On the ships anchored at Pearl Harbor this Sunday morning,
men are sleeping, eating breakfast, relaxing on the
sunny decks, or preparing to go ashore for last minute
Christmas shopping. On the cruiser Helena, some of
the Marines are getting ready for a softball game.
For the second time in three hours, the Ward is on alert,
having again detected a strange movement in the water.
Upon closer inspection, Lieutenant Outerbridge is
stunned to see a stubby black submarine, half submerged.
He immediately orders the crew to sink it, and any
other submarines they may find. Outerbridge radios
the following message back to headquarters at Pearl
Harbor:
"We have attacked, fired on, depth-charged, and sunk submarine
operating in defensive sea area."
But the Lieutenant's message is decoded very slowly.
No one knows to call an alert.
Depth charge - an explosive device designed to explode
underwater
Interview with the Eyewitnesses | Teacher's Guide |
