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Donald L. Raymond has a souvenier that nearly killed him.

USS Sunnadin - (AT-28)


On December 7, 1941 I was 18 years old and was standing gangway watch on the USS Sunnadin.

I heard the commotion of planes and ran to the stern to see what was going on.

I just missed getting hit by Japanese machine gun fire. My 45 caliber pistol had no bullets, I dove under our towing winch and stayed there for about three minutes. The Jap planes were so close, I could have hit them if I'd had a rock!

I grabbed a Jap bullet off the deck before running to the crew's quarters to wake up the crew and the only officer aboard. The bullet I got was one of the ones that almost hit me and I still have it today.

I saw the battle wagons being hit, rolling over and burning.

We got underway and helped the USS Nevada onto the beach - gave her all our fire extinguishers.

We then went back in the harbor and assisted the USS Raleigh from sinking. We laid alongside her for three days and nights, then helped her into dry dock. We were all concerned about a possible second attack, and for those days and nights I slept on top of a flat-topped Coca-Cola machine because I didn't want to get caught below deck.

We supplied fresh water, electricity, food and clothing for those that needed it. We also worked around the harbor as needed, and assisted raising of the USS Oglala.

I was aboard the Sunnadin for two years and was stationed with the army at Fort Kam. (Fort Kamehameha) For one year I ran a radio and rangefinder for the coast artillery. I was also aboard two other ships - the USS Wilkes Barre and AP Thurston; fought at Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the amphibious forces. I was discharged November, 1945 and returned to the Portland, Oregon area.

Don, retired from Knappton Towboat Company, lives with his wife, Wilma and serves as Oregon State Chairman for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.