Seventy-five years ago, on a day when the air was fraught with the scent of gunpowder and the Pacific Ocean churned with war, the USS Arizona was besieged in an attack that would come to symbolize American resilience and sacrifice. The date was December 7, 1941, a day of infamy that saw the loss of 1,177 officers and crewmen aboard the Arizona at Pearl Harbor.But in the midst of the tragedy, a part of the USS Arizona’s legacy was saved – its rear guns were reused for coastal defense and later for combat on the USS Nevada.
Today, we recount the extraordinary valor of both the USS Arizona and USS Nevada, vessels whose stories are intertwined with the fabric of America’s naval history. It is vital to recognize that these steel giants not only represent the physical might of the U.S. Navy but also the unyielding spirit of those who served on them.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS Arizona was left destroyed, seemingly unable to continue in combat. Yet, in a strategic move to strengthen Hawaii’s defenses, the Arizona’s rear guns were salvaged and set up at Kahe Point and Mokapu Point as coastal artillery, ready to defend the islands from future attacks.
“The Arizona’s sacrifice was not in vain,” declared Rear Admiral Sam Cox, USN (ret.), Director of Naval History and Heritage Command, “Nevada carried the guns of Arizona and Oklahoma into action against the Japanese, bombarding positions in support of U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima and Marines and U.S. Army on Okinawa.”The USS Nevada, reborn, played a crucial role in various war theaters—from the cold waters of the Aleutians to the dangerous beaches of Normandy and Southern France.
As Japan approached surrender, the USS Arizona’s guns, now part of Hawaii’s coastal defenses, boomed one final time over the Pacific. The exact date and time of this last salvo remain uncertain in historical records, ranging from August 10 to September 2, 1945. Despite the ambiguity, this powerful blast signified the Arizona’s final wartime deployment of its renowned weaponry.
The legacy of the USS Arizona and USS Nevada battleships is not only about their firepower or strategic roles. They stand as lasting symbols of sacrifice and heroism in American military history.
Relevant articles:
– 36) Commemoration, Navy (.mil)
– The USS Arizona’s Last Salvo, The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, Nov 28, 2021
– The USS Nevada Memorial – Lesser Known – Yet No Less Important, worldwariimonuments.org