Claire Dawson
The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941, resulted in a large number of casualties, and hospitals in the area were soon overwhelmed. Hickam Field's new hospital, which had opened just weeks before, became the focal point of activity on the base. Other hospitals, such as Tripler General, Schofield, and Hickam Field, also faced supply shortages as they treated the wounded. The U.S. Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor, with a capacity of around 250 beds, was one of the best-equipped and staffed hospitals in the region. A new hospital, located further from military installations and intended to be safer in the event of an air attack, was under construction at the time. The Navy's Mobile Base Hospital and the hospital ship USS Solace also provided additional medical support. The bravery and dedication of the medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, and corpsmen, during the attack is well-documented, with many risking their lives to save others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of attack | 7 December 1941 |
| Hospital(s) | Hickam's new hospital, Tripler General Hospital, Schofield Hospital, Hickam Field, Pearl Harbor Hospital |
| Number of beds at Hickam's new hospital | 30 |
| Number of nurses at Hickam's new hospital | 6 |
| Number of injured aboard the USS Nevada | 116 |
| Number of dead aboard the USS Nevada | 33 |
| Number of missing aboard the USS Nevada | 18 |
| Number treated in the ship's sick bay | 20-30 |
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What You'll Learn
The role of Hickam hospital
Hickam Hospital played a crucial role in providing medical care and support during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The hospital, which had opened only a few weeks prior, became the focal point of activity on the base during the attack. Under the leadership of Acting Hospital Commander, Captain Frank H. Lane, the medical staff of Hickam Hospital sprang into action, tending to the wounded and coordinating the hospital's response.
The hospital's small staff, including six nurses, was faced with an influx of casualties in the immediate aftermath of the first bombing. The head nurse, First Lieutenant Annie G. Fox, received a Bronze Star for her courageous actions during the attack. Lt. Fox coordinated the hospital's response, ensuring that the wounded received the care they needed despite the challenging circumstances.
Nurses at Hickam Hospital played a pivotal role in triaging and treating the wounded. They marked patients' foreheads with lipstick to aid in triage, and their bravery and dedication were exemplary. The medical personnel worked tirelessly despite the smoke and fumes, even donning gas masks and helmets to continue providing care.
In addition to Hickam Hospital, several other facilities contributed to the medical response during the Pearl Harbor attack. These included battle dressing stations, sick bays of warships, the hospital ship USS Solace, first-aid stations, dispensaries at naval air stations, the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa, Defence Battalions of the Fleet Marine Force, and a field hospital set up in the Officers' Club of the Navy Yard. The Navy's Mobile Base Hospital was also present, having been sent to Pearl Harbor before the attack to address the need for additional bed capacity and medical resources in the Hawaiian area.
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Japanese planes flew close to the ground
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Of Japan's 414 available planes, 350 took part in the raid. The Japanese planes flew so close to the ground that some U.S. soldiers gave accounts of seeing Japanese pilots' gestures clearly. One soldier, Dickinson, recounted how he hitched a ride with an elderly couple who were on their way to a picnic. They were oblivious to the attack until their car was shaken by machine-gun and cannon fire. Dickinson proceeded to Pearl Harbor, where he witnessed the destruction of the destroyer USS Shaw.
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was meticulously planned and executed. In the days leading up to the attack, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched reconnaissance flights to scout the area and gather information about the American fleet. Despite these efforts, the attack on Pearl Harbor remained a surprise. The Japanese planes approached from a direction very similar to that of six B-17 bombers from California, causing confusion among the radar operators.
As the Japanese planes approached Oahu, they were detected by U.S. Army radar, but the operators' reports were not taken seriously enough. By the time the nature of the threat was understood, it was too late. The Japanese planes struck with devastating force, destroying and damaging numerous American aircraft and warships.
During the attack, Japanese pilots performed victory salutes as they flew past, clearly visible to those on the ground. Ensign West, for example, noticed approximately 10 monoplanes marked in bright colours but mistook them for Army observation planes. It was only when they got closer to Pearl Harbor that they realised the truth.
The casualties at Pearl Harbor overwhelmed the naval hospital, which had a normal bed capacity of approximately 250 beds. The wounded were treated at various facilities, including battle dressing stations, sick bays of warships, the hospital ship USS Solace, first-aid stations, and dispensaries. The doctors, nurses, and corpsmen at Pearl Harbor displayed exceptional bravery and determination in the face of the attack, tending to the wounded and implementing emergency medical procedures.
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USS Nevada casualties
The USS Nevada was one of the battleships trapped when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It was the only battleship to get underway during the attack. The USS Nevada was hit by one torpedo and at least six bombs while steaming away from Battleship Row. The ship was eventually beached, but it continued to flood and sank to the bottom of the harbor.
The USS Nevada suffered severe casualties during the attack. 116 men were injured severely enough to require hospitalization, 33 were known to be dead, and 18 were missing. The ship's sick bay treated between 20 and 30 cases, and patrol party corpsmen administered first aid throughout the ship. Two corpsmen were recommended for citations for their bravery and performance beyond the call of duty.
The USS Nevada's antiaircraft gun crews suffered the most casualties, caused primarily by bomb hits. The ship's Engineering Department, however, suffered few, if any, casualties from bomb or torpedo hits. The boilers were believed to be in good condition, except for salting up due to the use of salty feed water. The electric wiring above the main deck was destroyed, and piping was damaged by explosions or fragments.
The wounded were transferred to the hospital ship USS Solace, which arrived at Pearl Harbor shortly before the Japanese attack, or to the nearby naval hospital. Despite the attack, the crew of the USS Nevada was never ordered to abandon ship, and they organized firefighting parties to battle the numerous fires raging aboard.
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Bravery of nurses
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 took Americans by surprise. In the midst of the chaos, there were acts of bravery and determination by doctors, dentists, nurses, and corpsmen. The nurses, in particular, displayed remarkable courage and dedication in tending to the wounded.
The nurses who were present at Pearl Harbor during the attack were pioneers of their time, having joined the services before the Women's Army Corps and the Navy's Women's Reserve program were established in 1942. There were 82 Army nurses working across three medical facilities in Hawaii on the day of the attack, and their presence proved invaluable.
As explosions rocked Pearl Harbor and plumes of black smoke filled the sky, the wounded began flooding into the hospital within minutes of the first bombing. The nurses sprang into action, tending to patients with serious shrapnel wounds to the abdomen, chest, face, head, arms, and legs. They administered sedatives to the gravely injured, joined men in prayer, recited Psalms, and closed the eyes of the dead.
One nurse, Lt. Grace Lally, USN, recalled seeing a dive-bomber hit the smokestack of the USS Arizona from her vantage point on the USS Solace. The battleship sank within nine minutes, killing 1,177 sailors and Marines. Lally and the other nurses on the Solace immediately began providing emergency care to the casualties. Lt. Agnes Shurr described how the sailors on the Solace, who had been dressed for shore leave, instead boarded launches to rescue men from the water, which was filled with burning oil.
Another nurse, Lt. Ruth Erickson, later the 10th director of the Navy Nurse Corps, dashed through a shrapnel shower to reach the Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor. By 8:25 a.m., she had all battle stations, wards, and operating rooms fully functioning. Lt. Helen Entrikin, Sara's twin sister, worked tirelessly in the operating rooms.
The bravery and dedication of these nurses, and many others, helped save countless lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their actions demonstrated the vital role of medical personnel in military conflicts and paved the way for future generations of military nurses.
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The arrival of the USS Solace
On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack left a devastating impact, with countless stories of heroism and resilience emerging in its aftermath. Among the chaos and destruction, the medical personnel of Pearl Harbor stood steadfast, providing critical care and support to the wounded servicemen.
In the lead-up to the attack, the Pearl Harbor hospital had already been facing challenges. Between 1939 and 1941, efforts were made to address overcrowding by increasing bed capacity, equipment, supplies, and personnel in the Hawaiian area. A new hospital, intended to be located further from military installations and less vulnerable to air attacks, was even under construction. However, fate had other plans.
As the Japanese planes struck, the hospital ship USS Solace happened to be in port, having recently arrived at Pearl Harbor. The USS Solace played a pivotal role in the ensuing chaos, providing a floating medical facility that tended to the wounded and injured. The ship's presence proved invaluable, offering additional capacity and resources to the overwhelmed land-based hospitals.
The USS Solace's crew displayed exceptional bravery and dedication. They navigated through treacherous waters, scorched by burning oil near the USS Arizona, to rescue men from the water. Their efforts exemplified the resilience and determination of the medical response during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the hospital at Pearl Harbor was attacked during the Japanese bombing on 7 December 1941. The hospital staff recalled enemy airplanes flying extremely close to the ground, and bombs even fell around the hospital itself.
The hospital staff at Pearl Harbor were momentarily stunned by the attack, but they quickly jumped into action. They tended to the wounded, who suffered from serious shrapnel wounds, and put on gas masks and helmets due to the smoke and fumes.
Yes, there are several stories of heroism involving the hospital staff at Pearl Harbor. First Lieutenant Annie G. Fox, the Head Nurse at Hickam Field, received a Bronze Star for her courageous actions during the attack. Additionally, two patrol party corpsmen aboard the USS Nevada were recommended for citations by the senior medical officer for their bravery.
Yes, in addition to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor, casualties were cared for at various other facilities. These included battle dressing stations, sick bays of warships, the hospital ship USS Solace, first-aid stations, dispensaries at naval air stations, and field hospitals.
