The Men of the USS Utah (BB-31/AG-16): The Forgotten Ship of Pearl Harbor

In the early hours of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched their first attack on Pearl Harbor. Their main targets were the aircraft carriers and the destroyers in port. The USS Utah was moored in an area reserved for the aircraft carriers. Utah was covered in 6 by 12 inch timbers and metal sheds to protect it from target practice. The location of the Utah coupled with the timbers on deck, made it appear as an aircraft carrier. The Japanese pilots attacked the Utah with a vengance. Utah was the first ship to be hit and sunk. The USS Utah remains sunk in Pearl Harbor today. Until very recently, access to the memorial site has been allowed only with special permission. Most visitors to Pearl are not aware of the Utah Memorial or even that she remains in the harbor with 50 men still on duty. This book is a memorial to all the men that were serving on the Utah on that fateful morning. Who were these brave men? What did they experience during those last minutes? This is their story.