We had the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona memorial while in Oahu. The exhibits were incredibly interesting and humbling! I didn’t realize that the island of Oahu had been under martial law during the war. I learned that the entire attack was really meant to disable the southern pacific fleet so the Japanese could wreck havoc elsewhere without fear of retaliation. I also learned that several of the damaged ships were able to be raised and saw more tours.

We took a ferry out to the Arizona memorial. It was such a sobering experience, I don’t think anyone talked while we were out there.

Each of the markers is over a ship of the fleet that sunk in the attack. Oil is still coming up from the Arizona, now a tomb of the men inside.

The Bowfin was a submarine you could also tour.

The Arizona memorial faces the USS Missouri, it’s so symbolic…the beginning and end. The attack on Pearl Harbor brought us into the War and the treaty to end the war was signed on the decks of the Missouri. We also got to tour the “Mighty Mo” (more in the next post).