A Quick History Of The USS Arizona Memorial For Visitors

by Manoj Kumar online marketing

Some of the most popular Pearl Harbor Tours in Hawaii include USS Arizona Memorial Tours as the USS Arizona is one of the most iconic memorials at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. Those who are interested in participating in a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial may find this brief history of the ship to be intriguing.

In March of 1914, Brooklyn New York Navy Yard began construction on what would become the USS Arizona. This ship was commissioned on October 17, 1916, and throughout the year of 1917, the residents of Arizona organized a state-wide fundraising effort to afford a silver service to present to it. Early on, the USS Arizona experienced a number of troubles with its engines, and after months of being docked for repairs, the ship began its service with the Atlantic Fleet during World War I in March of 1917. In November of the following year, the USS Arizona sailed to Europe to join Battleship Division Six which was serving with the British Grand Fleet. Between World War I and World War II, the USS Arizona served the United States Navy well. In 1920, the USS Arizona began transporting airplanes. In 1929, the ship received a very thorough modernization that lasted until 1931.

On December 7, 1941, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona came under attack almost immediately as a Japanese aircraft appeared overhead. The ship was bombarded with an 800-kilogram bomb on its starboard side. Very shortly, the forward powder magazines exploded, collapsing the ship superstructure, and demolished the ship. The explosion produced from the bomb caused the front of the ship to burst into flames.

Many of the pearl harbor tickets Arizona crew members were killed immediately from the explosion or, because of the ship rapid demolition, were trapped underwater and drowned. Because of his assistance to his fellow crew members and his leadership in rescuing several of the crew, Lieutenant Commander Samuel G. Fuqua was awarded the Medal of Honor. Despite his courageous actions and help, however, 1,177 crew members lost their lives on the USS Arizona.

Today, the USS Arizona stands at Pearl Harbor as a memorial to those who lost their lives. It also serves as a place for everyone to pay respect to veterans of World War II and to learn about one of the most important historical events in United States history.