USS OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL
BB-37 "The Okie"
History
USS OKLAHOMA BB-37 was commissioned into service in May 1916. The commission into the US Navy marked the 37th battleship to be commissioned into the fleet. During World War I, she protected convoys in the Atlantic Fleet. In October of 1936, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet and operated out of San Pedro, CA. On December 5, 1940 she was transferred again to Pearl Harbor, HI to join the six other Battleships already positoned there.
During the attack on December 7, 1941, the USS OKLAHOMA capsized in Pearl Harbor, HI. Hundreds of men were trapped inside the destroyed Battleship attempting to make their way to the surface of the upsidedown vessel. 429 officers, Sailors and Marines died on that ship alone but 32 made it out alive. It was the second greatest loss of life at Pearl Harbor in a single vessel.
