Ed Carstens US Navy USS West Virginia |
My name is Ed Carstens and at the time of the attack I was a f/3c. It all started thusly. 7:55 am and I was at my muster station alongside turret #3 waiting for the bugler to sound a call for colors. Facing the channel waters I suddenly saw two aircraft flying low and heading straight for my ship. I thought it was an exercise of sort as they roared up and away. But then, two other aircraft, also flying low, were heading for my ship. Watching their antics, I saw two objects fall from their craft making a tremendous splash. Suddenly, I spotted two wakes headed for the ship and surmised they were torpedoes. By the time I got the word "Torpedoes" out of my mouth, they had hit and exploded. General Quarters was sounded and I headed for my battle station, located on the second deck in the bow section, as a member of a damage control party. After descending to the second deck, I made my way forward on the port side where the torpedoes were exploding. Learned later that we had been hit with eight plus two bomb hits. By the time I reached my battle station, the ship had begun to list to port. It certainly didn't help that all the portholes were open allowing water to enter and help flood the ship. I arrived at my battle station along with 4 other crewmen and a warrant officer, and we waited for further orders. But having lost communication with the bridge, we decided to go aft and lend assistance where needed. Entering the adjacent compartment, we heard a terrific explosion which knocked all of us off our feet and scattering us like ten-pins. Going back to the compartment we had left, we found a gaping hole from a bomb hit. Had we not left, I wouldn't be here to write this. We made our way to sick-bay and proceeded to evacuate the lame and disabled. This took the better part of almost an hour. By the time we got the last man out to safety, we were sloshing in fuel oil that was chest high and had seeped in from ruptured fuel tanks. At this point, I passed out from the fumes and upon recovering, found myself being supported by 2 shipmates topside. After assuring them that I was able to navigate on my own, they directed me to a launch that was tied up to the bow and told me to get off the ship. Easier said than done, as the second attack wave had arrived and was in the process of finishing the job of destroying as many ships as possible. In between strafing attacks, I finally made it to the launch in which was a coxswain and a mess attendant who was vomiting his insides out. In an attempt to move the launch and head to land, we discovered the propeller was damaged and of no use. Man the oars, which we did, but to no avail as the current carried us to the already over turned Oklahoma resting with her keel up. We made an another attempt to head the launch to the submarine base across the channel just as more aircraft were strafing everything in sight, including us. Fortunately, we were not hit, though the bullets were piercing the water on both sides of the launch. It was then that we saw a crash boat approaching from the sub base, casting a line and towing us to the base and dry land. It was then that the realization of what happened set in and the feeling of fear caused my body to tremble as never before. After taking a gasoline bath to remove the fuel oil from my body, and getting clean clothes from the lucky bag, I settled down as best I could for 3 days at which time I received orders to report aboard the USS New Orleans (CA32), a heavy cruiser. This also was torpedoed in the battle of Tassafronga in November, 1942 and lost its' bow. But that is another story. This then is my story. Thank you for allowing me to tell it as it was. Having lost my home, the USS West Virginia during that infamous raid on December 7, 1941, I spent three days with nothing to do at Bloch Arena. No clothing of my own, just what I was able to retrieve from the Lucky Bag. The days were warm but the nights were chilly and there weren't any blankets available to help stay warm, that is, till the Red Cross made an appearance. And what did they offer? Blankets for $15 and cigarettes for $5 a carton. Quite a show of patriotism. Needless to say, I wasn't able to purchase either of these items as all my worldly goods were within my ship that was sitting in the mud where she sank. On the third day of this miserable environment, I was given a choice of duty. Serve on a garbage scow or serve on the USS New Orleans, a heavy cruiser affectionately known as the "NO-BOAT". And thus I became a member of the crew on this cruiser whose ultimate destiny was to become known as the"Miracle Ship". We left Pearl on the 10th of December along with two destroyers having received orders to "seek and destroy", referring to the Japanese task forces. Without any knowledge of their position, we wandered in a southerly direction hoping against hope that we wouldn't encounter them. After learning the size of their forces, our chances of survival would have been nil. December 24 found us off of Christmas Island and I was standing a midnight to four watch topside. It was raining so hard you couldn't see the ocean, but there I was with binoculars in hand searching for ships or submarine periscopes. What a joke that was. After returning to Pearl, we were ordered to the "states" for overhaul and new additions. Spent 30 days in Mare Island which included two luscious week-ends in San Francisco. Upon leaving, we were assigned to escort a convoy to Brisbane, Australia. The return leg took us to Noumea, Bora-Bora, Tonga, Pago-Pago and back to Pearl where we joined Task Force 17. Engaged in the battle of Coral Sea in which we lost the carrier USS Lexington. Back to Pearl. Became part of Task Force 16 and were ordered to Midway which battle took place on June 4, 1942. Joined Task Force 11 and engaged in the landings on Guadalcanal followed by the battle of the Eastern Solomons. On November 30, 1942, the No-Boat plus the Minneapolis, Northhampton and Pensacola were engaged in the battle of Tassafronga, attempting todestroy Japanese troop ships whose purpose was to fortify the the existing troops. The protective Jap destroyers laid out a spread of torpedoes hitting all four cruisers and resulting in the sinking of the Northhampton and causing severe damage to the others. The torpedo hit sustained by the No-Boat resulted in igniting 8,000 gallons of aviation fuel plus 75 rounds of 8 inch ammunition. The combined explosion sheared the bow which before sinking floated past on the port side and punched three holes in the side of the ship. Beached for eleven days in which we shored up the the forward bulkhead and headed for Sydney, Australia. It wasn't a pleasant trip. After sneaking past the Jap shore batteries without detection, we headed for the open seas at the rate of three knots to keep the forward end of the ship from caving in, taking on water and thus sinking. Encountered a vicious storm en route which threatened to roll us over. The 2 destroyer escorts were betting 100 to 1 that we would roll and that bet was a real loser. For 24 hours, every available man was top side with a life jacket on performing what is known as "sally ship". In explanation, every time the ship rolled to Port, everyone ran to the starboard side. We arrived in Sydney on December 24, 1942, X-Mas eve, to a tumultuous crowd all waving American flags. We were able to enjoy the hospitality of the "Aussies" for 75 days after which having had a temporary bow welded to the front of the ship, we set sail for Bremerton, Washington, USA. arriving there on April 3, 1943. This ended my tour of duty on the No-Boat as I received orders to report to EIC school in Anacostia, Washington D.C. Sea bag on my shoulder, leaving the gang plank, I turned and saluted a justly proud ship of the line, never to see her again. Then on to further adventures. |
Information provided by Ed Carstens |
