![]() The warship had already been hit by three bombs as well as strafing fire, but was withstanding the attack until a fourth bomb penetrated the armor-plated deck near that turret at 8:09am. Instead of playing a single note of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” they dropped their instruments and move to their battle positions beneath the ship’s gun turret (Turret No. Most of its members had been on deck in preparation to play music for the daily flag raising ceremony when the attack began. Navy Band Unit (NBU) 22, were killed on December 7. Yet they were still sailors, and those on the Arizona had been trained as ammunition handlers in the event of an emergency.Īll 21 members of the USS Arizona band, U.S. They were responsible for all the music played on the vessels. They had to be quite versatile – playing military music in the morning, jazz at noon and symphonic numbers at night. Prior to World War II, musicians in fleet bands were stationed on ships. Sadly, both members of the ship’s only father-and-son pair of sailors, Thomas Augusta Free and son William Thomas Free, were both killed in action. His brother Russell was badly wounded on the December 7 attack, but recovered. ![]() In fact, only one full set of brothers, Kenneth and Russell Warriner, actually survived the attack, and that was in part because Kenneth was away at flight school in San Diego. Of those 77 men, 62 were killed and 23 sets of brothers died on the Arizona. It was hit four times by Japanese bombers.Īmong those killed were 23 sets of brothers who had been assigned to the ship. ![]() Today the USS Arizona memorial serves to honor the 1,177 men who perished onboard during and following the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, 80-plus years ago on December 7, 1941.Īlmost half of the casualties from the air raid that day were on the United States Navy battleship USS Arizona (BB-37), which was named to honor the 48th state. ![]()
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