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Official Navy photo postcard of the U.S.S. West Virginia at sea.

1. U.S.S. West Virginia at Sea

Postcard of the U.S.S. West Virginia at sea outside of a city. The photograph was taken before 1941.

2. U.S.S. West Virginia with Another Battleship in Background

Postcard of the U.S.S. West Virginia going under the Brooklyn Bridge.

3. U.S.S. West Virginia Passes Under the Brooklyn Bridge, Ny.

The U.S.S. West Virginia at sea moments after her launch in November 1921, surrounded by support craft. The battleship, nicknamed the "Wee Vee", was commissioned in December 1, 1923.

4. U.S.S. West Virginia Immediately after Launch, Newport News, Va.

5. United States Navy Blimp

6. Naval Vessel US 530 Docked, W. Va.

7. Portrait of an Unidentified Sailor

'Their record:"They helped keep the World safe for Democracy"  Their reward: "In the Hitner Navy Graveyard to be scrapped" '

8. Liberty Ships in Navy Graveyard

From "Beckley U.S.A." by Harlow Warren, p. 495, vol. 2. Lilly was in World War I Navy U.S.S. Delaware.

9. Portrait of Add Lilly of Raleigh County, W. Va.

From "Beckley U.S.A." by Harlow Warren. On back of portrait: "Navy World War II."

10. Portrait of Okie Farley and Wife, Raleigh County, W. Va.

Clifford Kain Condon, in Navy uniform, photograph taken before World War II.

11. Clifford Kain Condon, Pharmacist, United States Navy, from Morgantown, W. Va.

Clifford Kain Condon, dressed in naval uniform. the photograph was taken  before World War II. Condon was captured near Manila by the Japanese in December, 1941 and later died in a POW Camp.

12. Clifford Kain Condon, Pharmacist, United States Navy from Morgantown, W. Va

Candid portrait of husband and wife, Clifford and Eva Condon (standing,right) with unidentified couple. The men are wearing navy dress whites. The photograph was probably taken in the Philippines before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Clifford Condon was captured by the Japanese in December, 1941 and died in a POW Camp in 1945.

13. Clifford and Eva Condon and Unidentified Couple

United States Armored Coast Defense Vessel "Monterey" fitted with Ward Boilers of 4550 HP built by The Charles Ward Engineering Works in Charleston, West Virginia. The photograph was taken after a national competitive test by U.S. Navy.

14. United States Armored Coast Defense Vessel 'Monterey'

Eugene Holland in his U. S. Navy uniform. Information on p. 143 in "Our Monongalia" by Connie Park Rice. Information with the photograph includes "Courtesy of Ivry Moore Williams".

15. Eugene Holland, United States Navy from Morgantown, W. Va.

Dellacroce is wearing a military uniform, possibly US Navy.

16. Louis Dellacroce of Monongalia County, W. Va.

To the left of "Buzz", formerly known as Jack, is George Hulme. In rear is Tommy Joe Hellems. The group is there for a Hinton High School graduation trip in the spring of 1948."Buzz" Hellems went on to Concord College after high school and later joined the United States Navy, serving on the USS Orion. Eventually returning to his home in Hinton, "Buzz" owned and operated Hellems Cash Store for more than 58 years. He served on the West Virginia State Senate from 1975-1976 and was a former chairman of the Summers County Democrat Executive Committee as well as the former Director of the Nationanl Bank of Summers. He was married to Glenda Hamm Hellems for 51 years until his death on January 9, 2009 at the age of 78.

17. Jennie Lee Johnson & "Buzz" Hellems on the Steps of the Capitol Building in Washington, D. C.

Steam billows from the ship's steam towers. An American flag hangs from a mast in the rear.

18. First U.S.S. West Virginia Traveling Through Unidentified Location

A swarm of sailors are pictured on the ship deck.

19. U.S.S. West Virginia Near Coast of Unidentified Location

The battleship sails through unknown waters. The photograph was taken before America was in World War II.

20. U.S.S. West Virginia in Unidentified Location

Men inspect the damage after the infamous Japanese attack. The "Wee Vee" as the ship was affectionately referred to, was raised from the bottom of Pearl Harbor where she was moored during the attack and towed to dry dock for repairs.

21. Severely Damaged U.S.S. West Virginia After December 7th Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hi.

Trail served on this battleship during the Normandy and Okinawa invasions.

22. WWII Naval Ship in Which Van A. Trail Served On in Unidentified Location

Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

23. Unidentified Member of U.S.S. West Virginia Crew

Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Another battleship is visible in the background.

24. Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia Crew

On the photo is a message reading, "All my love, Bill." Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

25. U. S. Navy Sailor William Wright

Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

26. Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia

A man likely named Al is pictured on the ship. Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

27. Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia

Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

28. Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia, Pacific Theater

Two sailors pose together for a photo. The man on the right is likely named Al. Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

29. Unidentified Crew Members of U.S.S. West Virginia

The two men in the photo are sitting on top of or near one of the gun turrets on the ship.  Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

30. Two Men on U.S.S. West Virginia

Wright, left, is pictured with an unidentified woman on his lap. Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

31. Seaman William Wright and Female in Hula Skirt, Pearl Harbor, Hi.

Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

32. Crew Members of U.S.S. West Virginia

Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

33. Unidentified Crew Member on U.S.S. West Virginia

The photo was taken from the deck of the U.S.S. West Virginia. Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

34. United States Navy Aircraft Carrier at Sea

Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia.  William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

35. Rough Waters Aboard U.S.S. West Virginia

Photograph of the ship taken from the U.S.S. West Virginia.

36. United States Naval Ship

Two unidentified admirals are pictured in their dress uniforms.

37. Admirals Visiting the U.S.S. West Virginia

Each link in the anchor chain weighs 100 lbs. and is one foot long. The chain falls through the hawse pipes.

38. U.S.S. West Virginia Anchor Chain and Pipes

A crew works on the battleship in the dock area.

39. U.S.S. West Virginia at Dry Dock in Washington, D. C.

Crew members walk around the deck while the ship is at sea.

40. Fan Tail of U.S.S. West Virginia at Sea

Crew members surround the battleship as its anchored near the dock.

41. U.S.S. West Virginia at Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wa.

Ladders surround the battleship.

42. U.S.S. West Virginia in Dry Dock at Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wa.

A sailor walks along the deck while the ship passes the bridge.

43. View of San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge from Deck of U.S.S. West Virginia

Sailors idle beneath the ship's gun barrel while passing the bridge.

44. Sailors Observe San Francisco Bay Bridge on Deck of U.S.S. West Virginia

Sailors and Naval officers fill the battleship's deck.

45. U.S.S. West Virginia Homecoming

A crew consisting of a cox, and engineer and two extra men are pictured on the stem of the boat, which was used to take enlisted men ashore. The boat carries about 125 men and is 50 feet long.

46. U.S.S. West Virginia Motor Launch Crew

Captain Spears and his inspecting party make a routine inspection.

47. Naval Officer Inspect Crew Aboard U.S.S. West Virginia

An unidentified crew member leans against the 5" gun and port.

48. Sailor Beside U.S.S. West Virginia Gun and Port

A sailor is transferred to the motor boat by gliding down a rope and pulley system. Motor boats were used to carry enlisted men ashore. Photo taken from the deck of the U.S.S. West Virginia. An unidentified battleship lurks in the background.

49. Sailor Boarding a Motor Boat by High-Line Transfer

50. U.S.S. West Virginia at Sea

A sailor stands in the boat while it's being raised by the battleship's crane. The "punt" boat was used only to paint the sides of the ship. The boat pictured on the far left is a whale boat, which is used as a life boat and is also used in racing. The boat on the right  is called a "racing cutter" and is also used as a life boat and in cutter racing.

51. U.S.S. West Virginia Crane Hoisting "Punt" Boat

Hepburn was Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy Fleet.

52. Admiral Arthur J. Hepburn

Whale boat crew that won a race near San Pedro, California, on February 4, 1934 with a time of 16 minutes, 7 seconds.  William Hand is identified as front row, far right.

53. U.S.S. West Virginia Whale Boat Crew

The battleship's deck is briefly flooded by seawater.

54. U.S.S. West Virginia en Route to Bremerton, Wa. Navy Yard

A group of men are scattered along the dry dock inspecting and repairing the ship.

55. Workers Adjusting U.S.S. West Virginia Propellars

Two sailors on the deck observe the gunfire.

56. U.S.S. West Virginia Firing Guns

A boat speeds across the sea while the U.S.S. West Virginia lurks in the background.

57. Liberty Boat Going Ashore from U.S.S. West Virginia

Furlong during a visit to the U.S.S. West Virginia.

58. Captain William R. Furlong

Kalbfus is welcomed by 8 side boys, full guard, and band as well as the orderly duty and the quartermasters.

59. Vice Admiral Kalbfus Returning Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia

The U.S.S. West Virginia crew organized on the deck.

60. All Hands on Deck, U.S.S. West Virginia

The old captain of the ship, William R. Furlong (right), stands beside the new captain of the ship, William O. Spears (left).

61. Captain W. R. Furlong and Captain W. O. Spears Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia

The plane sits on the battleship's deck.

62. Scout Plane Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia

The admiral is greeted with a band and guard as he boards the ship.

63. Visiting Admiral Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia

Looking up at the mast from the ship's deck.

64. U.S.S. West Virginia's Main Mast

Crew members fire the 5" guns.

65. Anti-Aircraft Guns on U.S.S. West Virginia Boat Deck

Captain William Furlong peers out at the navigation bridge during a U.S.S. West Virginia voyage.

66. Captain W. R. Furlong on the Navigation Bridge of the U.S.S. West Virginia

One of the two scout planes on the U.S.S. West Virginia sits on the stern deck.

67. Stern of U.S.S. West Virginia

The motor boats were used to transport enlisted men to and from shore.

68. Officers Transported on Motor Boats to the U.S.S. West Virginia

View looking at the 16" guns.

69. Bow of U.S.S. West Virginia

The motor boat that carries the officers to and from shore idles beside the battleship.

70. Officers' Motor Boat Beside the U.S.S. West Virginia

The battleship out at sea.

71. U.S.S. West Virginia Crashing through Wave

A crew tends to the ship.

72. U.S.S. West Virginia in Navy Yard Dry Dock somewhere in Washington

Thick, black smoke billows from an unidentified battleship.

73. Battleship Laying Smoke Screen

Crew members look out to the sea from the deck.

74. U.S.S. West Virginia Out at Sea

Crew members hanging out of the West Virginia and in a smaller boat alongside attempt to right the overturned boat.

75. Capsized Sail Boat Off of U.S.S. West Virginia

Captain Furlong was commander of the ship.

76. Captain William Furlong Aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia

Crane ship docked at the Navy yard.

77. U.S.S. Crane Ship No. 2, Bremerton, Wa.

A crowd awaits the U.S.S. West Virginia crew returning from a voyage. The boat on the left is the captain's "gig."

78. Navy Landing, Long Beach, Ca.

A fleet of U.S. bomber airplanes fly across the sky. The photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia Scrapbook.

79. Flight of Bombers in Hawaii

Photograph comes from a U.S.S. West Virginia scrapbook.

80. Naval Fleet Displaying Searchlights at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

American president Franklin D. Roosevelt inspected the Pacific Fleet, including the U.S.S. West Virginia.

81. President Franklin D. Roosevelt Boards Cruiser Houston, San Francisco Bay, CA

A sailor prepares to dive into the sea off the deck of the U.S.S. West Virginia.

82. Scuba Diver off U.S.S. West Virginia

Crew members pal around during the crossing initiation ceremony, where sailors who have never crossed the equator before are "brought before Neptune" and tested.

83. U.S.S. West Virginia Crossing the Equator

The U.S.S. West Virginia floats beneath the bridge.

84. U.S.S. West Virginia beneath Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge, Ca.

The Japanese hit the "Wee Vee" with nine bombs and torpedoes during the attack. The U.S.S. Tennessee is moored on the right.

85. U.S.S. West Virginia Burning and Sinking after Pearl Harbor Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

On the left, only the top deck and caged masts of the U.S.S. West Virginia can be seen. The U.S.S. West Virginia was hit with nine bombs and torpedoes total. In the center is the U.S.S. Arizona and on the right is the U.S.S. Tennessee. All ships are on fire.

86. U.S.S. West Virginia Sinking after Pearl Harbor Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Men on boats attempt to extinguish the fire on the U.S.S. West Virginia.

87. Crews Fighting Fires on U.S.S. West Virginia after Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The U.S.S. West Virginia looks battered and wounded while docked at the naval shipyard. The "Wee Vee" was hit by nine bombs and torpedoes by the Japanese warplanes during the December 7th attack.

88. Salvaging Operations aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Crew members during a salvage and repair operation work port side of the battered battleship. The U.S.S. West Virginia was hit by seven torpedoes and two bombs during the December 7th attack.

89. Gaping Wound on U.S.S. West Virginia, Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii

The photograph was taken at the beginning of the attack. The explosion seen in the center of the photograph is a torpedo that struck the U.S.S. West Virginia.

90. Aerial Photograph taken from Japanese Plane during Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

An official U.S. Navy photograph. From left to right is the U.S.S. West Virginia, U.S.S. Tennessee, and the U.S.S. Arizona.

91. Burning and Damaged Ships After Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Smoke rises from the sinking battleship, which was hit by seven torpedoes and two bombs.

92. Damaged U.S.S. West Virginia after Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Smoke billows from the U.S.S. West Virginia, which is pictured in the back and center of the photograph. The ship eventually sank.Floating on the left is the U.S.S. Maryland. On the right is a capsized U.S.S. Oklahoma.

93. Damaged Battleships following Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Miller was a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia as a Messman Third Class during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was awarded the Navy Cross--the third highest navy award for gallantry during combat--for "distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety during the attack. Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain who had been mortally wounded to a place of greater safety and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge."Miller was personally awarded the medal by Admiral Chester Nimitz. He was the first African-American to be awarded the honor.

94. Doris Miller Awarded Navy Cross, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Captain Bennion was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. As  he laid mortally wounded on the West Virginia's command bridge, Bennion refused to be removed from his burning ship. He continued to give orders, directing his crew's actions. Bennion's last order to his men before he died was to leave him and "abandon ship." Captain Bennion was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

95. USN Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, U.S.S. West Virginia

L to R: Jack Miller, Frank Kosa, Clifford Olds.Olds and 2 other crew members , Ronald Endicott and Louis Costin were trapped in a sealed compartment in the West Virginia's bow after it sank on December 7th.  Any rescue attempt meant certain death. The 3 stayed alive until December 24th according to a marked calendar found with their bodies which were recovered after the ship was raised from the harbor bottom in May, 1942.

96. U.S.S. West Virginia Sailors Hoist Their Glasses at Monkey Bar, Pearl Harbor, HI