World War II Honoree

Jim Gailey

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, HE SERVED AS A MACHINE GUN LOADER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE LIGHT CRUISER USS HELENA (CL-50). ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC FLEET, HIS SHIP WAS AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AT THE TIME OF THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF THE TIME THE FIRST BOMB OF THE ATTACK FELL ON FORD ISLAND, A LONE TORPEDO PLANE LAUNCHED A TORPEDO THAT HIT HIS SHIP ON THE STARBOARD SIDE, ALMOST AMIDSHIPS. ONE ENGINE ROOM AND ONE BOILER ROOM WERE FLOODED. PROMPT ACTION RESTORED POWER TO ALL GUN MOUNTS AND PERMITTED THEM TO IMMEDIATELY SEND UP A HEAVY VOLUME OF FIRE THAT HELPED KEEP THE SHIP FREE OF FURTHER DAMAGE. RECALLS THAT THE BATTLE WAS UTTER CHAOS, WITH ALL STATIONS FIRING AT ANY TARGET THAT PRESENTED ITSELF. THUS, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHO WAS SHOOTING DOWN AN ENEMY PLANE. WITNESSED AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF FIRE, VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE ON THE WATER, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF BURNING OIL IN THE WATER. SAW BOMBS RELEASED BY JAPANESE AIRCRAFT AS THEY FLEW OVER HIS SHIP. A BOMB EXPLODED ON THE DOCK ADJACENT TO HIS GUN STATION BUT HE WAS UNHARMED BY THE NEAR MISS. OUTSTANDING DAMAGE CONTROL WORK, AND THE CLOSING OF DOORS AND HATCHES THROUGHOUT THE SHIP, MAINTAINED THE SHIP’S WATERTIGHT INTEGRITY AND KEPT THE CRUISER AFLOAT. HE LOST 36 SHIPMATES IN THE ATTACK. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.