Moment in History 002 - being stationed at Pearl Harbor December 12

 Thomas (KWJZ-JRR) and Betty Badger (LKP1-H3F) - my 3rd cousin once removed

Betty writes: We embarked at Honolulu, Hawaii, and was stationed for duty at Schofield Barracks, Oahu. Life here was easy and the surroundings beautiful, we loved it. Some of our dearest friends today are people we served with while in Hawaii. 

Then came that Sunday, December 7, 1941. I don't believe anyone on the island thought Japan would attack, however I do believe Washington knew. That was really a wild and confusing day. After we determined that we were really under attack (machine gun bullets went through one bedroom of our quarters and windows were broken from the bombing of Wheeler Field. We were near Wheeler which we could see going up in smoke. We were about ten miles from Pearl Harbor. Tom went to

his duty and Tommy and I, along with other families, spent the day in the pineapple fields, to be away from the Post. Everyone thought the "Japs" would return. 

That night we were taken to Honolulu, spent the night in schools, and the next day the good people of Honolulu opened their homes to us. We were there a week. I didn't see Tom during this time, since he was much too busy with his command. He did have food sent out.

During all the confusion of that Sunday, orders came through for Tom's promotion to Captain. I really thought that was great (all the confusion and he was promoted).

We went back to Schofield, after the command thought it was safe, but we lived in black-out for the rest of the time I was there. Tom had a shelter built for us in our yard. We were only in it once; Tommy was too frightened. We had lots of aid raids and had to keep a gas mask with us at all times. I saw Tom for a few hours about four times from December 7 to the middle of April, when I left for the mainland. We did have Christmas dinner in the field with the men. We ate in a bunker. The ladies also made a recording for the men. I have no idea whatever happened to that, or if the men ever heard it.

Tom's Division (25th Field Artillery) went onto the Pacific, taking one Island after another. Whenever Tom had a chance to rest, he always changed from uniform to pajamas, (He took a lot of teasing about that). Can you imagine what his two pair of pajamas must have looked like, never laundered. Often the foxholes were mud and water. One day he was resting (he also had some books with him) as he reached for a book his hand came down on a big live rat.

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