The Wreck of USS Utah – The Forgotten Victim of Pearl Harbor

USS Utah. A ship that largely goes under the radar, when it comes to Pearl Harbor. She's nowhere near as well known as USS Arizona, in spite of also still being in the harbor.

In today's video, we'll look at Utah's wreck. Give her some more recognition, as the finale of my Pearl Harbor Week.

Utah Video:

Pictures:

[josephwarra]

"They gave up their tomorrows so that we could have a today. Honor and Glory to those brave men, RIP." -- MR

[willardwomack]

Entombed within the wreck are the remains of 54 Sailors and Baby Nancy. Nancy Lynne Wagner died two days after being born, she was the Daughter of one of the USS Utah sailors, Chief Yeoman Albert Thomas Dewitt Wagner. The Urn with Nancy’s ashes was in a locker on the ship and was supposed to be buried at sea the next trip out of Pearl Harbor. Albert Wagner survived the sinking of USS Utah, but the Urn with his daughter’s ashes wasn’t found during the salvage efforts. Today, the Sailors still entombed on USS Utah “watch over” her.

[dennislyons]

I appreciate the video. My uncle was onboard the Utah when she got hit. he told me that he was in the engineering spaces when the first torpedo hit. He made his way up & out a porthole just prior to the oat rolling over. Much of the water was on fire. He survived the war & went on to serve in the Navy for a total of 37 years, He never spoke of the event until I phoned him hours before boarding a jet to Honolulu in the 1980's. He told me of the destroyers that were tied up there & also were sunk during the attack. When I was last at Pearl there was no way for a, now civilian, to visit the Utah. Another uncle of mine was responsible for getting the ship's bell moved to the state capital in Utah many years ago, Thank you for this presentation as I've never seen the memorial.

[Normandy]

I've been privileged to visit Utah twice and after initially viewing her, ..the serenity swept over the situation. The wind lapped shallow waves upon the shoreline stones. The rustle of palm leaves became rhythmically apparent as a song. All that to the point of the dead silence exuded by Utah...the only thought was of a spiritual nature that those men whom would Rest In Peace.

[chironpl]

As a native Utahn, I knew of her wreck and memorial, but having never visited I appreciate the photos you presented.

[andrewpeterson]

Great video. I have visited Pearl Harbor and found it sad that the USS Utah is so overlooked. Thank you for giving her story the attention that it deserves.

[patfleming]

While on a holiday in Oahu in 2006 I walked from the USS Missouri across to the Utah without anyone questioning or stopping me. I’m an Irish citizen.
The Utah, Nevada and the Oklahoma were stationed in Berehaven, West Cork during WW1 in 1918

[toddkurzbard]

We took a "ferry" tour back in '91, during our ARIZONA visit. I remember seeing what was left of the UTAH above water as we passed by, and noticed there didn't seem to be any access. I recall the tour guide saying that only military personnel with governmental approval were allowed on the UTAH memorial.

[TOMRN]

In 1977, I snuck onto Ford Island in an attempt to see the wreck. It required an additional sticker to get on the island which was a ferry ride. My dad stationed at Schofield Barracks. Was able to get the VW bus on without getting caught since it was so busy. I too knew the history of being forgotten. Once I got to that side, I could see quarters and would surely have been nabbed. I would have to cross a yard or two. I drove back to the main buildings and there, I saw the bullet damage in the concrete walls. I got back on the ferry and was busted by the Marine on the other side. He fussed at me a little, but let me go because of my interest in it being never visited. It also helped that I had a pretty female friend with me. 😊

[jdc]

My brother was stationed at PHH so thankfully I was able to visit this memorial. Definitely not as well known but just as important to remember those men who died

[patrickmccrann]

For many years the Utah was inaccessible as Ford Island was an active part of the Navy base. I was stationed there from 79-82, and during that time, Ford Island had Officer's housing, Fleet Traing Group Pearl, and Headquarters of Commander 3rd Fleet. There was no bridge and could only be accessed by ferry or boat. Things have changed a great deal since then with a museum and the Missouri located on the island.

[SwampDog-wi]

In 1980, I had the privilege of going to the USS Arizona Memorial while in Hawaii. I did not get to go to the USS Utah site . Now, I wish I had .
Thank you for this video . At least I can say I have seen the Memorial .

[carylosborn]

I had a relative who was on the USS Raleigh on Dec 7th. His accounting of the day is in Tom Brokaw's book.

[gshsr]

Thank you for this video. It is much appreciated.

[philipkruger]

I visited my brother in 87 when he was in the Air Force we took a harbor tour that visited the Utah. The plane hangers are marked with bullet strikes. The Arizona and cemetery at Punch Bowl are shocking, it’s so solemn and will make you cry at all the devastation from war.

[JohnMozingo-wg]

A good video and thank you. Young men with their lives ahead of them. Snatched away but hopefully never forgotten.

[danielbritton]

I walked around Ford Island one Saturday while there for training in submarine duty in 77'. What a day as I did a book report on Pearl Harbor in 6th grade. The first book of WW2 eagerly read cover to cover.

[Watertender-luvj]

Chief Watertender Peter Tomich was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving over 50 men who were in the boiler rooms and engine rooms. Chief Tomich ordered everyone else to leave the engineering spaces and was last seen calmly securing the boilers and related equipment to prevent a catastrophic explosion. He was born in Bosnia in 1893 and he came to America in 1913. He had no family in the United States to present his Medal of Honor to so it was moved from place to place including the Capitol of Utah and Tomich Hall which is the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy. In 2006 his surviving family in Croatia was given his Medal of Honor.

[maddogmerv]

At 8:40 the two tall buildings in the background are significant. That is almost the exact area that the torpedo planes that hit the Utah came in on thier runs.

Thank you for putting me this video out and helping to raise awareness for the u s s utah

[erikrichtsteig]

For many years her bell was in front of the Naval Science building at the University of Utah. Many of her bridge controls were displayed in the entrance of the building.