Eyewitness Report
George Jurkovich, Rm3/c USN
This account of the events I recall of the morning of December 7th, 1941 is presented without the benefit of any previous notes, which could have provided a more detailed description. Only the events which impacted me the most, remain in my memory after nearly six decades.
After attending the Fleet Radio School at the 42nd St. Naval base in San Diego, I was sent along with William Hughes and two others to the USS Utah as trainees (strikers) in the Communications Division. On board from November 8th 1940 to December 7th 1941, Hughes and I attained the rating of RM3/c.
The mission of the Utah was to provide multiple training facilities for both anti-aircraft gunnery and as a bombing target by aircraft. For the latter, it was necessary to protect the exposed areas of the ship with large timbers on the decks, and steel "dog-houses" over the guns. It was in this configuration that the Utah found itself when it was assaulted by Japanese aircraft on Sunday, December 7, 1941.
On that morning, I was asleep in the compartment adjacent to the radio room, along with several others who were off watch. When we were awakened by the explosions, we were advised by the watch supervisor--RM1/c Berry to take appropriate action, as we didn't yet know what had occurred.
When the ship started to list, we decided to go up to the main deck to find out what was happening. It was there that we first realized that we were under both torpedo and machine gun attack by Japanese aircraft.
The area of the main deck adjacent to the ladder from which we emerged was somewhat sheltered by the superstructure above it. I remained there for a short while to avoid the strafing by the aircraft, but it became apparent that the ship was going to capsize, so I ventured out into the open area. As the ship continued to list to the port side, I clambered to the starboard rail and finally walked along the starboard side to a bulging structure that ran along the length of the ship, normally below the waterline. I believe it was sometimes referred to as a "blister".
As the ship assumed a mast down position, I stood on the bottom of the blister, until further settling of the ship forced me into the water. There was one of the large pieces of timber that had come loose from the deck, and I clung to it while pondering my next move. There was oil in the water, and I managed to get enough of it to become slightly nauseated.
I was on the side of the ship opposite Ford Island, and wasn't sure what to do, when a motor launch appeared on the scene. The only one in it was the Coxwain, who took me to Ford Island where many other of the Utah crew were assembled in a somewhat sheltered area. While I was in the launch, I had observed a group of planes passing over at a high altitude.While waiting in the sheltered area, we saw a destroyer drop an "ash-can" on a Japanese mini-sub. I remember this vividly, because I had never seen a ship moving that fast before in the channel.
Eventually we were transported to the USS Argonne, the flagship of the Base Force, of which the Utah was a member. Warren Upton RM3/c and myself were attached to the radio group temporarily while awaiting further assignment.
The night of December 7th was hectic. Late in the evening, we were awakened by the sound of gunfire. We went to a clear area of the mess hall where a large group had gathered, standing around waiting, and wondering what was happening. Suddenly, a bullet came through the side of the ship that faced the channel and hit a man standing to the left of me. I heard someone holler "get a medic down here". But it seemed quite awhile before he got assistance. The gunfire was from the USS California, located across the channel from the Argonne. They were firing at some planes which were returning from the USS Enterprise, thinking they were Japanese planes.
I remember my last evening watch on the bridge of the Argonne. It was the night of December 8, 1941. The Admiral of the Base Force was still there and he looked very sad as he gazed across the channel at the still burning Arizona, and made some comment about the fact that it was still burning.
The next day, James Mills RM1/c and myself were transferred to a radio transmitter station at Makalapa, which was located nearby, and was maintained by, NAS Pearl.
[Ed. note. More than sixty one years ago, on 11-08-1940, George Jurkovich, Bill Hughes, Ernest Burhop and one other Radio Striker reported on board Utah at Pearl.]
