MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University will display an important World War II artifact, a life preserver from the USS West Virginia that was docked when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The USS West Virginia was damaged and sunk in the attack, and 108 crew members were lost and many more wounded.
The ship was repaired and returned to duty in the Pacific Ocean through the end of the war.
The gift was made to the West Virginia and Regional History Center at WVU Libraries by Randy and Ken Kendrick and Ken’s brother Rick, who found the artifact in a museum in Washington State and felt it was important to share the piece of history with others, according to Lori Hostuttler, director of the West Virginia and Regional History Center.
“The Kendricks have an established relationship with WVU, and they’re incredible supporters of the university,” Hostutler said. “They’re also very history-minded and community-minded.”
The piece will be formally introduced to the community at an event at the Downtown Library following a ceremony commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the attack on Oglebay Plaza on December 7 at 9:30 a.m.
“We will have the life preserver in the lobby of the Downtown Library from about 10 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m. that day, and anyone can come check it out,” Hostutler said.
In addition to the life preserver, other USS West Virginia artifacts on display will be scrapbooks, pins, pictures, and other items.
“We even have a uniform from someone who served on the U.S.S. West Virginia, and we have a lot of materials in our collection too about the mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia, which is on Oglebay Plaza,” Hostutler said.
The artifact was pulled from Pearl Harbor by a witness to the attack a few days later, while the waters still had traces of blood and oil in them.
“The person who was picked was named Charles House Morgan Jr.; he was 16 years old and his father, Charles House Morgan Snr., was a commander in the military,” Hostutler said.
According to Hostutler, the Morgans were walking towards the elder’s duty station when they saw the Japanese planes and then witnessed the attack begin from about 200 feet away. The elder Morgan then ran to the headquarters, and Morgan Jr. fled to an air defense site, both to help with the response to the Japanese attack.
“It meant a lot to him and his family, just as it means a lot to us here at WVU,” Hostutler said. “Anything that has West Virginia on it, we’re proud of and want to connect with.”