EYEWITNESS REPORTS
As I remember the USS Utah
By David P. (D.P.) Smith Em3c
Boot Camp Photo October 1939
After completing boot camp at San Diego, California. I was assigned to the USS Utah on November 8, 1939 as apprentice seaman. On arrival to the ship I was given duty as Mess Cook for the 2nd division, and placing the 12x12 (as I remember them) timbers on deck. The timber was used to protect the wooden decks when Army and Navy pilots were in training, dropping practice bombs from aircraft. My next duty was as Mess Cook for the master-at arms section. I had received a very limited education as an electrician prior to entering the Navy, so I requested transfer to the Electrical Division and was accepted. Once again, for the standard time of three months, I was given duty as the E-Division Mess Cook. I still hate to look a spud in the eye.
I advanced in rank to Electrician’s Mate Third Class and was assigned to the interior communication section. My main duty was as a telephone repair, and remote indicator serviceman. I had additional duties as motion picture projectionist and switchboard watches. When the Ship was on anti-aircraft training with the new 5 inch 50 guns I was the talker from to aft deck to the bridge. Army pilots had control of a radio control aircraft that was towing a sleeve target that the trainees were to shoot at. I would relay to the bridge the commence firing order when the pilot deemed it safe.
On the morning of December 7,1941 I awoke about 7:30 AM and left the E-division bunk room, on the switch board flat, and went up to my locker on the old gun deck, one deck below the main deck. I was still in my shorts getting ready to dress for the day. I heard aircraft noise and went to a near-by open porthole. I saw an aircraft flying just off the water coming toward were I was standing. My thoughts, at that moment, were what are they doing on Sunday morning and in port. I thought it must be just another exercise. Then I saw a torpedo drop and a quick pull up of the aircraft. I saw a large red circle painted on the bottom of each wing as the plane climbed to miss our mast. I saw the wake of the torpedo as it came toward me and I felt the shake of my ship as it struck and exploded. I called out to the few shipmates in the compartment that we were under attack by the Japs. I felt another shutter and could feel the ship start to list to the port side. We had no way to defend ourselves. I decided to make my way to the main deck to find out what we should do. I crawled most of the time up the ladder to the passage way from the port side past the ships store to the starboard air castle on hand and knees. When I arrived at the main deck where the harbor could be seen it appeared that the mooring lines were going to hold as the listing momentarily stopped. I could see the Battle Ships on the other side of Ford Island taking hits, blowing up, and burning. Commander Isquith was there and said for everyone to put on a life jacket and prepare to abandon ship. I looked over the side and decided that it would be better to swim under water to Ford Island due to strafing and oil that was spilling from our rupture fuel tanks. At this time I saw the mooring lines part due to the weight of the seawater that was entering the hull. I noticed a shipmate that was using the lines to cross over to the mooring pilings. He was flung into the air as the lines broke. I stepped back and took off the life jacket and slid down the side of the ship as it was rolling over. When I reached the island and looked back all I saw was the bottom of the Utah.
I found the trench as other shipmates have written about. During a lull in the attack I went to a near by base housing unit where a lady was doing what she could to help survivors that were coming from other ships. Some were burnt, hurt, and covered with oil. To me she was an angel. She told those of us that were not dressed to go into the quarters and find some clothing. I found a pair of pants, a shirt, and a pair of shoes, which I wore for several days. I remember that one sailor came out barefoot wearing a tuxedo.
I remember many of the things that my shipmate Red Upton has expressed in his writings. I was in the same group that he was. We were trying to stay alive and help those that needed help. Most of us feared that ground forces would start coming ashore during the night. There was a lot of random shooting going until daylight on 8 December 1941.
David P. Smith May be contacted at: <davesATintercorp.com>