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Day 20: A day of looking back into history
PEARL HARBOR (Hawaii, USA) - The twentieth day of the Dutch National Softball Team's American Tour started with solemn moments and more impressions, as the team visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, the 185 vessels of the US Pacific Fleet lay calm in Pearl Harbor, with seven of the fleet's eight battleships lined up in 'Battleship Row' near Ford Island. Shortly before 7:55 AM, the fleet and the naval air stations were attacked. It was the day that World War II started for the United States. Most battleships were severely damaged, like the USS Oklahoma, which capsized, trapping more than 400 men inside. The USS Arizona was being hit by a 1760 pound (800 kg) bomb that slammed through its deck and ignited its ammunition magazine. In less than nine minutes, it sank with 1177 of its crew. The Arizona became their final resting place, as many of the crewmen are still on board. For the US Navy it was its greatest defeat in its history. Twenty-one vessels were sunk or damaged. 2390 Americans died, while the Japanese lost 64. Suggestions for a memorial began in 1943, but in 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the creation of the current Memorial, which was dedicated in 1962.
The visit to the USS Arizona Memorial was impressive, as was the presence of two Pearl Harbor survivors, Herb Weatherwax and Sterling Cale (both of the US Army), who were signing books. At the Memorial-site, which is build above the USS Arizona, the remains of the famous battleship are still visible.
The entrance of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
We were not the only ones to visit the historical site
The USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor survivors Herb Weatherwax (left) and Sterling Cale, both US Army
Ford Island where Battleship Row was lined up on December 7, 1941.
At left is the battleship USS Missouri, in the middle the USS Arizona Memorial
Part of the team poses in front of Ford Island with the Memorial in the background
A short boatride brought us to the USS Arizona Memorial
Dagmar Bloeming, Coach Mary-Ann Hatt and Marloes Fellinger look at the remains of the Arizona
Part of the remains of the USS Arizona
Rebecca Soumeru (right) films at the Memorial-site. At left is Noémi Boekel
Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar in front of the remains of the Arizona. In the background, the USS Missouri
(photo taken by Judith van Kampen)
Coach Rob Walgien shakes hands with a US Navy Sailor. At right are Petra van Heijst and Nina van Huissteden
HONOLULU (Hawaii, USA) - After the visit to Pearl Harbor, it was time to set our thoughts again to softball, as a practice session was scheduled in Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, the site where the Dutch Team will participate in the upcoming tournament of the University of Hawaii, which starts next Thursday. Before, the team has another practice session tommorow, then plays a single game on Wednesday.
Time for a brunch at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
Time to warm up before the practice
Today, it was time for the pitchers to throw again with players in the batter's box
A concentrated Coach Mary-Ann Hatt observes the action
Head Coach Liz Kelly holds a close eye to everything on the field
Go back to the schedule of the USA Tour
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