Punch Bowl Dec. 7, 2002

 

 

(Paul Goodyear)

 

Paul Goodyear and other survivors of the USS Oklahoma, were part of a special service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Dec. 7th at 2pm, where 41 granite gray markers once only inscribed with word "Unknown" now carry the added words "USS Oklahoma" on one line and "Dec. 7, 1941" on another.

GIESA, George "Dutch" Edward F2c

Killed in action

USS Oklahoma Dec. 7, 1941

With the help of U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, who died Sept. 28 and is buried at Punchbowl, and Ray Emory, chief historian for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, 77 headstones last year were changed to say more than just "Unknown."
New markers now bear ship names including California, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Curtiss, and the date Dec. 7, 1941.

 

 

(George Brown ship's cook USS Oklahoma)

 

On Dec 7, 2002, 177 more new gravestones were in place. Tiny American flags marked their location to help the survivors from the USS Oklahoma like George Brown to find his old shipmates.

 

 

Gene Castagnetti, cemetery director, said there are still 1,740 headstones at Punchbowl that still only bear the inscription "Unknown."

 

 

OLSEN, Eli SK3c

Killed in action

USS Oklahoma Dec. 7,1941

 

"From the moment you're born," said Goodyear philosophically, "you start to die ... it's just a matter of when and how. We want it to be a merciful death.

 

BARRETT, Wilbur Clayton S2c

Killed in action

USS Oklahoma Dec. 7, 1941

 

"For the sailors on the Arizona it was instantaneous. But many of our kids were caught and trapped inside an overturned ship ... We didn't cut out 32 men until 6 o'clock on Tuesday -- that was 46 hours later. We don't know what happened to so many others.
"We want these kids to have a little recognition. We want to give them a little peace."

 

 

GELLER, Leonard Richard FIc

Killed in action

USS Oklahoma Dec.7, 1941

 

 

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Oklahoma was moored in Battleship Row at Ford Island alongside the USS Maryland (BB 46). The Oklahoma took three torpedo hits almost immediately after the first Japanese bombs fell. As it began to capsize, two more torpedoes struck home, and sailors were strafed as they abandoned ship.

 

 

LEHMAN, Gerald George F3c

Killed in action

USS Oklahoma Dec. 7, 1941

 

 

Within 20 minutes after the attack began, the Oklahoma had swung over until halted by her masts touching bottom, its starboard side above water and a part of her keel clear. Twenty officers and 395 enlisted men were killed or missing, 32 others wounded, and many were trapped within the capsized hull, to be saved by rescue efforts.

 

 

The Oklahoma was raised and was going to be sold for salvage but sank while being towed to California.

 

 

DORR, Carl David F2c

Killed in action

USS Oklahoma Dec. 7, 1941

 

 

 

 

 

JOHANNES, Charles Homer S2c

Killed in action

USS Oklahoma Dec. 7, 1941

 

 

"A country that doesn't remember what it was yesterday doesn't know what it is today."