May 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, May 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/29/2014
Typed letter signed by M.N. Little as Commander of the USS Beaver regarding Pearl Harbor. Letter dated 15 May 1942 is addressed to Captain J.W. Bunkley, the commanding officer of the USS California when it sank at Pearl Harbor. Upon USS Beaver stationery, Little writes in part, ''...Sunday forenoon and afternoon Closed watertight doors, hatches and ventilation systems remaining open. Fought fire. Ran additional mooring lines to the interrupted quays. Rigged suction hoses through hatches to flooded spaces. Evacuated wounded to shore base hospital. Rescued personnel trapped below. Organized personnel to keep AA battery fully manned continuously. Procured ammunition for the battery from the ammunition depot...'' List of actions performed continues through Thursday. Little also writes, ''...When the attack struck us we were moored fore and aft to the interrupted quays...I have no idea how many bodies were removed from the ship before she settled...Undoubtedly, however, there were some corpses left in the flooded areas of the third deck and below...[signed] M.N. Little''. Little's account also goes into detailed technical information. Scattered hand notes and small check marks throughout. Runs 7pp. on 7 sheets, measuring 8'' x 10.5''. Toning, minor creasing to delicate sheets and some small tears to edges, else near fine.
Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor by M.N. Little of the USS Beaver -- ''...I have no idea how many bodies were removed...corpses left in the flooded areas of the third deck...'' -- 1942
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