U.S.S. West Virginia Immediately after Launch, Newport News, Va.
Date:
1921/11/19
Description:
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.
Clifford Kain Condon, Pharmacist, United States Navy from Morgantown, W. Va
Date:
ca. 1938
Description:
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.
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.
United States Armored Coast Defense Vessel 'Monterey'
Date:
1890
Description:
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.
Eugene Holland, United States Navy from Morgantown, W. Va.
Description:
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".
Jennie Lee Johnson & "Buzz" Hellems on the Steps of the Capitol Building in Washington, D. C.
Date:
1948
Description:
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.
Severely Damaged U.S.S. West Virginia After December 7th Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
ca. 1942
Description:
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.
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.
Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia Crew
Date:
ca. 1944-45
Description:
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.
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.
Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
ca. 1944-45
Description:
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.
Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
1944-45
Description:
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.
Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia, Pacific Theater
Date:
1944-45
Description:
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.
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.
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.
Seaman William Wright and Female in Hula Skirt, Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
1944
Description:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sailor Boarding a Motor Boat by High-Line Transfer
Date:
ca. 1936-1937
Description:
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.
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.
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.
Crew members pal around during the crossing initiation ceremony, where sailors who have never crossed the equator before are "brought before Neptune" and tested.
U.S.S. West Virginia in dry dock, likely in Newport News, Va. during construction. The keel was laid down in April 1920, and the ship was launched in November 1921.
U.S.S. West Virginia in Dry Dock, Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
1943/05/25
Description:
"The W. Va. is shown as she was photographed at a dry dock in Pearl Harbor. The battleship was severely damaged in the Japanese raid Dec. 7, 1941. Damages to her sides are visible."
"This port quarter shot of the W. Va. taken from the capsized Oklahoma, shows a general view of the damage to the W. Va., sunk in the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941."The U.S.S. Tennessee is visible behind the sunken U.S.S. West Virginia. Part of the U.S.S. Oklahoma is visible in the foreground.
U.S.S. West Virginia Landing Vehicle Headed for Okinawa Beaches
Date:
1945/04
Description:
Troops loaded into landing vehicles head for the beaches of Okinawa as part of the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific theater during World War II. The U.S.S. West Virginia is pictured in the background.
General Omar N. Bradley, Admiral Edward C. Ewen, and Secretary of War Louis A. Johnson discuss the military crisis in Korea around a steam kettle in Guam.
President Roosevelt Inspects Army and Navy Aircraft, Washington, D. C.
Date:
1938/10/29
Description:
Text on the back reads: "Charles Edison, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; President Roosevelt; and Louis Johnson, Assistant Secretary of War, as the President made an inspection of various types of aircraft at Army's Bolling Field and Naval Air Station."