Why Was the USS Utah Never Raised-- Part 3: Expense and Obsolete

After the attack, efforts were made to salvage the USS Utah and return it to service.  However, it was quickly determined that the damage to the ship was too extensive and that raising it would be  difficult and expensive.

The Utah was an older battleship, having been commissioned in 1911, and its design and construction made it less suitable for  salvage than some of the newer battleships that had been sunk.  The ship's position on the bottom of the harbor also made it difficult to access and  work on.

In addition to the practical difficulties of salvaging the Utah, there were strategic considerations thast weighed against the effort.  In the early years of the war, the U.S. Navy was still building up its naval forces and was focused on  more pressing  priorities, such as building new ships and training new sailors.

The ship was already old and obsolete.  After all, it was a target ship by then.

--GreGen

Why Was the USS Utah Never Raised?-- Part 1

From Rebellion Research.

The USS Utah (BB-31) was an American warship (formerly a battleship) sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December7, 1941.

Despite efforts to salvage the ship after the attack, it was ultimately decided to leave it where it was.

This decision was based on a number of factors, including the extent of the damage to the ship, the cost of salvage operations,  and the strategic  priorities of the United States in the early days of the war.

The Utah was moored on the far side of Ford Island from Battleship Row and though just a target ship at the time, was attacked because of its large size.  Hit by two torpedoes it quickly began to list to one side and despite efforts to save her, capsized.  

Fifty-eight sailors died on her.

--GreGen

Japanese Battleships During WW II-- Part 2

As I said in the last post, I was very much surprised at how few battleships Japan had during the war.

The United Sates, on the other hand, had 24 (counting the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma and USS Utah which were knocked out of the war on the first day for the country.)

Continuing with the Japanese battleships:

NAGATO-CLASS

NAGATO   Both ships underwent  significant modernization 1934-1936, rebuilding superstructure into the more familiar pagoda mast style.  (I will also be writing about the Japanese pagoda masts this month.)

MITSU

***********************************

YAMATO-CLASS

YAMATO   Five planned, one converted into aircraft carrier, two cancelled.  The Yamato was sunk during a one-way trip to Okinawa during Operation  Ten-Go.  She never saw combat.

MUSASHI

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DESIGN 1-150

Popularly known as the "Super-Yamato class was a planned class of battleships.  In keeping with the IJN's long-held doctrine of qualitative superiority, they were designed to be the most powerful battleships afloat.  As part of this, the class would have had six 20.1-inch guns.

Design work on  the A-150s began after the Yamato-class was mostly finished by  early 1941, when the Japanese began focusing on aircraft carriers and other smaller warships in preparation for the coming conflict.

No A-150 was ever laid down and many of the designs of the class were destroyed near the end of the war.

--GreGen

Paid Parking Proposed for USS Arizona Memorial

From the July30, 2021, Honolulu Star Advertiser by William Cole.

The National Park Service said today  that it wants public feedback  on a proposal to implement paid public parking at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial to support deferred upkeep and maintenance on the USS Arizona Memorial as well as park sites on Ford Island including the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials.

The $7 a day parking fee would be managed by the park service.  This would start in 2023.  Admission to the USS Arizona visitor center and Memorial remains free,

Sounds like a good plan to me to bring in much-needed funds.

A new $56 million Pearl Harbor Visitor Center was dedicated in 2010 on the 69th anniversary of the attack.

--GreGen

The USS Arizona's Oil Leak-- Part 3: "The Black Tears of the Arizona"

Some historians have called the leaking oil "The Black Tears of the Arizona." and the NPS says that oil has a moving effect on the some 1.7 million visitors each year to the memorial.

When they see the oil float to the top of the water they are smelling  and seeing history.  It is like a time machine taking you back to that date, December 7, 1941.

A lot of oil is trapped  in then hull or fuel tanks that are  lodged deep into the muddy water of the harbor floor, making fuel removal expensive and difficult.  "We don't know if the oil is creating pressure in the tanks that's helping the structural integrity of the ship," said the National Park Service's (NPS) Bojakowski.

Removing the oil could disturb artifacts, the bodies aboard the ship or the urns of survivors now interned aboard her.    Other battleships that were sunk or seriously damaged in the attack have been removed.  The USS Arizona and USS Utah were so badly damaged it was decided to leave them where they were.  Parts of the ships were salvaged (including the guns) and in the 1960s, several tons of the Arizona were cut away.

There is a film segment with the article showing the "Black Tears of the Arizona" as well as a picture of a seahorse on the ship.

--GreGen

The USS Arizona's Oil Leak-- Part 2: More Than 900 Still Aboard the Ship

Oil is also leaking from the sunken battleship USS Utah, but neither the Navy or NPS know how much is leaking each day or how much has leaked since the attack or how much is left in the ship.

"People talk about how beautiful  it is to see the oil glisten on top of the water and how much it reminds them of the lives lost," says Maxx Phillips,  an environmental attorney.  "All it does to me is to think about the lives lost after the fact, everything from bacteria all the way up the food chain to our sharks are endangered animals living in that toxicity."

Regardless, today, there is coral growing on the Arizona as well as sea horses on it and sea turtles swimming around it.  A young hammerhead shark and black-tipped reef shark also make it home.

The oil could have been removed, but the USS Arizona isn't just another ship.  It is an active military grave. More than 900 of the 1,177 servicemen who died aboard the Arizona are still aboard it.  Additionally, 40 crew members who survived the attack now have urns with their ashes buried aboard the ship.

--GreGen

USS Arizona Memorial Site Gets Name Change

From the March 913, 2019, Honolulu (Hawaii) Star-Advertiser by William Cole.

It was part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument named in 2008 by President George W. Bush.  It is now the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

It also includes the Arizona Memorial Center, USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials, six chief petty officer bungalows on Ford Island and three pairs of mooring groups along Battleship Row.  With the exception of the Memorial Center, all of these sites were there when Pearl Harbor was attacked December 7, 1941.

--GreGen

The USS Arizona Memorial-- Part 2: Eight Battleships Sunk or Damaged That Day

Since the location of the wreck is not considered a hazard to navigation, the ship was left in place.

It is considered an active American military cemetery.

All eight U.S. battleships at Pearl Harbor suffered varying degrees of damage that day.  Four were sunk, but the West Virginia and California were raised and later returned to service.  (The USS West Virginia was also in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered, so bookended the war.)

The USS Oklahoma was eventually uprighted, but too damaged to repair.  It sank while being towed to be scrapped in the Pacific Ocean.

The USS Utah was a decommissioned battleship that had been turned into a target ship.  It was also sunk and today is a war grave.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor's Children, Grandchildren Carry Out Final Request

From the June 28, 2016, DVIDS by Johans Chavarri.

William F. White, 87, joined the Navy in 1938 and served on the USS Beaver, Sperry, Bushnell, Submarine Base Midway Island and the USS Matthews.

He was at Hickam Air Force Base waiting for his Navy discharge on Dec. 7, 1941.  He had been sleeping with his weapon and gear getting ready to turn them in when he heard the distant explosions.

According to Jim Taylor, Pearl Harbor survivors' liason, "When he realized the loud noises were bombs exploding, he and another sailor dived beneath the same desk and they banged heads.  It was his only injury for the entire war."

Of course, his discharge was cancelled.

He asked to have his ashes scattered at the USS Utah Memorial in Pearl Harbor.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Veteran Gets Special Salute in Final Month

From the June 6, 2015, Columbian "Off Beat: Pearl Harbor Survivor Gets Special Salute in Final Month" by Tom Vogt.

Martin Knapp died June 27, 2015, at 91.

He was on the USS Medusa, a Navy repair ship during the attack.  He always regarded himself as lucky as the Medusa was usually docked where the USS Utah was that day.  That ship was sunk, his was not.

--GreGen

North Texas Pearl Harbor Survivors Mark Anniversary

From the Dec. 8, 2015, Dallas Morning News.

A ceremony was held at the Dallas Veterans resource Center.  These three survivors attended:

Robert Tanner, 94, an Army Air Corps pilot stationed at Hickam Field.

John Edward Lowe, 95, on the fleet oiler USS Neosho.

William Hughes, 94, USS Utah

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor's Ashes Spread At USS Utah Memorial in 2014

From the March13, 2014, Military.com. "Ashes of Pearl harbor Survivor's Ashes Spread."


Machinist's Mate, 1st Class William Henderson's ashes were scattered in the water by the USS Utah Memorial at a ceremony on March 10th.

He was born in 1922 and joined the Navy the day after his 18th birthday, November 13, 1940.  When the attack came, he was asleep in his rack on the USS Helena when he was awakened by a general alarm calling for the men to report to their battle stations.

Mr. Henderson was quickly getting dressed when a Japanese torpedo hit the ship, knocked out the Helena's power and flooded the engine and boiler rooms.  Mr. Henderson was knocked unconscious for a short time and then was able to get to his battle station.

The Helena was repaired and saw service in the Battles of Esperanza, Guadalcanal and Kula Gulf.  In this last battle, the USS Helena was hit by three torpedoes and broke into three pieces before sinking.

He survived that and was later assigned to the attack transport USS President Polk.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor Deaths in 2014

Ashes of Pearl Harbor Survivor Theodore F. Roosevelt interred aboard the USS Utah on March 24, 2014.  Died at age 89.  One of 12 Pearl Harbor survivors interred aboard the ship.

March 21, 2014, WXOW 19, ABC "Remembering Joe Sweeney.  Died March 19, 2014.  On USS Whitney, docked near Battleship Row.  In 2012, he and 18 other Wisconsin Pearl Harbor survivors returned to it.

April 19, 2014, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader "Last known Ozarks survivor of Pearl Harbor dies at 90" by Christine Temple.  William Martin was 18 when the attack came.  Gunner's Mate, Seaman 2nd Class William Martin enlisted in the Navy on December 9, 1940, and was on the USS Nevada.

He was firing an anti-aircraft gun when an explosion knocked him unconscious.  He lost an eye and was wounded by shrapnel and tagged for dead three times.  He spent six months recovering in a San Francisco hospital.

April 9, 2014, Lehigh Acres Citizen.  "Dominick S. Bruno Sr, 93.  Died April 1, 2014,  In the U.S. Army at the attack and a life member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

--GreGen

Parbuckle Salvage Used Raising the USS Oklahoma

From Wikipedia.

I came across a photo of the Navy raising the USS Oklahoma in Pearl harbor during the war.  This meant turning it over to an upright position and the caption mentioned Parbuckle Salvage as the method used.

Parbuckle Salvage uses rotational leverage and is commonly used on smaller vessels that a battleship, but has been used on larger ones.

In 1943, the USS Oklahoma was rotated nearly 180 degrees.    It was also used on the USS Utah, but as it was being rotated, its hull caught the harbor bottom and it slipped toward Ford Island and the effort was abandoned.

Parbuckle Salvage was also used to right the ocean liner MS Costa Concordia in the Mediterranean recently.

--GreGen

USS Utah Survivor Dies in 2013: Louie "Pete" Underwood

From the Jan. 23, 2013, Southeast Missourian "Pearl Harbor survivor buried in Scott City" by Keith Lewis.

Louie "Pete" Underwood was buried January 22, 2013.  He had just returned from the Pearl Harbor 71st Reunion at Pearl Harbor for his ship, the USS Utah.

During the attack, he was ordered to remain below deck but disobeyed after a torpedo hit his ship and it began to list.  He made his way topside and jumped into the harbor where he remembered being strafed.  The Utah lost 54 men that day.

Mr. Underwood was in his underwear.  He found an officer's quarters and took his clothes and drank his liquor because, as he said, "They'd had a rough morning."

Afterwards, he was assigned to convoy duty on the USS Detroit and served in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns.  he was on another ship that was sunk, the USS Helena.

--GreGen

Survivors Gather to Remember Pearl Harbor Attack-- Part 1: Mad Because He Stood Her Up

From the December 7, 2014, Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher.

Many of the Pearl Harbor survivors and World War II veterans who arrived in Pearl harbor for the commemoration, came with the help of canes, wheel chairs and motorized scooters.

About 100 of them gathered, wearing purple orchid leis, for the ceremony overlooking the USS Arizona Memorial.  This was the 10th consecutive trip for USS Utah survivor Gilbert Meyer, 91, who traveled from San Antonio, who said this may be his last as it was getting more difficult to attend.  When asked if he will attend next year's ceremony, he replied, "That's like asking me if I'll still be alive."

Harold Johnson, 90, survived the USS Oklahoma and hopes to make it to the 75th anniversary in 2016.  He had been on the USS Oklahoma for just six months and was looking forward to a day off that day and a "date with a little Hawaiian girl."  he was shining his shoes when the alarm went off.  He said, "Three months later I ran into her in town in Honolulu.  She was mad at me because I stood her up."

Personally, I Believe He Had a Very Good Reason for Standing Her Up.  --GreGen

Theodore Franklin Roosevelt's Ashes Placed Aboard the USS Utah

From the DVIDS by Staff Sgt. Chris Hubenthal. //// Explosive Ordnanace Disposal Detachment Middle Pacific divers placed the ashes of Quartermaster Theodore Franklin Roosevelt, a Pearl Harbor survivor, to rest on the USS Utah during an interment ceremony honoring his memory on March 20, 2014. //// These were his wishes to rejoin his USS Utah shipmates. //// When the attack started, he was working three decks below the main deck on the Utah, when word came down to report to their battle stations. After receiving two torpedo hits, the crew made its way to the main deck, as the ship sank. //// Mr. Roosevelt made his way topside, swam to shore and survived. //// --GreGen

Manchester, New Hampshire's Pearl Harbor Connection

From the Dec. 5, 2013, New Hampshire Union Leader "Family wants remains of Swanzey sailor at PH returned for NH burial" by Paul Feely.

A ceremony in 2009 named the bridge across the Merrimack River into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge. About 18 Pearl Harbor survivors from New Hampshire attended it.

Four Manchester natives were killed in the attack: Seaman 2nd Class JOE ROZMUS died on the USS Arizona. Army Sergeant MAURICE ST. GERMAIN and Private JOSEPH JEDRYSIK died at Hickam Field. Seaman 1st Class CROSSETT was shot twice by a Japanese plane as he headed to the crow's nest of the USS Utah.

There will be a memorial service today at 11 AM at the New Hampshire Veterans Home and another at 9 AM at Arms Park on the Merrimack River in Manchester.

-- GreGen

Another Pearl Harbor Veteran Dies

From the May 4th Aurora (Il) Beacon-News "One of area's last Pearl harbor survivors dies at 94" by Denise Crosby.

Back when i was growing up in the 50s and 60s, there were World War II veterans all over the place.  Not so any more.  We're all getting older.

George Hettinger died April 29th and had been on the target ship USS Utah that fateful day.  Born Feb. 22, 1918, the youngest of ten children in a North Aurora farming family, he joined the US Navy in 1938 and became an electrician of the USS Utah.

He was in the bunk room when the torpedo hit and his first thought was to save his West Aurora High School ring until he saw all the smoke coming into the ship.  Within minutes, it capsized, trapping many below deck.  Six officers and 52 enlisted died that day.  Hettinger remembered: "When I finally got into the water, my hands and feet were going like crazy...shrapnel started falling.  There was another guy...struggling in the water below me, hollering that he couldn't swim.  I went back to help the guy out."

After the attack, he was assigned to the USS Honolulu which had also been damaged that day.

Another of the Greatest.  --GreGen