PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII
7 DECEMBER, 1941
Photos from US Naval Archives
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From the McKinney Weekly Examiner December 25, 1941 First Casualty Among Collin
County The first casualty among the hundreds of Collin County boys in the service was confirmed by the Navy Department Monday, when the death of C. J. Estep of Anna was announced. Mr. Estep had been on the USS Arizona and was killed in action at Pearl Harbor. It is believed he was one of the first killed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Sunday, Dec 7, the act which plunged this country into the world war. Young Estep enlisted in 1940 and got his first training at Puget Sound, Washington. He was later assigned to the Arizona. Remember Pearl Harbor! It was learned a few days later that three more Collin County boys were onboard the Arizona that morning; Sailors Richard P. Rush of McKinney, and from Plano Raymond C. Tennel and Harold L. Patterson. Both were among the 1,177 sailors and Marines who were killed. Jim H. Furr, another sailor from McKinney was aboard the USS Helena, a light cruiser which was attacked and suffered thirty-four deaths. He was wounded and rendered unconscious in the attack, declared dead, and even had a tag stating so attached to his toe. But before he could be placed with all the other bodies, he regained consciousness and declared that he wasn’t dead. After leaving the hospital he came home on leave and soon returned to his ship. His brother Winston, was also assigned to the Helena, but on July 6, 1942, while the Helena was engaged in the Battle of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands, Winston was in California. Jim’s luck ran out that day. The ship was hit by four Japanese torpedoes within a six minute span, and broke in half. He was one of 168 men who died when the ship went down. S. E. Shipman of McKinney, was also aboard the Helena, and spent five days in a life raft before being rescued. |
Pearl Harbor Casualties US Navy: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA. US Marine Corps: 109 KIA, 69 WIA. Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA. TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA. Battleships USS Arizona (BB-39) - total loss when a bomb hit her magazine. USS Oklahoma (BB-37) - Total loss when she capsized and sunk in the harbor. USS California (BB-44) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired. USS West Virginia (BB-48) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired. USS Nevada - (BB-36) Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired. USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage. USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage. USS Tennessee (BB-43) Light damage. USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target) - Sunk. Cruisers USS New USS USS USS Raleigh (CL-7) - Heavily damaged but repaired. USS USS Destroyers USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged. USS Cassin - (DD-372) Destroyed. Parts salvaged. USS Shaw (DD-373) - Very heavy damage. USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage. Minelayer USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired. Seaplane Tender USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired. Repair Ship USS Vestal (AR-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired. Harbor Tug USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) - Sunk but later raised and repaired. Aircraft 188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.) |