William Leonard Tong US Navy USS Hull |
When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Leonard was in the (head) bathroom and still didn't have his dungarees on. It didn't take long for him to get them on thou. He was on Gun #5 on the tail of the USS Hull (DD-350). He was the first powderman. They shot at the planes bombing the Arizona and the other ships. A bomb missed his ship by about 60 ft. He thought it may have damaged the rudder or the blades. Leonard lost the hearing in his right ear. When he came home from the service, he wouldn't even try to get any help from the Veterans. Several years ago, my nephew and I talked him into filing a claim. When we went to Little Rock to the VA, one of the first questions they asked were "Did you have your ear plugs in?" At a time like that, who thinks of ear plugs? The next question was "Did you go to the hospital?" Because they didn't have one on his ship, they had a guy that dispensed aspirins. Leonard got his back hurt when they crossed the equator. He couldn't ever get anything done about that. Leonard turned 83 on April 9, 2002. Leonard's brother, Henry (4 years younger than Leonard) was also aboard the USS Hull during the attack. Leonard said, "He has spent all these years trying to forget the horrible sights, oil and fire all over the water, and boys crying for help and no one to help them. He says it is better if we just forget it." |
Information provided by Dixie Tong. |
