James C. Hardwick US Navy USS Honolulu |
My story of Pearl Harbor is unremarkable as my only accomplishment was in surviving but I will recount my experiences in six years in the Navy just briefly: I was born December 5, 1923,and partly raised in Dallas, Texas. I say partly because I actually grew up in the Navy having joined on my 17th birthday in 1940 and was discharged March 10, 1947. My boot training was in San Diego- Company 40-110. In the spring of 1941, I attended a Navy service school for machinists at the Ford Plant, River Rouge, in Dearborn, Michigan. Upon completion of this school I was assigned to the light cruiser, USS Honolulu, operating out of Pearl Harbor. I reported for duty on the Honolulu in June, 1941. I thought I couldn't be farther away from the war which was raging in Europe and the North Atlantic. For the next few months we conducted rather monotonous duties leaving Pearl on Monday for fleet exercises and returning Friday for shore liberty. This fact was obviously well known by the Japanese. On my 18th birthday, December 5, my name was drawn to attend a luau at Nanikuli Beach, a Navy R&R spot, just a short way around the island from Pearl. I was to spend the weekend there and return to the ship Sunday. Sailors from the various ships were asleep in squad tents at Nanikuli Sunday morning after enjoying the beach and luau the day before. We were awakened by the noise of the attack and by a bosun's mate shouting for us to get up and return to our ships any way we could. A shipmate and I managed to hitch a ride with a musician in a Model A to a site on a promontory overlooking Pearl Harbor where he let us out. The initial attack had already occurred and billowing black clouds of smoke were rising over battleship row. We made our way through the navy yard toward the Honolulu which was tied to a dock. Some time shortly before reporting aboard ship, the Honolulu received a near hit from a bomb which exploded between the dock and our hull causing minor damage but no loss of life. My most vivid memory is standing on the fantail of the Honolulu overlooking the devastation in the harbor and wondering how long it would take to recover from this shock. I never doubted that the US would wind up victorious but thought I might spend the rest of my life in the effort. The rest of that day was spent at battle stations waiting to see what would happen next. Fortunately, the Japanese didn't follow through with the attack. After our damage was repaired, we spent the next three years operating all over the Pacific, earning 11 battle stars and suffering three torpedo hits--the last in Leyte Gulf in the Philippines on October 20, 1944, which required extensive repairs at the Norfolk Navy Yard. The Honolulu was placed in mothballs in Philadelphia in 1946. I had spent 5 years of my enlistment aboard this vessel. Engagements in which we participated are as follows: Pearl Harbor Kiska Guadalcanal Kula Gulf Kolombangara Bougainville Peleliu Saipan Tinian Guam Leyte I was discharged in Philadelphia March 10, 1947, and returned to Dallas to attend engineering school at SMU. I received a degree in mechanical engineering in 1951. I retired in 1986. The Honolulu has held annual reunions since 1977. This Sept. we will meet in New Orleans. This ship was scrapped in 1959. Her active period lasted only from 1938 to 1946 but she is fondly remembered by all who served on her. Her nickname was "The Blue Goose". |
Information provided by Jim Hardwick. |
