Celebrating National Parks - Aloha to the World War II Valor of the Pacific National Monument

Last week, I noted 2016 is the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS)(link).   To continue the celebration, I offer you the National Parks in Hawaii.  The number one tourist attraction on the island of Oahu is the World War II Valor of the Pacific National Monument. Visitors can explore interactive displays, including a short film, before taking the shuttle across Pearl Harbor to the USS Arizona Memorial.  From the NPS website (link),

The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many 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.

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."

Inside the memorial, the far wall lists the sailors who lost their lives on that day of infamy, including seven sets of brothers. The USS Arizona, resting on the bottom Pearl Harbor, leaks about one quart of oil each day. Survivors call them tears, believing the Arizona will leak until all survivors have joined their shipmates in the watery grave (the National Park Service allows survivors to have their ashes interred in the Arizona).

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter - open forum.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 23, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 24 at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

The Memorial spans the sunken USS Arizona.

Photo by US Navy (Public Domain)

A day that will live in infamy ....

71 years ago, on a quiet Sunday morning .... from the National Park Service (at this link),

0806 hrs  Four armor-piercing bombs hit the USS Arizona—one penetrating the ship and exploding three decks below the surface. This detonation ignited a hundred tons of blackpowder in the interior of the ship. The resulting explosion broke the battleship in half and sent a column of fire and red smoke a thousand feet in the air. Within eight minutes of the first bomb strike, the Arizona lay on the floor of Pearl Harbor. 1177 officers, sailors and marines went down with the Arizona that Sunday morning, making this attack the worst single disaster in U.S. naval history. 

The USS Arizona, resting on the bottom Pearl Harbor, leaks about one quart of oil each day.   Survivors call them tears, believing the Arizona will leak until all survivors have joined their shipmates in the watery grave (the National Park Service allows survivors to have their ashes interred in the Arizona).

Nearby, the USS Oklahoma faced the same fate.  From Navy History (at this link),

USS Maryland (BB-46) was moored inboard of USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and was thus protected by her when Japanese torpedo planes struck. The unfortunate Oklahoma, an older ship with much less adequate protection against underwater damage, was hit by up to nine torpedoes. Her hull's port side was opened almost completely from below the forward gun turret back to the third turret, a distance of over 250 feet. She listed quickly, her port bilge struck the harbor bottom, and she then rolled almost completely over. Oklahoma came to rest less than twenty minutes after she was first hit.

On the other side of Ford Island, the USS Utah became a target.  From Pearl Harbor in Hawaii (at this link),

The USS Utah was immediately struck by a torpedo, and by 8:12 a.m., its mooring lines had snapped and it had rolled over on its beam ends. Most men headed to shore for safety, but Commander Isquith, who had heard knockings from the overturned ship’s hull, organized a team of volunteers to return to the ship on a rescue mission. Thanks to this small band of heroes, ten men were rescued from perishing in a would-be tomb.
 

The Utah's partially submerged hulk still rests in Pearl Harbor, rusting away with the remains of 58 men trapped inside it.

A memorial in honor of the USS Utah crew was built in 1972 on the Ford Island shore, adjacent to the wreck. The ship won one battle star for its service in World War II.

Today is open comments.   

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

The Memorial spans the sunken USS Arizona.
Photo by US Navy (Public Domain)

Jane docks at the Navy Boathouse and Ford Island

This week I have been touring the island with college friends.  On Wednesday, they hopped aboard the "Remembrance Tour", sailing around Ford Island and stopping at the USS Arizona Memorial.  Jane and I stayed behind at the boathouse to take pictures.

Here is the commander's historic "barge" ... 

... that has carried all the Presidents
to the USS Arizona Memorial ...

... except for the Bushes when the
barge was being refurbished.

The boathouse offers a great
view of Ford Island ...

... maintenance home of the SBX ,
a mobile radar atop an oil platform.

  

Jane pays homage to
the old fashioned way ...

... of putting out a fire!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys.
Anchors Aweigh.

  

Farewell to college joys,
We sail at break of day, 'ay 'ay 'ay.

Thou our last night ashore,
Anchors Aweigh.

  

Until we meet once more, Here's
wishing you a happy voyage home!

We ventured over to Ford Island to
the USS Oklahoma Memorial.

Jane honors those who died
on December 7, 1941. 

  

The Mighty Mo now offers
a movie tour.
I loved that flick!

Here's the iconic couple ... 

... Jane cozying up to them!

Hello, Uncle Sam!

Ahoy thar, me hearties!

Do you have sea legs?  Or are you a land lubber?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.   Comments are open through Saturday, June 9, 10 pm in Hawaii.   I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 10.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

We drove over to Nob Hill for another
view of the USS Arizona Memorial.

Aloha to the USS Carl Vinson

We interrupt Jane's visit to Oahu with the arrival of the USS Carl Vinson - a Nimitz class aircraft carrier.  The carrier called on Pearl Harbor on its return home to San Diego.

The carrier positions to enter the channel ... 

... with a tug boat in front and behind.

It is an awesome sight ...

... to see the sailors man the rails.

The Navy whites are so handsome ... 

... even from a distance!

  

The carrier continues to its berth ...

... at Hotel Pier!

My inlaws also took pictures at the channel mouth ... then drove over to Ford Island to watch the carrier render a salute to the USS Arizona.   The carrier moves faster than expected!  They walked to the end of the USS Missouri's pier and took pictures of the carrier moving into its pier (to the right).  The picture below offers the panoramic view that greets the sailors in Pearl Harbor.

ndu.edu

What is the largest ship you have visited and/or sailed?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 19, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 20.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

dodlive.mil