Willard K. Donahue Wheeler Field |
I was at Wheeler Field during the attack and to think those 1,117 that are still on the Arizona didn't have a chance to fight, live or anything. I've talked to some of the other survivors shortly after their ammo was locked up and they didn't have a chance to fight either. As for my outfit, we were on a special alert for two weeks prior to the attack. On Friday, late afternoon, we were ordered to turn in all of our ammo to the supply house. Anyone that wanted a pass was given one to go to Honolulu for the weekend. My friend and I didn't have any money, so we stayed in camp and played poker with matches. My outfit at the time was at Wheeler Field during the attack. Later we set up an AAA gun battery down at Hickam Field and we were about a quarter mile away from the Arizona where it will be forever. I thought at the time, from what I saw with my own eyes the way we turned in our ammo and lined up the airplanes that it was set up and we were sold out by our own government. I am sorry, but that is how I feel, because there will always be this very strong feeling about those kids in the Arizona who didn't have a chance. |
Information provided by Willard & Nada Donahue and their son, Randy. |
Willard was honored on November 11, 2002, at a Veterans Day service in California. |
My Dad's experience affected him for at least 30 years, it was really traumatic. He was SO frustrated that they had locked up the ammo (he had been trained there as an anti-aircraft gunner) for the weekend, and some officer that lived offbase or someone had the keys to get in. He and a few other guys grabbed a truck and drove 20 miles to Hickam Field and loaded as much ammo as they could quickly and then they drove back to Wheeler Field, but by the the Japanese had left. Plus, I believed that he said (not sure) that they strafed his post and he had to witness the slaughter of men he might have known or knew well (I don't recall which, maybe both) and the frustration of not being able to fight back was tremendous....... Randy Donahue |
