U.S.S. ARIZONA
Like mansions and hotels, ships are often homes away from home. The men and women who board them plan to be at sea for many days or even weeks. Those who make the sea their life’s work—fishermen, sailors, and ships’ crews—know they could sail for years or even decades. Sometimes these people pass away while aboard. With such intense personal connections, it’s not surprising that some vessels are thought to be actively haunted.
One ship with a somber reason to be haunted is the U.S.S. Arizona. On the morning of December 7, 1941, the U.S.S. Arizona was home to 1,512 active crewmen. Just before 8:00 a.m., they were already hard at work when bomber planes from the Imperial Japanese Navy rocketed over the battleship and her sister ships docked in Pearl Harbor. By 8:06 a.m., four bombs had ripped through the steel of the U.S.S. Arizona, sending her to a watery grave beneath Pearl Harbor. And 1,177 of the 1,512 crewmen died with her. Only 335 survived.
Other ships damaged or sunk in the attack on that day were repaired and used to help American allies ultimately win World War II. However, the U.S.S. Arizona and her victims were never recovered. A war memorial was built above the shipwreck to honor the men who were lost.
Is the U.S.S. Arizona haunted by the men who served on board? Many memorial visitors say it is. They say faces of young soldiers often appear on the surface of the water surrounding the memorial. Some say whispers from the battle’s victims are often heard, as well.
Even today, beads of oil leak from the sunken battleship’s engine compartment, regarded as black tears by sentimental visitors.
Like mansions and hotels, ships are often homes away from home. The men and women who board them plan to be at sea for many days or even weeks. Those who make the sea their life’s work—fishermen, sailors, and ships’ crews—know they could sail for years or even decades. Sometimes these people pass away while aboard. With such intense personal connections, it’s not surprising that some vessels are thought to be actively haunted.
One ship with a somber reason to be haunted is the U.S.S. Arizona. On the morning of December 7, 1941, the U.S.S. Arizona was home to 1,512 active crewmen. Just before 8:00 a.m., they were already hard at work when bomber planes from the Imperial Japanese Navy rocketed over the battleship and her sister ships docked in Pearl Harbor. By 8:06 a.m., four bombs had ripped through the steel of the U.S.S. Arizona, sending her to a watery grave beneath Pearl Harbor. And 1,177 of the 1,512 crewmen died with her. Only 335 survived.
Other ships damaged or sunk in the attack on that day were repaired and used to help American allies ultimately win World War II. However, the U.S.S. Arizona and her victims were never recovered. A war memorial was built above the shipwreck to honor the men who were lost.
Is the U.S.S. Arizona haunted by the men who served on board? Many memorial visitors say it is. They say faces of young soldiers often appear on the surface of the water surrounding the memorial. Some say whispers from the battle’s victims are often heard, as well.
Even today, beads of oil leak from the sunken battleship’s engine compartment, regarded as black tears by sentimental visitors.