#USS ARIZONA

[nocternalrandomness]

Pulling out of a low pass over the USS Missouri

[iceman-kazansky]

On December 7th, 1941, 83 years ago today, the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a US Naval Harbour situated on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The result of this strike was the US officially joining the ongoing world war raging in Europe.

The attack claimed the lives of 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians and destroyed and damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships, including 8 battleships.

[theworldatwar]

Smoke pours from the USS Arizona on Battleship Row during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour - 7th Dec 1941

[lonestarflight]

A pair of "Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes, of Observation Squadron One (VO-1), taxiis alongside USS ARIZONA (BB-39), after a flight in the Hawaiian Operating area. Pilot is Lieutenant-Commander Welton D. Rowley, Commanding Officer of VO-1. Rear-seat man, Radioman 2nd Class E.L. Higley, is preparing to go out on the plane's wing to hook up the aircraft to the battleship's crane for recovery. The plane is numbered 1-O-1."

This "plane flown by Ensign Lawrence A. Williams. Rear-seat man was Radioman 3rd Class G.H. Lane, who is preparing to hook up the aircraft to the ship's crane for recovery.

Note: the plane's side number 1-O-3, with the ship's name below it."

Date: September 6, 1941

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: 80-G-66111, 80-G-66109, 80-G-66108

[lonestarbattleship]

USS ARIZONA (BB-39) leads USS NEVADA (BB-36) in rough seas.

Date: May 1932

source, source, source

[judgemark45]

The USS Arizona after her modernization during the 1930s.

[sgtgrunt0331-3]

Visitors on the USS Arizona Memorial view the sunken battleship as the flag flies at half-staff.

This year marks the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and that “day of infamy.”

(Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

[porterdavis]

A Day That Will Live in Infamy

[freetheshit-outofyou]

Rest East Warrior, tip one back with your mats. They've been waiting to see you again.

[walkingthroughthisworld]

USS Arizona Memorial. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember the USS Arizona.

[army-navy-air]

[nocternalrandomness]

US Navy Blue Angels over the USS Arizona Pearl Harbor Memorial, Hawaii

[emmieexplores2]

USS Arizona in the East River, New York City

[mareislandfoundation]

Raw Courage

Christmas Day 1941 Seaman First Class Donald Stratton arrived at the Mare Island Hospital with life threating burns over much of his body. A little over two weeks before he was trapped with six shipmates high above the main deck on the sky control platform of the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39). A surprise attack by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy had turned the battleship into a burning hell on earth from which there could be no escape. As he told the story "A bomb blew up the forward magazine of the USS Arizona and the ship was engulfed in flames. I and five others were located on the anti-aircraft gun director’s platform above the bridge when the forward powder magazine blew. All of us were badly burned. I was burned over 80% of my body. At that point, the only possibility to evacuate the ship was to dive in the water, which was 80 feet below and was fully engulfed in flame. That was not an option for survival.”

The United States was at peace as earlier when General Quarters sounded aboard the USS Arizona while moored at the huge naval base at Pearl Harbor.   Japanese planes had just been sighted bombing nearby Ford Island. Hearing the alarm, Seaman Stratton rushed to his battle station as a sight setter in the Port Anti-Aircraft fire director. Within minutes of his arrival at his battle station a Japanese high-altitude bomber dropped an armor piercing bomb that tore through the deck of the ship and ignited a million pounds of explosive, and thousands of gallons of aviation gas and fuel oil. The massive explosion completely enveloped Stratton’s battle station as the ship settled to the bottom of the harbor, her back broken and her sides blown out. Trapped above the flaming wreckage Stratton and six others were saved when another sailor, Joe George, aboard the repair ship USS Vestal that was moored alongside the Arizona acted. Despite direct orders Joe George threw the men a line and refused to cut it until the men made it to safety. Stratton and five other survivors from the sky control platform managed to make it over the flaming seas surrounding the burning hulk of the Arizona to the deck of the Vestal by climbing hand over hand down the line as the Japanese continued to attack.

The burns on Stratton’s arms were so bad that his skin sloughed off as he worked his way down the line to the Vestal. With burns over much of his body he was taken to the Naval Hospital at Pearl which was overwhelmed with patients. The decision was made to evacuate some of the patients to the mainland thus Seaman Stratton and 196 other seriously wounded sailors and Marines were transported on the blacked-out transport USS Scott arriving at the Mare Island Hospital on Christmas Day 1941. Seaman Stratton was successfully treated at Mare Island with what were then innovative burn treatments for several months until he was transferred to Corona, California for a convalescence. Due to the severity of the damage to his arm and leg he was medically discharged in September 1942. Unbelievably, when his injuries allowed, Donald Stratton re-enlisted in the Navy and went aboard the destroyer USS Stack at Naval Station Treasure Island in 1944. Aboard the Stack Seaman Stratton turned the tables on the enemy as he and the Stack participated in the invasions of New Guinea, Halmahera, Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa.

After the war Stratton took up the cause to secure a posthumous medal for Joe George, the sailor from the Vestal who helped rescue the six men from the sky control platform. Joe George was never recognized for his role in saving the men because he disobeyed a direct order in not cutting the line to the Arizona until Seaman Stratton and five others had made it across. Lest you think the Navy was being too cold-hearted in denying recognition for Joe George, the Vestal was at risk from the ongoing explosions and fires from USS Arizona as well as the ongoing attack. Vestal had been hit with two bombs and was sinking when Joe George was ordered to cut the line. The fact is, Vestal could likely have pulled away snapping the line, but the site of those desperate men likely influenced more than just Joe George on that awful day. Despite the circumstances, in 2017 the US Navy acceded to Donald Stratton’s persistence and posthumously awarded Joe George the Bronze Medal for Valor.

Dennis Kelly

[azurlaneincorrectquotes]

Shipgirl Appreciation Day: USS Arizona

The second ship of the Pennsylvania class, and the first victim of Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona is... deeply traumatized by her past.

"This feels great... It would be good if the nightmares go away at this rate..." MVP Line

"No more... Just this once, please let me have it my way..." Defeat line.

Pearl Harbor deeply defines Arizona, both visually and mentally. She has become a broken mess by her PTSD, seeing such things as strong wind as a sign that the hell she went through is about to begin again. However, with Pennsylvania by her side, she is able to fight her fears, and stand beside her friends. And, alongside you, Even if she's still scared

"I'll work hard, big sis!" when with pennsylvania.

"I won't let that day happen again' you say? ...Thank you. Those are the words that resonated with my heart the most in my life... I believe in you!" Pledge line

Although, what do I mean by Visually? Well, her constant crying is in reference to a phenomenon called Pearl's Tears, where oil constantly leaks from Arizona's wreck. It is said to bubble up to the surface each time a veteran of the pacific campaign passes away. That white thing on her belt, behind her right arm, is also a reference. To the Pearl Harbor memorial, which sits above her wreck

A few years later, Arizona META was released. While she is less prone to crying than her original self, it's obvious she still knows the fear and pain that defines her.

"'Arizona's Tears'.. Does that refer to me? Maybe I was seen in a moment when I could not control my emotions. I'm sorry..." Secretary 1

"If given the chance, I'd like to do it all over again... But even if that were possible, wouldn't the same things just play out again? What do you think, Commander?" Details

Alongside this, Arizona META tries to remain isolated as much as possible, believing herself a bad luck charm for her friends

"Would you mind keeping a safe distance from me? Oh, no, I'm not trying to push you away. 'Our' Vestal warned that something terrible will happen if you don't..." Stranger affinity

"It is said that staying around me for too long will afflict you with tragic dreams. Huh? You don't mind? I, I see..." Secretary 2

Also, even she is not free from symbolism. Her rigging is almost identical to the Pearl Harbor wreck

Arizona is a vulnerable girl, filled with loss and hurt. Each day, her past tears at her. But, she still hopes, deep in her heart, for a brighter future. Days with her sister, her friends, free from uncertainty and nightmares.

[lonestarbattleship]

The crew of USS ARIZONA (BB-39) enjoying some liberty.

NARA: 80-G-651633

Colorized by Steven Walker: link