Robert Hailey, Diary (USS Indianapolis), 7 December 1941 - 7

Pearl Harbor Collage

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Robert Hailey, Diary ( USS Indianapolis ), 7 December 1941

Text and Image(s) from Diary

December

7

Transcription for the images below:

Page 3 of Robert Hailey's diary

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Page 4 of Robert Hailey's diary

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Transcription for the images above:

[Page 3]

sea - rough
Roll - max - 22⁰

Sunday 7 Dec., 1941

417.5 mi

G.Q. [General Quarters] at 0538-routine drill! Shortly before 0800 no. 1 Higgins boat was placed over the side after we had anchored just off Johnson Is. Before other boats could be placed over the side or any trys made dispatches were received that P.H. [Pearl Harbor] Had been bombed by Japanese planes. All plans for landing on Johnson Is. were abandoned. Boats and planes hoisted aboard - no fuel to the 5 DMS with us - course set for interception of enemy forces south of Hawaii - these forces proceeding from the south, last reported near Palmyra - 8 large ships and one Jap sub sunk by planes off PH. - two carriers engaged just outside P.H. several miles - Hickam - Ford Island - residential Honolulu near the Pali bombed. - G.Q. about noon because of what appeared to be a sub - false alarm but not a drill. War has been declared - now there is to be much required from us all.

[Page 4]

Afternoon- dispatches, newscasts and "scuttlebutt dope" has kept the day a busy one . Division put on a full wartime basis- all excess gear stowed below. We have changed rendezvous several times -mostly in an effort to intercept the fleeing carriers. P.H. seems to have suffered severely, Hickam damaged badly-350 men killed in a bombed barracks, oil tanks at P.H. afire Oklahoma hit by bomb, is afire- no word on other damage-rumors Honolulu also damaged.

Manilla definately bombed -Wake & Guam uncertain . Condition II throughout day & tonight -Everyone excited but with only one thought -glad to get things underway and have uncertainty over. No one can understand how this attack was executed and the Japs gotten so close -why carriers not sunk is also not understandable.

Anticipate with what the chance that we may encounter then and get a whack at them- it would be an enjoyable sensation after today's activity.

December

7

Citation :	[Diary of Robert Hailey], 7 December 1941, Robert Hailey Papers.
Location :	East Carolina Manuscript Collection, Special Collections, Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858 USA
Call Number :	Robert Hailey Papers #643.2.c. Display Collection Guide


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