Edward J. Socha US Navy USS Maryland |
Information provided by Edward J. Socha. |
On December 7, 1941, I was assigned to the battleship USS Maryland. I was a yeoman, second class, with the Flag Allowance of Commander Battleships, Battle Force. The USS Oklahoma was moored alongside our ship, outboard. That morning I was up early and got dressed to go ashore in Honolulu for church services. I was to ride the motor launch from the quarterdeck of the Oklahoma. I got there about 0755 the boat had already left the ship. At about that time, I could see the first wave of torpedo bombers heading for the ships moored to the quays alongside Ford Island. My first thought was that these were our own planes making practice runs. That was quickly proven wrong as a young Ensign came running from the boat deck ordering that General Quarters be sounded those are Jap planes, he cried. As one zoomed over, I could see the red sun on his wings! I ran back across Oklahoma's deck and crossed over to my own ship, and headed for my battle station on the Flag Bridge. It was only a matter of minutes, but when I looked over the port side, the Oklahoma had already turned over, bottom up. I shall not forget the oil fires, the tremendous explosions which wracked the Arizona, and the heroic rescue efforts that went on all day and into the night. It was truly a day of infamy, one that continues to live on in my memory. |
