Jack E. Hayes US Navy USS Maryland

My first tour of duty was aboard the USS West Virginia BB48 Flag Allowance, CommandBattleship, US Pacific Fleet, with primary duties as a Radio Operator. On November 4, 1941 Commander Battleship, US Pacific Fleet transferred to the USS Maryland BB48. This transfer may have saved the lives of most flag radiomen since aerial bombs on theUSS West Virginia destroyed flag radio spaces. The USS Maryland having just completed her overhaul period in Bremerton, WA outfitted withthe latest armament, 20 and 40 millimeter guns in addition to the secondary 5" 38 guns arrived in Pearl Harbor in late October 1941. Other ships, unless recently outfitted, had only 30 and 50caliber machine guns. In addition, the Maryland armament consisted of a new detection system,air and surface Radars. A few ships in the Harbor used their 5" 38 guns at low flying aircraft and it is believed some of these rounds caused damage in Honolulu downtown and residentialareas. The USS Maryland anti-aircraft gun crews were credited with destroying a number ofaircraft with the newly installed 20 and 40millimeter guns. I was in the radiomen living compartment Portside 2nd deck on the morning of the 7th. Following breakfast, we were in the process of stowing the tables and bedding (hammocks) intheir assigned places when the sound of aircraft was heard. The USS Oklahoma was berthed onthe Portside of the USS Maryland pier 5. All of the ports in our compartment were open and this gave men in the radiomen compartment full view of the Oklahoma and other areas aft and forward of timely event occurring in Pearl Harbor. As the best as I can recall, within a couple of minutes after hearing the engines of the planes, explosions were heard outboard of the Oklahoma, we later learned were torpedos from the Japanese Planes. I personally observed the Oklahoma capsizing with many dozen of men sliding down the sides, most covered with oil, which within a few minutes the harbor surrounding the Oklahoma, was afire. Not known at this time the USS West Virginia just aft of the Oklahoma had taken torpedoes to her Portside, which further contaminated the harbor. In this period a Hugh explosion occurred which we later learned was the USS Arizona BB36 demise. (Within a few minutes after 0800 that morning the harbor surrounding battleship row in flames, black smoke bellowing many feet into the air it was impossible to ascertain damage to other ships). Following the first Japanese raid ready service munitions was in short supply topside and personnel in my area were ordered to proceed to the 3rd platform (6 decks below the main deck) to unload 20 & 40millimeter munitions. The time period was just a little after 0900. The best I can recall approximately 15 to 20 men were assigned this task. The armor deck on the battleships required 5 to 8 men to open hatches going down from the third deck to decks below. We just reached the 3rd platform and I was in the process of opening the hatch (door) going into the munitions area we observed the air rushing from our area. Some few seconds later we observed a rush of air coming back into the area and then we heard the explosion. Aerial Piercing bomb of unknown size had penetrated the main deck about frame 20-25, penetrating down through the 1st & 2nd decks exploding on the 3rd armor deck. The second launched Aerial Piercing bomb fell just to the Portside of the Maryland's bow and exploded on the bottom of the harbor. These two bombs caused the air rushing in and out of our area and the explosions that followed. The hatch (door) came off its hinges and the wrench in my right hand plus the hatch door caused most of my injuries, and I had little recall of what happened after the explosion. I was carried over the shoulder of one of the radiomen and do recall the shouting to open the watertight hatch leading to the 3rd deck, and seeing water rising on the ladder from the damaged area. My next recollection was waking up on the 1st platform starboard side where a makeshift sickbay had been established. Later that evening two of the downed Japanese pilots had gained entrance to our ship and armed personnel were looking for them. As I recall, both were captured. Later, I was taken to the ship sickbay where surgery was performed on my right hand and forehead. I have no knowledge of the number of causalities suffered that day on the Maryland. However, a few of the members of the work party ordered to the area where I was injured allegedly were not removed from that area until the Maryland under went repairs at Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. Quoted excerpts written on December 8, 1941. "Mass confusion existed through out ship" and I'm sure this existed though out Pearl Harbor. Regardless of what other may say the tremendous conditions of the harbor in flames fueled by oil primarily from the Oklahoma and the West Virginia whose super structure was afire from bow to stern, survivors being pulled from the waters and men escaping from the hull of the Oklahoma, the mass destruction of buildings and aircraft on Naval Air Station, Ford Island, my feeling at that period of time was, that none of this really existed. Also, the size and armament of these battleships, some with 18 inches of harden steel around the hull it was hard to imagine the occurred destruction. I do recall one aspect that existed on the Maryland, rumors such as, invasion by Japanese troops, more air bombings etc. Being subject to being under fire for the first time should have been a very frightening experience however, at that period of time, I don't recall being frightened. When one is young, events of this type just does not appear real. The USS Maryland (damaged repaired by the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard) and USS Tennessee sailed from Pearl Harbor December the 23rd arriving in Bremerton, Washington on January 2, 1942, the first ships to return to the US mainland following the Japanese attack. Other Pacific wartime experiences did find me frighten when engaged in night firefights where large caliber guns were involved. Following Pearl Harbor found me apart of the commission crew USS Columbia CL56 (Light Cruiser) and after a brief training, the ship proceed to the South Pacific via the Panama Canal. In early 1942 through to 1944, seven cruisers and 20 some odd destroyers engaged in consolidations of the Solomon Islands which prevented the Japanese from invading Australia. The USS Columbia was involved in a direct fire with major Japanese ships in the battles of Empress Augusta Bay, Solomon Island 1-2 November 1943 and Surigao Strait, Leyte Gulf, Philippines 25 October 1944. Officially the USS Columbia CL56 was awarded 10 Bronze Stars attached to the Asiatic Pacific Service Ribbon. (Each star represents a major Pacific engagement). My navy service continued for over the next 34 years participating in other conflicts like Korea and Vietnam, retiring in April 1974. Purple Heart award for injuries received aboard the USS Maryland December 7, 1941.

Information provided by Jack E. Hayes