My dad was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He saved this letter postmarked the day before the attack. (last name removed) Ironically, my mom, who was a high school student in Bethesda, MD, obtained a pass to the Senate chamber to see FDR’s declaration of war on December 8.

Battery F, 4th Defense Battalion was 3” anti-aircraft guns. Batteries A, B, and C were 5”; D, E, F, and G were 3”

If I’m reading some morning reports right he was actually part of the 4th Defense Battalion aboard the USS Tangier tasked with trying to relieve Wake Island. Sailed from Pearl on December 16th. However, before they arrived the island fell on December 23rd and they were rerouted to Midway before return to Pearl on December 30.

They had initially been supposed to Depart on the 13th. If they had made that timeline very possible he would have been on Wake when it fell.

And that December 8, 1941 Senate visitor ticket is very cool.