By Sandy McKay
Special to Sound Publishing
(Editor’s note: In recognition of Pearl Harbor Day, which is Sunday, Dec. 7, we’re sharing a story about Donald K. Ross, a well-known local Navy man now deceased, who was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked.)
On that fateful morning, Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, then-Warrant Machinist Donald K. Ross was aboard the USS Nevada getting ready to start inspection duty. As he was shaving, he glanced out of the porthole as a second bomb hit the Ford Island Naval Air Station. And he caught sight of the Rising Sun symbols on the wings of the enemy planes as they streaked by. Bombs and torpedoes detonated around the harbor.
At first the Nevada sustained little damage but as the raid continued the enemy’s weapons took their toll on the mighty ship.
Ross rapidly sprung into action. With one hand he shut and fastened the porthole cover; with the other he grabbed his stateroom phone and called the Chiefs’ quarters. He barked orders to “light off all boilers!” He snatched a towel, a cap and a shirt and was immediately on his way to Marine Engine Control by way of the quarterdeck.
The attack on the Nevada came in three stages. Flooding rapidly occurred and when the USS Arizona was hit the safety of the Nevada was severely threatened. It rapidly became urgent to get it out of further danger.
Thanks to Ross’s heroic efforts, and those of many fellow crew members, they were able to get the vessel underway. The ship was saved.
Ross risked his life to take the vessel out of further jeopardy. He battled billowing smoke, intense heat, exhaustion, near-blindedness, and unconsciousness. For action above and beyond the call of duty, he became the first Medal of Honor recipient of World War II.
The award presentation ceremony was performed on April 18, 1942 by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz aboard the USS Vestal, not far from where the Nevada had been moored when the attack had started.
After the war Ross went on to serve as Chief Engineer of the Nevada for the atomic bomb tests in the Bikini Atoll, and later participated in the decommissioning of his beloved ship.
This was followed by tours of duty on the USS Platte and the USS Kearsarge during the Korean War. He later served as recruiting officer in Kansas City, Missouri, plus serving on staff duty in Hawaii and Washington, D.C.
He participated in several military ceremonies. In 1991, he led the singing of “God Bless America” during the dedication of the USS Nevada at Hospital Point. He was also locally famous for singing the patriotic song in his booming bass voice at many patriotic gatherings, including Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Keyport, Retsil and at Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations.
At the 50th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor invasion, Ross, USN (Ret.) was honored to introduce President George H. W. Bush at the memorial service in Honolulu.
After Ross’s death on May 22, 1992, his commemoration took place on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz flight deck; services were also held aboard the submarine USS Nevada.
In 1997, the guided missile destroyer USS Ross was named in honor of the heroic captain.
Ross’s wife, Helen, also a Pearl Harbor Survivor, served as assistant food inspector for the Quartermaster at Fort Armstrong at the time of the invasion.
The couple was married Jan. 7, 1942. They later resided on a farm near Port Orchard.
They had four children and several grandchildren. She was a writer and she and her husband collaborated on two books, “Touch of Smile” and “Men of Valor.”
Born Dec. 8, 1910 in Beverly, Kansas, Ross enlisted in the Navy in Denver on June 9, 1929, and graduated from boot camp in San Diego with honors, then completed Machinists Mates’ School. He later served onboard the USS Henderson before being transferred to the Nevada.
A Kansas roadway from U.S.18 to the western border of Lincoln County is now known as the “Medal of Honor Recipient Donald K. Ross Memorial Highway.”
Kansas Govenor Sam Brownback spoke of Ross at the said highway dedication.
“His courage in one of the darkest hours of American history exemplifies the very best of the Kansas spirit,” Brownback said. “Without the dedication and sacrifice of an entire generation of men like Mr. Ross, none of us would be where we are today.”
