Robert Seeley US Marine USS California

The day before the attack, December 6, 1941, the personnel from all the battle ships had a swim meet.  While there, I met a high school friend from my home town (Superior, Wisconsin), Howard Midbust.  He was with the Navy stationed aboard the USS Arizona.  We enjoyed the day and had planed to go into town the next day, Sunday December 7.  Of course our plans were never carried out, and I was informed later that he didn't escape the USS Arizona. I was a Marine PFC orderly on the USS California, but had made a mistake of calling a corporal by his first name (which was a crime in those days, but the Marine Corp. is more lax today).  The acting sergeant had put me on the brig duty for my mistake.  On "that day", December 7, 1941, I had the 4:00 am to 8:00 am shift.  My relief, Shelby Shook, from Arkansas, came to relieve me fifteen minutes before 8:00 that morning.  The attack started at 8:00 and he was caught below deck in the double bottom of the ship and unable to escape.  As you can see, he saved my life! Our ship, USS California, being the flag ship was first in line in the harbor that day and all we could do was watch the Japs fly toward us and bomb us.  We had no ammunition to defend ourselves as it was all below deck.  So we started a chain gang to bring some ammunition up from below for us to use.  But, we were "hit" so bad we were ordered to close all hatches. The first time we were ordered to abandon ship, I was able to get our admiral, Flag Admiral Pye off our ship by waling the gang plank a shore and going to the BOQ (Bachelors Officers Quarters).  Our ship was slowly sinking.  The Japs were still bombing us.  A second time we were ordered to abandon ship.  We all went ashore to Ford Island.  Two of us were able to get a truck.  We drove to the mess hall, loaded some apples, as that was all we found available.  Then went to the swimming pool and got containers of water to drink.  We were afraid our water had been poisoned by the Japs and didn't want to drink it.  Then went around and handed out what we had until we ran out of gas.  After that I joined with our group of Marines off the USS California at the warehouse to wait for orders. Later our group was split up.  Some were sent to the USS Maryland and some to the Pearl Marine Barracks.  I stayed at the Pearl Marine Barracks that night.  I slept outside on the second floor screen porch.  The next day we were given our duty assignment.  After that we were shipped out to Westlock for construction duty.

Information provided by Robert Seeley