Ashore At Pearl Harbor-- Part 2: "So This Is War"

Continued from August 7th.

Jim Downing said that the USS West Virginia had just returned from a ten-day patrol on the Friday before the attack and he was looking forward to a good weekend, hoping to spend some time with his new bride. 

His wife, Morena, was cooking breakfast for a few friends at a friend's house close to the harbor shortly before 8 AM. He heard explosions, and then on the radio, local announcer Webley Edwards said, "The island of Oahu is under enemy attack. The enemy has been identified as Japan. All military personnel are to return to their military duty stations."

Rushing to put on his uniform, an anti-aircraft shell exploded in the backyard creating a crater 20 feet wide. "So this is war" he thought as he and three SeeBees piled into a car and headed for the base.

By the time he got to the West Virginia, he found his ship sunk and the first attack wave over.

--GreGen