Pearl Harbor: Into the Arizona

Prior to 9/11, Pearl Harbor represented the deadliest foreign attack in American military history. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese air force bombed Pearl Harbor's battleship row. The USS Arizona was ground zero, with 2,000 pounds of explosives blowing the battleship apart and sending it to the bottom of the harbor—killing, trapping, or drowning over 1,700 men. Seventy-five years later the ship remains on the sea floor, a military grave and monument to the sailors who died there. Filmmaker Carsten Oblaender's PBS-aired documentary concerns National Park service efforts to determine the long term stability of the sunken ship. No divers are permitted inside what is considered a shrine and cemetery, requiring remote controlled cameras to navigate the interior. The film describes pre-war life around the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where a sunny, tropical, relaxed atmosphere prevailed, which was most welcome to the Depression-weary sailors who tried to ignore the gathering war clouds between Japan and America. The USS Arizona, officially commissioned in 1916, was dubbed the "pride of the fleet." On that peaceful Sunday morning, Pearl Harbor became a hell of bombs, smoke, and burning bodies. An elderly Arizona survivor is here given a view of the sonar as it traverses the battleship levels, evoking both tears and pride from the old veteran. Later, the camera captures a ghostly view of a military uniform, still swaying on a hanger in the officer's quarters. Cups, dishes, and other artifacts abound, but no human remains are seen (200 bodies were recovered shortly after the attack). Although the bombing greatly damaged the fleet, the horrific event only stiffened America's resolve in winning total victory over Japan. A fine historical documentary, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)