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Remember Pearl Harbor Tour – The US Navy’s Role at Pearl Harbor

 

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that launched the United States into World War II. In 2016 I was privileged to visit Pearl Harbor with my husband. This week I’m sharing photographs from our visit, plus some historical background.

I hope these posts help you reflect on the gravity of the attack and the sacrifice of the 2403 servicemen and civilians who died that day. Let’s never forget the lessons of that day.

Sarah Sundin at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 7 Nov 2016 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)

Sarah Sundin at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 7 Nov 2016 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)

On Monday, I shared about the role of aviation during the attack and showed photos from the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Today I’ll share about the Navy’s role during the attack, along with photos from the USS Arizona Memorial. On Wednesday, I’ll discuss the road from Pearl Harbor to victory, along with photos from the submarine USS Bowfin and the battleship USS Missouri, where the Japanese signed the surrender documents officially ending World War II on Sept. 2, 1945.

The US Navy’s Role at Pearl Harbor

The United States established a naval station at Pearl Harbor in 1899, and in May 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt moved Pacific Fleet Headquarters from San Diego to Pearl Harbor as a deterrent to Japanese aggression. Such a concentration of capital ships became a tempting target as Japanese military leaders hoped to wipe out American naval strength in the Pacific so they could carry out their conquests unmolested.

On December 7, 1941, 353 Japanese planes took off from aircraft carriers north of Hawaii in a daring surprise attack. However, the first shot that day was actually fired by an American ship – and the first loss that day was Japanese. At 0645, destroyer USS Ward detected a Japanese midget submarine off the entrance to Pearl Harbor – and sank it with assistance from a Navy PBY Catalina aircraft. However, word of this contact did not spread in time.

The number three gun of the destroyer USS Ward and her crew, credited with firing the first shot at Pearl Harbor (US Navy photo: NH 97446)

The number three gun of the destroyer USS Ward and her crew, credited with firing the first shot at Pearl Harbor (US Navy photo: NH 97446)

At 0745, the first wave of aircraft attacked, concentrating first on airfields and then on Battleship Row, with the ships lined up neatly – to prevent sabotage, which was considered a greater danger than an air raid.

Attack on Battleship Row of Pearl Harbor, seen from a Japanese aircraft, 7 Dec 1941 (US National Archives: 80-G-30550)

Attack on Battleship Row of Pearl Harbor, seen from a Japanese aircraft, 7 Dec 1941 (US National Archives: 80-G-30550)

At 0854, the second wave hit. By the end of the attack, five battleships had been sunk–the Arizona, Oklahoma, California, West Virginia, and Utah. The battleship USS Nevada managed to get underway and hoped to clear the channel, but damage forced the captain to make the brave and dangerous decision to beach the gigantic ship. This saved the Nevada, which went on to bombard the landing beaches of Normandy on D-Day. The California and West Virginia would eventually be raised and repaired, and the Oklahoma was salvaged, but the wrecks of the Arizona and Utah remain where they sank and have since become memorials.

Battleship USS Arizona burning at Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941 (US National Archives: ARC 1956173)

Battleship USS Arizona burning at Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941 (US National Archives: ARC 1956173)

Battleship USS West Virginia during the Pearl Harbor attack, 7 Dec 1941 (US National Archives: 80-G-19947)

Battleship USS West Virginia during the Pearl Harbor attack, 7 Dec 1941 (US National Archives: 80-G-19947)

Of the 2403 servicemen and civilians killed that day, 2008 were members of the US Navy, and 1177 were on the USS Arizona.

Pearl Harbor viewed from Pier 1010, 7 Dec 1941 after the attack (US National Archives: 80-G-474789)

Pearl Harbor viewed from Pier 1010, 7 Dec 1941 after the attack (US National Archives: 80-G-474789)

USS Arizona Memorial

Each year 2 million people visit the USS Arizona Memorial. In 2016, my husband and I were honored to join them. The tour starts at the visitor center with many sites to see and a museum. At the designated tour time, visitors watch a well-done and touching movie about the attack. Navy-run shuttle boats transport visitors to the memorial.

The anchor of the battleship USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

The anchor of the battleship USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

The USS Arizona's bell, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

The USS Arizona’s bell, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

US Navy shuttle boat to the USS Arizona Memorial (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

US Navy shuttle boat to the USS Arizona Memorial (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

The striking white memorial building straddles the sunken Arizona. An air of quiet reverence settles as you disembark and enter the memorial. Knowledgeable docents are present to answer questions and educate the public.

The USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

The USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

Entrance to the USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

Entrance to the USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

Gazing out the side windows, you look down at the submerged superstructure of the battleship, and the immensity of the loss is striking. Eighty years after the ship was sunk, oil from her tanks is still leaking to the surface, creating a sheen to the water.

The USS Arizona's mooring, as viewed from the memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

The USS Arizona’s mooring, as viewed from the memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

Superstructure of the USS Arizona, viewed from the memorial (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

Superstructure of the USS Arizona, viewed from the memorial (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

USS Arizona, viewed from the memorial; note the oil on the water (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

USS Arizona, viewed from the memorial; note the oil on the water (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

Last you enter a quiet room with a towering wall engraved with the names of the 1177 sailors and Marines who died in the attack on the Arizona. Survivors who have later had their ashes interred with their former shipmates have their names engraved on two smaller plaques below. This is incredibly moving sight, realizing the truth that those 1177 men were sons, grandsons, brothers, uncles, husbands, fathers, and friends, who left loved ones behind.

The memorial wall listing the 1177 sailors and Marines who died on the Arizona on 7 December 1941 (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

The memorial wall listing the 1177 sailors and Marines who died on the Arizona on 7 December 1941 (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

A flower on the oil from the USS Arizona (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

A flower on the oil from the USS Arizona (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)

On this Pearl Harbor Day, let’s remember.

And please visit the other posts:

Day 1: The Role of Aviation During the Attack – Pictures from the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Day 3: From Tragedy to Triumph – Pictures from the USS Bowfin and the USS Missouri

 

2 responses to “Remember Pearl Harbor Tour – The US Navy’s Role at Pearl Harbor”

  1. […] I’ll share pictures from the Pacific Aviation Museum. On Wednesday, I’ll share from the USS Arizona Memorial, and on Friday about the submarine USS Bowfin and […]

  2. […] Monday I shared pictures from the Pacific Aviation Museum. On Wednesday, I shared from the USS Arizona Memorial, and today I’ll share about the submarine USS Bowfin […]

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