West Virginia. As soon I arrived, I realized we had to act fast. The effects of the blasts by Japanese airmen had left the West Virginia a fiery wreck and if we didn’ t move the ship was going down into the water. Six of us went down below deck. We had to open the door to a large valve, so the floodwater could pass through enabling the ship to level off. While we were working to turn the wheels to open the valves, I looked up to see water seeping through a hatch into the compartment – I knew then that we were trapped. Water had filled the compartment above, and there was no way out.
We kept working on the valve, and as soon as it opened the water rushed in, rising past our knees, out waists, and up to our necks. We stood on our tiptoes, gasping for air. All six of us were holding each other’ s hands, and I thought the guy on my right was going to break mine.
One of the men said that there was an air vent in the compartment next to us, which went all the way up to the top deck. If we could swim down to its entrance, then up to the deck, we might have a chance. But if it was completely full of water, we would die. We knew that if we stayed put, we’ d die anyway, so still holding hands, we took three deep breaths to expand our lungs, and dove down toward the vent.
Adrenaline kicked in, and we fought with everything we had to make it into the vent, then up toward the surface, each of us helping the guy next to him. I started to give out, but something in me kept kicking – you’ ll be surprised how much you’ ll fight when you think you’ re about to die.
Finally, I couldn’ t take it anymore and opened my mouth – only to suck in air. I was dragged onto the deck, exhausted, but alive. All six of us sat there, silent, looking at each other. I barely knew these guys, but at that moment, they were my brothers.
USS WEST VIRGINIA- RAISED FROM THE BOTTOM OF PEARL HARBOR- SETS COURSE FOR THE CONTINENTAL U. S. FOR REPAIRS IN 1943. SHE WOULD REJOIN THE ACTION AT LEYTE GULF, THEN TAKE PART IN THE BATTLES FOR IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA. THEN, ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945, WEST VIRGINIA WOULD WITNESS THE WAR’ S FINAL MOMENTS IN TOKYO BAY, AS THE JAPANESE FORMALLY SURRENDERED. BATTERED IN THE WAR’ S DARKEST HOUR, SHE WOULD TAKE PART IN ITS ULTIMATE VICTORY.
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