LETTERS
The following letters have been transcribed in their entirety, nothing has been edited
The following letter was received from the wife of a former VESTAL crewman we met at the San Diego Naval Station Commissary and dated 8 Oct 1997
Dear Mrs. Haislip,
I am answering you letter for my husband as he is quite ill. He has inoperable lung cancer and is taking chemotherapy right now.
Sometime ago you sent him some information you had about the VESTAL. It was much appriciated and we want to thank you now. We had misplaced your address, so were unable to write you at that time.
I'm sorry my husband is unable to answer your questions. He didn't actually see the ARIZONA when she was hit, as he was below decks at the time. However, he feels certain she was hit by a torpedo, because men below decks on the VESTAL, in the Chief's quarters, aft, said they heard a torpedo go under the VESTAL just before the blast.
It blew up a magazine on the ARIZONA and there were 14" canisters from the ARIZONA scattered all over the fantail of the VESTAL. Some of them were broken open.
He doesn't know the name of the man who cut the line as recorded in the deck log at 0845. Neither does he know the names of the crew Joe George threw a line to.
Sorry he can't be of any more help to you, but hope there may be a little of this you can use.
Sincerely, (signed) Ruth Coleman
May 21, 1998, Russell Lott wrote:
Dear Lorraine,
I have to day that from where we were we did observe torpedo tracks. Not to long ago I read a lot of material done by divers who claimed no torpedo damage to the ARIZONA. I still maintain when our magazines exploded torpedo damage could be wiped out. And I still fell we have people who for whatever reason don't release all the information they may have. I'm also sending some information from ADM Homer Wallin's book "Pearl Harbor, Why, How, Fleet Salvage and Final Appraisal." I'm sure that as long as there are people there will be some controversy about Pearl Harbor, I met ADM Wallin first in Seattle at the national meeting, and then again later in the Punchbowl when he came looking for me. How many Rum-dum seamen have an Admiral come looking for them? Next week, 28 May, I'll be flying to San Diego for the commissioning ceremony of the U.S.S. PEARL HARBOR. I was in New Oreleans two years ago for the launching and christening so I might as well complete the show. I also expect to see Don Stratton.
(not signed but received from Russell Lott)
May 26, 1998, Lauren Bruner wrote:
Lorraine,
In answering your query of a possible torpedo just before the big explosion of the ARIZONA, I will say this. As soon as G.Q. sounded, I scrambled from our division quarters, which was on the main deck just under #2 turret, fast as possible, up the ladders to the anti-aircraft deck which was the deck above the Admiral's Bridge.
Going up at different deck levels, I could spot the Japanese aircraft. Some of who were close enough to see the pilots. Didn't take time to look down at the water.
Once inside of the anti-aircraft director, all doors were closed and there was no way to see out as we were protected by metal walls. Only hole was a top trap door for the director operator, usually an officer, could stand to look out to spot aircraft.
We weren't in the director long before the ship blew up. Then we got a line over to the VESTAL and made our way over aboard it.
I didn't hear anyone aboard the VESTAL say anything about a torpedo.
Actually, we were only aboard the VESTAL few minutes before they put us in the boats and sent us over to the hospital ship.
So, no, I know nothing of any torpedoes, positively. Hearsay, yes. There has always been rumors or speculation but nothing positive that I know of.
Hope this report helps. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely, (signed) Lauren Bruner
Don Stratton wrote June 7, 1998 confirming what he had told our Newsletter Editor, Thomas Traylor:
Dear Lorraine,
Guess it is time I answered your letter of May 14, 1998, never seem to sit down and do it. I observed at least two (2) torpedoes headed toward U.S.S ARIZONA. From my vantage point on the Port AA Director, I was looking to the area where the torpedo planes came in for their run and I have always maintained that we were hit or in the path of at least two. I had a very good look at the wake they had, and their direction. Also saw some of the torpedoes that hit OKLAHOMA and WEST VIRGINIA. Most of the people I talked to seem to think that this did not happen, so I kind of forgot about it. My mind as I recall this - we were fired at by the torpedo planes. With all the explosions that started to happen, only God knows if we got hit with any. My recollection and my mind still say, YES, we were hit by torpedoes. Sorry for being so late.
Sincerely,
Don Stratton
U.S.S. ARIZONA,
Survivor
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