4 Things You Didn't know about Pearl Harbor

November 04, 2014
by Randy Miller

Americans generally know about Pearl Harbor. That is why it is the most popular site to visit in Hawaii.

How much each person knows about Pearl Harbor varies greatly though. Most people know that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. For the majority of people, that is the extent of their understanding of the attack. Which is fine because that is why we are here.  Please read through the history section of our site to get a better understanding.

If you are curious about some of the lesser known things about Pearl Harbor, you might find these interesting:

  1. Approximately 30 of the USS Arizona's crew have chosen to be cremated and placed in the USS Arizona below the Arizona Memorial. They wanted to be with their crew. It is a testament to the bond created on these battleships.
  2. The Arizona continues to leak fuel after over 70 years.  The leaking oil is called the "Black Tears of the Arizona". It is believed that the fuel will continue leaking until the last of the 355 survivors has passed away.  Several studies have determined that the environmental impact of the leaking oil is not enough to undergo a cleanup or prevention.
  3. Elvis Presley helped to raise money to build the Arizona Memorial. He held a benefit concert at Bloch Arena that raised $64,000. He was not the largest fundraiser, but his contribution was certainly useful. The Arizona was dedicated the following year.
  4. The night before Pearl Harbor was bombed, the band of the USS Arizona attended the Battle of Music at Bloch Arena. They were an excellent band and did not need to compete on December 6th because they had already placed in the Semi Finals in November. On the following day, December 7th, when the Arizona was attacked, every band member was killed. They were chosen as the unanimous winners of the competition.

If you are looking for some more facts about Pearl Harbor history, check our our FAQs section.

 

 

 

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