By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Reps. Quang Nguyen (R-LD1) and Justin Wilmeth (R-LD2) are encouraging public support for the future USS Arizona and its crew following a meeting with representatives of the foundation supporting the submarine’s commissioning and preserving the legacy of its battleship predecessor.
The lawmakers recently met with USS Arizona Legacy Foundation President Nicole LaSlavic and ship sponsor Nikki Stratton where they discussed the foundation’s work, the commissioning process, and opportunities for Arizonans to support the vessel and its sailors.
“The name USS Arizona carries special meaning for the people of our state, and Arizonans should know that name is returning to the fleet. A new generation of sailors will carry Arizona’s name around the world for decades to come,” Nguyen said. “We should be proud of them, stand behind them, and make sure the legacy of the USS Arizona and those who served aboard her is never forgotten.”
The submarine will be the first U.S. Navy warship to carry the Arizona name since USS Arizona (BB-39), which sank during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The attack killed 1,177 sailors and Marines aboard the battleship. Its sunken hull remains at Pearl Harbor, where the USS Arizona Memorial honors the fallen service members. Retired Lt. Cmdr. Louis “Lou” Conter, the last surviving crew member from USS Arizona’s sinking at Pearl Harbor, died in 2024 at age 102.
Stratton’s connection to the project includes her own family’s history. She is the granddaughter of Donald Stratton, who survived the attack aboard the battleship. Despite severe burns that led to his discharge in 1942, he reenlisted in 1944 and returned to service in the Pacific.
At the submarine’s December 7, 2022, keel-laying ceremony in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, Nikki Stratton welded her initials onto a steel plate intended for permanent placement aboard the vessel. The ceremony marked a milestone in its construction.
The future Arizona is a Virginia-class submarine designed to include the Virginia Payload Module, an additional hull section containing four large-diameter payload tubes. The module expands the submarine’s capacity to carry weapons and other undersea payloads.
In August, the Navy announced that it would reclassify 19 planned Virginia-class submarines equipped with the module as guided-missile submarines, using the designation SSGN. The announcement identifies SSGN-803 as the first platform in that group and estimates delivery in fiscal year 2029.
Wilmeth said that the submarine’s connection to Arizona and the sailors lost at Pearl Harbor warranted public recognition and support for its future crew.
“These sailors will serve aboard a submarine named for our state and carrying the name of a vessel whose sailors made the ultimate sacrifice at Pearl Harbor. It’s important that we honor that past while focusing on the future. We want Arizonans to know who they are, take pride in their service, and stand behind them.”
The USS Arizona Legacy Foundation, established in 2021, identifies its mission as supporting commissioning activities, educating future generations about Pearl Harbor and the battleship, and maintaining a connection between the submarine’s crew and Arizona throughout the vessel’s service.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
