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Brand, Joseph James, WT1c.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Otisville, NY
Last Address Box 77 Otisville, NY
Casualty Date Sep 13, 1944
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Palau
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Attack on Pearl Harbor
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Description The attack on Pearl Harbor, also known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor, the Hawaii Operation or Operation AI by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, and Operation Z during planning, was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.
Japan intended the attack as a preventive action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan planned in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. Over the next seven hours there were coordinated Japanese attacks on the U.S.-held Philippines, Guam and Wake Island and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
The attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk. All but Arizona were later raised, and six were returned to service and went on to fight in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Important base installations such as the power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 64 servicemen killed. One Japanese sailor, Kazuo Sakamaki, was captured.
The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day, December 8, the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for non-interventionism, which had been fading since the Fall of France in 1940,[19] disappeared. Clandestine support of the United Kingdom (e.g., the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.
From the 1950s, several writers alleged that parties high in the U.S. and British governments knew of the attack in advance and may have let it happen (or even encouraged it) with the aim of bringing the U.S. into war. However, this advance-knowledge conspiracy theory is rejected by mainstream historians.
There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. However, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy". Because the attack happened without a declaration of war and without explicit warning, the attack on Pearl Harbor was judged by the Tokyo Trials to be a war crime.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories USS Perry, Report of Pearl Harbor Attack
DMS17/A6-3 Serial 0234 U.S.S. Perry (DMS17) Pearl Harbor, T.H., December 22, 1941.
From: The Commanding Officer. To: The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Subject: Japanese Air Raid on Pearl Harbor, December 7 1941.
Reference: (a) Cincpac despatch 102102 of December 1941.
The following report is submitted in compliance with reference (a): Offensive measures: Commencing at 0759, approximately one minute after the raid began, all machine guns (6 - .50 caliber and 2 - .30 caliber) were manned and opened fire at Japanese planes within range. General quarters was sounded about this time. (Ammunition was kept at the guns in the ready ammunition lockers; was thus immediately available.) Four planes were shot down within range of Mine Division FOUR. Due to the promptness and accuracy with which fire was opened and the high volume of fire that was maintained, at least one and probable more of these planes can be credited to the Perry.
Some time after the start of the raid, personnel on the after deck house of the Perry say a submarine partially surfaced, heading toward Middle Loch and swinging toward the moorings of the Medusa, Curtis and Vestal. Number four (4") gun was promptly manned and two shots were fired. The first was well over, then the sights were reset to 300 yards and a second salvo was fired. No one observing the fall of shot saw the splash of this projectile. Unofficially it was reported to have passed through and exploded in the conning tower or hull of the submarine. The Medusa was also firing on the same enemy. No more shots were fired by this ship as the MacDonough was seen coming up fast. The submarine may have fired a torpedo at the MacDonough ? one was seen to be fired just as the Perry second shot was fired. She dropped depth charge beside the sub and narrowly avoided running aground beyond. The submarine disappeared from view.
The Commanding officer would appreciate the information as to whether, in the conning tower of hull of the submarine sunk off the moorings of the Curtiss, there is a hole made by a 4" projectile. It is believed that no other ship was firing a 4" gun at this enemy target.
Damage to enemy. Partial or total destruction of from one to four enemy planes shot down within range of Perry guns which were firing.
Possible sinking of one submarine in Pearl Harbor.
Own losses and damage. There were no personnel lost in the Perry. One casualty occurred when the gun captain of #3 .50 caliber machine gun, J.C. COLE, F.C.3c USN., received a flesh wound from an enemy machine gun bullet in his throat. He received a temporary treatment on board and was later transferred to the Pearl Harbor Naval Hospital for removal of the bullet.
Minor damage to rigging and antennae was sustained from machine gun fire and bomb fragments.
Distinguished conduct of personnel. Too much can not be said for the high order of conduct of all hands, who, totally inexperienced under fire, went about their duties with superb coolness and disregard of danger. To my mind this applies particularly to the men who had jobs giving them no opportunity to shoot back ? the ship was ready to get underway 32 minutes after the raid started. The ammunition parties functioned smoothly, efficiently, and quickly. Early in the engagement, when COLE was wounded on #3 .50 caliber machine gun, G.A. CHRISTIAN, F.C.3c USN., who has been secured from his normal station on the 4" director, quickly ran to the gun and took up the fire.
Ensign G.G. BALL, USN., of the class of 1941 U.S. Naval Academy, got the ship underway, when ordered by the senior officer in the next, and took the ship to sea, screened the U.S.S. Louisville, commenced the streaming of the magnetic sweep preparing for a sweep of the vicinity of the harbor entrance and acted as Commanding Officer until the arrival on board, via navy yard boat, of the Captain off the entrance buoys about four hours later. His action were those of an officer of far greater experience. See paragraph "E" for further remarks on this officer.
I believe these to be but two of many acts worthy of the term distinguished but which go unheralded by their similarity.
Other items of interest.
When the air raid on Oahu started, Ensign G.G. BALL USN, class of 1941, U.S. Naval Academy, was having breakfast in the home of his parents, Colonel and Mrs. R. M. Bathurst at Schofield Barracks. At the first bomb burst at Wheeler Field, about 0730, Ensign BALL quickly got out of his car and tore for the Pearl City Landing, pursued by enemy strafers firing on the roads. He arrived at the landing and commanded a boat to the nest and took charge of operations in the Perry. On board besides himself were two young reserve officers. One of them was senior to Ensign BALL, but deferred to BALL's poised and cool reactions. BALL's conduct deserves the utmost praise. His readiness was due in my opinion, first, to a fine background and second to the training received by him from my predecessor Lieutenant Commander R.E. ELLIOTT, USN., in ship handling and in accepting responsibility. I am proud to have him on board. Incidentally, Ensign BALL has been Chief Engineer of the Perry since June 1, 1941, filling the bill completely.
I wish to invite attention to the fact that all hands in the Perry went to their battle stations, in advance of the sounding of the general alarm. [signed] L.H. MILLER.