Commissioned in the 1910s, the USS Arizona (BB-39)—a Pennsylvania-class battleship named after the 48th state—soon became a powerful symbol of American naval might. Its career, however, ended in catastrophe. On Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a bomb penetrated the ship and ignited the forward magazine, causing a devastating explosion that killed more than a thousand sailors and Marines in moments.
In the decades that followed, a quiet and moving tradition developed. Surviving crew members were given the option to have their ashes placed within the wreck of the Arizona after their deaths, allowing them to be reunited with the shipmates they had lost. Today, the battleship rests beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor, serving as both a solemn memorial and a lasting tribute to the sacrifice of those who died aboard her.
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 (BB-39), a powerful reminder of the devastation of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Rising above the submerged battleship is the USS Arizona Memorial, which was formally dedicated on May 30, 1962. Although millions of visitors come each year to honor those lost, few are aware that after the daytime crowds leave, quiet and deeply personal ceremonies sometimes take place beneath the cover of night.
Many survivors of the Arizona went on to lead long and meaningful lives. Some remained in military service, while others returned to civilian careers. For those who later wished to be reunited with the ship and the men they had served alongside, a special tradition allowed their ashes to be placed within the wreck itself.
As evening settled and the memorial grew silent, family members would gather alongside a Navy honor guard for a final farewell. The solemn notes of “Taps” echoed across the harbor while divers descended to the sunken battleship, carrying the urn. Near the ship’s No. 4 gun turret, within the rusting remains of the vessel, the veteran’s ashes were placed inside the hull—rejoining them with their fallen shipmates in the place where their shared story had begun more than eighty years earlier.
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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.