Isaac Evans

Professor Cassandra Clark

History 1700
Section Number 032-F16
December 4, 2016

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Pearl Harbor Reflections
December 1941-- Europe and parts of the Asia were at war, but for the United
States it was a time of peaceful hesitation. The United States government was
deliberating whether or not they should enter the war in the European Scene.
Popular opinion supported peace, but many wondered what the United States
should do because of the devastation that occurred during World War I. The time of
hesitation ended, as the events of one Sunday morning closed the curtain on the
time of peace for the United States. On December 7, 1941 Japan led two phases of
attacks on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The attacks mainly targeted the U.S. Naval
ships docked at Pearl Harbor. The chaos of Pearl Harbor, lead soldiers to turn to
intimate detail in their recollections to establish order in the face of trauma.
WWII began in Europe in September 1939. The United States began to
preemptively prepare for war. After WWI, the last thing President Franklin D.
Roosevelt wanted was to be caught unaware and unprepared. Military historian,
Mary Ellen Condon-Rall explains how the U.S. readied its military and industrial
strength. Troops, supplies, and equipment flowed into Oahu, the main island in the
Hawaiian chain, after May 1940 when the island became the principal base of the
Pacific Fleet. The army, whose mission it was to defend the navy base and its air
installations, constructed airfields, an air warning system, and other facilities (66).
By December 1941, however, the army had completed only one-third of its
construction program, and much of its equipment was worn or obsolete (CondonRall 66). Condon-Rall explains that at the same time the Army was behind in their
mobilization, the Army Medical Department in Hawaii started to enlarge medical
intuitions as directed by the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army's mobilization plan

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(66). The Army Medical department had requested more personnel and supplies,
and men and equipment were on their way when the Japanese struck (CondonRall 67).
However, by the end of the year, the promised reinforcements had not
arrived. This would put the health and safety of U.S. military at a severe
disadvantage should a calamity occur. The percentage of Medical Department
personnel to total army strength was 3.5 percent below authorized Table of
Organization levels Shortages of nurses and anesthesiologists were acuteCivilmilitary cooperation was to be essential in the medical response to Pearl Harbor.
(Condon-Rall 71).
At six o'clock on the morning of 7 December 1941, A Japanese carrier task
force who was under the command of vice Admiral Chulchi Naguno moved to launch
its aircraft two hundred miles north of Oahu, main base of the U.S. About two hours
later, the Japanese aircraft began a surprise attack against the U.S. base at Pearl
Harbor on Oahu. The attack caught the major ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, with the
exception of three carriers at anchor. In the next thirty minutes, Japanese pilots
sank three battleships, capsized another, and damaged four more. The Japanese
also crippled three light cruisers, three destroyers, and numerous smaller vessels.
At the air bases they destroyed ninety-one naval aircraft and accounted for another
ninety-six belonging to the U.S. Army. The Japanese killed 2,327 American officers
and enlisted men and wounded 1,143 more. Among the wounded were 459 soldiers.
Although the losses were catastrophic, the armys greatest losses were at Hickam
Field, adjacent to Pearl Harbor.

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George A Delong a nineteen-year-old Naval men who was stationed on the
USS Oklahoma has an experience that that will be engraved in his mind forever. He
remembers extremely specific details such as how on the morning of December 7,
1941 he had skipped breakfast to relax and prepare for an admiral inspection. The
details continue as he explains that at 8 am, he heard a commander say on the
speaker, All hands man your battle stations! (2:15). Delong and his bunk friends
were on the third deck below the main deck. They started to grumble when they
heard this because it was a Sunday and they were still in the port. The commander
later came on and said this is not a drill. A few minutes later a battle station up on
the bridge deck above them slammed shut the air tight water door. There was no
other way for Delong and his fellow men to get out. After the door was shut Delong
says we started to hear explosions and the ship made a 7 or 8 degree turn.
Something traumatic was happening (3:24).
After the explosions the ship started to turn on its side, the chaos increased,
as did Delongs attention to detail. Delong recalled that water started coming in
and hell was breaking lose the in the little compartment (4:10). The naval men had
to block were to water was coming in with mattress and clothes. To make sure the
water didnt blow out the clothes Delong tied an X over the mattress to hold it
down. They soon started to hear tapping on the outer walls of the ship which was
other trapped men tapping an SOS call. As they kept looking for a way out they
found a trap door. No one dared to open it afraid that they might let in rushing
water. They all took a vote and decided to open the door. The room was empty and
full of fresh air. Hours went by and they soon heard a pounding which was a
chipping drill they used to cut through the metal. As the time passed they heard
overhead drilling. A door finally swung open and a hand came through.

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Delong mentioned I was the fifth one to get out, I dont know why I
remembered back then, but everything seemed to be of importance(17:13).
Delong said he was in complete shock when he was told he and his ship mates had
been trapped for a day and a half. During his time trapped in the ship he said he
and his shipmates had turned completely numb. He goes on to explain that, We
had used up all the oxygen and the water was up to our chest. We couldnt make up
our minds whether to drown or suffocate (20:30). After all of the chaos Delong
remembers an instance that was funny to him and his friends, he says Fellas Im
going to have to take a crap, they all started to shout no no you cant do it in here.
Ok wait a minute, I wont (24:56) I went over to the water edge and did it anyway.
Bernard Charles Comito also recalled the chaos of the Pearl Harbor attacks
with overwhelming clarity. He said the first explosions didnt startle the men, but,
what got our attention was seeing one of our aircraft getting bombed and
exploding. And the planes, the zeros, diving (14:40). Comito recalls his morning
began slowly. He and a friend were exploring the base and then decided, Lets go
see what cocoanuts tastes like (4:13). When he and his friend got to the middle of
a field they heard and explosion from the direction of Comitios base in Kaneohe.
Comito said planes were, buzzing around, there was a second explosion and the
PBY planes started to burn (6:06). Comito admitted that during the chaos of the
attack he didnt know who was attacking them. We saw big red circles on
airplanes, which really didnt mean anything to us (6:33). He grabbed a Lewis air
cooled 30 caliber machine gun and was told to get to the roof of the administration
building (8:07). It was a whirlwind of action and reaction. All this happened in a
period of 30-40 minutes, which really seemed like a lifetime to a 17-year-old boy
(7:16). Comito and his machine gun passed through a trap door and onto the roof of

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the administration building. When he looked over the edge he saw, complete
devastation (8:00). My emotions where anywhere from not knowing what to do,
to being extremely frightened (15:27).
Garnett L. Keisecome shared two startling and detailed memories. One was
on the Japanese as they flew overhead. Keisecome laughed as he recalled, [the
Japanese pilots] would wave at us in their airplanes (6:43). An interesting reaction
to have when you are talking about someone trying to kill you. Keisecome also told
of a soldier who was sitting on a bulldozer reading the funny papers while the Japs
was bombing us! (6:25). Keisecomes demeanor was relaxed and easy going during
his interview. He finished his Pearl Harbor memories by explaining how that night
we laid at a bowling alley, and everyone was trigger happy (7:03). Delong, Comito,
and Keisecome all expressed memories of Pearl Harbor with endless detail. Each of
these men experienced a significant amount of trauma. They saw and experienced
things most people never will. Perhaps it is this trauma and demands such details,
allowing their minds and their memories to process the events of the day, and
allowing them to make sense of it all.
While Delong, Comito and Keisecomes recollections of Pearl Harbor were
similar in the use of remarkable detail, Donald Patrick Finn recalled his memories
differently. Finn told his memories with a thread of simplicity and a common theme
of food. On the morning of December 7, 1941 Finn explained that a lot of men had
already gone to breakfast, and a lot had not. I was one of the ones that missed
breakfast (4:50). His memory of the day continued as he recalled his intention to
go to breakfast, but that he looked out the window toward the hangers and, I saw a
plane that was diving in the vicinity of where our planes were beached (5:07). He
continued by explaining that we did go to the mess hall, but breakfast was no

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longer being served so we never had breakfast (6:07). Finns memories remain
simple and lack the detail of Delong and Comito. He did recall, A lot of people
coming in the mess hall for First Aid from the ships on Ford Island (6:38). Finn and
his unit were put to work trying to clear debris from a blown up hanger all while the
battle was still going on around us as planes were still making torpedo runs down
the harbor (9:05). He returned to the theme of food as he measures his day by
meals. Sometime in the afternoon lunch came along. I dont remember what is
was. Sandwiches? His one clear and detailed memory was of the chaos the Pearl
Harbor the night after the attack. He explained how planes from U.S. aircraft
carriers were coming in to land from the sea. Some of our guys got itchy fingers
and shot at (the planes) with machine guns (12:56). Finn went on to explain that
none of the men in his unit were injured or killed. Perhaps that is why his memories
of the day are less detailed than Delong, Comito and Keisecome, as these men
admittedly experienced more trauma during the attack.
Henry G. Reith wrote letters home. Like Finn, in his letters, Reith also used
simplicity and a common theme, in this case the themes of family and home, as he
communicates with his family. On December 26, 1941, just 2 weeks after the
attacks, chaos and subsequent trauma of Pearl Harbor, he wrote to this mother
saying, I just sampled your nut bread and I think its pretty good. I think that if pop
didnt beat me to it, Id marry you for myself (Reith 1). He continues by explaining
that many injured men are returning to the mainland, Im glad for them because
theyll get better much quicker there. Paul will be back with us soon because the
way hes improved is proof that hes got what it takes (Reith 1). These statement
shows the comfort home and family bring to Reith as he faces the aftermath of the
attacks. Reith continued to assure his family of his safety and wellbeing. Dont

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forget, chins up and please dont worry (Reith 1). On December 14, 1941 Reith
wrote to his family explaining how he and a few of his buddies are helping each
other and sticking together. I wish you see us at times or maybe its better you
dont. I think you might consider disowning me. We still manage to find time to
shower and get in some clean clothing (Reith 1). Reiths casual conversation to his
family shows the love, support, and healing he finds in family and home. Perhaps by
focusing on what he holds dear helps him to process and make sense of the chaos
he experienced.
The memories collected by Delong, Comito, Keisecome, Finn, and Reith all
show men trying to cope with the damaging effects of war. The destruction not only
happened physically, but also mentally. The chaos of Pearl Harbor did indeed lead
these soldiers to hold onto intimate details of their experiences to establish order in
the face of their individual traumas. Some clung to details of the day, tasks, and
emotions, while others held to common themes, such as food or family, which
helped to comfort them.

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