It Was Left Alone

Kayla Shumate, age 10, traveling with grandmother, posting from Honolulu, Hawaii—G mom and I went to the USS Arizona. We got our tickets, and waited for our turn. We had 12:30 tickets. When it was 12:30, we went in to watch the movie about the USS Arizona. I learned that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor shortly before 8:00 on December 7th 1941. The ship’s air raid went off about 7:55. The bombers scored four hits and three near misses on and around the Arizona. The last bomb hit at 8:06 in Gun Turret III. The explosion killed 1,177 out of the 1,511 crew. The movie ended and we went out to our boat to go see the sunken ship.

 When we got there, I started to take pictures. I could not believe I was standing over the USS Arizona. I could see Gun Turret III sticking out of the water. I saw names and names all over one wall. The tour guide called us over and answered some questions and showed us a map of the USS Arizona. We had to leave so I got my final pictures and we got on the boat and left the USS Arizona.

 

 

The USS Arizona is a very special ship. It was the only ship that was left alone. It is a memorial. They left the dead inside. That is why it is a memorial. There were many more ships that had sunk, and they were not left alone; some parts of the other ships were taken off to use again. But the USS Arizona got to keep everything that it had when it sunk. It is all still here today for visitors to see.