick for. He died just 5
days before his first grandson was born.
So now you should go see the Pearl Harbor movie. When you see the Oklahoma
and all of the sailors in the oil filled waters, remember that one of them
was really a Carrier!
Have a great memorial day everyone,
Dave Carrier
Dave,
Glad you posted that information regarding your father, it was interesting. So
many of that generation are gone now and cannot tell their stories.
My father and his three brothers were all in the army during WWII so my
grandmother was a four star mother. Luckily they all survived but have passed on.
What was your opinion of the movie? From the previews I've watched and
comments made by some Pearl Harbor vets who have seen it, it seems to be a
bit overdone with the great balls of fire (typical Hollywood and Disney) and some
slanting of the historical perspective for dramatic affect.
I guess I'm spoiled as I thought Tora Tora Tora told the story pretty well.
Neal Carrier