Ginger, a High School Senior

Following is an entry from the diary of a high school senior, Ginger (whose last name is withheld at her request). At the time of the attack on Oahu she was living with her parents and attending school at Hickam Field. Her account gives a riveting and useful general view of the assault on the air base, including a list of the major buildings destroyed or damaged.

Sunday, December 7, 1941

BOMBED! 8:00 in the morning. Unkown attacker so far! Pearl Harbor in flames! Also Hickam hangar line. So far no houses bombed here.

5 of 11:00. We've left the post. It got too hot. The PX [military store] is in flames, also the barracks. We made a dash during a lull. Left everything we own there. Found out the attackers are Japs. Rats!!! A couple of non-com's [noncommissioned officers...