A fireboat pours water onto the burning battleship USS West Virginia BB-48 following the attack by Japanese aircraft. Her fires were extinguished by the afternoon of 8 December 1941; a garbage lighter YG-17 helped valiantly in the fire-fighting efforts. Yet, below decks on USS West Virginia, three sailors were helplessly trapped in the ship’s pump room. They died the day before Christmas Eve. USS West Virginia was re-floated on 17 May 1942 and placed in dry dock on 9 June 1942. She was completely rebuilt at Puget Sound Navy Yard with little resemblance to her prewar sisters. As with USS Nevada and other, her superstructure now resembled the new South Dakota class. USS West Virginia returned to active service in September 1944, getting her revenge at Suriago Strait, she earned five battle stars in World War II.

US Navy1941-12-07