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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.

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.

8. Fern Evans in West Coast Aircraft Plant

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

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

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

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

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

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

Portraits of the men in the U.S.S. West Virginia's S Division, which handled supply, disbursing, and commissary.  All photos are identified with last name and first initials.  Several of the men are also identified by nickname.  William Hand is at bottom center.

12. S-Division, U.S.S. West Virginia

The battleship's deck is briefly flooded by seawater.

13. U.S.S. West Virginia en Route to Bremerton, Wa. Navy Yard

Whale boat crew that won a race near San Pedro, California, on February 4, 1934 with a time of 16 minutes, 7 seconds.  William Hand is identified as front row, far right.

14. U.S.S. West Virginia Whale Boat Crew

A sailor stands in the boat while it's being raised by the battleship's crane. The "punt" boat was used only to paint the sides of the ship. The boat pictured on the far left is a whale boat, which is used as a life boat and is also used in racing. The boat on the right  is called a "racing cutter" and is also used as a life boat and in cutter racing.

15. U.S.S. West Virginia Crane Hoisting "Punt" Boat

16. U.S.S. West Virginia at Sea

View from the battleship's deck during the voyage.

17. U.S.S. West Virginia Enroute to Seattle, Wa. from San Francisco, Ca.

Crew members walk around the deck while the ship is at sea.

18. Fan Tail of U.S.S. West Virginia at Sea

A crew works on the battleship in the dock area.

19. U.S.S. West Virginia at Dry Dock in Washington, D. C.

The bay is seen in the distance.

20. View of the San Francisco Bay from the Deck of the U.S.S. West Virginia

Each link in the anchor chain weighs 100 lbs. and is one foot long. The chain falls through the hawse pipes.

21. U.S.S. West Virginia Anchor Chain and Pipes

Two unidentified admirals are pictured in their dress uniforms.

22. Admirals Visiting the U.S.S. West Virginia

McIlwain was part of the 7th Division Marine Detachment and a crew member on the U.S.S. West Virginia.

23. PFC Russell L. McIlwain, Long Beach, Ca.

Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

24. Rough Waters Aboard U.S.S. West Virginia