USS Oklahoma Memorial National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

USS Arizona MemorialPearl Harbor, Hawaii

The USS Oklahoma Memorial stands to honor the 429 men who lost their lives aboard the Oklahoma on December 7th, 1941. These men were not only sailors and Marines, they were 429 brothers, sons, husbands, and fathers. Edward F. Slapikas, Sea1c, always lent a helping hand to younger sailors. John L. Wortham, GM2c, looked forward to returning to his wife and baby boy. Slapikas, Wortham and their crewmates never went home; on December 7th Japanese torpedoes destroyed their ship and lives in mere minutes. Their memorial stands on the shores of Ford Island, next to the former berth of the Oklahoma. Those who escaped and swam ashore may have walked or crawled across this ground. To them these shores were a place of sanctuary, or a place they longed for as they lay trapped inside the capsized Oklahoma. For us, it is a place to remember.

Why a Memorial?

Honoring the Oklahoma

Creating the Memorial The horrendous number of deaths on the USS Oklahoma—429— was second only to the 1,177 men who perished aboard the USS Arizona. For almost 60 years, there was no memorial to commemorate the men or their ship. Part of the Oklahoma sat submerged near Ford Island while many of her crew lay in unidentified mass graves. At the Punchbowl cemetery, where countless young servicemen rest, no one knew exactly where the Oklahoma crew was buried. It seemed to some that the Okie had been forgotten. Beginning in 2000, USS Oklahoma survivors, members of the USS Oklahoma Memorial at Pearl Harbor Committee, and hundreds of others came together to create the memorial. In 2006, President Bush officially signed the memorial into law as a national memorial entrust-ed to the National Park Service. On December 7th, 2007, the memorial was formally dedicated as an enduring reminder of the Oklahoma and her crew. To those listed at right we owe a debt of gratitude for their contributions to this effort.

Architectual Theory

Visiting the Memorial To visit the memorial purchase shuttle tickets at the USS Bowfin ticket counter, just north of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. Combine the Oklahoma Memorial with visits to the Battleship Missouri Memorial Museum or the Pacific Aviation Museum, also located on Ford Island. Tickets include transport to all three sites. Personal cameras and one water bottle per visitor are permitted, but purses, handbags, camera bags, or items that permit concealment are not allowed.

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Aubrey McClendon FamilyBeck Design GroupChesapeake EnergyClifford Projects Inc.Governor and Mrs. Brad HenryInasmuch FoundationKirkpatrick Family FundJames and Madalynee Norrick FoundationJames and Teresa DayJohn and Jerry Marshall FoundationMcCasland FoundationNan Inc. ConstructionOklahoma Centennial CommissionOG&E FoundationONEOK Foundation, IncPELCO Products, Inc.Preferred Tape, Inc.Robert Glenn Rapp FoundationThe Kerr FoundationThe Love FamilyThe Meinders FoundationThe Oxley FoundationThe Rainbolt FamilyThe Samuel Roberts Noble FoundationThe Waters FoundationTriple C LightingUnited States Navy League - OK City CouncilWallace EngineeringW & W Steel

The memorial’s black granite walls suggest the once formidable hull of the Oklahoma while the white marble standards represent its lost sailors and Marines. Each perfectly aligned marble standard symbolizes an individual in pristine white dress uniform, inspired from the naval tradition of ‘manning the rails.’ In full dress whites the ship’s crew stand at attention along the rails or in the rigging of the ship to display respect and honor. The marble standards of this memorial stand perfectly straight, ‘manning the rails’ of the Oklahoma, forever.

*Denotes Medal of Honor Recipient

United States Navy

Henri C. Mason, Mus1cJoseph K. Maule, Sea1cEdwin B. McCabe, WT1cDonald R. McCloud, FC2cJames O. McDonald, F1cBert E. McKeeman, F1cHale McKissack, Sea1cLloyd E. McLaughlin, Sea2cEarl R. Melton, MM1cHerbert F. Melton, BM2cArchie T. Miles, MM2cWallace G. Mitchell, Sea1cCharles A. Montgomery, RM3cJohn M. Mulick, HA1cRay H. Myers, Sea2cGeorge E. Naegle, Sea1cElmer D. Nail, F1cPaul A. Nash, FC1cDon O. Neher, EM3cArthur C. Neuenschwander, GM1cSam D. Nevill, Y3cWilbur F. Newton, Sea1cCarl Nichols, Sea2cHarry E. Nichols, SK3cFrank E. Nicoles, F1cArnold M. Nielsen, BM1cLaverne A. Nigg, Sea2cJoe R. Nightingale, Sea1cCharles E. Nix, SM3cCamillus M. O’Grady, Sea1cCharles R. Ogle, F1cEli Olsen, SK3cJarvis G. Outland, F1cLawrence J. Overley, FC2cAlphard S. Owsley, EM3cMillard C. Pace, F1cJames Palides, Jr., Mus2cCalvin H. Palmer, Sea2cWilferd D. Palmer, Sea2cGeorge L. Paradis, PhM3cIsaac Parker, MAtt3cDale F. Pearce, Sea2cWalter R. Pentico, Sea2cStephen Pepe, WT1cCharles F. Perdue, SF1cWiley J. Perway, Bmkr2cMilo E. Phillips, WT1c

James N. Phipps, Sea2cGerald H. Pirtle, F1cRudolph V. Piskuran, Sea2cHerbert J. Poindexter, Jr., Sea1c Brady 0. Prewitt, Sea2cRobert L. Pribble, FC3cGeorge F. Price, F1cLewis B. Pride, Jr., EnsJasper L. Pue, Jr., F3cPaul S. Raimond, Sea1cEldon C. Ray, SK3cDan E. Reagan, F1cLeo B. Regan, WT1cIrvin F. Rice, RM3cPorter L. Rich, WT2cClyde Ridenour, Jr., RM3cDavid J. Riley, Sea2cRussell C. Roach, Sea1cJoseph M. Robertson, Sea2cHarold W. Roesch, Sea1cWalter B. Rogers, F1cJoseph C. Rouse, Sea1cCharles L. Ruse, Mus2cEdmund T. Ryan, Y3cRoman W. Sadlowski, EM3cKenneth H. Sampson, Sea1cDean S. Sanders, CMM (PA)Charles L. Saunders, Sea2cLyal J. Savage, Sea1cJohn E. Savidge, Sea1cPaul E. Saylor, F1cWalter F. Schleiter, F1cHerman Schmidt, GM3cAloysius H. Schmitt, Lt. (j.g.)(ChC)Andrew J. Schmitz, F1cJohn H. Schoonover, PhM1cBernard 0. Scott, MAtt1cChester E. Seaton, F1cVerdi D. Sederstrom, EnsWilliam L. Sellon, Sea2cEverett I. Severinson, SF1cWilliam K. Shafer, F2cWilliam J. Shanahan, Jr., SM3cEdward J. Shelden, FC1cWilliam G. Silva, GM1cEugene M. Skaggs, SM1c

Edgar D. Gross, WT2cVernon N. Grow, Sea2cDaniel L. Guisinger, Jr., Sea1cWilliam I. Gurganus, CEM (AA)William F. Gusie, FC3cHubert P. Hall, Sea2cRobert E. Halterman, Sea1cHarold W. Ham, MM2cDale R. Hamlin, GM3cEugene P. Hann, GM3cFrancis L. Hannon, SF3cGeorge Hanson, MM1cRobert J. Harr, F1cCharles H. Harris, EM3cDaniel F. Harris, CFC (PA)Louis E. Harris, Jr., Mus2cAlbert E. Hayden, CEM (PA)Harold L. Head, Sea2cRobert W. Headington, Sea1cWilliam F. Hellstern, GM2cFloyd D. Helton, Sea2cJimmie L. Henrichsen, Sea2cWilliam E. Henson, Jr., Sea2cHarvey C. Herber, EM1cGeorge Herbert. GM1cAustin H. Hesler. SM3cDenis H. Hiskett, F1cJoseph P. Hittorff, Jr., EnsFrank S. Hoag, Jr., RM3cHerbert J. Hoard, CSK (PA)Joseph W. Hoffman, Mus1cKenneth L. Holm, F3cHarry R. Holmes, F3cJames W. Holzhauer. Sea1cEdwin C. Hopkins, F3cChester G. Hord, SK3cFrank A. Hryniewicz, Sea1cCharles E. Hudson, WT1cLorentz E. Hultgren, MM2cRobert M. Hunter, EnsClaydon I. C. Iverson, F3cWillie Jackson, OC1cHerbert B. Jacobson, F3cChallis R. James, Sea2cGeorge W. Jarding, F3cKenneth L. Jayne, F3cTheodore Q. Jensen, RM3c

Earl G. Burch, Bkr3cOliver K. Burger, WT1cMillard Burk, Jr., Sea1cRodger C. Butts, SC1cArchie Callahan, Jr., MAtt2cRaymond R. Camery, F1cWilliam V. Campbell, Sea2cMurry R. Cargile, Sea1cHarold F. Carney, MM1cJoseph W. Carroll, F2cEdward E. Casinger, F2cBiacio Casola, Sea1cCharles R. Casto, F1cRichard E. Casto, F2cJames T. Cheshire, CPhM(PA)Patrick L. Chess, SF3cDavid Clark, Jr., Sea2cGerald L. Clayton, SK2cHubert P. Clement, FC1cFloyd F. Clifford, Sea2cGeorge A. Coke, Sea1cJames E. Collins, Sea1cJohn G. Connolly, Chf Pay ClkKeefe R. Connolly, HA1cEdward L. Conway, EM1cGrant C. Cook, Jr., F1cRobert L. Corn, FC1cBeoin H. Corzatt, FlcJohn W. Craig, SK1cWarren H. Crim, F3cSamuel W. Crowder, F1cWilliam M. Curry, EM1cGlenn G. Cyriack, SK2cMarshall E. Darby, Jr., EnsJames W. Davenport, Jr., F1cFrancis D. Day, CWT (PA)Leslie P. Delles, EM3cRalph A. Derrington, CMM(PA)Francis E. Dick, Mus2cLeaman R. Dill, EM2cKenneth E. Doernenburg, F1cJonn M. Donald, SF3cCarl D. Dorr, F2cBernard V. Doyle. Sea2cStanislaw F. Drwall, Pmkr1cCyril I. Dusset, MAtt1cBuford H. Dyer, Sea1c

Jesse B. Jenson, GM3cCharles H. Johannes, Sea2cBilly J. Johnson, F1cEdward D. Johnson, F1cJoseph M. Johnson, Sea1cJim H. Johnston, F1cCharles A. Jones, Sea2cFred M. Jones, MM1cJerry Jones, MAtt3cJulian B. Jordan, Lt.Wesley V. Jordan, Sea1cThomas V. Jurashen, Sea2cAlbert U. Kane, F1cJohn A. Karli, Sea1cHoward V. Keifer. RM3cRalph H. Keil, Sea1cDonald G. Keller. Sea1cJoe M. Kelley, Sea2cWarren J. Kempf, RM3cLeo T. Keninger, F1cWilliam H. Kennedy, F1cElmer T. Kerestes, F1cDavid L. Kesler. Bkr2cWilliam A. Klasing, EM3cVerne F. Knipp, CoxHans C. Kvalnes, Sea2cWiliiam L. Kvidera, CM3cD.T. Kyser, Sea2cEllioit D. Larsen, Mus1cJohnnie C. Laurie, MAtt1cElmer P. Lawrence, Sea1cWillard I. Lawson, F3cGerald G. Lehman, F3cMyron K. Lehman, Sea2cLionel W. Lescault, Bgmstr2cHarold W. Lindsey, Sea2cJohn H. Lindsley, F3cAlfred E. Livingston, F3cClarence M. Lockwood, WT2cAdolph J. Loebach, FC3cVernon T. Luke, MM1cOctavius Mabine, MAtt1cHoward S. Magers, Sea2cMichael Malek, Sea2cAlgeo V. Malfante, SF2cWalter B. Manning, EM1c

Wallace E. Eakes, SK3cEugene K. Eberhardt, MM1cDavid B. Edmonston, Sea2cEarl M. Ellis, RM3cBruce H. Ellison, RM3cJulius Ellsberry, MAtt1cJohn C. England, EnsIgnacio C. Farfan, MAtt1cLuther J. Farmer, MM1cLawrence H. Fecho, F1cCharlton H. Ferguson, Mus2cRobert A. Fields, EM3cWilliam M. Finnegan, Ens* Francis C. Flaherty, EnsJames M. Flanagan, Sea2cFelicismo Florese, OS2cWalter C. Foley, Sea1cGeorge P. Foote, SK3cGeorge C. Ford F2cJoy C. French, Sea2cTedd M. Furr, CCM (AA)Michael Galajdik, F1cMartin A. Gara. F2cJesus F. Garcia, MAtt2cEugene Garris, MAtt2cPaul H. Gebser, MM1cLeonard R. Geller, F1cGeorge T. George, Sea2cGeorge H. Gibson, EM3cGeorge E. Giesa, F2cQuentin J. Gifford, RM2cGeorge Gilbert, FC2cWarren C. Gillette, Sea1cBenjamin E. Gilliard, MAtt1cArthur Glenn, MM1cDaryl H. Goggin, MachJack R. Goldwater, RM3cCharles C. Gomez, Jr., Sea2cGeorge M. Gooch, EM3cClifford G. Goodwin, Sea1cRobert Goodwin, SC3cDuff Gordon, CMsmthClaude 0. Gowey, F1cWesley E. Graham, Sea1cArthur M. Grand Pre, F1cThomas E. Griffith, RM3c

Garold L. Skiles, Sea2cEdward F. Slapikas, Sea1cLeonard F. Smith, Msmth1cMerle A. Smith, EM3cRowland H. Smith, Mus1cWalter H. Sollie, WT1cJames C. Solomon, Sea1cMaurice V. Spangler, Sea1cKirby R. Stapleton, Sea1cUlis C. Steely, MM1cWalter C. Stein, Sea1cSamuel C. Steiner, F1cCharles M. Stern, Jr., EnsEverett R. Stewart, MM2cLewis S. Stockdate, EnsDonald A. Stott, Sea1cRobert T. Stout, FC3cJames Stouten, CBM (AA)Milton R. Surratt, Sea1cCharles H. Swanson, MM1cEdward E. Talbert, Sea1cRangner F. Tanner, Jr., Sea2cMonroe Temple, Sea1cHouston Temples, Sea1cBenjamin C. Terhune, F2cArthur R. Thinnes, Sea2cCharles W. Thompson, F1cClarence Thompson, SC1cGeorge A. Thompson, Sea2cIrvin A. R. Thompson, EnsWilliam M. Thompson, EnsRichard J. Thomson, Sea2cCecil H. Thornton, Sea2cRobert L. Thrombley, Sea2cDavid F. Tidball, Sea1cLloyd R. Timm, Sea2cLewis F. Tindall, F1cDante S. Tini, RM3cHenry G. Tipton, Sea1cEverett C. Titterington, F1cNeal K. Todd, F1cNatale I. Torti, Sea1cOrval A. Tranbarger, Sea1cHarold F. Trapp, FC2cWilliam H. Trapp, EM3cShelby Treadway, GM3cWilliam D. Tucker, F1c

Marley R. Arthurholtz, PFCWaldean Black, PvtWalter L. Collier, PFCAlva J. Cremean, PFCElmer E. Drefahl, CplHarry H. Gaver, Jr., 2d LtTed Hall, PvtOtis W. Henry, PvtRobert K. Holmes, PFCVernon P. Keaton, PvtJohn F. Middleswart, PFCRobert H. Peak, PvtRaymond Pennington, PvtCharles R. Taylor, PFC

Victor P. Tumlinson, FC3cBilly Turner, Sea1cLouis J. Tushla, F1cRussell O. Ufford, Sea2cLowell E. Valley, F2cDurrell Wade, AMM2cLewis L. Wagoner, Sea2cHarry E. Walker, SK1cRobert N. Walkowiak, F3cEugene A. Walpole, Sea2cCharles E. Walters, Sea2c* James R. Ward, Sea1cEdward Wasielewski, Sea1cRichard L. Watson, Sea1cJames C. Webb, F1cWilliam E. Welch, Sea1cAlfred F. Wells, MM1cErnest R. West, Sea1cJohn D. Wheeler, F2cClaude White, CWT (PA)Jack D. White, Sea1cAlton W. Whitson, EM3cEugene W. Wicker, Sea1cLloyd P. Wiegand, Mus2cGeorge J. Wilcox, Jr., Sea2cAlbert L. Williams, Mus2cJames C. Williams, Sea1cWilbur S. Williams, OS3cBernard R. Wimmer, FC1cEverett G. Windle, Sea2cStarring B. Winfield, RM3cRex E. Wise, F1cFrank Wood, Sea2cLawrence E. Woods, F1cWinfred O. Woods, MM1cCreighton H. Workman, F1cJohn L. Wortham, GM2cPaul R. Wright, CWT (PA)Eldon P. Wyman, EnsMartin D. Young, F2cRobert V. Young, Sea1cJoseph J. Yurko,WT1cThomas Zvansky, CSM (PA)

Marvin B. Adkins, GM3cWillard H. AIdridge, Sea1cHugh R. Alexander, Lt. ComdrStanley W. Allen, Ens (VO-1)Hal J. Allison, F2cLeon Arickx, Sea1cKenneth B. Armstrong, Mldr1cDaryle E. Artley, QM2cJohn C. Auld, Sea2cJohn A. Austin, Chf CarpWalter H. Backman, RM2cGerald J. Bailey, Sea1cRobert E. Bailey, SF3cWilbur F. Ballance, Sea1cLayton T. Banks, CoxLeroy K. Barber, F1cMalcolm J. Barber, F1cRandolph H. Barber, F2cCecil E. Barncord, EM3cWilber C. Barrett, Sea2cHarold E. Bates, F1cRalph C. Battles, F2cEarl P. Baum, Sea1cHoward W. Bean, RM3cWalter S. Belt, Jr., F1cRobert J. Bennett, F3cHarding C. Blackburn, Y3cWilliam E. Blanchard, Bmkr1cClarence A. Blaylock, F3cLeo Blitz, MM2cRudolph Blitz, F1cJohn G. Bock, Jr., Sea2cPaul L. Boemer, CoxJames B. Booe, CbmsterJames B. Boring, F2cRalph M. Boudreaux, MAtt1cLawrence A. Boxrucker, F2cRaymond D. Boynton, Sea2cCarl M. Bradley, F2cOris V. Brandt, Sea1cJack A. Breedlove, FC3cRandall W. Brewer, MAtt1cWilliam Brooks, Sea1cWesley J. Brown, F1cWilliam G. Bruesewitz, Sea1cJames R. Buchanan, MM2c

United States Marine Corps

United States Navy Ranks and RatesAMM Aviation’s Machinist MateBGmstr BugelmasterBkr BakerBmkr BoilermakerCBM Chief Boatswain’s MateCBmstr Chief BandmasterCCM Chief Carpenter’s MateCEM Chief Electrician’s MateCFC Chief Fire ControlmanChf Carp Chief CarpenterChf Pay Clk Chief Pay ClerkCMM Chief Machinist’s MateCMsmth Chief MetalsmithCox CoxswainCPhM Chief Pharmacist’s MateCSK Chief StorekeeperCSM Chief SignalmanCWT Chief WatertenderEM Electrician’s MateEns EnsignF FiremanFC Fire ControlmanGM Gunner’s MateHA Hospital’s ApprenticeLt. Comdr Lieutenant CommanderLt. LieutenantLt. (jg)(Chc) Lieutenant Jr. Grade, Chaplain CorpsMach MachinistMAtt Mess AttendantMldr MolderMM Machinist’s MateMsmth MetalsmithMus MusicianOS Officer’s StewardPhM Pharmacist’s MatePmkr PatternmakerQM QuartermasterRM RadiomanSea SeamanSC Ship’s CookSF ShipfitterSK StorekeeperSM SignalmanWT WatertenderY YeomanUnited States Marine Corps Ranks2d Lt Second LieutenantCpl CorporalPFC Private First ClassPvt Private

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A™

May We Never Forget Those of the Oklahoma