Jay R. Thompson US Marine USS San Francisco |
I trained in San Diego during the summer of 1941. Departed the States on November 1, 1941, as a passenger on the heavy cruiser Salt Lake City. I think there were about 200 of us. Enroute to Pearl, we practiced night maneuvers and arrived in Honolulu on the 8th of November. I was temporarily assigned to Company A Marine Barracks. While there, I did guard duty at the tank farm. I was filled full of stories of possible sabotage it was scary duty (midnight to 4am) for a country boy from Texas. Late in November, I was told that assignments were being made for sea duty. One Marine asked if it mattered to me what ship I was assigned to. He wanted to be on a bigger ship that did not rock and pitch as he tended to get seasick. He was sent to the Arizona and on December 4, 1941, I was sent to the USS San Francisco (CA 38) a heavy cruiser. The "Frisco was at a repair dock undergoing an overhaul. Engines had been taken apart and placed out on the dock while awaiting new parts from the states. All ammunition had been removed from the ship as we were supposed to have been in dry-dock at the time. The one where the Pennsylvania was docked. As you can see, we were in no shape to do any fighting. I was so new on the ship that I had not even been assigned a gun position. So, most of the attack for me was spent below deck in the Marine compartment. When I did come topside, all I saw was the battle ships burning and sinking. The Marines were immediately placed on guard duty on the dock and various parts of the ship. We did have rumors that the Japs had landed so we had to be prepared. Also, later that day, we had another rumor that the water supply had been poisoned. We were really thirsty for several hours while it was being tested. The next few days were a frenzy of activity as we reloaded ammunition and make preparations for war. Our Marine Capt. Henderson had the idea that he should help those who were besieged at Wake Island. He ordered us to make ready while he arranged for a PBY to fly the Marine Detachment as reinforcements to Wake. Fortunately, someone higher up found out his plan and canceled it. A week before the war stated a friend and I were in Honolulu walking and looking. What else can you do on $30 a month? About dusk, we sat down on someone's rock wall that bordered their yard. While sitting there, the evening music from a nearby Temple began. Harold was so disgusted with things that he vented his feelings about life in general, the turn of events that had placed him there and those playing that blankety-blank music. In his frustration he said that he wouldn't even mind getting in a war with those (*&)*&^$%^$&* and that awful music. So, I have never let him forget that he wished this war on us. As you can see, I didn't do anything spectacular at Pearl. It was a most nerve-racking day and one, which I have never forgotten. |
Information provided by Jay R. Thompson. |
