USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona is the final resting place for over 900 of the ship's 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on December 7, 1941.

The 184-foot-long memorial structure spans the mid-portion of the sunken battleship and consists of three main sections: the entry room; the assembly room, a central area designed for ceremonies and general observation; and the shrine room, where the names of those killed on the Arizona are engraved on the marble wall.

The USS Arizona Memorial grew out of wartime desire to establish a memorial at Pearl Harbor to honor those who died in the attack. Suggestions for the memorial began in 1943, but it wasn't until 1949, when the Territory of Hawaii established the Pacific War Memorial Commission, that the first real steps were taken to bring it about.

Initial recognition came in 1950 when Admiral Arthur Radford, Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC), ordered that a flagpole be erected over the sunken battleship. On the ninth anniversary of the attack, a commemorative plaque was placed at the base of the flagpole.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who helped achieve Allied victory in Europe during World War II, approved the creation of the Memorial in 1958. Its construction was completed in 1961 with public funds appropriated by Congress and private donations. The Memorial was dedicated in 1962.

According to its architect, Alfred Preis, the design of the Memorial, "Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory....The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of sadness have been omitted to permit the individual to contemplate his own personal responses... his innermost feelings."

Contrary to popular belief, the USS Arizona is no longer in commission. As a special tribute to the ship and her lost crew, the United States flag flies from the flagpole, which is attached to the severed mainmast of the sunken battleship. The USS Arizona Memorial has come to commemorate all military personnel killed in the Pearl Harbor attack.

Rear Admiral Issac C. Kidd, USN. Portrait in oils by Rishell, 1942. He was Commanding Officer of USS Arizona (BB-39) from September 1938 until February 1940, when he was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned as Commander Battleship Division ONE and Chief of Staff to Commander, Battleships, Battle Force. On 7 December 1941, he was killed in action on board Arizona during the Pearl Harbor Raid. Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Pearl Harbor attack. "For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese Forces on December 7, 1941. He immediately went to the bridge and as Commander Battleship Division ONE, courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the USS ARIZONA, his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge, which resulted in the loss of his life."

 

An armor-piercing bomb detonates the Arizona’s forward magazine. The ship suffered the greatest individual loss of life during the attack, and remains a war grave today, entombing more than 1,000 of its sailors.

USS Arizona burning as photographed by Capt. Eric Haakensen from USS Solace, December 7, 1941.

Forward magazines explode on USS Arizona (BB-39), after she was struck by a Japanese armor-piercing bomb. At far right is the mainmast of USS Oklahoma, heeled over sharply to port as she capsized. Slightly to the left of Oklahoma are the forward turrets of USS Tennessee (BB-43), with the rest of that ship covered by the blast from Arizona's explosion. At far left is the bow of USS Vestal (AR-4), moored outboard of Arizona.

USS Arizona (BB-39) ablaze, just after her forward magazines exploded. At right, shrouded in smoke from the fire, are the main and foremasts of USS West Virginia, which is listing sharply to port after she was torpedoed. Upright mast further to the right is the mainmast of USS Tennessee (BB-43), moored inboard of West Virginia. The bow and foremast of USS Vestal (AR-4), moored outboard of Arizona, are visible at the left.

The forward superstructure and Number Two 14/45 triple gun turret of the sunken USS Arizona (BB-39), afire after the Japanese raid, 7 December 1941. The foremast is leaning as a result of the collapse of the hull structure below its front leg, following the explosion of the ship's forward magazines.

The forward superstructure and midships gun positions of the sunken USS Arizona (BB-39), afire after the Japanese raid, 7 December 1941. At right are the ship's mainmast and boat cranes, which were beyond the areas wrecked by the explosion of her forward magazines.

USS Arizona (BB-39) sunk and burning after the Japanese attack, 7 December 1941. Her forward magazines had exploded when she was hit by a Japanese bomb, resulting in the collapse of structure below her two forward turrets and superstructure. The tug Hoga (YT-146) is alongside, fighting fires on board the wrecked battleship.

USS Arizona (BB-39) sunk and burning furiously, 7 December 1941. Her forward magazines had exploded when she was hit by a Japanese bomb. At left, men on the stern of USS Tennessee (BB-43) are playing fire hoses on the water to force burning oil away from their ship.

USS Arizona (BB-39) sunk and burning, with the National Ensign still flying at her stern.

The sunken USS Arizona (BB-39) burns following the raid by Japanese carrier aircraft, 7 December 1941. Photographed from the shore of Ford Island. The after gun turrets of USS Tennessee (BB-43) are faintly visible at the extreme right. One of that ship's motor launches is nearby.

Sunk and burning at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941, after her forward magazines exploded when she was hit by Japanese bombs. YG-21 is alongside, helping to fight the fires.

The sunken Arizona on December 10, 1941.

Captain Van Valkenburg in February 1941 became Commanding Officer of the battleship Arizona. He was killed in action when his ship exploded and sank during the 7 December 1941 Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor.  He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. "For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, T.H., by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. As Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Arizona, Captain Van Valkenburgh gallantly fought his ship until the U.S.S. Arizona blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge which resulted in the loss of his life."

An aerial view of the sunken Arizona in 1950.

The Arizona Memorial.

An overview of Pearl Harbor in 2004, the Arizona can be seen still leaking oil after more than 60 years.