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The Day of Infamy remembered... |
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Tuesday, 08 December 2009 |
 U.S. Navy Commander Jim Moore, 91, of Peru (left), and Culver’s Jim DeWitt, 88, at right, are Pearl Harbor survivors and were guest speakers at the Plymouth Rotary Club Monday. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Ralph Booker, standing, was the program chairman. Pilot photo/Mike Boys
By Mike Boys Pilot News
PLYMOUTH — It’s been 68 years since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and many of us remember where we were and what we were doing on December 7, 1941.
Jim DeWitt, age 88, of Culver, and Jim Moore, 91, of Peru remember too. They were there.
In fact, both were involved in “the first shot” of World War II.
DeWitt and Moore were honored guest speakers at the Plymouth Rotary Club Monday at Christo’s Banquet Center.
Jim Moore, who was an ensign during the attack at Pearl Harbor, and Jim DeWitt, who was a yeoman at that time served on the same ship -- the USS Antares.
The Hoosier pair recounted the early morning of Dec. 7, 1941. Both men were on board the USS Antares when they entered the defensive sea area near Pearl Harbor’s entrance when the helmsman of the USS Ward, which was nearby, saw a black object between the tow line of the USS Antares and the barge. The quartermaster used his binoculars for a closer look and saw what appeared to be a Japanese submarine’s conning tower with periscope.
At 6:40 a.m. that fateful day general quarters were sounded and the men of the USS Ward and USS Antares manned their battle stations. Finally the order was given to fire. Depth charges and gunfire erupted and the submarine was hit.
This flurry of events all happened about an hour before the initial attack on Pearl Harbor — and was witnessed by both Moore and DeWitt.
Moore told Rotarians Monday, “I guess you could say that we saw the first shot of World War II, because about an hour later the attack began.” They both said they had some close calls as the planes strafed their ship, but little damage was done. “It was scary,” they remembered.
Jim DeWitt served six years with the U.S. Navy and was a Yeoman 2nd Class when he was discharged. He also owned and operated the Culver Bowling Alley for many years until his retirement.
Jim Moore served from 1940 until 1953 and retired as a full commander. He also served a term of years at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 December 2009 )
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