CHESTER - Sixty-seven years ago today, Japanese bombs and torpedoes ripped through battleships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing more than 2,000 people.
The surprise attack that occurred that Sunday morning launched the United States into World War II.
Many people remember these facts well. But over the years, Chester resident Bill Friley has noticed that many Mountaineers don't know a battleship named after their own state of West Virginia was among those sunk during the attack and later rebuilt to fight in the war. And this obliviousness is bothersome to Friley.
To try and rectify this lack of knowledge, Friley, 55, has been researching the West Virginia from top to bottom. His goal is to someday write a book about it. And one day he hopes to actually visit the site.
"There were 106 killed on the West Virginia all together. ... Those guys, you know they went out and risked their lives and gave their lives. People need to know all of that," Friley said.
"I enjoy it," Friley added of his research. "If somebody doesn't do that, then it's just lost to history."
Friley joined the USS West Virginia Reunion Association. Through his membership, he has had the opportunity to meet two survivors of the attack and learn more about the ship and its crew.
"The two that were on the ship when it was attacked, they remember everything just like it happened," he said. "I really enjoyed talking to them. Every one of those guys are just absolute gentlemen. ... When I write to them, I always get a letter back. I try to ask one or two questions each letter. They always answer me."
Friley's research led him to learn about the Raleigh County Veterans Museum in Beckley. The museum's director, Jim Toler, has been working on a 20-foot long, 800-pound model of the USS West Virginia since 1988. Though it's nearly complete, Toler said he needs help to finish it because of his carpal tunnel syndrome.
He plans to enclose the museum's front porch in bulletproof glass and place the model there. It will be lighted at night for all to see.
"I hope when I get it to Beckley and people see it, I'll get a model builder or two to finish it," Toler said.
He also believes many don't know the West Virginia's story.
"It was the only Pearl Harbor survivor in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered," Toler said. "If the Navy had its way, (the Japanese) would have surrendered on the West Virginia. But Truman was from Missouri. When the Japanese climbed on deck, they had to look across at the West Virginia."
According to Friley's research, the West Virginia, also known as the "WeeVee" was christened Nov. 19, 1921. It was sponsored by Alice Mann of Bramwell, W.Va.
"During the 1920s and '30s, the WeeVee took part in all major naval operations," Friley wrote. "She was awarded the Battle Efficient Pennant four times and won the Fleet Gunnery Trophy four times. As tensions in the Pacific began to rise, the West Virginia and the rest of the Pacific fleet were moved from San Diego to Pearl Harbor.
"As part of Battleship Division 4, the West Virginia took part in patrols around the Hawaiian islands. On Dec. 5, 1941, she ended her last patrol and berthed Quay 6 on Battleship Row, outboard of the USS Tennessee."
The morning of the attack, the USS West Virginia's crew of 1,474 was preparing for their work duties of the day, while others were heading to shore to attend church services.
"Officer of the Deck Ensign Roman Brooks heard the first Japanese bombs explode on Ford Island and ordered 'away fire and rescue' at 7:55 a.m.," Friley wrote.
Upon seeing Japanese planes heading for battleships, Lt. J.H. White called all hands to battle stations. Capt. Mervyn S. Bennion was informed it was a surprise attack by the Japanese. The attack would continue for two hours before the ship was abandoned.
"In the bowels of the ship, Lt. Commander J.H. Harper had reached Damage Control Central when the first Japanese torpedo hit the ship," Friley wrote. "Within seconds another torpedo hit. These first two hits along the armored belt knocked out most of the electric and communications in the ship. West Virginia's anti-aircraft guns began firing immediately, but the ammunition lifts were knocked out by a loss of power."
Additional torpedoes ripped through the ship, leaving a hole 200 feet in length, allowing water to pour in.
"As the list reached 22 degrees, Lt. Claude Ricketts began opening valves to counterflood the starboard side of the ship. The ship was then hit by two more torpedoes which struck above the armored belt. ... As the ship settled on the harbor bottom, screams from trapped sailors could be heard throughout the ship," Friley wrote.
Bombs from the air caused the deck to collapse, stored ammunition exploded and a large fire eventually erupted.
"With the West Virginia sunk, the Japanese turned their attention to the Tennessee. A Japanese bomb explodes on top of the Tennessee's No. 2 turret, spraying the West Virginia with shrapnel. Capt. Bennion had just stepped onto the bridge when a large piece of shrapnel tore into his abdomen," Friley wrote. "Ensign Victor Delano stayed with the mortally wounded captain ... He continued to ask about the condition of the ship and ordered the men to leave him, which they refused to do. He died shortly thereafter."
The crew was ordered to abandon ship at 10:05 a.m. Fires were still raging, with flames shooting 70 feet into the air. Sailors and volunteers came back later to fight the fires through the next day.
"As the crew inspected the damage to their ship, they had no idea that three of their shipmates were still alive, sealed in the airtight forward pump room," Friley wrote. "When the ship was refloated in June 1942, the three bodies were found. The last day marked off on the pump room calendar was Dec. 23."
Poler noted the West Virginia was the starting place for many in the Navy.
"For me, it's a symbol of the state in that you can put us down, but you can't keep us down," Poler said of the battleship.
Friley noted the West Virginia was decommissioned in 1947 and sold for scrap in 1959.
Source: news-register.net
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