[ApS]

We were SO unprepared.

1) The U.S. knew an attack was imminent, but whether it was to be Guam, Alaska, The Philippines or Hawaii, we didn't know.

2) At the time, the U.S. Army was smaller than Portugal's Army.

3) One little known fact is that before the air attack commenced, an enemy submarine was sighted (by a PBY amphibian) and sunk (by the USS Ward).

It was one of 27 submarines poised that morning to torpedo U.S. Navy ships leaving Pearl Harbor!

"We were later told that the lieutenants call caused quite a stir among the Navy personnel back at Pearl, but it wasn't considered important enough to put the fleet on alert.

I do know that our ship was credited with firing the first shot of the Pacific war."

4) One account of an air attack from a USS Ward crew member:

"Our ship was so rusty that the bomb went through the well-deck and out the starboard side of our ship."

5) The USS Ward's last action was in The Philippines when—after dropping off 200 soldiers and U. S. Marines—it was destroyed by enemy aircraft—on December 7, 1944.

That day, the Battleship USS Arizona:


Today:



We are even criticized today, but recovery and retribution was swift and certain!

Thanks Dad, and all "The Greatest Generation".