U.S.S. WORDEN

Pearl Harbor Raid After-Action Report

7 December 1941

DD352/A16-3
Serial 13		   U.S.S. Worden DD352
At Sea
January 9, 1942
From: Commanding Officer.
To: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Commander Destroyer Division ONE.
Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE.
Commander Destroyer Flotilla ONE.
Commander Destroyers, Battle Force.
Commander Battle Force.
 
Subject: Pearl Harbor Action of December 7, 1941 — report of.
 
Reference: (a) U.S. Navy Regulations, Articles 712, 762, 874(6), 2029.
 
Enclosure: (A) Chart I — Gunfire chart. [omitted]
(B) Chart II — Ship's track on sortie. [omitted]
(C) Chart III — Enemy planes seen shot down. [omitted]
(D) Executive Officer's report.
  1. When the Japanese air attack commenced on December 7, 1941, this vessel was undergoing routine upkeep alongside portside of the U.S.S. Dobbin at Berth X-2, Pearl Harbor. Nested to portside of Worden, in the order named were the U.S.S. Hull, U.S.S. Phelps, U.S.S. Dewey and U.S.S. MacDonough. The direction of ship's head was 050° true.
  2. The guns were operated in pointer fire inasmuch as the tender could not supply the electric load necessary to serve the nest alongside.
  3. This ship brought down one low flying enemy dive bomber by machine gun fire.
  4. This ship was not hit or otherwise damaged although a near miss by a bomb about fifty yards astern jarred the ship.
  5. Ammunition expenditures, locations of enemy planes seen shot down, and the track of this ship on sortie are shown on enclosures.
  6. Worden got underway and went out ahead from the nest at 1040, proceeded through South Channel to sea.
  7. The conduct of all hands was praiseworthy. The Commanding Officer was impressed by the calm, cool, unruffled yet determined attitude universally shown in the face of so great a surprise.
  8. The feat of BRUBAKER, Raymond Harvey, 401 43 35, Q.M. 3c., U.S. Navy, in shooting down an enemy dive bomber is considered worthy of reward to subject man. BRUBAKER was not assigned to a machine gun, but he took charge of one in order to relieve a gunner for handling ammunition and fired some 150 rounds at a low flying bomber and brought it down in flames. The Gunnery Officer witnessed this act and stated that no one else was firing on plane at the time. For BRUBAKER's conduct and initiative in action, he is being recommended for advancement in rating in separate correspondence.

[signed]
W.G. POGUE

DD352/A16-3   U.S.S. Worden DD352
At Sea
January 9, 1942
From: Lieutenant Samuel C. Anderson, U.S. Navy
Executive Officer, U.S.S. Worden
To: Commanding Officer.
 
Subject: Report of Action December 7, 1941.
 
Reference: (a) Article 712 U.S. Navy Regulations/
  1. In accordance with reference (a) the following comments are submitted:
    1. I did not arrive on board until all action had been completed.
    2. I was particularly impressed with the calm and determination of the crew upon completion of the action.
    3. I would particularly like to bring to your attention the excellent work of BRUBAKER, Raymond Harvey, 401 43 35, A.M. 3c., U.S. Navy, who brought down one enemy airplane with his .50 caliber machine gun. This was verified by this vessel's Gunnery Officer.

[signed]
S.C. ANDERSON.

ENCLOSURE (D) TO Worden's
ltr. DD352/A16-3 Serial 13
of January 9, 1942.

Source: Enclosure (E) to CINCPAC action report Serial 0479 of 15 February 1942, World War II action reports,
the Modern Military Branch, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740.

23 May 2001