Was the USS Vestal sunk?

Before her conversion to a repair ship, she had served as a collier since 1909. Vestal served in both World Wars. She was damaged during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and received two battle stars for her World War II service….USS Vestal.

What are the Vestal at Pearl Harbor?

Vestal was the victim of unfortunate circumstances. She was a repair ship located outboard to the USS Arizona on December 7th, 1941. When the Arizona exploded the Vestal’s skipper, Commander Cassin Young, and approximately 100 of his crewmen were thrown over the starboard side of the ship into the harbor.

What happened to the USS Vestal?

The repair ship Vestal (AR-4), moored outboard of the battleship Arizona on the morning of 7 December 1941, was hit by two Japanese bombs and received additional damage from the force and heat of Arizona’s explosion.

How many bodies are still on the Arizona?

“So 1,102 people remain entombed in the USS Arizona, considered buried at sea.” Interestingly, many of the surviving crew members have opted to have their cremated remains thrown into the sunken battleship.

Which battleship was moored next to the Vestal?

USS Arizona
The USS Vestal was a repair ship moored next to the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941.

What was the purpose of the USS Vestal in the Navy?

USS Vestal began its military career as a fleet collier in 1909, transporting and delivering coal along the Atlantic coast and in the West Indies. The ship was converted to a fleet repair ship and recommissioned in September 1913.

Who is Joe George?

Joseph Leon George. Petty Officer First Class Joseph Leon George was 26 years old on December 7, 1941. At the time of the attack, he was a crew member aboard the USS Vestal, a repair ship moored right next to the USS Arizona.

Why can’t the USS Arizona be raised?

The wreckage of USS Arizona is structurally much weaker than it was when the ship initially sank, meaning even attempting to pull her from the water would cause significant damage. She would simply fall to pieces.

Was the USS Tennessee at Pearl Harbor?

The battleships Tennessee (BB-43) and West Virginia (BB-48) were moored together on “Battleship Row” when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. She was set afire in several places by burning debris when USS Arizona , moored just astern, exploded. Her hull plates were also damaged by oil fires.

What did Joe George do?

He saved 6 men at Pearl Harbor. Finally, 76 years later, he’s being honored. Anyone who heard the story of Joe George at Pearl Harbor knew at once this was the story of a hero: a young sailor who risked his life in the fiery Japanese ambush to rescue the last six survivors from the sinking USS Arizona.

How did the Vestal get away from the Arizona?

With fires on board the Vestal and after two bombs had struck the repair ship, the Vestal crew cut the mooring lines with axes, freeing her from the Arizona, and she got underway, steering by engines alone.

What was Vestal used for in WW1?

Launched on May 19, 1908, Vestal was placed in service as a fleet collier. She served in World War I when she was deployed to Queenstown. There, she provided services for ships of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla – and stayed there for the duration of the war.

What happened to the arizonastill at Pearl Harbor?

One bomb penetrated the armored deck near the ammunition magazines in the forward section of the ship, causing a massive explosion and killing 1,177 of the sailors and Marines on board. Irreparably damaged, the USS Arizonastill lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.