Stephen B. Young

For some American military personnel, the terror of December 7 did not end with the departure of the last wave of Japanese planes. One of the seamen assigned to gun turret no. 4 on the USS Oklahoma, Stephen B. Young endured a living nightmare that exemplified the destruction and human tragedy of the Pearl Harbor attack and its aftermath. Young and his fellow gunners tried to man their station, but the ship was hit by five torpedoes and began to capsize. Along with many others, they were trapped inside. To their horror, they discovered that all exits were blocked and for the next twenty-five hours were forced to deal with the steadily rising water, a dwindling air supply, and the fear that the vessel would become their tomb. Fortunately for them, all the while rescuers were working feverishly to cut...