This is the bell of the USS California, one of 8 battleships hit in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The USS California was badly damaged by two aerial torpedoes and *** bomb. During the attacks, 104 crew members were killed. The Navy says the battleship slowly sank to the bottom of the harbor over the course of the next few days. refloated the battleship *** few months after the attack, and in October of 1942, the USS California left Pearl Harbor. It was sent to Washington for repairs, and in early 1944, the ship was back in service. The Navy says the USS California would provide gunfire support in *** handful of invasions until the end of World War II. In December of 1945. The battleship was deemed inactive before being formally decommissioned 14 months later. The USS California was sold for scraps in July of 1959, but *** decade earlier, the Battleship’s bell was donated to the people of California, and this bell stands here today at the California Capital Park, not far from the Rose Garden. And joining us is Kyle Day from the California State Parks. This is amazing that this is here, that anyone can come and see it and even touch it. I ask permission first. What does it mean to have something like this here? Well, every ship has *** soul and the soul of the ship is its crew, and the crew come and go throughout time. commanding officers change, but the ship’s bell is always with the ship, and that is *** living memorial to the crew. So it’s very important that we have it here. It’s *** great honor. Thousands of sailors and marines served on board the California in her 25 year service history. And it is *** great privilege that she stands here as *** memorial to all those who served our country on the California and for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. But what would you hope the younger generations learn if they see this bell here that they learn to study history and that they learn from history. All right, and it’s just right here at Capitol Park. Anyone can come see it. It is free to come see and it’s not far from the Rose Garden. Kyle Day, thank you so much for joining us.
History behind battleship sunk during Pearl Harbor attack | California Politics 360
104 crew members on board the USS California were killed during the attacks.
Updated: 8:22 AM PST Dec 7, 2025
It’s been 84 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. 2,403 Americans died in the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, the Department of War said. Another 1,178 Americans were injured.Eight U.S. battleships were hit during the attack, including the USS California.The USS California was hit by two torpedoes in the early minutes of the attack, the Navy said. The battleship was later hit by a bomb, which caused additional flooding. During the attacks, USS California was ordered to be abandoned. Over the next few days, the USS California sank to the bottom of the harbor, the Navy said. 104 crew members of the USS California were killed, the Department of War said. The Naval History and Heritage Command said the battleship was raised in March 1942. Seven months later, the California was sent to Washington for further repairs and modernization, the Department of War said.In 1944, two years after the attack, the USS California returned to her combat fleet. The Department of War said the battleship participated in the battles of Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa.After providing naval support, the USS California returned home and arrived in Philadelphia on Dec. 7, 1945, four years to the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The battleship was decommissioned in 1949 and sold for scraps a decade later.In October 1949, the Navy donated the bell that had been mounted on the battleship to California. Gov. Earl Warren placed the bell at Capitol Park during a ceremony. “Every ship has a soul, and the soul of the ship is its crew,” said Kyle Day, who works at the State Capitol Museum. “The crew come and go throughout time, the commanding officers change, but the ship’s bell is always with the ship. That is a living memorial to the crew, so it is very important that we have it here. It’s a great honor.” The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is working to identify unknown remains recovered from the USS California. Hundreds of unidentified remains were buried as Unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the DPAA said. Twenty-five sets of remains were recovered from the USS California.In early 2018, DPAA exhumed 25 caskets containing USS California Unknowns. At this time, 20 sailors were still unaccounted for. In October 2021, DPAA identified the first missing sailor as Seaman Second Class Pete Turk. They are still working to identify 8 sets of remains.”Thousands of sailors and Marines served onboard the California in her 25-year service history. It is a great privilege that she stands here as a memorial to all those who have served our country on the California and for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Day said.The 350-pound cast bronze bell can be found at the park today, but it is partly hidden due to construction on the State Capitol Annex.There is an inscription on the structure attached to the bell that states the USS California was the only battleship to be built on the West Coast. The State Capitol Museum says further information found that claim was wrong. The USS Nebraska, USS Oregon, USS Wisconsin, and the USS Ohio were all built in shipyards on the West Coast.KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3. The show also airs on KSBW in Monterey and Salinas, KEYT in Santa Barbara and CBS8 in San Diego.
HONOLULU COUNTY, Hawaii —
It’s been 84 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. 2,403 Americans died in the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, the Department of War said. Another 1,178 Americans were injured.
Eight U.S. battleships were hit during the attack, including the USS California.
The USS California was hit by two torpedoes in the early minutes of the attack, the Navy said. The battleship was later hit by a bomb, which caused additional flooding. During the attacks, USS California was ordered to be abandoned. Over the next few days, the USS California sank to the bottom of the harbor, the Navy said.
104 crew members of the USS California were killed, the Department of War said.
The Naval History and Heritage Command said the battleship was raised in March 1942. Seven months later, the California was sent to Washington for further repairs and modernization, the Department of War said.
In 1944, two years after the attack, the USS California returned to her combat fleet. The Department of War said the battleship participated in the battles of Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa.
After providing naval support, the USS California returned home and arrived in Philadelphia on Dec. 7, 1945, four years to the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The battleship was decommissioned in 1949 and sold for scraps a decade later.
In October 1949, the Navy donated the bell that had been mounted on the battleship to California. Gov. Earl Warren placed the bell at Capitol Park during a ceremony.
“Every ship has a soul, and the soul of the ship is its crew,” said Kyle Day, who works at the State Capitol Museum. “The crew come and go throughout time, the commanding officers change, but the ship’s bell is always with the ship. That is a living memorial to the crew, so it is very important that we have it here. It’s a great honor.”
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is working to identify unknown remains recovered from the USS California. Hundreds of unidentified remains were buried as Unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the DPAA said. Twenty-five sets of remains were recovered from the USS California.
In early 2018, DPAA exhumed 25 caskets containing USS California Unknowns. At this time, 20 sailors were still unaccounted for. In October 2021, DPAA identified the first missing sailor as Seaman Second Class Pete Turk. They are still working to identify 8 sets of remains.
“Thousands of sailors and Marines served onboard the California in her 25-year service history. It is a great privilege that she stands here as a memorial to all those who have served our country on the California and for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Day said.
The 350-pound cast bronze bell can be found at the park today, but it is partly hidden due to construction on the State Capitol Annex.
There is an inscription on the structure attached to the bell that states the USS California was the only battleship to be built on the West Coast. The State Capitol Museum says further information found that claim was wrong. The USS Nebraska, USS Oregon, USS Wisconsin, and the USS Ohio were all built in shipyards on the West Coast.
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3. The show also airs on KSBW in Monterey and Salinas, KEYT in Santa Barbara and CBS8 in San Diego.