World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument- w/Photos

"Hovering over the calm water"

During our recent trip to Hawaii it seemed only appropriate to visit the USS Arizona.  Growing up with movies such as “Pearl Harbor” and other war movies, I had a romanticized view of the events that happened and was excited to see part of history.    When we enter the memorial we cross a painted map of the Pacific as it was in 1941, to get tickets to for the ferry that takes you to the USS Arizona Memorial.  Joey goes to get the tickets as I take a moment to get a cup of coffee and snap a few photos, when he returns our time isn’t until 12:15, a bit disappointed we are 30 minutes from anything and its only 9:30.  The nice park ranger suggested that we look at the two museums to fill up our time; little did we know how this would impact our view of that day.

Obviously this is a memorial, you are quiet and a bit somber, but for me it was out of respect and not reflection or sorrow.  First we visit the pre-war museum, this shows all the territory Japan occupied in 1941 (most of the Pacific) and see what life was like on the Hawaiian Islands prior to Dec 7, 1941.  You learn that Franklin D. Roosevelt froze oil trade with Japan in July to slow down Japan’s military advancements. This is interesting but not something you linger in, until you get to the very last exhibit.  On Dec 6, 1941 FDR sent a letter to Emperor Hirohito detailing the 100 years of peace the two nations had and imploring him to continue this peace. Up to hours before the attack FDR was in talks with Japanese heads of states trying to reach a peaceful agreement (11:30 EST, 6:30 PHT Dec 7).  The first attack happened at 7:55 PHT or 12:55 EST, about an hour and a half after talks of peace.  Japan gave no indication of the coming attacks while meeting in DC. 

Pointing to the fact that most felt they were stationed in paradise.

As we enter the second museum, we are able to use old radar equipment, which was new technology in 1941.  After about 10 minutes of using the equipment to “find” the warships and planes I give up thinking this is taking too long.  Each section of the grid had to be manually turned to then a code punched in to see anything and I was about a 5% through the grid after the 10 minutes.   Joey calls me over to the actual equipment that was used that day and we read about a training exercise that happened that morning in which a trainee noticed a spike in activity.  He was told to ignore it due to plans that were supposed to be arriving from California that day. The men were untrained on how to use the equipment and had only been there two days.  A huge “what if?”

As you round the corner you see mock ships (US) and Planes and real torpedoes (Japan). The thinking was that a torpedo could not be used in such shallow water, but the Japanese had engineered them especially for this attack.  You begin to see photos taken on that day of the USS Oklahoma rolling over and read about the number of men crying from within, how people were risking their lives to save others in sinking ships and as you read you can’t help but feel you stomach begin to knot, your throat swell and eyes water. No longer was this a romanticized moment in history where the hero and heroine end up happily ever after, these are real people with hopes and dreams that were shattered in an instant. 

actual torpedo used on Dec 7, 1941

There is a plaque that states: A woman reported that she looked out and was sorrowed to see the great ships dying not even realizing the thousands of men trapped inside.

I turn to the wall behind me and it is covered in Photographs of the aftermath, bodies washing ashore, people slumped over in their car, men, bodies torn apart laying on the ground, soldiers digging trenches with 100’s of wooden coffins behind them.  The knot in my stomach grew and a tear slipped down my cheek.  I slowly round the corner and read about more heroism. Then I see a photo of the USS Arizona, the ship was hit near the bow and the magazines exploded causing the huge ship to lift out of the water. Immediately the 1.5 million gallons of oil caught fire and burned for 2 ½ day making it impossible to save anyone from the ship, 1,177 men died on that ship alone.  Many remain in the underwater coffin today, around 900, and if you served on the USS Arizona that day and were not onboard during the attack (survivors) you are able to be entombed there.  There is still an unknown amount of oil on the ship and it leaks daily into the harbor.

Part of the USS Arizona removed during the construction on the monument.

It is now time to take the ferry to the USS Arizona; we walk on to the memorial, which appears to hover over calm water.  We are overwhelmed with sorrow and gratitude as we look down into the water and inches below the oil covered surface as far as you can see in either direction is the rusted, algae covered ghost of a ship. My stomach turns again and my throat swells as I realized that I’m standing where 1,177 men lost their lives and many of which are still in the watery grave just below the surface.

Top left oil spot and USS Arizona 

Above and Below the Surface

The ship's smoke stacks emerging from the harbor

In honor of the men who lost their lives on Dec 7, 1941

Our flag proudly waving over the memorial.

The experience is overwhelming; Joey and I are both at a loss for words as we take the ferry back. We are reminded of the sacrifices the men and women in our armed services are making each and every day.   Thank You!

USS Missouri  (L) USS Arizona (beside the flag)