Commissioned in the 1910s, the USS Arizona (BB-39)—a Pennsylvania-class battleship bearing the name of America’s 48th state—soon stood as a proud testament to the nation’s naval might in both peace and wartime. But its story would ultimately be marked by sorrow. During the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a bomb struck the ship’s forward magazine, setting off a catastrophic explosion that killed over a thousand sailors and Marines almost instantly.
In the aftermath, a poignant tradition took shape: surviving crew members were given the opportunity to have their ashes laid to rest within the sunken battleship upon their passing. This act of remembrance allowed them to be reunited with their fallen comrades in the place where their journey had ended. Today, the Arizona remains submerged beneath the tranquil waters of Pearl Harbor—a hallowed monument and lasting tribute to those who gave their lives.
Arizona was the second and final ship of the Pennsylvania-class “super-dreadnoughts,” commissioned in 1916. Though built for battle, she never saw combat in the First World War, remaining stateside throughout the conflict. Between the wars, Arizona underwent a comprehensive modernization from 1929 to 1931 and took part in regular training operations, including the Navy’s large-scale “Fleet Problem” war games. In 1933, when a devastating earthquake struck Long Beach, California, her crew stepped in to help, providing emergency assistance to those affected.
By 1940, rising tensions in the Pacific prompted the U.S. to transfer the Pacific Fleet to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, hoping its presence would deter Japanese aggression. But on the morning of December 7, 1941, that strategy proved tragically ineffective during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Arizona was hit during the surprise attack, and a massive explosion tore through the ship. She quickly sank, killing 1,177 of her crew.
While many of the vessels damaged that day were repaired and returned to service, Arizona was beyond recovery. Though some components were salvaged for use elsewhere, the main body of the ship was left in place—becoming both a war grave and one of America’s most enduring symbols of sacrifice.
Beneath the calm waters of Pearl Harbor rests the wreck of the USS Arizona—a powerful and haunting reminder of the devastation wrought on December 7, 1941. Rising above its remains is the USS Arizona Memorial, formally dedicated on May 30, 1962. Each year, millions of visitors come to honor the fallen, though few are aware that after the crowds depart, quiet and deeply intimate ceremonies sometimes unfold in the stillness of night.
Many of the ship’s survivors went on to lead full, purposeful lives—some remaining in military service, others forging new paths in civilian life. But for those who longed to return to their shipmates for a final reunion, a touching tradition offered that chance. Upon their passing, their ashes were sealed in special urns, awaiting a private farewell beneath the harbor’s surface.
When evening fell and the memorial grew silent, families gathered with a Navy honor guard to bid their loved one goodbye. As the mournful notes of “Taps” echoed across the water, divers descended into the depths, carrying the urn toward the shattered hull. Near the #4 gun turret, within the rusted bones of the battleship, the veteran was reunited with their fallen comrades—laid to rest at the place where their story had begun more than eighty years before.
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It was a truly touching tribute to those who served in defense of the United States. Sadly, the last Arizona survivor, Lou Conter, passed away on April 1, 2024, at the age of 102.