Letter to the Editor

First 'killed' at Pearl Harbor actually wasn't

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Dear Editor,

I would like to clarify Susan Doak's article about James Gammill in her article in Friday's Gazette.

I am the only niece of James Gammill, and, yes, headlines in all of the papers in the county read "James Gammill first in Red Willow to be killed!"But by the grace of God, a month later, the headlines all read "Gammill is alive and well!"

He was about the battleship the U.S.S. California, the flagship of the Pacific fleet. It was hit and sunk by the first volley of fire from the Japanese airplanes. The ship was located at the head of the harbor and, if sunk, would block the harbor. James and crew of the California were forced to abandon ship and swim for their lives toward shore, through burning oil and enemy fire.

He managed to get to shore and for five or six days, he helped secure the wounded and dead.

Those men who survived were not acknowledged or given a place to stay for days; they slept on the ground or in damaged buildings. They grabbed food and coffee from bread lines set up by local churches and organizations.

On his last day on shore, a cruiser, the U.S.S. Portland, was able to sail out of the harbor and they put out a call for experienced gunners, so James volunteered and was taken aboard the Portland, and so the mix-up occurred at this point. James spent the duration of the war on different ships and in many battles and was a 30-year veteran upon his retirement.

With the help and encouragement of the Danbury American legion Aux. 276, I've compiled a book about his memories, stories and pictures of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.

One other young man from Red Willow County was also at Pearl Harbor that horrible day. Leonard "Link" Sines, U.S. Marine Corps, was aboard the U.S.S. Tennessee.

It was heavily damaged also, but eventually made it back to stateside for repairs. I've included Leonard Sines in my book also, and his story of Dec. 7 in his own words

I've given copies of the book, titled "Red Willow County Veterans of Pearl Harbor," to the McCook Museum and Danbury Depot Museum, and also to the McCook, Indianola and Bartley libraries. I hope you'll take time to go to one of these museums or libraries and read their stories.

Thank you,

Pat Redfern,

Bartley, Nebraska

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  • Thank you Pat. Excellent writing, to correct History, as befuddled as it was, immediately after the attack. Soon, we will 'War, no More,' and no one will need, nor want, to make a career of protecting our Freedom. We all missed much, in the doing.

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Wed, May 27, 2015, at 3:34 PM
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