Category Archives: Attack on Pearly Harbor

December 7, 2012 · 8:01 am

Tribute: A DAY OF INFAMY AND UNCOMMON VALOR

By Richard L. Weatherly

Sunday morning, December 7th, 1941 began like so many others on the beautiful island of Oahu. After a busy week USS_Raleigh_(CL-7)_July_1942of patrols and training exercises, U.S.S. Raleigh docked on the northwest side of Ford Island.  Officers and crew not on duty had gone ashore or were planning rest and relaxation on the beach. At 0755, my Dad, A.C. Weatherly, stared at himself in the mirror while shaving, a final step before going ashore himself. His expression changed from calm to alarm when a torpedo dropped from a Japanese plane slammed amidships on the port side.

AceWeatherly1941

A.C. (Ace) Weatherly Jr at Pearl Harbor

The ships klaxon sounded announcing General Quarters, “General quarters, general quarters. All hands man your battle stations.” This wasn’t a drill. Within five minutes, Raleigh anti-aircraft batteries opened fire with three-inch, 1-inch, and .50 caliber guns. Raleigh gunners recorded several downed enemy aircraft.  All crewmen not on damage control parties or manning the guns were ordered to assist the gunners by passing ammunition.

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Filed under 7 Dec 1941 a Day of Infamy, Attack on Pearly Harbor, Word War 2

December 4, 2011 · 10:11 am

A Tribute to – December 7, 1941, “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy…”

This is a re-post from earlier this year but it is most relevant now.

7 December 1941, America enters WWII

“A day which will live in Infamy!”

A warm Sunday morning; about 7:45 a.m. to 8 a.m. Church bells, laughter a day of peace and rest. My dad, A.C. Weatherly Jr. is shaving and about to step ashore but on this day that would not happen. Klaxons Sounded, Squawk Box Screamed, Air Raid Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

A crash of steel upon steel, ripped, screaming from forces not meant to be; Main deck, deck plates, deck after deck and into the mud below. A deafening Roar as the torpedo detonates below. The hull rises, falls and lists. USS Raleigh (CL-7) became an early casualty at Pearl Harbor that Day. Round One.

Damage control underway. Gaping holes and torn seams shored for now. Then, impact Two… this time as an armor piercing bomb crashes through bulkheads and explodes a short distance beyond her hull. All survived there but below decks, not a pretty site. The fight goes on.

Retrospective- Courageous acts by officers and men saved most souls on board. She was kept afloat by jettisoning everything not permanently attached; barges supported, pumps counter-flooded and breaches were shored. Raleigh made it and survived for the duration. Just one ship that day out of many. Our Navy’s greatest loss for a time. Life and Fight go on.
________________________________________________
After that we were honored to have dad home again.
Peace is won through strength.

Vigilance must never fail. Thanks to that Greatest Generation, so few now but always honored and yet we pay tribute and go on to fight our wars and win the peace for future generations.

Link below is Raleigh in 1942, ready for action:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Raleigh_%28CL-7%29_July_1942.jpg
USS Raleigh (CL-7) July 1942

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Filed under 7 Dec 1941 a Day of Infamy, Attack on Pearly Harbor

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This is a July 4th Weekend Post in honor of Veterans


7 December 1941, America enters WWII

“A day that shall live in Infamy!”

A warm Sunday morning; about 7:45 a.m. to 8 a.m. Church bells, laughter a day of peace and rest. My dad, A.C. Weatherly Jr. is shaving and about to step ashore but on this day that would not happen. Klaxons Sounded, Squawk Box Screamed, Air Raid Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

A crash of steel upon steel, ripped, screaming from forces not meant to be; Main deck, deck plates, deck after deck and into the mud below. A deafening Roar as the torpedo detonates. The hull rises, falls and lists. USS Raleigh (CL-7) became an early casualty at Pearl Harbor that Day. Round One.

Damage control underway. Gaping holes and torn seams shored for now. Then, impact Two… this time horizontal as the an armor piercing bomb slams through bulkheads. Some survivors there but below decks, not a pretty site. The fight goes on.

Retrospective- Courageous acts by officers and men saved most souls on board. She was kept afloat by jettisoning everything not permanently attached; barges supported, pumps counter-flooded and breaches were shored. Raleigh made it and survived for the duration. Just one ship that day out of many. Our Navy’s greatest loss for a time. Life and Fight go on.
________________________________________________
After that we were honored to have dad home again.
Peace is won through strength.

Vigilance must never fail. Thanks to that Greatest Generation, so few now but always honored and yet we pay tribute and go on to fight our wars and win the peace for future generations.

Link below is Raleigh in 1942, ready for action:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Raleigh_%28CL-7%29_July_1942.jpg
USS Raleigh (CL-7) July 1942

5 Comments

July 2, 2011 · 6:39 pm