Can you touch the USS Arizona?

No, you cannot physically touch the USS Arizona shipwreck because the memorial is built above it without touching, as it's a national cemetery and war grave, but visitors can see the sunken ship and its parts like gun turrets just beneath the water's surface from the memorial structure. The memorial straddles the hull, allowing respectful viewing, but direct contact is prohibited to preserve the site where over 1,100 crew members remain entombed.

Are bodies still intact in the USS Arizona?

Yes, hundreds of sailors' remains are still entombed within the sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, making the wreck a naval cemetery where the ship itself serves as a tomb for over 900 crewmen lost on December 7, 1941, with ongoing efforts to identify some remains using modern DNA technology. The wreck is considered a sacred gravesite, and while some bodies were recovered, most were left inside, with surviving crew members sometimes choosing to be interred there as well.
 

Why can't they remove the USS Arizona?

Unlike the other recovered ships at Pearl Harbor , the USS Arizona suffered severe damage. The most important structural element of a ship is its keel, the part that's under the water. Think of it as the ship's spine, which supports the rest of the vessel.

Can you be buried on the USS Arizona?

It is estimated that 335 Sailors and Marines survived the attack. ​Survivors of the USS Arizona have the option to be interred with their shipmates upon their passing. Since 1982, the U.S. Navy has allowed survivors of USS Arizona to be interred in the ship's wreckage upon their deaths.

Has anyone scuba dived inside the USS Arizona?

October 2015: Scott Pawlowski dived to the USS Arizona to discuss the impacts of the Pearl Harbor attack on the ship, as well as the ongoing science and conservation efforts. This dive was broadcast live, viewable both in our visitor center theater and online via Adobe Connect.

What happened to the USS Arizona? (Pearl Harbor)

How many men are still trapped inside the USS Arizona?

Further remains were later found when the superstructure was cut down and 3 of the 4 turrets salvaged. In total, 229 sets of remains were collected and of them only 107 were identified. This leaves over 900 crew unrecovered and still on eternal duty aboard USS Arizona.

What happens to bodies trapped in sunken ships?

Many of the bacteria that we carry with us will likely perish because the environment is too damn different, but local strains will replace them and break down the bodies. Various scavenging creatures will assist in this process too. Again, though, how fast this process happens will depend on how deep the vessel sinks.

Are any USS Arizona survivors alive?

Conter published a book about his life titled The Lou Conter Story in 2021; he turned 100 the same year. Conter was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Following the death of Ken Potts in April 2023, Conter became the last known survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona.

Why do you have to wait 3 days to cremate a body?

You have to wait before cremation due to state-mandated legal requirements (like death certificates and permits), allowing time for autopsies if needed, ensuring proper identification, giving families time to grieve and plan, and preventing premature cremation before death is confirmed, with the exact wait (often 24-48 hours) varying by location and the speed of doctors' signatures. 

What does the navy do if someone dies at sea?

Unless the vessel is at war or engaged in a battle, the deceased can be Pers-Trans'd to a medical examiner in a couple of days. Otherwise, the body might be preserved for weeks, sometimes months. However, if there is no request to deliver the body to land, the sailor is buried at sea.

What was Hitler's reaction to Pearl Harbor?

Adolf Hitler reacted to the Pearl Harbor attack with surprise and elation, seeing it as a massive strategic gift that would distract the U.S. in the Pacific, allowing Germany to focus on the stalled Eastern Front against the Soviets; he viewed it as a chance for Japanese success and celebrated the moment as a major boost for the Axis powers, even declaring war on the U.S. himself days later. 

Who is the youngest person to survive Pearl Harbor?

Before Graham joined up, however, there were young men like Robert Olsen, a 16-year-old medic from Pocatello, ID. Olsen may not have been the youngest serviceman at war, but he is believed to be the youngest Pearl Harbor survivor.

Is oil still leaking from Pearl Harbor?

🛢️ More than 80 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, oil is still seeping from the wreck of USS Arizona. With an estimated 600,000 gallons of oil still on board, #WHOI marine chemist Chris Reddy is taking advantage of the real-world conditions to learn from environmental disaster.

Why don't they pump the oil out of the USS Arizona?

They don't pump the oil from the USS Arizona because it's a sacred military cemetery with over 1,000 crew members still inside, and disturbing the wreck risks a catastrophic oil spill and desecrates their graves. The oil, known as the "black tears," leaks slowly (about 1.5 quarts daily) from damaged tanks, and experts believe attempting removal could destabilize the heavily damaged ship, causing a much larger leak and potential collapse, making it safer to leave it undisturbed.
 

Were there any Japanese bodies found at Pearl Harbor?

Yes, some Japanese bodies from the Pearl Harbor attack were recovered, but most were repatriated to Japan after the war, while others remain unaccounted for, with historians still researching the fate of about 29 missing Japanese airmen believed lost at sea or in unmarked graves. While many American casualties were left in sunken ships, Japanese remains were generally recovered, identified (or buried as unknowns), and returned to Japan, though some submarine crews were lost and their bodies likely remain in their midget submarines on the seabed. 

Who was the last person to leave the USS Arizona?

Lou Conter, the last survivor of the USS Arizona (BB- 39), has passed away at the age of 102.

Has anyone woken up before cremation?

Yes, there are documented cases, often sensationalized, where people mistakenly declared dead have shown signs of life or woken up in coffins or morgues just before cremation, like recent instances in Thailand and India, highlighting rare medical conditions or misinterpretations of signs of death, though modern medicine makes true premature cremation extremely unlikely. These incidents usually involve conditions like catalepsy, which slows vital signs, or deep comas, rather than actual resurrections.
 

Which body part does not burn in cremation?

During cremation, bones and teeth (enamel) are the parts of the body that don't burn, instead remaining as solid fragments that are later processed into the fine powder known as "ashes," along with any non-combustible artificial implants like joint replacements or dental fillings. Soft tissues, organs, and skin are consumed by the intense heat, leaving behind these mineralized remains, which are then mechanically ground.
 

What body parts are removed before cremation?

Before cremation, staff remove jewelry and medical devices with batteries or plastic, like pacemakers, defibrillators, and drug pumps, because they can explode or melt, damaging the chamber; larger metal implants (hips, knees) and other hard-to-remove items are often left in and removed from the ashes later, while organs are only removed if the person is a registered organ donor.
 

What was Captain McVay found guilty of?

McVay was charged with failing to zigzag and failure to order abandon ship in a timely manner. He was convicted on the former. Knowledge of Japanese submarines in the area was withheld from the court and from McVay, prior to sailing.

What did Yamamoto say after Pearl Harbor?

The famous quote attributed to Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto after Pearl Harbor, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve," is likely a Hollywood invention, popularized by films like Tora! Tora! Tora!, though it reflects his known belief in America's industrial might. While he never uttered or wrote those exact words, he did express similar sentiments, telling an editor in January 1942 that Japan would win initially but ultimately fail against the U.S. industrial power, calling it a matter of shame to strike a sleeping foe. 

Is Jessie Mahaffey still alive?

With the passing of Jessie Alton Mahaffey at 102, the last living voice of USS Oklahoma has fallen silent.

Are there still bodies in the Titanic engine room?

It's highly unlikely there are bodies left in the Titanic's engine room or anywhere else in the wreck; most human remains dissolved decades ago due to the deep, cold, corrosive saltwater, but pairs of shoes and clothing are still found, indicating where people likely were, suggesting bodies are long gone, though some speculate sealed areas might hold rare exceptions.
 

Is it illegal for a captain to abandon a sinking ship?

In maritime law, the ship's master's responsibility for their vessel is paramount, no matter what its condition, so abandoning a ship has legal consequences, including the nature of salvage rights. Abandoning a ship in distress may be considered a crime that can lead to imprisonment.

Do bodies decompose faster in salt water?

In addition, the type of water differentially affected the rate of decomposition, as the carcasses in saltwater decomposed much more slowly than the carcasses placed in freshwater.