December 6 and 7, 1943

12-6-16

December 6, 1943:   This morning the coastline of Oahu Island came into view, with Diamond Head standing out above the horizon.   On entering Pearl Harbor we passed through torpedo nets, that are opened and closed by tugs.   This is a beautiful island with high mountains in the background.   We passed through the channel into the large bay filled with ships at anchor or tied to piers.   Ford Island is on one side and the repair yard is on the other.   On our way in signs of the attack could still be seen.   The Battleship Oklahoma was afloat but at a 45 ° angle and still pumping water out of her.   The water and shoreline was covered with a lot of oil.   We tied up alongside the concrete piers, which is called Battleship Row, alongside Ford Island.

The Arizona is alongside the pier, on the inboard side, looking over the side we can make out the outline of the hull and Turret 1 and 4 still have the 14″ guns on board.   A lot of oil is seeping out of the Arizona.

December 7, 1943:   Today is the second anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack and this is our second day in Pearl.   We are tied-up alongside the sunken Arizona.   Tomorrow we will have our first liberty.   We will be going out every week for three or four days for practice firing.       (Frank Studenski)

When we first arrived, it was hard to believe two years had passed since the December 7th attack.   The Arizona was ghastly looking and some of the other ships were still half sunk.     (George Pitts)

When we first got to Pearl Harbor, when we were first going through the channel, I remember that you could see oil bubbling up, and it looked like smoke here and there.   We tied up next to the Arizona, and you could look down and see it lying there.                       (Bob Knight)