Very nice memorial to honor lives lost on the U.S.S. Oklahoma. The names on the individual markers was well thought out and give a nice visual scene to the site.
Very nice memorial to honor lives lost on the U.S.S. Oklahoma. The names on the individual markers was well thought out and give a nice visual scene to the site.
Many of the previous reviews are actually for the USS Arizona, the ship that still sits at the bottom of Pearl Harbor and experienced the most casualties on December 7. Although most of the ships hit in the attack were rehabbed and returned to service, three ships, including the Arizona and the Oklahoma, were so badly damaged that they were unable to be salvaged and returned to service. The USS Oklahoma was hit by several torpedoes and capsized in the harbor, killing 429 crew (the second largest loss of life on a ship in Pearl Harbor after the Arizona).
The memorial to the Oklahoma's crew is on Ford Island right near the entrance to the USS Missouri. While not as well known as the Arizona memorial, I think the Oklahoma memorial is unique. The black granite wall in front represents the hull, with 429 white standards (one for each of the lost crew members) standing at attention behind it, "manning the rails." The Oklahoma memorial is worthy of a brief stop to appreciate the memorial and honor the lost crew.
The Memorial is stark and just a reminder that the ship had the second largest lost of life on that fateful day.
It symbol reflects sailors standing at the rail and each of the pillars has the name of the fallen engraved.
I am a very sentimental person but have also been to my fair share of memorials and monuments for fallen service members or catastrophic events and so when I was in tears at this memorial I was surprised. I think that anyone visiting the Memorial should first read what 'Manning the Rails' is then walk between the stones. It just kind of smacks you in the face.
If you are ever in Hawaii and happen to be in Honolulu, this site is a must see. There is so much history. In some ways it is sad but good to see and learn about it.
We visited here first thing in the morning and travelled over to the memorial on the first ship, everyone was very respectful and quiet. It was a very moving memorial. It was very busy as the morning went on I would recommend visiting early. It is certainly a must visit if you are going to Honolulu.