Editor’s Note: The following is a an excerpt from a story written by James G. Smith about Ira D. Huff three years ago. The story is being published again to honor the 69th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The prospects of becoming involved in World War II wasn’t exactly on Ira D. Huffs’ mind when he joined the Navy in 1936, getting from behind a mule was. Joining the Navy was his ticket off the farm. He decided it may be the mules’ fate to stay on the farm, but not his.

After boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia he was assigned to a transport ship operating out of Norfolk. In January 1937, Huff participated in a Navy unit marching in the inauguration parade for President Roosevelt’s second term.

Later, he made his way to the west coast and was assigned to the Battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48). It so happened that the West Virginia along with six sister battleships were all moored in Pearl Harbor. There were more than a hundred ships, almost half the fleet, in Pearl Harbor at the time. The USS West Virginia was positioned outboard of USS Tennessee and between USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma.

Sunday, Dec. 07, 1941, began much as any other casual weekend day spent in port at Pearl Harbor. Sailors who had been on liberty the night before were snuggly sleeping in while others were readying themselves for Sunday liberty onshore. Huff had been on duty Saturday night and after a visit to the mess hall for chow was making his way through the compartments to his quarters. He never made it.

Japanese torpedo planes were coming in from three directions picking off battleships like shooting decoy ducks on a pond. The helpless ships in Pearl Harbor didn’t even have ammunition on deck for the anti-aircraft guns.

Huff recalls the first torpedo ripping into the West Virginia’s hull and being thrown about the ship like a ping pong ball. The first torpedo was followed by another and another until he lost count and consciousness.

Huff’s body was bobbing around in 3 feet of water like a fishing cork when rescued by fellow shipmates who happened along and found him still breathing.

The West Virginia was engulfed in flames as two bombs released high above the ship found their mark on the deck. The bombs ignited the fuel and oil being released from the torpedo damaged battleships especially the Oklahoma and West Virginia. The waters and ships were turned into burning infernos as men tried desperately to seek safety.

Huff recalls reaching land on Ford Island and upon regaining composure found the only thing on his body was a tattered pair of under shorts. Fortunately, he escaped the sinking burning ship without any shrapnel, bullet holes or serious burns to his body.

In all, 106 officers and enlisted men from the West Virginia lost their lives during the attack.

The West Virginia was raised from its watery grave and re-floated on May 17, 1942. Workers recovered 70 bodies of West Virginia sailors who were trapped in the hull when it sank. A calendar found in one of the compartments last scratched off date was Dec. 23, 1941.

After the West Virginia was temporarily repaired and deemed seaworthy, Huff was asked to accompany the proud old battleship back to the west coast for a complete rebuilding. He graciously accepted and helped bring her to Puget Sound Navy Yard at Brementon, Washington. She wouldn’t re-enter the war until the middle of 1944.

There was a lot of fight left in Huff and the Navy wasted no time in reassigning him to a destroyer, USS Cassin Young (DD-793). The Cassin Young was launched on Sept. 9, 1943 from San Pedro, California. She saw her first action in the Pacific during April, 1944. The Cassin Young survived two separate hits by Japanese kamikazes on picket duty off Okinawa. The war ended with Huff serving on the USS Cascade (AD-16). He continued to re-enlist in the Navy and spent a total of 20 years active duty and 10 years of Ready Reserve. Several years ago, Huff lost his first wife the late, Lois Sanders Huff, whom he married in 1938. He now lives a quiet retired life in Montgomery with his wife of eight years, Myrtie Parks-Huff.

The world is a much better place today because of the efforts of men like Ira D. Huff.

Thanks for a job well done, you truly are a patriot and “Defender of Freedom.”

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