A Somber Reminder By Jim McCoy, Pacific Historic Parks
T
he August 2, 1941 issue of “At Em Arizona” is reprinted in part here to provide a sample of the news of the day on board the battleship and to remember those lost. Copies of the “At Em Arizona” date back to 1921. In those days its banner said it was published daily aboard the USS Arizona “wherever she may be.” In 1941 she was at Pearl Harbor and was in the words of the editors “published weekly, when practicable, for the good of the ship and service.” The March 1941 edition includes updates on the ship’s sports teams (the rally cry for the teams was At Em Arizona). There was an announcement on more than 300 promotions, a Navy quiz, a column on eliminating profanity, health hints, and a wrap up on a ship talent competition. Then there was a poem by Edmund Vance Cook titled “How Did You Die?” placed next to a listing of church services. These are the final four lines. “Death comes with a crawl, or he comes with a pounce, And whether he’s slow or spry, It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts, But only how did you die?” Continued on page 12
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REMEMBRANCE WINTER 2021
