David Ray Roessler Schofield Barracks |
Ray Roessler was 20 years old while at Pearl Harbor. Here is his story in his own words: While in bed sleeping on the second floor of our new barracks, I heard a noise like an airplane crashing. I observed and counted 16 two-seater planes with Japanese markings bombing Wheeler Field; which was about three-quarters of a mile from our barracks. The planes were coming through Kole Kole Pass (six miles from our barracks) and after dropping their bombs, were strafing with machine guns everything and anyone in sight at Schofield Barracks. Our barracks was strafed, but most all personnel were inside the building or chased in by the strafing. You could hear bombs, small firearms and large explosions with smoke rising hundreds of feet in the air at Wheeler Field, Hickam Field and Pearl Harbor. At the same time of the attack on the above targets, some B-17 bombers were just arriving from the U.S. and were trying for landings at Wheeler Field, Hickam field or anywhere possible. The B-17's were not carrying live ammunition when leaving the USA. The Japanese planes were flying so low bombing and strafing that you could see the men in their planes. Everyone was ordered to report to their places of duty, so I had to report to the 24th Division Hqs Signal Office immediately. Our company personnel were armed only with .45 automatics and we were finally issued some ammunition by the supply sergeant. On my way across an open field, I had the opportunity to empty my U.S. Army .45 at a low flying plane that went over me. (It helped assuage my feelings a little bit). We had to dig foxholes near headquarters and our company and the slightest incident, there were alarms going off and we had to hit the dirt until the alert was over. For two days all Headquarters personnel had to live in the headquarters building and could not go out at night unless on special pass. Guards were all armed and shooting at the slightest provocation and some soldiers were shot and one knifed. Military Law was imposed on the entire island. Curfew was at 10:00 PM and only those with authorizations could be on the streets or in cars after curfew. On December 8, 1941, President Roosevelt could be heard when he declared war on Japan. The results of the attack were terrible. Ships destroyed, sunk and most of the airplanes destroyed. Two or three hundred coffins with killed people were stacked for two or three days behind our company motor pool. Military dependents were returned to the United States. The first Japanese plane shot down was claimed to have been downed by the U.S. Navy. The real story is that an Army Warrant Officer and a Staff sergeant from the Army 25th Infantry Division shot it down with a BAR Automatic rifle. The plane crashed next to Kole Kole Pass and the gunner's hand, blown off at the wrist was still holding the trigger end of a machine gun; was brought into 24th Division Hqs for all personnel there to see. We heard the tremendous crash, as it hit the ground not too far from Division Hqs and close to Kole Kole Pass. All the military hospitals were filled with wounded and dying military and any others hit in the attack. The Division Signal Officer had business with Signal Hqs in Honolulu and I had to accompany him on the trip. Pearl Harbor and the airfields were in such a mess; it was sickening to see. It was a sight you could never forget. |
Information provided by David Ray Roessler |
