Emil Kimmel served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

The sailor, a native of the mining village of Eckley, Pennsylvania, recounted his service aboard the Yorktown in one of the most pivotal battles of the Second World War.

The American victory saw US Navy aircraft sink four Japanese aircraft carriers, dealing a severe blow to Japanese naval and airpower in the Central Pacific.

Kimmel’s ship, the USS Yorktown, was sunk due to battle damage.

Kimmel served as phone operator aboard the ship when the vessel’s anti-aircraft guns were in use, helping to aim at attacking Japanese aircraft. When the guns fell silent, his role changed to that of stretcher-bearer to care for the ship’s wounded and dead.

On a visit home to 9 South Street in Eckley in September 1942, the 25-year-old recounted part of his experience in the battle to a reporter of the Hazleton Plain Speaker.

“Seeing 25 Japanese dive-bombers smashed to pieces gave me my biggest thrill in this war…”

Kimmel later wrote a letter describing his full experience in the battle to the Freeland reporter for the Plain Speaker:

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Dear Vic:

Just a few minutes ago, the radio announced the information about the Yorktown. Now I’ll be able to unburden my thoughts and let you know a little more about what happened. Wish this could have happened sooner – then I could have told you my story when you visited our home in Eckley.

By the way, make sure this will pass censorship, as I may say something that ‘Sammy’ [the U.S. Government] wouldn’t approve of. As I told you before, my duty was that of a stretcher-bearer. Before the Battle of Midway, we knew that we were going to meet the enemy, but we didn’t know how soon or where. When we finally knew the day, I was so excited that I couldn’t eat. All I had were a few Life-Savers that I had received in a package from my wife.

Our attack group took off when the enemy was located and after an hour of anxious waiting, a bomber came back and gave the thumbs-up signal, signifying that a carrier bit the dust, a Jap “flat-top.” We were happy, even though all our planes hadn’t come back.

A few minutes later the loud-speaking system screeched and someone said that our fighter patrol intercepted a number of Jap bombers and broke up their formation.

The dogfight was clearly visible from the ship, and I saw about ten or 12 blobs of smoke on the horizon where they fell.

But the few remaining planes got through for an attack and we were hit in a few different spots on the ship. [Editor’s Note Navy reports said that 18 Jap dive-bombers attacked the Yorktown in the first attack. Fourteen of these were knocked down by our planes or by anti-aircraft fire. Four got through to score three direct hits. All four were believed to have escaped.]

That’s when I had to go into action evacuating the dead and caring for the wounded. A little while later, while I was attending one case, the Japs were reported coming again, this time with torpedo planes. [The Navy said 12 or 15 planes attacked the Yorktown. All of these were shot down, but not until two torpedo hits had been scored. If the first figure is used, making total of 26 planes shot down in the two attacks, this would almost tally with Kimmel’s earlier report that he saw 25 out of 30 brought down.] We were slowed down by the bombs and I became worried as to how we would fare this time.

Again, we were hit and the ship listed severely, and then we abandoned ship. My stomach did a couple of flip-flops when I realized that I had to leave my home, but I was ready for anything. I took oft all my clothes except my underwear and my life-jacket and then jumped into the water.

[His family said he swam around for 30 or 45 minutes.] A whaleboat picked me up and then we helped to get the wounded men into the boat. We let the others hang onto ropes thrown over the side of the boat. Everything went along smoothly and many of the men even joked about not liking oil with their baths. All the men were covered with oil, but that only made our grins more ‘teethy.’

After a few transfers at sea, we finally reached a port, where we were given proper clothing and medical attention. My only injury was an abrasion on my instep, where my foot was caught between two boats. When we arrived in port, I borrowed money to send flowers to my wife and my parents, signifying that I was well.

Before long, I came to California for leave and recreation and to see my wife, who came from Long Beach to San Francisco. Now I’m going to shore-duty in Florida. My visit home was short but sweet, and was the first time in four years that I saw the old place. Best regards and good luck.

Emil Kimmel.

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The reporter added:

“The Eckley sailor lost all his clothing and money in the sinking. In addition, he lost his best trombone and a cello. He played in the ship’s orchestra on the Yorktown, and the whole band has now been sent to Florida for morale-building work.”

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Read more Coal Region World War II history

Private Harvey L. Adams | Killed on D-Day, June 6, 1944

Letters from War – A powerful Memorial Day letter on the eve of D-Day, 1944

“It’s your life at stake all the time” – A paratrooper from the Coal Region on D-Day

Letters from War – Two letters written on the eve of the first anniversary of D-Day – June 1945

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