The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-11
H E R Els MORE ABOUT
Thrilling Escape
8 TARTs ON PAGE ONE

Hamblin was a member of the
crew of the u. q. q. Oklahoma
THE u. 3. .. OKLAHOMA!
II lay on its side In Pearl Har-
Dor after the attack. remember
That was Hsmblin's ship.
He wrote:
For two hours I wa~ hang
Ing % the overhead with 10
or so others In about is feet
Of space and the oil and
water were everywhere. We
had one foot of AIR separating
~ between the water and
overhead-and eternity.
Il sure thought Of you Mrs
Desring) and lived my life over
many times. We all prayed Q
doxsn times or more and each was
expected to be our last. Some
where under the water we knew
there was an open porthols. be-
cause the water came through IL.
Our CHIEF regret was the fact
that we were not sure who had
done IL. but we had one darned
good idea who would be 30 cheap
and sneaking.
Before we settled and the
water began to rise too quickly
for escape we had our peace made
with the world, % far ~ prayers
are concerned.
AT $50 one fellow, . mess boy.
dived through the grease and salt
water for the portfolio. He must
have found 1t. for he never came
back. Another tried 1t, but he
had to dive three times before he
could locate the portfolio; then he
couldn't ut.
81 WAS SURF my size would
prevent my fitting through
the port. but decided that
when I thought ! was almost
gone 1 would try.
Some way l undressed in all
that muck, hanging by one hand
at q time. BY Q or 10 o'clock the
air WAS 30 bad we couldn't talk
and the oil fumes were making us
gasp for breath. Several were
floating in the goo. We just
pushed them away and they floatsd
to the other side, then came float
ing back.
when 1880 or 1o:4b came.
nine were still alive.
Two drowned when they went
out of their heads. / thought II
was time to go. % felt my way
to q fellow who had tried four
dives or more. waited for him
to try once more. but he didn't
make It that time. II he had UNI
dressed I'm SURF he would have,
because naked and oily as l Was
/ made IL the first time. Then
he finally came after me.
After more than two and
half hours under water.
with nothing but y navy issue
flashliGht. which burned out.
We reached the top. coughing
hood and half drowned. but.
nevertheless, We were alive.
Poor Bert Mckeeman Is no
more. Neither are half my divis-
ion or more, but II couldn't be
helped. It's funny how you can
lose - very many good friends
In 30 short a time. Two brothers.
the Palmer boys. were as nice AZ
anyone could know for friends,
but they never had a chance.
by rights. I shouldn't be here
either. because the only exit was
that portfolio and. after all. you
must remember l have quite an
avoirdupois. I weigh IT, pounds
and = port like that one Il IA
inches: - you figure II out.
can't.
AiN way dui 1hathAdi " "
here in spite OF losing my clothes
and every personal belonging.
And my friends.
81 know my chance for
revenge Ia coming: otherwise.
why should I h saved and
thre~ others with me out Of
Fl or more men that WERE
trapped:
This may not get through the
censors: but acme Of II will. and.
although can't tell how pre-
pared we are now. I can say that
we all wish they'd give US one
more crack a. them while were
standing up.
Love to everyone and write
soon.
ssI>p NsEa