In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 19th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S.sailors who died defending their county:
"When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay..."
| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 245k | The Utah (BB-31) arrives at Hampton Roads, Virginia before going over to Europe during WW I. She operated in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay as an engineering and gunnery training ship and continued that duty until 30 August 1918, when she sailed for the British Isles with Vice Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, embarked. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Partial text courtesy of DANFS. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 229k | Utah's (BB-31) crew lines the deck at attention during a funeral ceremony when the ship was at Brerehaven, Bantry Bay, Ireland, sometime on or after 10 September 1918. There, she became the flagship of Rear Admiral Thomas S. Rodgers, Commander, Battleship Division 6. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Partial text courtesy of DANFS. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 30k | Utah (BB-31), starboard view, circa 1917-19. | Courtesy of Philip H. Robare RMCS, USN - RET. | |
 | 80k | Photographed during World War I, with camouflage patterns painted on her hull and triangular baffles attached to her masts. Both were intended to confuse enemy range finders. | USNHC # NH 63579. | |
 | 90k | Working with a "kite" observation balloon, in Bantry Bay, near Berehaven, Ireland, circa September-November 1918. | USNHC # NH 63578. | |
 | 72k |
Battleships of the Sixth Battle Squadron
(anchored in column in the left half of the photograph): included the Florida (BB-30) Utah (BB-31) Wyoming (BB-32) Arkansas (BB-33) New York (BB-34) Texas (BB-35) Nevada (BB-36) Oklahoma (BB-37) Pennsylvania (BB-38) & Arizona (BB-39) at one time or another. There are only three of the battleships present in this photo at Brest, France, on 13 December 1918. George Washington (ID-3018), which had just carried President Woodrow Wilson from the United States to France, is in the right background. | USNHC # NH 63454 Photographed by Zimmer. | |
 | 123k | 27 December 1918 in New York Harbor, after her return from European waters. Note that two 5" guns have been removed from her starboard amidships battery, probably for wartime use on merchant ships. | USNHC # NH 44256. | |
 | 74k | Underway, 1919. | USN photo courtesy of Larry Bonn. | |
 | 81k | Photograph of her pilothouse and bridges, taken at the New York Navy Yard, 21 January 1919. View looks aft from atop her forward 12" gun turret, with turret # 2 in the foreground. Note searchlights and concentration dial mounted on Utah's (BB-31) "cage" foremast, and bearing markings painted on the turret base. | USNHC # NH 76569. | |
 | 46k | "American dreadnoughts & superdreadnoughts steaming into New York harbor 14 April 1919." The Texas (BB-35) leads the procession with a airplane on her turret catapult. Note the escorting biplane. | Photo by Paul Thompson, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. Text courtesy of N.Y. Times, 31 December 1919. | |
 | 69k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing showing junior officers reading in the ship's ward room, circa 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104753. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 91k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing showing enlisted men on the ship's gun deck, circa 1919. Several of the figures in this view have been heavily retouched. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104754. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 82k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing men at work in the crew's galley on board the ship, circa 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104756. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 83k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing men working in the ship's General Mess pantry, circa 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104757. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 74k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken on board the ship, looking forward on the port side from alongside her after twelve-inch gun turret, circa 1919. Note the life rafts mounted on the turret's side. Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken on board the ship, looking toward the bow from her bridge, circa 1919. Note her forward twelve-inch twin gun turrets. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104758. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 51k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken on board the ship, looking forward on the port side from alongside her after twelve-inch gun turret, circa 1919. Note the life rafts mounted on the turret's side. Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken on board the ship, looking toward the bow from her bridge, circa 1919. Note her forward twelve-inch twin gun turrets.This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104759. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 80k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph of men working in the ship's machine shop, circa 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104760. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 90k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing enlisted men lined up for mess, circa 1919. Note the mess pails carried by several of these Sailors. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104755. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 62k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph of men working in the ship's carpenter shop, circa 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning Utah (BB-31). | USNHC # NH 104761. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. | |
 | 276k | Part of 2,000 tons of coal begin to pile on Utah's (BB-31) deck from the ajoining collier when the ship was docked at Hampton Roads, Virginia on 26 May 1919. The coal made it way below decks after a record 5 hour transfer. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 147k | Rear turrets of the Utah (BB-31) while in Cuba, circa 1919. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 141k | A tug with a very low freeboard looks to be pulling the Utah (BB-31). | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 141k | Part of the Utah's (BB-31) Marine compliment poses for a group shot at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1919. Corporal George Henry Wilson is in the upper right corner. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 59k | Utah's (BB-31) Marines Present Arms while in Cuba, 1919. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 135k | Utah's (BB-31) kitchen crew prepared at least 365,000 meals for the crew of 1001 men over a year. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 179k | Utah's (BB-31) crew of 1001 men line the forward turrets and superstructure at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1919. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 179k | Utah's (BB-31) rowing team in 1919. | Photo courtesy of George Henry Wilson via Kent Holsather. Photo added 04/08/08. | |
 | 196k | Late teens - 20's circa photo showing the bearing markings painted on the turret base of the top two forward and aft turrets of the Utah (BB-31), while she was in a warm climate, as is evidenced by the tarp covering her fantail. | USN photo by O.W. Waterman, courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 59k | Firing her fifth salvo, 26 June 1920, during exercises with her main battery 12"/45 guns. Photographed by A.E. Wells. | USNHC # NH 63651 | |
 | 49 |
"Combined Atlantic and Pacific Fleets in Panama Bay, Jan. 21st 1921".
Right section (of three) of a panoramic photograph taken by M.C. Mayberry, of Mayberry and Smith, Shreveport, Louisiana. Among the ships present in this image are (from left to right): Sicard (DD-346), Hatfield (DD-231), North Dakota (BB-29), Delaware (BB-28), Brazos (AO-4), Prometheus (AR-3), Utah (BB-31), Oklahoma (BB-37), Bridge (AF-1), Nevada (BB-36), Schenck (DD-159), Arizona (BB-39), Black Hawk (AD-9), Dickerson (DD-157), Dahlgren (DD-187), Herbert (DD-160), Columbia (CA-16), Cleveland (PG-33), Tacoma (PG-32), Semmes (DD-189) and one other destroyer. | Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, D.H. Criswell Collection. Photo # NH 86082-C, courtesy of Naval Historical Center. | |
 | 48k | Utah (BB-31) in March, 1921. | USNHC # NH 92005. | |
 | 83k | Crew of a 5"/51 secondary battery gun in action during early 1920s exercises. Note gas masks in use, and breeches of two 3-pdr saluting guns at the bottom of the picture. | USNHC # NH 89730. | |
 | 52k | Utah (BB-31) in 1923, line drawing by A.L. Raven. | Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. | |
 | 50k | Utah (BB-31) inboard profile 1923.The engines, boilers and coal-passing scuttles in the bulkhead behind the boilers have been drawn in. The location of the scuttles makes it clear that no coal-burning battleship could really be safe from underwater hits, as the scuttle doors, however secured, could spring open. | Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. | |
 | 84k | In the Gaillard Cut, Panama Canal, 15 February 1923. | USN Archives USNHC # NH 73828. | |
 | 132 | Rescuing the crew from the sinking schooner Margaret M. Wemyso, in in Mid-Atlantic by the Utah (BB-31), 23 November 1924. | Courtesy of Jon Burdett. | |
 | 153k | The rescued crew and Capt. Johnston of the Utah (BB-31). | Courtesy of Jon Burdett. | |
 | 139k | The rescued with the rescuers; crew of the schooner Margaret M. Wemyso, rescued at sea by the Utah (BB-31) 8 p.m. 23 Nov. 1924. | Courtesy of Jon Burdett. | |
 | 64k | Neptune service invitation, 3 December 1924. | Courtesy of Jon Burdett | |
 | 103k | Utah (BB-31) Band program, 1 Feb. 1925, while in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. | Courtesy of Jon Burdett. | |
 | 236k | On manevers off the coast of Maine, 1926. | Courtesy of Jon Burdett. | |
 | 27k | Underway, view from port. Circa 1926. | Courtesy of Jon Burdett. | |
 | 51k | Photographed port side view, circa the middle 1920s, before she was modernized. | From the collection of Gerald M. Charpentier of New Orleans and L.A.. Donated by his niece, Elaine C. Witty. Charpentier was in the Navy in the 1920s. | |
 | 227k | Busy harbor scene featuring an assembly of ships with flags flying from stem to stern. Flat armor on the turret roof makes this a 12" gunned battleship. Torpedo Bilges and single cage mast make this a post 1921 Treaty update leaving us with only the Florida class and Wyoming class ships. The pole supports for the bridge & and other mast platforms, the size and shape of mid-ship expansion of the main deck to relocate 5"/51 Battery higher and further outboard and the "step-down" where the plating covering the former forward 5" gun casemate (partially obscured by the mooring lines) makes this a Florida class. I say it is the Utah (BB-31) because the Florida (BB-30) appears to have retained the blast deflector plating around the fighting top while the Utah did not. | US Navy Photograph courtesy of Ric Hedman. Photo i.d. contributed by Chris Hoehn. | |
Utah (BB-31) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Utah (BB-31) Association Web Site Webmaster
Note About Contacts.
The contact listed, was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Battleship Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Utah (BB-31) Report of Pearl Harbor Attack.
| Back To The Main Photo Index | Back To The Battleship Photo Index Page |
This Page Is Created And Maintained By Michael Mohl
All Pages Copyright & copy 1996-2008 Paul R. Yarnall © 2008NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.