Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Earl Jay Kohler Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Saint Paul (CA 73); VP-23 (Patrol Squadron)
- Location of Service: Pearl Harbor, Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Majuro (Marshall Islands)
- Highest Rank: Petty Officer First Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/76773
An early riser, Earl Jay Kohler was in the airplane hanger on Ford Island writing a letter to his mother on the morning of December 7th. After getting hit by shrapnel, he disobeyed direct orders to stay put and ran to get enough ammo to fire back. With guns in hand, he and his comrades worked hard to repel the second wave of Japanese bombers from Ford Island. During and after the attack, his greatest fear was not bombs or bullets--but the threat of court martial for disobeying his officer's orders not to shoot back.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayAssigned to early morning watch on Ford Island; typing a letter to his mother; heard approaching aircraft and thought it was a pilot hot-dogging; heard a tremendous roar; hit by shrapnel and glass; realized the Japanese were attacking. 00:09:15.5 - 00:14:33.4
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PlayInitially dove into ditch; realizing it was the start of war; wanting to die fighting, not hiding; running to the ammo shack; shooting at planes; scaring planes away from the hanger. 00:14:34.1 - 00:24:04.2
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PlayDid not worry about bombs, worried mostly about disobeying direct orders; spent three days dodging officers; finally confronted by officer who had told him to stay put; officer told him to go to sick bay to have his wounds examined. 00:25:37.5 - 00:31:39.0
About this Item
Title
- Earl Jay Kohler Collection
Names
- Rodriguez-Martin, Drisana
- Kohler, Earl Jay
- McNerney, Jerry
- U.S. House of Representatives/Jerry McNerney
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Kohler, Earl Jay
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Saint Paul (CA 73); VP-23 (Patrol Squadron)
- Location of Service: Pearl Harbor, Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Majuro (Marshall Islands)
- Highest Rank: Petty Officer First Class
- Dates of Service: 1941-1947
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: Kohler was one of the first to man defensive position area on Ford Island.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2010-10-13)
- Manuscript: Clippings [1 item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1942)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [3 items] -- Photograph (collected 1941)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/76773
Cite as
- Earl Jay Kohler Collection (AFC/2001/001/76773), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video