The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked a pivotal moment in World War II, drawing the United States into the conflict after a surprise assault by Japanese forces.
This event, occurring at the U.S. naval base in Hawaii, resulted in significant casualties, with 2,403 Americans killed, including 2,335 service members and 68 civilians.
The identification of victims, particularly their home states, has been a complex process, especially given the scale of the attack and the condition of remains, particularly from ships like the USS Oklahoma and USS Arizona.
The Pearl Harbor attack targeted naval ships and military facilities across Oahu, with significant losses on battleships moored at Battleship Row. The USS Arizona suffered the highest single-ship loss with 1,177 deaths, while the USS Oklahoma saw 429 crew members killed when it capsized after being hit by multiple torpedoes.
Other ships, such as the USS California and USS Tennessee, also had casualties, and army and marine personnel at nearby bases like Schofield Barracks and the Marine Barracks were affected.
The total death toll climbed as relief efforts revealed sunken battleships as graves for
Efforts to identify the remains of Pearl Harbor victims have been led by organizations like the DPAA, particularly for the USS Oklahoma, where many were initially buried as "unknowns."
These efforts, starting in 2015, have identified 361 of the 429 crew members by 2021, providing home state information for many. Similarly, records from the National Park Service and various memorial websites have helped document casualties, including their origins.
For Arkansans, historical records and recent identifications reveal at least five victims:
Samuel Cyrus Steiner, a Fireman First Class on the USS Oklahoma, from Winthrop, Arkansas, with his remains identified in March 2020 and laid to rest in Texarkana, Arkansas (Navy Times article on Samuel Cyrus Steiner).
Joseph Morris Robertson, a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Oklahoma, born in Paragould, Arkansas, with remains identified in 2024 and set for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Glenn Tipton, a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Oklahoma, from Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, with remains identified and reported in 2018. (Pictured)
Charles E. Ray, a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Arizona, from Little Rock, Arkansas, killed when the ship exploded, listed in crew records (USS Arizona Crew List for Charles E. Ray).
James A. Henderson, a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS California, from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, killed during the attack, noted in casualty lists (Pearl Harbor Casualty List for James A. Henderson).
For Oklahomians, similar research identifies at least four victims:
D.T. Kyser, a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Oklahoma, from Muskogee, Oklahoma, with remains identified and accounted for by the DPAA (Pictured).
William A. Stinson, a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Oklahoma, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with remains identified in 2019 by the DPAA.
William D. Moore, a Private First Class in the Marines, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, killed at the Marine Barracks during the attack, noted in military casualty record.
William F. Ward, a Private First Class in the Army, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killed at Schofield Barracks, listed in casualty records.
The identification of these individuals highlights the diverse origins of Pearl Harbor victims, with both Arkansas and Oklahoma contributing to the casualty count.
The USS Oklahoma, named after Oklahoma, had a significant number of casualties, and its crew included individuals from both states, reflecting the national recruitment for naval service.
The presence of army and marine casualties from these states, such as William D. Moore and William F. Ward, underscores that the attack's impact extended beyond naval personnel to other military branches stationed in Hawaii.
An interesting aspect is the recent identification of remains, such as those of Samuel Cyrus Steiner and Joseph Morris Robertson, which were only confirmed in the last decade.
