Dec 7, 2025
United States Flag flying on the USS Utah Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
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United States Flag flying on the USS Utah Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
I have a bucket list to see all the U.S. ' floating' Battleship museums before I kick off. I have been to 3 of the 8 'floating' Battleships: The Texas (BB35), The Wisconsin (BB64) and 'The Mighty Mo' The Missouri (BB63). That leaves me the USS New Jersey (BB62), USS Massachusetts (BB59), USS North Carolina (BB55), USS Alabama (BB50), and the USS Iowa (BB61).
Part of my quest to see them all is to get a part of them. So far, I have (Left to Right) part of BB35's deck, a deck plug from BB64 and now a section of the deck from BB63.
We were not able to get over to the USS Utah's (BB31) memorial, and I am disappointed about that but maybe one day. I was however able to see the USS Nevada (BB36) memorial. Talk about disappointing, it is in total disarray and in very poor shape compared to all the other memorials we visited in Hawaii. I have reached out to my State of Nevada and some historical societies to see what can be done.
USS UTAH (BB31) at anchor with some motor launches to carry crew to and from shore.
Photographed in 1925.
Maritime Museum of San Diego: P-08344
USS Utah was the first ship named after the state of Utah. Her keel was laid on March 15, 1909 and launched on December 23, 1909. She was commissioned on August 31, 1911.
In 1931, Utah was demilitarized and converted into a target ship and re-designated as AG-16, in accordance with the terms of the London Naval Treaty signed the previous year. She was also equipped with numerous anti-aircraft guns of different types to train gunners for the fleet. She served in these two roles for the rest of the decade, and late 1941 found the ship in Pearl Harbor. She was in port on the morning of 7 December, and in the first minutes of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, was hit by two torpedoes, which caused serious flooding. Utah quickly rolled over and sank; the vast majority of her crew were able to escape, but 58 men were killed in the attack. The wreck remains in the harbor, and in 1972, a memorial was erected near the ship.
Last Veteran to be Interred in USS Arizona Site
Last Veteran to be Interred in USS Arizona Site
US Navy Veteran Lauren Bruner will be the last veteran to be interred in the USS Arizona site at Pearl Harbor. This weekend, Navy divers will take his ashes to the sunken ship and leave them there after a sunset ceremony on December 7. He will become the 44th survivor of the USS Arizona sinking to join his shipmates in the site.
The other surviving USS Arizona crew will be buried with family.
USA…
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Turrets on UTAH, 1911 Sept. 12
George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress)
USS UTAH (BB-31) firing her fifth salvo, during exercises with her main battery 12"/45 guns.
Photographed by A.E. Wells on June 26, 1920.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: NH 63651
USS UTAH (BB-31) firing her 2nd Salvo of the battle practice to starboard.
Photographed on June 26, 1920.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: NH 124149