U.S.S West Virginia artifact coming back to Mercer County in spring 2024

Greg Jordan, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W.Va.
Updated ·3 min read

Dec. 7—PRINCETON — A World War II artifact with significance for both the United States and West Virginia is scheduled to return next spring to the Those Who Served War Museum in Mercer County.

Last March a life preserver from the battleship USS West Virginia, which was among the Navy ships anchored in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, was displayed at the war museum in the Memorial Building near the Mercer County Courthouse. The rare artifact from America's entry into World War II was displayed until June before it was sent to West Virginia University in Morgantown.

The life preserver — donated by WVU alumnus Ken Kendrick, his wife, Randy, and his brother, Rick — will make its public debut following Pearl Harbor remembrance events on campus Dec. 7, the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It will be presented as a gift to the West Virginia and Regional History Center at WVU Libraries. The event is organized by the WVU Center for Veteran, Military and Family Programs.

"We are honored the Kendrick family has dedicated such an important part of U.S. military history to WVU Libraries," Penny Lipscomb, interim director of the Center for Veteran, Military and Family Programs, said. "Being able to have the USS West Virginia mast, the life preserver and the Pearl Harbor Day remembrance ceremony on campus allows for us to reflect and honor our service members and their sacrifices."

At the Kendricks' request, WVU Libraries agreed to occasionally share the life preserver with regional museums for temporary display for educational purposes. In spring 2024, it will be loaned to the Those Who Served War Museum — in Ken and Rick Kendrick's hometown of Princeton — for school visits.

The Kendricks acquired the life preserver from a museum collection in Washington state and felt it was a powerful piece of Pearl Harbor history that should be shared with others.

"We are proud to contribute to WVU a life preserver that was retrieved from the USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941," Ken Kendrick said. "As native West Virginians, we also celebrate the incredible heritage of military service that personifies the values of so many of our fellow Mountaineers."

Ken Kendrick earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from WVU in 1965 and went on to become one of the world's leading entrepreneurs. He now serves as managing general partner and principal owner of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Kendricks are dedicated WVU supporters who have generously contributed to many units and programs across campus, including the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, WVU Athletics, the WVU Eye Institute and more.

The U.S.S West Virginia was among the Navy ships stationed at Pearl Harbor when dive bombers and torpedo plans launched from Japanese carriers north of Hawaii conducted a surprise attack. The goal was to crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Soon the battleship was hit by at least seven torpedos and two bombs. She started sinking, but her crew's skillful damage control kept her from capsizing. More than 100 members of her crew perished. Sixty-six of them were found when the ship was raised.

They had survived in air pockets until they perished, making the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Despite the damage, the USS West Virginia was raised, repaired and modernized. She returned to the Pacific combat zone in October 1944, participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of Leyte in the Philippines and fought at the Battle of Surigao Strait.

She helped thwart a Japanese attack on the Leyte invasion zone and fought in last engagement when battleships fired on each other with their big guns. Her 16-inch guns were fired during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa as well.

A suicide plane known as a kamikaze struck the West Virginia at Okinawa, but she stayed in the battle.

The USS West Virginia final triumph came on Sept. 2, 1945, when she was among the Navy ships that sailed into Tokyo Bay and accepted Japan's unconditional surrender.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com