"JIM MANNING WAS MANNING THE TURRET GUNNER. MANNING CALLED OVER THE INTERCOM AND SAID,
'WE'RE BEING ATTACKED BY JAPANESE FIGHTER PLANES.' AND HE STARTED FIRING THE 50-CALIBER.
HE MADE A COUPLE FIRING BURSTS. THEN, THEN I DIDNT' HEAR ANY FIRING. I LOOKED OVER MY
SHOULDER. I WAS DOWN ON MY KNEES, AND I COULD SEE THE TURRET HAD STOWED, AND THAT HIM WAS
HANGING, JUST IN THE HARNESS. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY DEAD AT THAT POINT."
"I DIDN'T KNOW. I DIDN'T HEAR MY TURRET GUNNER GUN FIRING ANYMORE."
"AND THEN THE NEXT THING THAT I DO REMEMBER WAS HANGING DOWN, AND COMING TO, AND IT ALMOST
FELT LIKE A HOLE IN MY HEAD, AND THERE'S THE BULLET HOLE IN THE CAP WHERE I'D BEEN HIT
IN THE HEAD."
"FERRIER CALLED ME UP. HE SAID HE WAS OK. I SAID, 'HOW ABOUT MANNING?' HE SAID, 'HE'S
DEAD'."
"WE WENT FROM PEARL HARBOR TO MIDWAY, AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAD THE MAJORITY OF OUR ACTION
WAS THERE. COURESE I WAS YOUNG THEN, AND YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. LIKE I'M
90, 92 NOW."
"WE'RE PAYING OUR RESPECTS TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT'S GONE BEFORE US.""
I WANT TO THANK THEM DO VERY MUCH FOR CARRING ON IN A GREAT TRADITION."
THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF THE GREATEST GENERATION LIVES ON IN OUR SAILORS TODAY.
