Pershing Hill US Navy USS Nevada |
I was on the USS Nevada and we were tied up to a key just to the rear of the Arizona. I saw the Arizona blow up. We were the only battleship to get underway. We had a torpedo hit prior to moving, but otherwise not hurt bad even with several bomb hits. We headed out the harbor, but because we didn't have any protection from submarines, we were told not to go. Our anchors were damaged so we had to run aground to stop. Once we did that, because of our torpedo damage, we settled on the bottom. After two months, we pumped the water out faster than it ran in and was towed to dry dock. The Nevada was repaired enough to go to Bremerton and was completely rebuilt. After receiving a new crew, we went back to Long Beach for training and then to the Aleutian Islands and took them back from the Japs. Then to the east coast at Boston and made several convoy trips to Ireland and got a new ship, the USS Pittsburgh, and went to the Pacific and made the first carrier raids on Tokyo and later had our bow broke off in a typhoon. We went back to Bremerton for repairs. When the war ended, I was discharged. I am doing okay today. Just an old sailor living my days out. |
Information provided by Pershing Hill. |
Rate / Rank Y1 Service Branch US NAVY Service Dates 1/1938 - 10/1945 Born 12/5/1918 RIGBY, IDAHO Duty Stations USS NEVADA (BB-36 USS PITTSBURGH (CA-72) PROBABLY THE ONLY YEOMAN TO STEER A BATTLESHIP (USS NEVADA) THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL - MAY 1943 Awards PEARL HARBOR MEDAL |
