Dubuque, Iowa, in World War II-- Part 1: A Local Boy at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941

From the Encyclopedia Dubuque.

Leo F. Greenwood, a native of the "northeast" end of Dubuque, was on the battleship USS West Virginia at the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  He survived and abandoned ship.  Oil from the stricken battleships had leaked out and the water of the harbor caught fire, requiring him to swim under water to reach safety (probably on Ford Island).

There, he found cover and remained for the rest of the attack.

Years later, a Navy diver found and returned his pocket watch and photo album that he had stored in his footlocker.

He became a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

Mr. Greenwood served on the USS West Virginia from 1939-1941 and was a Seaman First Class.

--GreGen