Pearl Harbor...for John John

Service Details


Last Rank

Fireman Recruit

Last Duty Station

1941-1941, USS California (BB-44)

Service Years

- 1941


Casualty Date

Dec 07, 1941

Cause

Hostile, Died Reason

Other Explosive Device

Location

Hawaii Conflict

Wars and Conflicts/World War II*

Location of Interment

Last Known Activity

Fireman Recruit John W. Martin was Killed in Action on December 7, 1941, during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed on board the USS California BB-44.


Comments/Citation

On 7 December 1941 USS CALIFORNIA was moored at the southernmost berth of "Battleship Row" and was with other dreadnoughts of the Battle Force when the Japanese launched their aerial attack. As she was about to undergo a material inspection, watertight integrity was not at its maximum; consequently the ship suffered great damage when hit. At 0805 a bomb exploded below decks, setting off an antiaircraft ammunition magazine and killing about 50 men. A second bomb ruptured her bow plates. Despite valiant efforts to keep her afloat the inrushing water could not be isolated and CALIFORNIA settled into the mud with only her superstructure remaining above the surface. When the action ended, 98 of her crew were lost and 61 wounded.