Eyewitness: ‘To live and fight another day’

Against the rules

Leonard Ralph Mason

A junior officer at the time of the attack, Mason said, “I heard a bugle sounding general quarters as I was climbing out of the ship’s bottom where I had men working. I climbed down again to direct them to their battle stations. It became readily apparent that we would require ammunition from the magazines. Without prior approval from the captain, which rules required, I instructed the gunner’s mate to open the magazines. As we started a flow of ammunition to the gun sites, I learned my immediate supervisor had been severely injured as he was firing at Japanese torpedo planes with a .50-caliber machine gun, and his telephone-talker was killed.”

Mason continued, “Also at this time, the explosion and fire from the USS Arizona just aft of us, and the burning oil floating by, set fire to the USS Tennessee aft and severely limited visibility. I was fortunate to live and fight another day.”

A flash of fire

Hersel R. Olson

Olson said, “I heard a lot of noise and stepped out onto the fantail to see what was going on. A Japanese plane flew over and sprayed the deck with machine gun fire. I ran for cover just as the bugler sounded general quarters. I manned my battle station, right gun turret 3, and shortly after we were hit in turret 3 with a 1,500-pound bomb, which broke up on impact but held together long enough to penetrate the turret top.”

The explosion, Olson said, “sent a flash of fire through the upper turret. All turret crew members were burned — some died on impact, and some were hospitalized and never were returned to duty. I received burns to my hands and face.”

Olson continued, “Those of us that were able were then asked to help out on the AA (anti-aircraft) battery. I went to a 5-inch/.25-caliber gun and spent the rest of the battle helping to fire the gun at aircraft. I later received the Purple Heart.”