A hero all Minnesotans can be proud of
Gerry Feld
As we commemorated the attack on Pearl Harbor last Thursday, I'm sure very few Minnesotans realize the connection Minnesota has to the Day of Infamy, and the destruction of the U.S.S. Arizona.
Capt. Franklin Van Valkenburgh, commander of the Arizona, was born in Minneapolis on April 5, 1888. His family moved to Milwaukee when he was a young boy.
Franklin was a bright student that learned quickly, earning him an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he began his naval career as a plebe Sept. 15, 1905. He was involved in many school activities and sports teams earning him high honors throughout his four years. After graduation on Sept. 15, 1909, Franklin was assigned to the battleship U.S.S. Vermont. From there he moved to several other ships, commands and schools including the Naval War College. After commanding several more vessels, Franklin was assigned to the Arizona on Feb. 5, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Throughout the year Franklin and his staff worked hard bringing his crew up to top combat efficiency.
Apparently Franklin had a much keener observation as to what was happening in the Pacific with Japan than did most of America's top political and military leaders. In a letter written to his cousin Faith Van Valkenburgh Vilas on Nov. 4, 1941, he said, “Our eyes are constantly trained westward, and we keep the guns ready for instant use against enemy aircraft or submarines whenever we are at sea. We have no intention of being caught napping.”
Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941, the U.S.S. Arizona had her starboard side tied up against the mooring station on the north side of Ford Island, with her bow pointed toward the entrance of the harbor as ordered by Admiral Kimmel. The repair ship U.S.S. Vestal was tied up against the port side of the Arizona, the U.S.S. Tennessee was tied to her mooring platform in front of the Arizona and the U.S.S. Nevada moored directly behind. Although the Arizona had steam in her boilers, there was no possibility of escaping the onslaught that was about to descend upon her.
With the fleet in port, there were many festivities happening in Honolulu on the night of Dec. 6, 1941. Nevertheless, Van Valkenburgh and Admiral Isaac Kidd the Division Commander, chose to spend a quiet night on board the Arizona.
Since the dance band from the Arizona won the battle of the bands in Block Arena Saturday night, the entire crew was rewarded allowing them to sleep in Sunday morning. Taking advantage of his own declaration, Van Valkenburgh was still in his cabin at 0755 hours. When he heard the attack beginning, he rushed to the navigation bridge, taking control of the ships weapons to fight off the attacking Japanese planes. Several junior officers insisted he transfer to the conning tower as it was a safer place to be. However, Van Valkenburgh refused, remaining on the phone speaking to the gun direction officers.
About 0805 hours an 800 pound armor piercing bomb ripped through the main deck behind main turret number two penetrating five decks before exploding near the black powder lockers. The blast obliterated every bulkhead in the area igniting nearly two million pounds of black powder and thousands of barrels of thick bunker fuel creating a cataclysmic explosion equal to a one kilo ton atomic bomb.
The Arizona raised up out of the water, snapping the keel while blowing out the port side of the ship. The navigation bridge where Van Valkenburgh stood was instantly blown apart. Only Ensign Hein, who was blown off the ship into the water, was able to report what happened to the captain and his staff.
Fires from ammunition and fuel raged on until Dec. 9. After the ship cooled down, allowing crews to search the wreckage above the water line, the only artifact relating to the captain was his Annapolis class ring.
Capt. Van Valkenburgh was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, “For devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and the complete disregard of his own life.” Capt. Van Valkenburgh was a true hero Minnesotans can be proud of.