State Representatives Quang Nguyen (R-1) and Justin Wilmeth (R-2) highlighted the return of the name USS Arizona to the United States Navy's fleet in a recent statement.
The Original USS Arizona
The original ship to bear the name USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship first commissioned in 1916 and was moored at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7th, 1941.
Her forecastle was bombed, which in turn detonated the ship's forward ammunition magazine, costing over 1,100 crewmen their lives as the ship sank, and she remains there to this day.
In the 1960s, a memorial was built over the midship structure, and the National Park Service still oversees the site.
The Name Returns
In 2019, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly announced that a new Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine would bear the name USS Arizona once more and is expected to launch in 2029.
What Lawmakers are Saying
State Reps. Nguyen and Wilmeth met with the USS Arizona Legacy Foundation about the submarine's name and how the Grand Canyon State can support the ship and her crew.
"The name USS Arizona carries special meaning for the people of our state, and Arizonans should know that name is returning to the fleet," said State Rep. Nguyen in a press release, adding, "A new generation of sailors will carry Arizona's name around the world for decades to come. We should be proud of them, stand behind them, and make sure the legacy of the USS Arizona and those who served aboard her is never forgotten."
Similarly, State Rep. Wilmeth said, "We're proud to support the Legacy Foundation and its work on behalf of the future USS Arizona. These sailors will serve aboard a submarine named for our state and carrying the name of a vessel whose sailors made the ultimate sacrifice at Pearl Harbor. It's important that we honor that past while focusing on the future. We want Arizonans to know who they are, take pride in their service, and stand behind them."
