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Earthdog · 05-25-2001, 11:12 PM

I will deefinitely have to see it. A friend of mines father was a signalman on the USS Oklahoma on the day of the attack. He told me that he was sitting on his bunk reading the newspaper when the attack started he was wearing nothing but his skivies and his wristwatch. He hurriedly threw on shirt pants and shoes and ran up top. He spent a couple hours signalling other ships in the area with orders sent down by the captain. When the fire got out of control he stopped sendig signals and began assisting the fire control teams until the order to abandon ship was given. I remember him telling me that from the time he jumped off his bunk to the time he jumped off the ship 4 hours elapsed. After jumping off the ship he spent the next 8 hours most treading water below the surface putting his arm up swirling the water to create an airpocket, surfacing, inhaling and resubmerging. The flames on the surface were thick. When they pulled him from the water he had nothing on but his wristwatch.

After he was rescued he went on to serve on 3 more ships which got shot out from underneath him.

I have a VERY healthy respect for the men who served and fought in WWII. Most werent as lucky as Mr Donley.

Mr Donley passed away at the age of 78 in August 1999. He was a true gentlemen and would do anything to help anyone in need. Ive never known anyone as kind or giving. Im thanful for having the experience of having him in my life and I know he emade an impact on my development as a teenager.

This may not be the approriate place to talk about this but Im thankful that this is here so the Veterans Of WWII can have their story told. Well one at least. They were real people and they had real lives and families not just characters from a fantasy.

On the lighter more comical side to this my friend Dave who is Mr Donleys son would tell people that his dad was on the Oklahoma on the day of the Attack and poeple would ask him if his dad lived. "Im 38 years old. You do the math. duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

Gwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahaha. That always cracked me up.

------------------
IS THE PIZZA HERE YET????
WANNA PASS ME A BEER??? THANKS!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by Earthdog (edited 05-25-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Earthdog (edited 05-25-2001).]

05-25-2001, 11:12 PM	#5
Earthdog Emerald Dragon Join Date: May 1, 2001 Location: melbourne victoria australia Age: 60 Posts: 960	I will deefinitely have to see it. A friend of mines father was a signalman on the USS Oklahoma on the day of the attack. He told me that he was sitting on his bunk reading the newspaper when the attack started he was wearing nothing but his skivies and his wristwatch. He hurriedly threw on shirt pants and shoes and ran up top. He spent a couple hours signalling other ships in the area with orders sent down by the captain. When the fire got out of control he stopped sendig signals and began assisting the fire control teams until the order to abandon ship was given. I remember him telling me that from the time he jumped off his bunk to the time he jumped off the ship 4 hours elapsed. After jumping off the ship he spent the next 8 hours most treading water below the surface putting his arm up swirling the water to create an airpocket, surfacing, inhaling and resubmerging. The flames on the surface were thick. When they pulled him from the water he had nothing on but his wristwatch. After he was rescued he went on to serve on 3 more ships which got shot out from underneath him. I have a VERY healthy respect for the men who served and fought in WWII. Most werent as lucky as Mr Donley. Mr Donley passed away at the age of 78 in August 1999. He was a true gentlemen and would do anything to help anyone in need. Ive never known anyone as kind or giving. Im thanful for having the experience of having him in my life and I know he emade an impact on my development as a teenager. This may not be the approriate place to talk about this but Im thankful that this is here so the Veterans Of WWII can have their story told. Well one at least. They were real people and they had real lives and families not just characters from a fantasy. On the lighter more comical side to this my friend Dave who is Mr Donleys son would tell people that his dad was on the Oklahoma on the day of the Attack and poeple would ask him if his dad lived. "Im 38 years old. You do the math. duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." Gwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahaha. That always cracked me up. ------------------ IS THE PIZZA HERE YET???? WANNA PASS ME A BEER??? THANKS!!!!!! [This message has been edited by Earthdog (edited 05-25-2001).] [This message has been edited by Earthdog (edited 05-25-2001).]