Lt. Cdr. Paul E. Spangler Gives His Old Friends Back Home an Eyewitness Account of the Bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941

A war machine of overwhelming power and ruthlessness, the German Wehrmacht had crushed one European nation after another—Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France—by June 1940. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill implored President Franklin D. Roosevelt to join the Allied effort to conquer Hitler, but Roosevelt offered only limited funding, weapons, and supplies. The American people were adamantly opposed to going to war, and Roosevelt, months away from an election, assured parents: “I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again. Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.” Everything changed on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941. As droves of low-flying planes approached the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii and began spitting out live ammunition, a sailor aboard the battleship USS Arizona exclaimed, “This is the best goddam drill the Army Air Force has ever put on!” But it was no drill. Japan, a German ally, had launched a massive surprise attack against the United States. In less than two hours, approximately 350 Japanese warplanes wiped out 10 percent of the entire U.S. Pacific Fleet, including almost all of its battleships, and killed an estimated 2,400 Americans, many of whom were burned to death or drowned when the Arizona exploded ana sank. (The bodies of over 900 sailors remain entombed there to this day.) Lt. Cdr. Paul E. Spangler, M.D., a surgeon stationed with his family at Pearl Harbor, provided the “Izee Reds,” his hunting buddies back in Portland, Oregon, with a firsthand account of the historic event. (Although the letter, which has some minor misprints, was typed ten days after the attack, Spangler decided to wait a year before mailing it due to censorship.)

December 17, 1941

Izee Reds:

Just a note to tell you hams that you ain’t seen no shootin yet. We had a little disturbance out here a week ago Sunday and it was sumpin. I must hasten to tell you that we all survived it without a scratch but I expected to see my maker most any moment that Sunday morning. They are begining to evacuate those who want to go but the family will stay here untill ordered home.

I was resting peacefully in bed when I noticed rather more “practice fire” than I had heard before and then I realized that it was strange to be practicing on Sunday morning. About that time Clara and the kids came home from Church and their curiosity was aroused. Then I got the fatal word to report to the Hospital immediatley. I still was not certain what was going on untill I came off of the hill on my way to the Hospital. Then I saw the smoke from the several fires and saw the antiaircraft shells exploding. I opened her up then and with my Pearl Harbor plates on I had the right of way and I was out there in nothing flat. I arrived just in the lull between waves of attacks about 30 minutes after the first shooting.

There was one big Jap bomber in the sky flying over Hickam Field and Fort Kamahamaha but no one seemed to be doing anything about it. One Jap plane was down in flames at the Hospital and it had fired the Laboratory and one of the quarters which fortunatley had been vacated because they were starting a big new dry dock. I met the Exec. at the door and he told me to go up and take charge of the Surgery. I hurried up to the Surgery and all ready the casualties were pouring in. I did the first operation on a casual in this war if that is anything.

I spent the next 72 hours in four hour shifts at the operating table. During my first shift we were under almost constant bombing and the A-A fire kept up a constant din. They didn’t actually hit the hospital but one explosion was so close it blew all the windows out of the work room which was right next to the room I was operating in. I thought my time had come for sure. It was hell for a while. These poor devils brought in all shot up and burned. Many of them hopeless. We gave them plenty of morphine and sent them out in the Wards to die. The others we patched up as best we could. Some we opened their bellies and sewed up perforations in their bowels. It was all a nice party but personally I dont want to see any more like it.

You have read the official accounts given by the Secretary of the Navy. I note relief in the mainland that it was not as bad as feared. If the truth were known I don think they would be so optimistic. Dont quote me, but this is the real dope. We have just three battleships that can fight now. The Arizona and West Virginia are shambles. The Oklahoma is belly up and I doubt she will ever be of further use, if so it will be a full year. The California is sitting on the bottom but is still upright and may be salvaged. The Nevada is aground just across from the Hospital and they hope to float her this week but it will be a year before she can be fighting again. The Utah is a total wreck but she was not used except for training anyway. I think they thought she was a carrier as she was tied up at the carriers berth and they certainly gave her plenty. Four cruisers are badly damaged. Three destroyers are gone. Aircraft lost are certaily over two hundred. The hangers at Hickam Field, the mess hall, post exchange are all shot to hell. Many Flying Fortresses and PBYs destroyed.

If you think these damn slant eyes didnt do a thorough job, guess again. They certainly knew where they could hurt us most and they droped their bombs and torpedos right there. They had all the information. They needed even to the exact locatin of the most vital targets and as to our ship movements and disposition. I cant understand why they soft pedal things back there. I think the people should know the truth. Then they would be roused to the necessary pitch to bring this thing to a successfull conclusion. It is not going to be an easy job in my opinion. I only hope the country will now take off their coats and go to work. We have the ability and skill but it is going to mean many sacrifices for all and a long hard pull. What we need is planes, carriers, and subs. Thousands of them.

Things are pretty calm here now. There are subs in the waters about and we dont know how many we have but it is quite a number. The Enterprise came in yesterday and I hear they think they have sunk about forty since the war started. They have touched none of our carriers. Many reinforcements have come over in the shape of Bombers that can fly over but but the fighters will have to be shipped over and they are short now. The morale here is very good. The jap situation is well handled and the FBI and Naval intelligence has been very active. No sabatage of any moment. We are under strict military law. Blackout every night. Food and gas rationed but adequate suppy of all for the present. I get home every other night now but that is just the last few days. Schools are closed so the kids are home with Clara all day long. No liquor or beer is sold but fortunatley I have an adequate supply for New Years if I live that long.

I must close now and get this on its way. Please do not broadcast the source of this information as I am in a bad spot I guess if I was caught sending this sort of dope. But I thought you all would like to know the real dope and I think you should.

We are all well and I think we have seen our last big engagement here unless Singapore and the Phillapine should fall, then I expect we would be in for some more fun. Just heard today our chief Surgeon is being transferred to Command the Mobile Hospital and I am told unofficially that I am to be made Chief Surgeon. If true I hope a promotion goes with it. I still am in the red and if they evacuate the family my financial trouble will be multiplied.

I hope this note gets through the route I have chosen. It certainly would not by the regular channels. We all send you our love and best wishes. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year. And Remember Pearl Harbor.

Paul

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy,” thundered President Roosevelt before the U.S. Congress, “the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” Roosevelt demanded a state of war be recognized, and the Congress—with only one dissenting voice (Rep. Jeannette Rankin of Montana)—readily agreed. Germany and Italy, Japan’s Axis partners, declared war on the United States three days later. Roosevelt immediately dispatched a top-secret cable to Prime Minister Churchill: “The Senate passed the all-out declaration of war eighty-two to nothing, and the House passed it three hundred eighty-eight to one. Today all of us are in the same boat with you and the people of the Empire and it is a ship which will not and cannot be sunk. F. D. R.”