Eric F. Noeldechen US Navy USS Enterprise |
At the early age of 18, I became ship's company of the aircraft carrier Enterprise in Bremerton Washington, 1940. She was a great ship and flagship to Admiral "Bull" Halsey. Just prior to December 7, 1941, the Enterprise brought aircraft to Wake Island and then returned to Pearl Harbor later on December 7th. About two or three weeks prior to December 7, 1941, I was assigned to a 35 foot boat and good duty, Patrolling Pearl Harbor each night. During days we spent most time at the little jungle landing in Aiea. We patrolled Pearl Harbor all night, December 6, 1941 and returned to Aiea at about 6 am, December 7th. All was serene at this time, Aiea was just a one general store, jungle town and a few homes to Philipino, Chinese, Japanese and some white people. Three of the crew went to a supply vessel for breakfast. A seaman and I remained at Aiea to wait for their return. When the crew returned the two of us took the boat across the calm water of Pearl Harbor to 10-10 dock, tied the boat to the inside of 10-10 dock. This dock was home to ships and a tremendous crane. After breakfast, we waited topside for colors, before leaving the ship. Just then, about 7:55 a.m., all hell broke loose! I saw ships in battleship row at Ford Island, being blown to pieces. Also the air base being blown sky high. Plane after plane bombing, torpedo planes and fighters, strafing as they delivered their deadly cargo. So much was happening it seems as though the whole harbor blew up! As the Japs attacked, I ran for the boat and got underway so I could fire the 45 caliber Browning pistol at the incoming planes just into the harbor and adjacent to the Helena. They were so close you could see their faces. ThenWHAM!!! From somewhere, shrapnel blew holes in the boat. All at the water line and above. The heat and rocking of the blast was tremendous. I then tied inboard of 10-10 dock and went up on the dock with two 306 Springfield rifles and the 45 caliber pistol. A Marine took one of the rifles and we both fired at the Jap planesabout this time the Oglala and Helena were hit. A badly burned sailor, his skin hanging off, needed help. He just stood there, not knowing what to do, and needed help. I then took him onto the supply ship and left him with the O.D. to be treated, I often wondered if he survived. There were many other badly wounded, I did what I could. All the time the devastation continued. Then came the high altitude bombers. They would drop their bombs and you would wonder where they would land. It looked as though they were coming straight at you. Luckily, none did. After the attack ended, a couple of soldiers in a jeep, seeing me with the guns, gave me two bandoleers of ammunition. Talk of invasion was rampant. If they tried, we had little to defend ourselves with. The attack seemed as though it lasted forever. Finally, the bombing came to an end, the seaman showed up and we headed to Aiea to pick up the crew. Broken bodies were everywhere, one with his neck as large as shoulders, as if an omen, stenciled on his shorts was the name "Jesus", his last name, I just can't remember. He was stacked like cord wood on one of the small finger piers along with many others. Just body after body, some whole, some not. The water was no longer beautiful, just an area of tar and oil, with bodies everywhere, a ghost-like appearance. That night we patrolled the harbor in a Lexington Boat as our boat was removed from the water with too many holes to stay afloat. All night long there was sporadic fire from anxious gunners, lighting up the sky with tracer bullets. We hoped they weren't shooting at us and that we were not going to be added to the tremendous loss of life. I don't remember sleeping from early evening of the 6th 'til the morning of December 8th and then some. The Enterprise, The "Big E", pulled into Pearl late on December 7th and was an important part of many battles that followed. She sustained much damage and loss of life. I left after the Battle of Santa Cruz. Just after, I transferred to submarines and was back in the Pacific and ended my war as prize crew of the airplane carrying submarine I-400. We sailed the I-400 back to Pearl Harbor and rather than let the Russians have her, we sunk her 12 miles out of Pearl Harbor. As the war ended, I had a good view of the surrender from the I-400. Of course, as many others, I wish it never happened. I still think of December 7, 1941, and the many, many shipmates and friends lost and the many other bad times of that long ago war! |
Information provided by Eric F. Noeldechen. |
