Woodrow Wilson Derby Signed Autographed 4x6 Photo US Navy Pearl Harbor Survivor

Description: At DiligentiaGraphs our focus is to source out the best, authentic items and give you expedient and just service. Our goal is to deliver a five-star experience through prompt shipping and communication. Thank you for viewing our auction and feel free to ask any questions. The items for sale are to honor the veterans who served our nation and to expose their stories which might otherwise be lesser known. Hand signed 4x6 photo by World War II vet, Woodrow Wilson Derby. Here is a partial article in Mr. Debry's own words about his service: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Woody Derby, a crew member on the USS Nevada (BB 36) during the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, vividly recounted details of the attack while he participated in the unveiling of a new wayside exhibit for the Nevada. The exhibit, located next to the Nevada Memorial at Hospital Point, includes an engraved plaque with an historical account explaining the actions of the battleship Nevada and its crew. A total of 57 service members lost their lives during the Pearl Harbor attack and the ship suffered severe damage. In addition, more than 100 crew members were injured. Nevada was the only battleship to get underway when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The ship was salvaged and brought back into service during World War II. Derby described what happened on the day of the attack. “We were hit by one torpedo and two bombs. The ship got underway. The commanding officer and the exec were both still ashore. The reserve lieutenant commander was the boss man and he did a good job,” Derby, age 94, recalled. “We came down the channel, and a second wave of planes came out and we were struck by six bombs,” he said. Derby worked as a storekeeper in the Nevada’s supply room when the ship was attacked. He recalled hearing the sounds of bombing and water flooding into the battleship. “I was five decks down on the port side as we came up the channel. They torpedoed us on the port side and we got flooded out in about 15 minutes. Water came dashing into the magazine. You know what? I didn’t even get scared. I just got my feet wet,” Derby said. The day after the attack Derby helped get all of the crew’s pay records out of the ship so the crew could be paid on time. “I was on the Nevada for seven years and two months. I went from seaman second to chief petty officer during my Navy career. I stayed in the Navy for 20 years,” Derby said. Nevada earned seven battle stars during his time of service, he said. Derby, whose full name is Woodrow Wilson Derby, joined the Navy on December 7, 1938, after living in Des Moines, Iowa. “I was a farm lad. There was nothing to do on the farm and it was the end of the Great Depression. No money was floating around,” he remembered. Derby and his wife, Christine, have been married for 66 years. A plaque at the exhibit explains, “Though her commanding officer was not present that morning, Nevada managed to pull away from her berth and make her way down the channel and attempt a run for the open sea. As the second wave of Japanese aircraft arrived on the scene, the courageous ship came under heavy fire and was forced to beach herself about 50 yards from the location of the memorial today.” The plaque also explains, “As a testament to the incredible and tireless work of shipyard personnel following the attack, Nevada was salvaged and brought back to active service in 1943 and was on station providing gunfire support during the Normandy Invasion of June 1944. She later returned to the Pacific where she assisted in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and attacks on the Japanese home islands.” "We all serve in the Navy for a reason," said Derby. "I was proud to serve my country because I was motivated by values that included more than earning a living. I was also motivated by honor, patriotism, integrity, and, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, a fighting spirit. It's that spirit that helped us win the war and keeps us going today. We have the best Navy in the world and I don't see that changing any time soon," he added. Shipping is done within 24 hours of received payment. We ship our items in 6X9 envelopes, sent first class with tracking and well packed. We do our best to accommodate special shipping requests as needed. We do accept returns within 14 days that has been communicated and approved. We have a 15% fee on items that are restocked and do pay for return shipping. Refunds are given once items are returned in original condition. On all of our sold items we donate a percentage of profits to the Wounded Warrior project and to World War II museum in New Orleans, LA.

Price: 39.99 USD

Location: History, Signed!

End Time: 2024-02-17T04:18:43.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3 USD