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"The W. Va. is shown as she was photographed at a dry dock in Pearl Harbor. The battleship was severely damaged in the Japanese raid Dec. 7, 1941. Damages to her sides are visible."

1. U.S.S. West Virginia in Dry Dock, Pearl Harbor, Hi.

U.S.S. West Virginia in dry dock, likely in Newport News, Va. during construction.  The keel was laid down in April 1920, and the ship was launched in November 1921.

2. U.S.S. West Virginia in Dry Dock

3. Aerial View of U.S.S. West Virginia

U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48) anchored in an unidentified location.

4. U.S.S. West Virginia

"The guns of U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48) in operation.  L.C.M.'s in foreground."  L.C.M. stands for Landing Craft Mechanized.

5. United States Fleet off Leyte, Philippines

Bell of the U.S.S. West Virginia before installation on the campus of West Virginia University.  The bell was dedicated on December 7, 1967, and joined the mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia in Memorial Plaza.

6. U.S.S. West Virginia Bell Prior to Installation, Morgantown, W. Va.

The installation of U.S.S. West Virginia's mast nears completion at Memorial Plaza on the campus of West Virginia University.  The Mountainlair and Stewart Hall are visible in the background.

7. U.S.S. West Virginia Mast in Memorial Plaza, Morgantown, W. Va.

L to R: Jack Miller, Frank Kosa, Clifford Olds.Olds and 2 other crew members , Ronald Endicott and Louis Costin were trapped in a sealed compartment in the West Virginia's bow after it sank on December 7th.  Any rescue attempt meant certain death. The 3 stayed alive until December 24th according to a marked calendar found with their bodies which were recovered after the ship was raised from the harbor bottom in May, 1942.

8. U.S.S. West Virginia Sailors Hoist Their Glasses at Monkey Bar, Pearl Harbor, HI

Captain Bennion was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. As  he laid mortally wounded on the West Virginia's command bridge, Bennion refused to be removed from his burning ship. He continued to give orders, directing his crew's actions. Bennion's last order to his men before he died was to leave him and "abandon ship." Captain Bennion was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

9. USN Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, U.S.S. West Virginia

Fern Evan's husband, GM3e Woodrow W. Evans was killed aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leaving Fern to support herself and their 20 month old son.  Subsequently, Mrs. Evans was employed at a West Coast aircraft plant.  She's shown here working on a radio bracket for a bomber.

10. Fern Evans in West Coast Aircraft Plant

Miller was a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia as a Messman Third Class during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was awarded the Navy Cross--the third highest navy award for gallantry during combat--for "distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety during the attack. Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain who had been mortally wounded to a place of greater safety and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge."Miller was personally awarded the medal by Admiral Chester Nimitz. He was the first African-American to be awarded the honor.

11. Doris Miller Awarded Navy Cross, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Smoke billows from the U.S.S. West Virginia, which is pictured in the back and center of the photograph. The ship eventually sank.Floating on the left is the U.S.S. Maryland. On the right is a capsized U.S.S. Oklahoma.

12. Damaged Battleships following Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Smoke rises from the sinking battleship, which was hit by seven torpedoes and two bombs.

13. Damaged U.S.S. West Virginia after Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

An official U.S. Navy photograph. From left to right is the U.S.S. West Virginia, U.S.S. Tennessee, and the U.S.S. Arizona.

14. Burning and Damaged Ships After Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The photograph was taken at the beginning of the attack. The explosion seen in the center of the photograph is a torpedo that struck the U.S.S. West Virginia.

15. Aerial Photograph taken from Japanese Plane during Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Crew members during a salvage and repair operation work port side of the battered battleship. The U.S.S. West Virginia was hit by seven torpedoes and two bombs during the December 7th attack.

16. Gaping Wound on U.S.S. West Virginia, Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii

The U.S.S. West Virginia looks battered and wounded while docked at the naval shipyard. The "Wee Vee" was hit by nine bombs and torpedoes by the Japanese warplanes during the December 7th attack.

17. Salvaging Operations aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Men on boats attempt to extinguish the fire on the U.S.S. West Virginia.

18. Crews Fighting Fires on U.S.S. West Virginia after Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

On the left, only the top deck and caged masts of the U.S.S. West Virginia can be seen. The U.S.S. West Virginia was hit with nine bombs and torpedoes total. In the center is the U.S.S. Arizona and on the right is the U.S.S. Tennessee. All ships are on fire.

19. U.S.S. West Virginia Sinking after Pearl Harbor Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The Japanese hit the "Wee Vee" with nine bombs and torpedoes during the attack. The U.S.S. Tennessee is moored on the right.

20. U.S.S. West Virginia Burning and Sinking after Pearl Harbor Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The U.S.S. West Virginia floats beneath the bridge.

21. U.S.S. West Virginia beneath Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge, Ca.

View of the New York City skyline.

22. View of Manhattan, New York City, Likely from Decks of U.S.S. West Virginia

Crew members pal around during the crossing initiation ceremony, where sailors who have never crossed the equator before are "brought before Neptune" and tested.

23. U.S.S. West Virginia Crossing the Equator

American military work with coastal artillery during a defense campaign. Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

24. Shore Battery in Hawaii

A sailor prepares to dive into the sea off the deck of the U.S.S. West Virginia.

25. Scuba Diver off U.S.S. West Virginia

American president Franklin D. Roosevelt inspected the Pacific Fleet, including the U.S.S. West Virginia.

26. President Franklin D. Roosevelt Boards Cruiser Houston, San Francisco Bay, CA

A group of soldiers gather around coastal artillery during a defense campaign. Photograph taken from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

27. American Soldiers Shore Battery at Night in Hawaii

A group of soldiers practice firing. Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

28. Sham Battle in Hawaii during WWII American Defense Campaign

Soldiers gather around a firing anti-aircraft gun during a defense campaign. The photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

29. Anti-Aircraft Gun in Action at Night, Hawaii

Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

30. Naval Fleet Displaying Searchlights at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

A fleet of U.S. bomber airplanes fly across the sky. The photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia Scrapbook.

31. Flight of Bombers in Hawaii

A crowd awaits the U.S.S. West Virginia crew returning from a voyage. The boat on the left is the captain's "gig."

32. Navy Landing, Long Beach, Ca.

Crane ship docked at the Navy yard.

33. U.S.S. Crane Ship No. 2, Bremerton, Wa.

Captain Furlong was commander of the ship.

34. Captain William Furlong Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia

Crew members hanging out of the West Virginia and in a smaller boat alongside attempt to right the overturned boat.

35. Capsized Sail Boat Off of U.S.S. West Virginia

Crew members look out to the sea from the deck.

36. U.S.S. West Virginia Out at Sea

Thick, black smoke billows from an unidentified battleship.

37. Battleship Laying Smoke Screen

A crew tends to the ship.

38. U.S.S. West Virginia in Navy Yard Dry Dock somewhere in Washington

The battleship out at sea.

39. U.S.S. West Virginia Crashing through Wave

The motor boat that carries the officers to and from shore idles beside the battleship.

40. Officers' Motor Boat Beside the U.S.S. West Virginia

View looking at the 16" guns.

41. Bow of U.S.S. West Virginia

The motor boats were used to transport enlisted men to and from shore.

42. Officers Transported on Motor Boats to the U.S.S. West Virginia

One of the two scout planes on the U.S.S. West Virginia sits on the stern deck.

43. Stern of U.S.S. West Virginia

Captain William Furlong peers out at the navigation bridge during a U.S.S. West Virginia voyage.

44. Captain W. R. Furlong on the Navigation Bridge of the U.S.S. West Virginia

Crew members fire the 5" guns.

45. Anti-Aircraft Guns on U.S.S. West Virginia Boat Deck

Looking up at the mast from the ship's deck.

46. U.S.S. West Virginia's Main Mast

The admiral is greeted with a band and guard as he boards the ship.

47. Visiting Admiral Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia

The plane sits on the battleship's deck.

48. Scout Plane Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia