Military | Page 34 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

February 17, 2017 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Quonset

The Narragansett were a northeastern Algonquian Native American people. In 1709, the Narragansett quit-claimed New England tribal lands under pressure from the British government. By 1717 the area had been divided into farming plots purchased by European settlers.

A place there is named Quonset Point – Quonset appears to translate either as ‘long-place,’ ‘round shallow cove’ or ‘boundary.’

The birthplace of the US Navy, Quonset Point goes back to the Revolutionary War, when a guard was placed there to watch for British warships that might sail up Narragansett Bay to raid coastal Rhode Island cities. (QuonsetAirMuseum)

With growing tension and anticipation of war, a few days after Christmas 1938, Secretary of the Navy Claude Swanson submitted a report to Congress, making recommendations for naval air-base development at various locations.

A subsequent $65-million legislative authorization included naval air stations at Kāne’ohe, Midway, Pearl Harbor and several other facilities, including the nation’s first northeastern air station to be located at Quonset Point in Rhode Island.

Commissioned on July 12, 1941, and encompassing what was once Camp Dyer, NAS Quonset Point was a major naval facility throughout World War II and well into the Cold War.

At that time, the Navy needed an all-purpose, lightweight, standardized housing unit that made efficient use of shipping space, could be easily transported anywhere and could be quickly and easily assembled without skilled labor.

The housing unit needed to be adaptable to any geographic or climatic condition, without extensive reliance on local resources of material or labor.

Two construction companies, George A Fuller and Company and Merritt-Chapman had been hired to build the Quonset Point base. In March 1941, the Military asked Peter Dejongh and Otto Brandenberger of George A Fuller Company to design and produce a hut to US specification … and, do it within two months.

Designed in response to specific demands generated by the deteriorating world situation in 1941, the hut moved swiftly from concept design to construction and use.

They modeled a structure after the British Nissen. Lt Colonel Peter Nissen, a Canadian officer in the Royal Engineers during the First World War, developed the Nissen Hut in mid-1916 to house troops in the build-up for the Battle of the Somme. (Rogers)

Dejongh and Brandenberger adapted the Nissen design using corrugated steel and semi-circular steel arched ribs. The Anderson Sheet Metal Company of Providence, RI solved the technical problem of bending the corrugated sheets into a usable form. These were attached with nuts and bolts.

The two ends were covered with plywood, which had doors and windows. Major improvements over the Nissan Hut were an interior Masonite (pressed wood) lining, insulation and a one-inch tongue-in-groove plywood floor on a raised metal framework.

A production facility was quickly set up – but would they call the structure? Since they were being developed at Navy Seabee Base Quonset Point, Rhode Island, the new design was called a Quonset Hut. (SeabeeMuseum)

Over time, improvements and changes were made and the “Quonset Stran-Steel Hut” was the most produced; it was larger, (20 by 48-feet – the original Fuller version was 16 by 36 feet) and lighter, using 3 ½ tons of steel instead of 4 tons and required 270 to 325-cubic feet of shipping space.

The 20 x 48 kit was intended to house 25-men; 10-Seabees could assemble a Quonset 20 in less than one day. (The final design required less shipping space than tents with wood floors and frames for the same occupancy.) (Rogers)

The Quonset 40 by 100-feet (‘Elephant Huts,’) developed for use at ‘advance (supply) bases,’ were used as warehouses, machine shops, power and pump plant enclosures, etc.

The Fuller Company couldn’t produce a sufficient quantity of the new huts, so Stran-Steel, a subsidiary of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation in Detroit, was retained to fabricate the thousands of Quonset Huts that were needed.

Stran-Steel also came up with an efficient system that allowed simple nailing of the corrugated steel skins and interior Masonite liner sheets to the arched frames (further reducing the erection time and eliminating most of the nuts and bolts used in the early model.)

Originally, all huts had unpainted galvanized exteriors; later, olive drab camouflage paint was added to exposed panels at the factory to reduce reflectance. Later the color was changed to flat light grey. (Rogers)

A total of 153,200 Quonset Huts and 11,800 Warehouse units were produced or procured by the US Navy during World War II.

When the war ended, Quonset Huts were too good a resource to throw away. So the military sold them to civilians for about a thousand dollars each – many continue to be used for housing, storage and other uses.

Quonset Point Naval Air Station decommissioned on June 28, 1974; today, it is home of the 143rd Airlift Wing of the Rhode Island Air National Guard. The base also hosts an annual air show every June, as well as a small airstrip for commercial purpose. (Lots of information here is from Navy, Rogers, Amaral, Seabee Museum and LOC-HABS.)

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Quonset Huts Constructed by B Co., 3rd Shore Party Bn., Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii – Dec 1956 ((c)-thecoys2)

Quonset Huts constr. by B Co., 3rd Shore Party Bn. Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii – Dec 1956 ((c)-thecoys2)

US Navy Seabees building quonset huts. Guam, June 1945

Under construction on Guam, August 1945

Quonset Huts constr. by B Co., 3rd Shore Party Bn, Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii – Dec 1956 ((c)-thecoys2)

Quonset_hut_emplacement_in_Japan

Quonset_Hut-Lualualei

Quonset Hut at Quonset Point NAS

Pohakuloa Training Area Private James Feld A Battery, 1st Battalion, 8th Artillery-1963 ((c)-25th Infantry Division)

Navy-built Quonset huts during WW II, then used as temporary housing-PP-46-1-029-00001-1950

Interior of a floating Quonset hut, possibly serving as an Officer’s Club in the 1940s

Kona Airport-(Machado)-1950

Quonset huts, Hilo Airport, 1955

NAS_Quonset_Point_NAN10-74

February 12, 2017 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Foreign Help in Quelling 1874 Election Riot

“Department of Foreign Affairs, Honolulu, Feb, 12th, 1874 (to His Excellency Henry A Peirce, Minister Resident of the United States) – Sir: A riotous mob having unexpectedly made a violent attack upon the Court House and the Members of the Legislature, which we have not the force at hand to resist …”

“… I have to request that you will cause to be furnished at the earliest moment possible aid from the US ships ‘Tuscarora’ and ‘Portsmouth’ to the Police, in quelling the riot and temporarily protecting life and property.”

“Your obedient servant, Chas R Bishop,” (A similar request was made to Major James Hay Wodehouse, HBM’s Commissioner and Consul General) to land troops from HBM’s ship ‘Tenedos’.) (Hawaiian Gazette. March 4, 1874)

Whoa, let’s look back …

“During the latter part of January, 1874, the USS Tuscarora left San Francisco, under orders from the Navy Department to run a line of deep sea soundings from that port to Honolulu, with the object of determining a suitable route for a submarine telegraph cable to connect the two ports, these soundings to be taken at intervals of thirty miles apart.”

“When only a few days out from San Francisco and while engaged in taking a sounding in over 2,500 fathoms of water, we were overtaken and passed by the British gunboat Tenedos, which vessel was under full steam and sail power and heading direct for Honolulu.”

“The Tuscarora arrived at Honolulu during the morning of February 3, 1874, and found HBM gunboat Tenedos already anchored in the harbor. The pilot, a Mr. Babcock—I think gave us the only news of any importance in Honolulu at that time, which was to the effect that the Hawaiian King, Lunalilo, was at the point of death.”

“A few days after the death of the King the USS Portsmouth arrived and dropped anchor in the harbor abreast the Tuscarora. The Portsmouth was a sailing sloop-of-war then engaged in surveying work in the north Pacific and was commanded by Commander Joseph S. Skerrett, one of the ablest and most accomplished officers of the US Navy.” (Southerland)

On February 12, 1874, nine days after the death of King Lunalilo, an election was held between the repeat candidate David Kalākaua and Queen Emma, widow of King Kamehameha IV.

The election was held by the members of the legislature, not the public. The election was held in a special session of the Legislature at the old Courthouse on Queen Street (it was almost the last official action to take place in the courthouse.) When the vote was tallied, Kalākaua won by a count of 39 – 6.

Emma’s supporters (referred to as the “Queenites,” “Emmaites” or the “Queen Emma party”) were unhappy with the decision – an angry mob of about 100 of the Queen’s followers gathered.

“The United States Minister, Mr. Pierce, was cognizant of the seriousness of the situation and, in frequent conferences with Commanders Belknap and Skerrett, decided upon a line of action should the election be attended by disturbances which might result in jeopardizing the lives and property of American residents.”

“It was well known to him and others that the few native troops and the police force then in Honolulu could not be depended upon if the followers of the Dowager Queen were defeated at the election.”

“As we were all compelled to remain on board ship in this state of immediate readiness for landing, we were unaware of what was taking place during the session of the legislative assembly at the courthouse.” (Southerland)

“Immediately after the announcement of the election of Prince Kalākaua as King by the legislative Assembly, which took place about three o’clock on the afternoon of the 12th, it became apparent that the natives who stood around the building were not pleased with the result.”

“No outbreak occurred, till the Committee which had been appointed to notify the King of his election attempted to leave the building and enter the carriage waiting to convey them to the Palace. This Committee consisted of five representatives.”

“The crowd surrounded the carriage and laid hands on them, and they attempted to defend themselves, as best they could without weapons, two of them were badly wounded before they effected entrance into the building to which they retreated.”

“The carriage was almost instantly demolished, the spokes and other pieces serving as weapons to arm the rioters, who now began to be warmed up for further destruction.”

“A foreigner by the name of Foley, a British subject, who attempted to assist the Representatives, was knocked down and beaten by the rabble, until the British Commissioner came to his relief and escorted him from the scene.” (Hawaiian Gazette. March 4, 1874)

“The scene at the courthouse was wild in the extreme. About the building, enclosing it and our entire force on all sides, were gathered several thousand natives, quite a number of them grasping arms and legs of chairs and tables, and sticks or billets of wood and, for a time, the noise they made was almost deafening.”

“Many natives ran out of the courthouse from the side and rear, some joining the crowd and some running into the town. The ground around the building was littered with broken furniture, torn books and papers.” (Southerland)

“Immediately on the appearance of the naval forces, the rioters threw down their clubs and left the building, most of them going in a body to Queen Emma’s residence, shouting that to-morrow they would see that she was chosen Queen.”

“Here they continued to be very demonstrative, hurrahing and making speeches, until a detachment of marines and police entered the premises, arrested some and dispersed the rest.”

“The American Minister and the British and French Consuls were also on the ground during the disturbance; and active in endeavors to check the fury of the mob, and when they found their efforts useless, the two former quickly and cordially cooperated in complying with the request of the Government for the landing of troops from the war vessels.”

“Nothing but the prompt appearance by these forces on the scene put a stop to the riot, and saved the further destruction of property.” (Hawaiian Gazette. March 4, 1874)

“Commander Belknap and Commander Skerrett of the United States forces took possession of the square on which the court-house is built; and on seeing this, the mob melted silently and entirely away. The armed marines subsequently, at the request of the Hawaiian authorities, guarded the treasury, arsenal, jail, and station-house.”

“The British marines were marched to the residence of Queen Emma, and, after dispersing the rioters assembled there, they occupied the barracks and guarded the palace itself.” (Liliʻuokalani)

“The American and English landing forces patroled the city for a few nights and about one week later, no other disturbances occurring in the meantime, were withdrawn to their respective ships.” (Southerland)

That wasn’t the only time American Troops landed to keep the peace and/or restore order. It happened a couple of times …

“On the 30th of July, 1889, an insurrection was set on foot by Robert W. Wilcox and Robert Boyd (to overthrow the present Government of Hawaii and depose the King) on the afternoon of the same day, together with their adherents, about 100 in number, were defeated. The ringleader, with about 60 of his followers, was imprisoned.”

“As soon as possible I had communication with Commander Woodward of the USS Adams, and at once all necessary preparations were made to land a force, if found necessary for protection of the people and property interests.” (Merrill, American Legation; Blount Report)

“About 70 sailors and marines from the USS Adams, then in the harbor, were landed by permission with a machine gun to protect life and property at the legation and in the city, and their appearance on the streets had a favorable effect on the populace.”

“In this matter Commander Woodward fully agreed, and by permission of the minister of foreign affairs the forces landed about 5 o’clock pm. Early the following morning all the men belonging to the Adams returned to the ship.”

Americans landed, again, in 1893. “Queen Lili‘uokalani attempted on Saturday, Jan. 14 (1893,) to promulgate a new Constitution, depriving foreigners of the right of franchise and abrogating the existing House of Nobles, at the same time giving her the power of appointing a new House.”

On January 16, 1893, the Committee of Safety wrote a letter to John L Stevens, American Minister, that stated: “We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Honolulu, respectfully represent that, in view of recent public events in this Kingdom, culminating in the revolutionary acts of Queen Liliʻuokalani on Saturday last, the public safety is menaced and lives and property are in peril, and we appeal to you and the United States forces at your command for assistance.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 17, 1893)

“(A) small force of marines and sailors was landed from the United States ship Boston, as a precautionary step for the protection of American life and property, and as a safeguard against night incendiarism stimulated by the hope of plunder, greatly feared by many of the best citizens.” (Stevens, The North American Review, December 1893)

“The Marines were detached and sent to the American Legation on Nuʻuanu Avenue, while the sailors marched out along Merchant Street with two gatling guns and made a halt at Mr JA Hopper’s residence. About sundown they moved to the grounds of Mr JB Atherton’s and after a stay of several hours returned to the Arion Hall, where they camped overnight.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, January 17, 1893)

“At the time the Provisional Government took possession of the Government buildings, no troops or officers of the United States were present or took any part whatever in the proceedings.” (John Foster, State Department, February 15, 1893, Blount Report)

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Election_Riot_of_1874

Old_Honolulu_Courthouse

USS_Portsmouth

Kalakaua,_photograph_by_A._A._Montano

Queen_Emma_of_Hawaii,_retouched_photo_by_J._J._Williams

Ballot_cards_from_Royal_Election-Saved by SG Wilder mounted in the form of crown, given to Kalakaua-inherited by Prince Kuhio-1874

February 10, 2017 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

The Third Warning Voice

In 1879, Celso Caesar Moreno encouraged King Kalākaua to borrow $10-million; half the funds would be spent in building forts and warships; $3-million would create national coinage; and the rest would be used to build hospitals, schools, harbor improvements, etc. (Hsiao-ping Huang) The idea failed.

On the January 20, 1881, King Kalākaua set out upon a tour around the world. After the king’s return he proposed a ten million dollar loan, chiefly for military purposes …”

“… but (it was) met with no encouragement. He then published a pamphlet entitled ‘A Third Warning Voice,’ in which he urged the establishment of a large standing army.” (Reports of Committee on Foreign Relations)

“(The) pamphlet entitled ‘The Third Warning Voice,’ addressed to Hon CJ McCarthy, and purporting to be the work of Robert Hoapili Baker, was distributed among the members of the House yesterday. It is more than suspected that Robert is being used as a blind, as the ear marks of a much more expensive and higher titled official are blazed upon every page.”

“The gist of the argument is that the Legislature should provide for an army of 521-men and ten staff officers, at a cost of $345,541. The salaries of the staff officers are to amount to $45,680.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, September 4, 1890)

“There is little doubt in the minds of that portion of the community who are acquainted with the King’s literary style and current of thought, that he is the real author of it. The frequent relapse from the assumed personal pronoun ‘I’ into the royal ‘We’.”

“If this is so, it gives a side view of His Majesty’s character, which, although well known to the few, is not often exhibited to the public. It is not a view which is at all reassuring to a long-suffering public, that His Majesty has become wiser by his experiences of the last few years.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, September 17, 1890)

Excerpts from ‘The Third Warning Voice’ follow:

“The subject of Military in this country, has always been put down, as useless and a costly appendage. I would readily accede to this idea, if our late experience have not been shown to the contrary, then I would say and admit, that the force of my remarks has no weight. But what have we observed for the last sixteen years?”

“Riots, bloodshed, lawlessness and murder, and observe the outer world where every civilized and enlighten nations of the world are all arming and are armed, only too ready and at any moment to ‘Let loose the Dogs of war.’ We may not expect it, but it will inevitably come, in spite of our expectations and hope it will never come.”

“We have been a warlike race for generations to generations back, and for nearly half a century we have enjoyed the blessings of peace and the imagination of our permanent security …”

“… but the evil day come, and caught us with surprise and for the last 14 years, there has been a clash of sentiments caused by divergent interest that the nation is at every moment to political strife, and the loss of its autonomy and independence.”

“What have been as a warning voice in the past, will worthily suit a sagacious administration and astute statesmanship with a wise and patriotic Legislature to perform, is to carry out what is deemed and an actual necessity …”

“… so that any clandestine movements in the future can be put down with vigour and energy. Thus saving thousands of innocent lives, the unwarrantable destruction of property and the loss of prestige and honor among the family of nations.”

“The exhibition of a weak and timid policy is the ruination of the nation, and nothing can exonerate the character of men and Legislature to allow the country to drift to this end, but a stamp upon their brows as partizans to undermine and ruin the country.”

“Surely there is enough means to carry out the organization of a respectable and effective force for any emergency, were the authorities alive to this matter. If the Government and the Legislature flinches from the labor of financiering for the Military; then let the Military authorities work their own destinies.”

“The display of our energies, knowledge, tact and push, have been sadly warning in this respect. We have boasted highly of our intelligence, our schools, our houses of worship and charitable institution. The enjoyment of our luxuries, the mechanic that built our houses and the feed we eat are all from abroad.”

“This is sad, indeed, when we consider our education for the last fifty years, have not produced one genius, not one talent. Not one artist nor mechanic to prove that our education has been a benefit to us. Echo? Faintly smiles and says Oh! Oh!! Oh!!!”

“Though, I was not in Honolulu on the 30th of June, 1887, but visited the city three weeks after, I was then convinced by the plans laid out for the defence of the Palace, of the distribution of men and the disposition of the arms, were so perfect that an invasion of the Palace was an impossibility.”

“The officers of the regular forces gave full warning to the Government and to the members of the Legislature of those periods, that a fatal disaster would surely occur, if they did not take measures to prevent its occurrence. Most prophetically, this event did really occur seven years after on the 30th of June, 1887.”

“I will conclude by adding, that it is only in the Military profession and occupation that the life of the nation, of the dying Hawaiian and Aboriginal race can have hope for its continuance, perpetuation and maintenance.”

“The true soldier then is the real lover of peace and not of war. He is only compelled when duty calls him to employ his physical energies and mental qualities to the best of his ability to do his duty to his sovereign, his country, and honor to the profession he is ordained to maintain.”

“I have the honor to be, Sirs, your most Obedient and Humble Servant, Robert H Baker.” (Hawaiian Gazette, September 23, 1890)\

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18-Iolani_Barracks

Colonel G. W. Macfarlane, King Kalakaua, Major R. H. Baker-aboard_the_U.S.S._Charleston_(PP-96-13-002)-1890

Kalakaua_aboard_the_U.S.S._Charleston-1890

Robert_Hoapili_Baker_(PP-67-8-016)

February 2, 2017 by Peter T Young 6 Comments

Mānoa War Homes

“Housing was a critical problem at the beginning of the war.”

“On December 7, 1941, the only project operated by the Hawaii Housing Authority was Kamehameha homes consisting of 221 units for families in the low-income bracket.”

“Prior to the declaration of war, plans had been prepared for the construction of a low income family project of 368 units to be known as the Mayor Wright homes. The war prevented this development from going ahead since the buildings in the slum area on the site could not be demolished. Tenants living there were permitted to remain.” (DOI Annual Report, 1946)

Then, “Since the close of the war, one of the most important activities of the land department has consisted of arranging for the return of numerous tracts of territorial lands which had been transferred to the Army and Navy for military purposes.”

“Whenever it has been to the advantage of Federal agencies to give up the buildings and other improvements on territorial lands, and when the Territory or a county government needed the improvements, the office of the commissioner of public lands assisted in negotiating for the acquisition of title to the buildings in lieu of restoration performance of the premises involved.”

“As a result of this procedure of acquisition, the Territory and counties realized considerable savings in money, material, and labor, and gained title to a great deal of construction equipment, including buildings of various sizes …”

“… warehouses, quonset huts, water and sewer pipes, refrigeration plants, stoves of all descriptions, furniture, cable and electric wiring, reservoirs, gas storage facilities, septic tanks, water heaters, and generators.”

“The termination of hostilities with Japan caused an unprecedented demand for house lots. For a number of years prior to the beginning of the war, home building was curtailed, and such materials as might normally be needed to meet the housing requirements of a growing population were diverted to national defense.”

“With the beginning of war, these materials were actually frozen. In addition to this, a large number of existing home sites were taken over for military purposes.”

“The sale of public lands for home sites is the most beneficial purpose to which these lands can be dedicated. Every effort was made to subdivide and place on the market as house lots all public lands that were not under lease. Unfortunately, the area of unencumbered public land on Oahu, where the need is greatest, is decidedly limited.” (DOI Annual Report, 1946)

“During the past year (1946) the problem has become even more serious. The Governor’s housing committee and a committee of the chamber of commerce of Honolulu, after a careful study, reported that 11,000 additional houses were needed in the Honolulu-Pearl Harbor area.”

“A number of factors have militated against an adequate home-building program. The most important of these arc: (a) Scarcity of land even at an extremely high price, (b) unavailability of building materials, and (c) shortage and high cost of labor.”

“During the year over 3,900 families applied to the housing authority for homes. This number does not reflect the extent of the need since the public was aware of long waiting lists.”

“Of those who applied the authority could provide houses for only 1,265, 1,000 of whom were placed in Manoa war homes. This situation indicates the need for drastic action immediately to relieve the existing shortage of housing for all income groups.” (DOI Annual Report, 1946)

“The idea was to offer veterans a decent, affordable place to live while they found jobs, re-entered civilian life and saved up for a down payment on a permanent home. One-bedroom units went for $35 a month, 2-bedroom units were $42.50.” (Cataluna)

It worked for a while; then, “The Commissioners of the Authority froze vacancies as of January 1, 1956, at Manoa War Homes, a 982-unit temporary war housing project, as the site must be vacated, buildings demolished, and the land restored to its owners by June 30, 1958.”

“The project was relinquished by the Public Housing Administration to the Authority on June 30, 1953 at which time the Authority was able to obtain leases with the property owners for 3 years, with options to renew for two successive terms of 1 year each only.” (Annual Report of Governor to Secretary of Interior, 1956)

“During the year (1958) the Authority has continued the deprogramming of a relinquished 1,000-unit war housing project, Manoa War Homes.”

“On June 30, 1957, there were 519 families still living in the project. By June 30, 1958, the number had been reduced to 284. On June 30, 1958, the Authority returned approximately 44 acres of the 94-acre site to its owners. The area returned comprised 14 parcels of land and a portion of another parcel.” (Annual Report of Governor to Secretary of Interior, 1956)

Familiar Mānoa landmarks that were once the site of the Mānoa War Homes are the Mānoa Marketplace, Noelani School and Mānoa Innovation Center.

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December 20, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Convoy Nurses

The SS President Coolidge was completed in 1931 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co, Newport News, Va. She was 615 feet 6 inches in length, had a beam of 81 feet 3 inches, and a draft of 28 feet 2 inches.

In 1941, as war time activities increased, the US War Department began to use the President Coolidge for occasional voyages to Honolulu and Manila. She also helped evacuate Americans from Hong Kong when Japanese-British relations became strained in 1940.

She was later called upon to assist in the evacuations of many people from Asia as the Japanese aggression increased. In June 1941, the Coolidge went into service with the American Army as a transport ship for reinforcing garrisons in the Pacific. A few months later the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. (Henry Nelson, Master of the Coolidge)

At the time of attack, the Coolidge was halfway between the Orient and Hawai‘i. She was the last American vessel to leave the Philippine Islands; she arrived at Honolulu after a perilous trip with hundreds of evacuees, including women, children, missionaries, government officials, businessmen, Army and Navy officers, and many Chinese aviation cadets.

Upon reaching Honolulu, this world cruise ship was placed immediately at the disposal of military officials. Her already overcrowded deck spaces were jammed with hundreds more, waiting to leave the Islands. (Margaret Logan; HNA)

Nineteen US Navy ships, including 8 battleships were destroyed or damaged; the attack killed 2,403 US personnel, including 68 civilians, and the wounded numbered 1,178.

The first casualties arrived at the Pearl Harbor hospital within ten minutes after the first attack, and by 0900 they were coming into the hospital in a steady stream. Casualties were distributed to the main operating suite or to any one of the twelve wards where empty beds were available.

A receiving ward would have caused a ‘hopeless bottleneck,’ and was not used. Although an effort was made to send acute surgical cases to the surgical wards and fracture cases to the orthopedic wards every ward received a variety of cases. (navy-mil)

The leading causes of casualties were burns, compound fractures, flesh wounds (gunshots, shell, and shrapnel) and penetrating abdominal wounds. Sixty percent of all casualties at Pearl Harbor were burn cases caused by burning fuel oil and/or flash burns. Most burns were extensive (up to 80 percent,) and mainly first and second degree. (National WWII Museum)

“The command decided that patients who would need more than 3 months treatment should be transferred. Some were very bad and probably should not have been moved.” (Lieutenant Ruth Erickson, Nurse Corps, Navy)

“(T)he Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross requested the Nursing Service Bureau to obtain the services of seventeen nurses to leave on a ship for a port.”

“This call came at 11:30 am. At 1:00 pm seventeen nurses, in uniform, with bags hurriedly packed, leaving families, Christmas trees and packages, were at the Mabel Smyth building.” (American Journal of Nursing, April, 1942)

“Eleven days after the Japanese Navy’s torpedoes and bombs blasted ships and airfields at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941, the first small convoy was formed at Honolulu to begin the evacuation of the wounded.”

“About 200 of the more critically burned and fractured survivors were placed aboard two ships under the care of Red Cross and US Navy nurses.” (Margaret Logan; HNA)

“This convoy, composed of the American President Lines’ luxury liner, President Coolidge, the US Army transport, General Scott, and two escort destroyers, steamed out of the entrance channel … and headed for San Francisco.” (Margaret Logan; HNA)

Three Navy nurses and a number of corpsmen from the hospital were assigned to the SS Coolidge. “Eight volunteer nurses from the Queens Hospital in Honolulu were attached to the Army transport at the next pier, USAT (US Army transport) Scott, a smaller ship.” (Lieutenant Ruth Erickson, Nurse Corps, Navy)

“(W)e left in the late afternoon of the 19th. There were 8 or 10 ships in the convoy. It was quite chilly the next day; I later learned that we had gone fairly far north instead of directly across.”

“The rumors were rampant that a submarine was seen out this porthole in some other direction. I never get seasick and enjoy a bit of heavy seas, but this was different! Ventilation was limited by reason of sealed ports and only added to gastric misery. I was squared about very soon.”

“The night before we got into port, we lost a patient, an older man, perhaps a chief. He had been badly burned, He was losing intravenous fluids faster than they could be replaced. Our destination became San Francisco with 124 patients and one deceased.”

“We arrived at 8 am on Christmas Day! Two ferries were waiting there for us with cots aboard and ambulances from the naval hospital at Mare Island and nearby civilian hospitals. The Red Cross was a cheerful sight with donuts and coffee.”

“Our arrival was kept very quiet. Heretofore, all ship’s movements were published in the daily paper but since the war had started, this had ceased. I don’t recall that other ships in the convoy came in with us except for the Scott. We and the Scott were the only ships to enter the port. The convoy probably slipped away.”

“The patients were very happy to be home and so were we all. The ambulances went on ahead to Mare Island. By the time we had everyone settled on the two ferries, it was close to noon.”

“We arrived at Mare Island at 4:30 pm and helped get the patients into the respective wards.” (Lieutenant Ruth Erickson, NC, USN) In the following weeks, more wounded were convoyed to the mainland.

The Army Nurse Corps listed fewer than 1,000 nurses on its rolls on the day of the attack; 82 Army nurses were stationed in Hawai‘i serving at three Army medical facilities. (army-mil)

Navy Medicine was represented at Pearl Harbor by a naval hospital, a partially assembled mobile hospital and the USS Solace, the Navy’s newest hospital ship at the time. (DODlive-mil))

The Red Cross called the Nursing Service Bureau in Honolulu for volunteer nurses for the Hospital Ship and the Navy Hospital. Every call received was filled.

“During the three weeks following the attack, our nurses gave two-hundred and fifty-eight days of volunteer service 101-days by members of the Bureau and 157-days by non-members, who were nurses from the local hospitals on their days off, service wives and nurses who have been inactive for years.”

“Their cooperation and readiness to serve in this emergency is commendable. The following week, the Red Cross called us for 33 nurses to accompany the evacuee patients to the mainland. 19 returned and 14 remained on the Coast, they were mostly service wives, who were to be evacuated.”

“39 of our nurses are in the civilian Defense Units; 14 called into active service. (12 Army and 2 Navy) All nurses who accompanied the evacuees to the Mainland were paid by the American Red Cross.” (Margaret R. Rasmussen, RN, Director, Nursing Service Bureau)

Captain Hayden later wrote to Rasmussen noting, “I want to express to you a somewhat belated but sincere appreciation of the fine work done … since the air raid of December 7 by the nurses from your Registry.”

“The way in which they volunteered and their performance of duty showed them to be true followers of Florence Nightingale. I want to assure you and them …”

“… that their work here was deeply appreciated by all and especially by the patients who, without their services, could not have received the attention they did.” (Captain R Hayden to Margaret Rasmussen, Nursing Service Bureau, January 3, 1942)

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