Recovered Pearl Harbor research correspondence — November 14–15, 2010. Danielle contacted Carroll Robbins Jones after reading Hawaii Goes To War and realizing that AraBelle Fuller had traveled aboard the S.S. Mariposa during the same period. Bodies preserved from the surviving exchange.
Danielle wrote:
Hello –
I’ve recently read Hawaii Goes To War and I made a discovery that my Grandmother was aboard the SS Mariposa with Ms. Robbins. I’d love to share some of the items I’ve saved from her estate.
Thanks.
Danielle Oser
Carroll Robbins Jones replied:
Danielle,
First of all thank you for reading ‘Hawaii Goes To War’, hope you enjoyed it.
My brother and I sailed with our mother on the MARIPOSA from Los Angeles, CA in late Nov. 1941.
My father was a Naval officer attached to a ship homeported in Pearl Harbor. We had not seen him for a greater part of a year. Although families were not allowed (at that time) to join husbands/fathers, knowing possible war was imminent, my mother was given two magazine assignments to photograph and this is how we three traveled to Hawaii at personal expense. Arrived ten days before the attack, and stayed for next 9 months or so. I was 7 years and my brother 5 years.
Many of my memories are quite vivid of that time, probably due to a great change in our way of life, hundreds of photographs taken and seen published over and over along with interviews, and having to sit at a computer and put in words my remembrances of that time. It was somewhat painful, but glad it was done.
Tell me about your grandmother, and the things you have as mementos. Also, how did you come to read the book? We continue to hear from people from all over their thoughts and memories, and hope school kids will find much of this informative for that time. My husband continues to write, speak, and lead travel tours to WWII sites world wide. His mission is to keep alive the sacrifices so many made both in uniform and on the homefront.
Please tell me more about you and your family. Again, thanks for your interest.
Carroll Robbins Jones
Danielle replied:
Hello –
Thank you so much for your response! My Grandmother, AraBelle Fuller, was a civilian nurse at the time of the attack. I have been piecing together her letters, scrapbooks and diary for many years now and in time I hope to publish her story, She Remembers Pearl Harbor. I’ve made quite a hobby of buying every book about WWII I can get my hands on – that is how I came across your book. There are so very few that tell the story from the woman’s point of view, especially a nurse. I’ve attached a few items that may be of interest (I have many more if you’d like them.) I’ve gotten a very ROUGH start on a website if you’d like to take a peek http://www.sherememberspearlharbor.com
I’d love to chat with you more.
Danielle
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