William R. "Bill" Leonard US Navy USS Nevada |
My ship was the USS Nevada (BB-36) moored astern of the USS Arizona (BB-39) on December 7, 1941. The Nevada was the only battleship to get underway that day. The Japanese completely destroyed Battleship Division one! The USS Arizona sunk in place with 1,100 people killed. The USS Oklahoma rolled over about 600 killed. The USS Nevada got underway and drew the brunt of the 2nd attack and was sunk in shallow water - 50 killed. One of those killed was the man I was to relieve at noon on the 7th. His name was Frederick C. Davis. We are in another war now. God Bless the more than 3,000 innocent civilian people killed by the terrorists on September 11, 2001. God Bless them all. |
Information provided by William R. "Bill" Leonard. |
