Christian Henry Klump US Navy USS Grebe |
I joined the Navy in Detroit, Michigan. We were designated to go to Newport Rhode Island for recruit training. But the hurricane of 1938 sidetracked us to a receiving ship in New York City instead. So as we were put on the train with only our personal gear, so the stop in New York, we were without any change of clothing. After 5 days we were finally put on a bus back to Newport where the none too happy Chief Petty Officer greeted us. I met my future wife during a dance at the base in November where we took 2nd place in the dance contest. We graduated recruit training in late December. I had orders to wait for carpenters mate school in Norfolk, Virginia. Before leaving for school, I had some temporary duty at the fire station there in Newport, with some free time so I was able to call Peggy and we began to date. Norfolk to school in March 1939. Upon completion of Carpenter's mate school, I went aboard the USS Sirius, an AP for transportation to the USS Medusa where I spent some time as side cleaner before getting into the Carpenter's shop. I made 2nd class carp's mate in February of 1941 and was transferred to the USS Grebe AM43, a minesweeper. The coal docks in Pearl Harbor by the hospital was great duty. The ship came back stateside to San Diego. Peggy was there to meet me so I got 5 days leave. Peggy and I went to Yuma and were married on August 11, 1941. When I returned to San Diego, the ship returned to Hawaii so Peggy followed by a Cruise ship. She arrived in Honolulu in late October and we found an apartment in a little court on Beretania Street, Honolulu across from the Academy of Arts. As a 2nd class petty officer, I joined those of us who had our wives and were rated overnight liberty when we didn't have the duty. December 7, 1941, was a leisurely Sunday morning. We were in our one bedroom apartment and I was up making the coffee. All at once there was a lot of noise some where off in the distance. I looked out and could see smoke over toward the naval base at Pearl. I said "Hurry Honey, we'll go out and see what is going on." I had the radio on, turned to Hawaiian music of course, when the music suddenly stopped and the announcement for all military to report to their duty stations. I said "hey must be a big fire." Then the next message ordered all military, to their bases, the Japanese have just bombed Pearl Harbor, it said. I kissed the wife goodbye not knowing when or if I would see her again. There were several other sailors living in the court so we all piled into my 4-door 31 chevy and took off. The traffic of course, was a mess and of all times my old chev gave up about two thirds of the way to the base. We were sitting in the middle of the road when a Navy vehicle pulled up behind us and an Admiral hollered for us to "get that *&*&^*& thing off the road". I asked if he would give us a ride? He answered with "get it out of the way and get in." And that is how I got back to my ship that morning. I often wondered how that Admiral did in the war. The sight from the end of the pier gave us a clear view of Battleship Row. Captain McEthron, with tears in his eyes said "there goes our Navy." I remember an Ensign being there also. After the day of the 7th was over, we were busy trying to get the ship out of overhall and ready for duty. I was worried about Peggy, the rumors were many. Three days later, the Skipper took me over to an Admiral's quarters and I was finally able to call Peggy. She was fine and very happy to hear from me. The women in the court were all taking care of each other. It was yet another 5 days before the Captain allowed us married guys to go ashore. We were questioned the morning we came back by the gate sentry since liberty had not yet been setup by the fleet. Overnight for married men was set up, special pass. We continued our overhall in drydock over Christmas and New Years with no liberty. It seemed there was some kind of an alert. The ship finished the overhall the first week of January 1942 and we were given a barg of supplies to tow to one of the outlying islands. I think it was Palmyra. I kissed Peggy goodbye thinking it sure didn't look like a fun trip. The war only a month old, and we start out with a loaded barg in tow, but we made it back okay. We were in port for just a few days and took a high octain gas barg to Johnson Island. A sad goodbye again. Once we got to the Island the Japs shelled the beach every night. On the return trip we ran into a storm, we gained about a mile a day for the first three days. Food? Preparing and holding it down was a big problem. I was very fortunate a lot of the crew got sea sick, I escaped that fate. Back at Pearl Harbor we were assigned the sweeping duty for Honolulu Harbor, real tough duty, walking distance to our apartment, you were not out after 10 p.m. without an overnight pass. I stood a lot of day watches, so nights I was able to spend at the court with my wife. We had to black out every night a light showing and you were in trouble. One night our lamp shorted out and came on after midnight. The Shore Patrol woke us up rather loudly. Peggy went to court and explained to the judge what had happened but we still had to buy a war bond (our punishment). Information provided by Henry Klump. |
