A letter from the Battlefront

Dec 20, 1941
To Mr. Hubert Willis
26, Rodfort Street
Bryan
Texas
Dear Mom, Dad Leslie and Barney,
I know you are all very worried about the ‘attack’ which happened in the early hours of the morning on December 7 at Pearl Harbor. I am writing to ensure you that I am fine. Although I was injured, I am recovering well. I am going to first tell you about it, before I talk about myself.
It was a Sunday morning I had woken up at 6 AM and dressed quickly in my shorts and shirts. I had promised Frank my commanding officer to be his partner at a doubles game of tennis. We played well and then decided to have breakfast in the Canteen. I had just ordered a large omelet with bacon, when Frank pointed in the sky, where a fleet of planes flying toward us. First time, I thought they were the ‘B-17’s from the West Coast. I wondered what they were doing up there. But suddenly I noticed something was wrong with those planes. I took the binoculars from Frank, and magnified to the size of planes. They were not the ‘B-17’s Instead of American flags, they had flags which were red with white stripes. Before I could tell Frank something was going wrong, those foreign planes started to drop bombs. Suddenly, Frank shouted “I think it’s the Japs! Run for shelter!” In a few seconds, our camp was filled with chaos. I ran, trying to reach my plane. But even before I reached my plane, I saw 51 ‘Val’ dive bombers dropped 30feet away from me. I stepped backwards, tried to run on other side. Then I heard a ‘BANG’ sound. Because of the huge explosion, I flew in the air. I was bleeding, especially my legs were horrible. I lay in the ditch for almost three hours. Many times I shouted for help, but my voice was drowned by the sounds of explosions near by. Finally I gave up hope and closed my eyes to pray. I saw two nurses looking down at me, when I opened eyes. I was brought to ‘Hickam Field’. I had surgery on my back and legs. The doctors told me I was lucky to be alive because I had lost a lot of blood but the chief Nurse Annie G. Fox donated her blood for my surgery. It’s almost three weeks since I have been in this hospital. I am surrounded by many wounded patients who are also recovering because of the hard work and time given by the nurse and doctors.
I am angry and upset about loss of lives and destruction caused to our army. Fortunately, our aircraft carriers, Lexington, Enterprise and Saratoga were not damaged because, they were not in port at the time of attack. The doctors, are going to release me tomorrow as they feel, I am fine. So, I will be attending the church service in memory of the service men and civilians who died for our country. I am very proud of Frank who died while helping people in the canteen to find shelter. On 17 Dec, we got a new Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. My leave starts from today, so I hope to be in time for Christmas.

Your loving
‘Walter’

P.S.: How is my dog Larry? I haven’t seen her for a year. Tell her that I love her. Also mom, please post a small gift and a letter of thanks to chief nurse Annie G. Fox

From Walter Willis
US Army
Oahu, Hawaii
Hickam Field