The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from the air on Sunday, December 7, 1941. 3,500 Americans were killed or wounded, including Storekeeper 3rd Class Clay Cooper Rector of Albany, one of 1,177 casualties aboard the USS Arizona, which rests at the bottom of the harbor.

The first torpedo in the assault on Pearl Harbor hit the USS Raleigh at about 7:55 a.m. Sunday morning. Battleship Row was hit at 7:57 a.m.

The USS Arizona was moored inboard of the repair ship Vestal when the attack occurred. At 8:10 a.m. a Japanese Type 97 Attack Bomber dropped a bomb that struck the Arizona between the No. 1 and No. 2 turret.

This bomb was a converted armor piercing artillery shell that ignited the Arizona’s forward magazine. Blazing furiously, the once majestic battleship Arizona violently exploded, sinking to the bottom of the harbor.

Clay would be my second cousin, once removed. His grandparents were Daniel and Laura Huffaker Rector. Laura’s sister, Hettie Frost, was my great-grandmother. His younger sister, of whom many people around here are familiar with, is Mary Agnes Sawyers.

Their parents, Wendell and Lela Cooper Rector, lived on U.S. 127 in South Albany near where Super City Mart is today. My friend, Arnold Paul Cool, said he remembers hearing them talk about their son, who never came home.

From “The New Era” newspaper:

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CLAY RECTOR”

“Memorial services will be held at Albany (First) Baptist Church here Sunday, February 15 (1942) at 12:30 (war time) for Clay Cooper Rector, who was reported missing at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was a native of Wayne County and the son Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Rector of this place. He was a member of the local Baptist church and was faithful to his trust. He enlisted in U.S. Navy several months ago and was assigned to duty on the battleship Arizona and was on duty when the Japanese attacked on December 7th.”

The Rector’s lost two sons while they were serving our country. Their son, Wendell, was declared missing in action in 1964 while serving in the Navy. He disappeared after coming into port in Philadelphia. Another friend, Pat Sewell, was working with his mother at a store in Albany, when two members of the U.S. Navy came in years later and presented her with a flag, officially declaring him dead.

Randy Speck