Battleship Oklahoma, BB-37.

9780806139364

Battleship Oklahoma, BB-37.

Phister, Jeff.

U. of Oklahoma Press

2008

256 pages

$19.95

Paperback

VA65

On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, nearly one-third of the crew of the USS Oklahoma perished in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Drawing on personal narratives of surviving crewmen, Phister, a freelance biographer, tells the story of the battleship, its crew, and how their lives were intertwined. The story begins with the ship's christening in 1914 and ends with its final loss in 1947. B&w historical photos and a glossary are included. Appendices list commanding officers and crew, medal citations, and ships named for crewmen. Phister is an active member of a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving the memory of the USS Oklahoma. Co-author Thomas Hone has written other books on naval history. Co-author Paul Goodyear is a USS Oklahoma survivor.

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