May 7, 2025 and eighty-five years ago on this day in 1940, Edgar Rice Burroughs toured Pearl Harbor and the USS California, a ship which would be sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, refloated, and repaired to join the war effort.
USS California (BB-44) was a battleship built for the US Navy between October 1916 and August 1921. She was moored in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked. The ship was moderately damaged by a pair of torpedoes and a bomb, but a fire disabled the ship's electrical system, preventing the pumps from being used to keep the ship afloat. California slowly filled with water over the following three days and eventually sank. Her crew suffered 165 casualties and four men were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the attack. She was raised in April 1942, repaired and heavily rebuilt, and returned to service in January 1944.
The 100-word drabble for today, “Get Back Up,” was inspired by ERB’s visit to the USS California and her sinking, repair, and return to service. During WW2, Burroughs, who was not only a writer, but a patriot, penned several inspiring articles about the War. As for the crew of the California, we remember them and we thank them for their service.
Edgar Rice Burroughs and his son, Hulbert, watched the Pearl Harbor attack. Ed said, “The California’s damaged, but afloat."
Three days later, the two inspected Pearl Harbor again. Hulbert said, “The California sank. She’s down.”
“Don’t count her out. I’ll bet they raise and repair the old girl and she’ll be right back in the fight."
“You really think so?”
“I do. She’s a symbol of America. We took a hard uppercut to the jaw and we both went down. Down, but not out. The California will get off the canvas and so will America. We’ve just begun to fight.”
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