William Curtis US Navy USS Nevada |
On December 7, 1941, Bill was a gun sight setter on a starboard gun. The USS Nevada, the only battleship to get under way during the attack, was able to do so because the OD on duty was from a strong Navy background. When he came on duty he ordered a second boiler on line. Due to a shortage of fuel, all ships at anchor were on one boiler. That extra boiler on line gave them the power they needed to get underway. As they were aft of the Arizona, it took some fantastic maneuvering to clear her and move down the harbor. As they passed the Arizona, she blew. The heat and fire was so intense the men on the Nevada had to put their ammo on the deck and lay on it to keep the intense heat from detonating the shells. Bill has told me so many stories of horror and heroism, Men giving their own life to help save their comrades. How can we ever let the world forget? The men were family, the ship their home. The Nevada, the "cheer up ship" (their pet name for her) was to them their sanctuary, they felt safe and secure on her, to them she was invincible. There were many tears shed when she was used as center target for atom bomb tests. And when she finally, after 6 days of unrelenting bombing, finally slipped into the Pacific, it wasn't the end of her story. She will live in the minds of her men. |
Information provided by Marian Curtis. |
