Leland Hellestad US Navy USS Tucker |
I was 18 years old when I joined the Navy and 19 when the attack came. I was on the USS Tucker (DD374) a destroyer. We were tied up with five other destroyers alongside the USS Whitney a repair ship. We were to get some minor repairs. We had been scheduled to dry dock, but the USS Shaw had preference due to suffering bow damage in a storm. We were strafed, but fortunately no loss of life for which I am grateful. The start of the air raid on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was first seen on the USS Tucker by Walter E. Bowe, who immediately manned the after 50 calibre machine guns of the vessel. Almost simultaneously (at 0757) the quartermaster on watch, Robert Burns), on the bridge sounded the general alarm. Before the general alarm started ringing, Bowe was firing one of the after machine guns. It is believed from numerous reports and comments by personnel of this and other ships that Bowe fired the first shot fired by American Forces in Pearl Harbor. The entire crew, with the exception of about 3 men and 4 officers, were on board. The Executive Officer, Lieutenant W.H. Watson, was the senior officer on board. The entire battery was manned. This vessel being nested alongside the tender, USS Whitney, 5" gun No. 3 could not be fired. However, all other guns and 50 caliber machine guns were manned and fired at attacking planes during all attacks. Ensign Lee D. Goolsby, served in the capacity of Gunnery Officer. There were no losses to the personnel nor damage to material of the vessel. It is believed that the USS Tucker shot down 3 or 4 enemy planes. It is further believed that one, possibly 2 of the planes shot down were brought down by Bowe on the after machine gun. We got underway late that day and anchored in the channel leaving the next morning for patrol duty around the islands. We then had escort duty from the states to bring supplies to the islands. My ship was sunk on August 4, 1942 near Guadalcanal. I later went to the east coast and had convoy and patrol duty there. We were in the Normandy invasion, being torpedoed after 6 days and losing 24 and 65 feet of the stern. I was slightly injured, but have had good health. |
Information provided by Leland Hellestad. Note: Some of the information above is from the USS Tucker Action Report written by W.R. Terrlell. |
