A Visit To Pearl Harbor – The USS Arizona and The USS Missouri

In honor of December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day, I decided to review my visit to Pearl Harbor including the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri Memorial.   I hope you enjoy this review and take a few moments to remember the sacrifices that were made that fateful day, so long ago.

My Visit To Pearl Harbor

I had no idea what to expect when I visited Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial.   It was a beautiful sunny day in Honolulu when I visited.   After hearing that tickets sell out quickly, we got up early to get in line.  With the possibility of 4000 -5000 visitors a day, we didn’t want to miss out.   My friend told me they give out 1300 free tickets everyday on a first come, first served basis.   We were lucky and were one of the first 1300, but we’re still at the end of a very long line.   The line didn’t matter, we were in!

A Day At Pearl Harbor

As I walked through the gates and saw the Memorial in the distance I realized this tour would be more moving than I had imagined.   I walked around, reading plaques, memorials and quotes waiting on our tour time.   We had about two hours to walk around, read and take it all in.

They have done an excellent job of providing historical facts and quotes in a well organized way.   You could literally spend hours reading all the information and refreshing your facts and dates.

 

The Pre-Tour Documentary

Nothing could prepare me for the movie.   If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about.   Before you can go to the actual USS Arizona Memorial, you are shown a 23 minute movie.   This movie lays it all out.  No sugar coating.  It is an amazing documentary that takes you from the beginning to the end.   How it happened.  Why it happened.  And exactly what happened during and after the attack.

This documentary is the most powerful and emotional film I’ve ever seen.   No one said a word as they exited the theater.  You could literally hear a pin drop.   The live footage of the USS Arizona on fire, still emblazoned in their minds.  The mood was somber and reverent.  Men clutched their hats, some men and women were crying and the children behaved.

The USS Arizona

We boarded the naval boat for the short ride to the actual resting place of the USS Arizona.  When we stepped off the boat the mood had not changed.   Our fellow visitors were quiet and respectful.   We all flowed through the Memorial looking at the names of the 1177 Officers, Sailors and Marines who lost their life on the USS Arizona that day.

I had to stop and pay respect to the additional names that had been added as well.  The names of the survivors.  Survivors who felt such a longing to be back with their fellow servicemen that they had their ashes interred at the USS Arizona upon their passing.

We gazed over the edge of the Memorial at the remains of the ship, still visible from above.   The massive turrets of the ship still peaking above the waters, the oil still leaking from the wreckage.   My mood turned more reflective.   This was real, not just a chapter in a history book.   The horrors these men lived through and the bravery and sacrifice these men had made for our Country was I all I could think of.

 

The Museums and Monuments

After about 20 minutes at the USS Arizona, we boarded the boat back to the museums.   Back on shore, the mood lightened slightly as everyone walked through the museum.   Once again, reading and trying to absorb everything they’d seen during the tour.

The USS Missouri, Mighty MO

Many people leave the tour at this point.   But I found something so ironic, I had to stay.   You see, the USS Missouri can be seen from the USS Arizona Memorial.   The attack on Pearl Harbor which destroyed the USS Arizona is what catapulted the United States into WWII.    But the USS Missouri is where the Japanese signed the official surrender thereby ending our war in the Pacific.   I found it amazing that both of these battleships were in the same location.

Japanese Surrender on the Mighty MO

Now in my opinion, if you go to Pearl Harbor and visit the USS Arizona Memorial, you must visit the USS Missouri as well.  When you walk aboard this massive battleship it’s easy to understand the nickname, the Mighty MO.  There is an additional fee, but well worth it.  Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and he colorfully set the stage for the signing of the surrender.

He described the climate, right down to the uniforms that were worn and why they were worn during the official signing of the surrender.   Our Guide explained how they brought a table up from the mess hall for the signing and why they didn’t use a more ornate or official table.   He also did an excellent job of explaining how the United States had positioned several bombers by the Tokyo Bay and had the missiles of the Might Mo pointed directly at Tokyo.   American was ready to retaliate if the Japanese had planned a final attack.

General MacArthur’s Famous Speech

He described the signing of the surrender document and the speech General MacArthur gave to start the official proceedings.

“It is my earnest hope—indeed the hope of all mankind—that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice.”       General of the Army Douglas MacArthur

I felt a sense of closure after my tour of the USS Missouri.   After being in the very place that launched the US into war, I was able to stand by the exact spot where the war ended.  While the signing was actually in Tokyo Bay, the very spot of the signing on the USS Missouri is proudly displayed on the battleship.

Lasting Impression

I left with an indescribable sense of pride and patriotism, I was happy.   Happy to be an American, proud of our great men and women in uniform and fortunate that I was born in the United States.

Sadly, the USS Arizona is currently closed for repairs but is scheduled to reopen in March 2019.   Modifications have been made to the tour to include a walking tour versus the boat tour to the actual Memorial during the repairs.   I would not let this deter you from visiting.    The documentary is so powerful and moving.  While you may not be able to actually stand over the USS Arizona you will still feel the emotions of December 7, 1941.

My visit was three years ago.   I still remember it like it was yesterday.   This is a must see and I can understand why it is the number one tourist location in Hawaii.   The experience stays with you.   Pearl Harbor Day will forever have a different meaning for me after my visit.

Dedication

In honor of Pearl Harbor Day, the 7th of December, I am dedicating this post to all the men and women who bravely and selflessly protect the United States, both past and present.   They serve and suffer in silence and darkness, leaving their families and the comforts of home to do a job not many would chose.  These brave men and women do it for us and our County.   Because of their sacrifices, they’ve given us the extraordinary gifts of peace and freedom.   Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

10 Facts About Pearl Harbor

1. The Japanese attached Pearl Harbor at on December 7, 1941.  They strategically chose to attack on Sunday because they felt the Americans would be more at rest and less alert.
2. There were two waves of attack on Pearl Harbor.  The first at 7:55am and the second at 8:40am.   The attack lasted 110 minutes until 9:45am.
3. The Japanese traveled 3,400 miles across the Pacific to attack the United States without warning.  The Japanese called the attack Operation Hawaii.
4. Eight of the Nine US battleships stationed in the Pacific were at Pearl Harbor that day.  All eight battleships were damaged during the attack.  The USS Arizona exploded when a bomb hit it’s ammunition room.   The USS Oklahoma turned upside down after being hit by a torpedo.  The other six battleships were repaired and returned to service.
5. The Japanese attack consisted of 353 airplanes and five midget submarines.   Only 28 Japanese planes were shot down and five submarines sunk during the attack.
6. The attack resulting in a devastating loss of American life; 2,343 men were killed, 1,272 were wounded and 960 left missing.
7. 1100 men perished on the USS Arizona, 429 men on the USS Oklahoma and 58 men on the USS Utah.
8. The United States declared war on Japan the next day, December 8, 1941, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his famous “Day of Infamy” speech to Congress.
9. “Remember Pearl Harbor!” became a rallying cry for the U.S. during World War II.
10. In 1962 a floating National Monument was erected over the hull of the sunken Arizona.

 

Visiting The Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial

You could easily take an entire day to visit Pearl Harbor.   The USS Arizona Memorial is only one of the monuments.  There is also the USS Utah Memorial, the USS Oklahoma Memorial and the USS Missouri Memorial.

There are also several other monuments and museums as well: the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park and the WWII Valor in The Pacific National Monument.

For more information and to plan your visit to Pearl Harbor, read through The Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Website HERE.

I consider Pearl Harbor the most historically significant location I have ever visited in the United States.  In fact, I personally feel it is the most historically significant place of the 20th century.   The attacks at Pearl Harbor changed the course of history forever.

Have you ever visited Pearl Harbor?   How did you feel after you watched the documentary?   I’ve recently found a few individually filmed copies of the movie on YouTube.  The quality is much better in person, but if you’re unable to go to Pearl Harbor, you can see it here.   I think it is a must see for anyone who wants to visit.