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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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California

Ship Designation: 
BB-44
Date Lost: 
Sunday, December 7, 1941
Pearl Harbor Attack - Battleship Row
During the Pearl Harbor attack at 0805 a bomb exploded below decks in California, setting off an antiaircraft ammunition magazine and killing 50 men. A second bomb ruptured her bow plates. ... Despite valiant efforts to keep her afloat the in-rushing water could not be isolated and the ship settled into the mud with only her superstructure remaining above the surface. When the action ended, 98 of her crew were lost and 61 wounded.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 99

Name Service Branchsort descending
RM 3c Melvin Johnson USN
SK 1c John Lewis USN
PhM 1c Henry Blankenship USN
Matt 3c David Walker USN
GM 3c Erwin Searle USN
PhM 2c Merle Hillman USN
F 1c Harry Kramer USN
F 3c Milton Wilson USN
F 1c Edward Bowden USN
Matt 1c Leo Stapler USN
RM 3c Frank Royse USN
Sea 2c Helmer Hanson USN
PhM 3c John Lancaster USN
Sea 2c Steven Wodarski USN
CRE Thomas Reeves USN
Ens Robert Bowers USN
EM 1c Charles Sweany USN
RM 3c Alfred Rosenthal USN
GM 3c John Deetz USN
RM 3c Donald Larsen USN

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Prepared by CAPT R. O. Strange USN (Ret.)