The USS Arizona (BB-39) was a Pennsylvania-class battleship commissioned into the U.S. Navy in the mid-1910s and named after Arizona, the 48th state to join the Union. The ship served with distinction for several years before meeting a tragic end during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A bomb struck the Arizona, causing a devastating explosion that sank the vessel and claimed the lives of over 1,000 officers and crew members.
In an emotional act of remembrance, surviving crew members were later given the opportunity to have their remains interred alongside their fallen comrades. This provided those who had served aboard the Arizona with a chance to be reunited with their shipmates in the ship’s final resting place beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor, where they would remain together forever.
Arizona was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of “super-dreadnought” battleships. While commissioned in 1916, she remained stateside during the First World War. Besides a comprehensive modernization from 1929–31, the vessel was regularly used for training exercises during the interwar period, including annual “Fleet Problem” exercises. When an earthquake hit Long Long Beach, California, in 1933, Arizona’s crew provided aid to the survivors.
In 1940, the battleship and the rest of the Pacific Fleet were transferred from California to Pearl Harbor, to serve as deterrents to Japanese imperialism. During the deadly attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941, Arizona was bombed. She exploded and sank, taking the lives of 1,177 officers and crewmen with her.
Unlike many of the other ships that sank or were damaged that day, Arizona couldn’t be fully salvaged. That being said, the Navy did remove parts of the vessel for reuse.
The USS Arizona wreck still lies submerged in the waters of Pearl Harbor, serving as a solemn tribute to the lives lost during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. Above the sunken battleship stands the USS Arizona Memorial, dedicated on May 30, 1962, drawing millions of visitors each year. Yet, few know about the heartfelt and private ritual that took place there after hours.
Many of the Arizona‘s survivors went on to serve in the military or build their civilian lives. When they passed away, a poignant tradition allowed them to be reunited with their fallen comrades. This final homecoming meant a great deal to both the veterans and their families.
After the veteran’s cremation, the ashes were placed in an urn. Once the memorial closed for the day, family members and a military honor guard would gather for a private ceremony. As “Taps” echoed across the water, Navy divers would carefully lower the urn into the wreck, near the #4 gun turret, allowing the veteran to rest forever beside the shipmates they had lost on that fateful day in 1941.
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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.