I'm glad they finally got around to honoring those who died aboard the USS Oklahoma on that fateful day. Even though this ship sustained the second highest number of casualties, it was as if it was all about the USS Arizona.
From the December 8th Tulsa World "USS Oklahoma memorial dedication: Salute to shipmates" by Ashley Hamershook.
The main gist of the memorial is the white marble columns, one for each crewman who died aboard the Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry was there and said, "Today, we begin a new chapter in our remembrance of those who fought and died a few hundred yards from here."
The memorial is on Ford Island. Hopefully, those going out to the USS Arizona Memorial will also have the opportunity to go to the Oklahoma's.
At least eight Japanese torpedoes hit the ship which took less than eleven minutes to capsize. Paul Goodman, a survivor and major supporter of the memorial raised the US and Oklahoma flags. This is the cumulation of years of his work and fundraising.
Oklahoma architect Don Beck designed it. There are four rows of seven foot high columns in a v shape. Cost was $1.2 million.
Survivor Ed Vezey, 87, said, "It's right where it belongs." On Dec. 7, 1941, he and his roommate were deciding on whether to go swimming before or after breakfast. "We were rather rudely interrupted...."
Survivor Ray Turpin, 86, of Las Vegas, said he'd always felt it was an injustice not to have a memorial to his fallen crew mates.
The 583 foot long USS Oklahoma was known as the "Okie." It was pulled from the water in 1943 and was to be sold for scrap metal. While being towed to California for dismantling, it sank about 540 miles from Oahu.
A Big Salute to Paul Goodyear and All the Others Who Led the Drive to Accomplish This. --Cooter
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