USS Arizona's last band: The history of U.S. Navy Band Number 22

by Molly Kent

363 p. : ill. 24 cm.

Genres: History

363 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Ellen]

Assessing this book on the merits of its writing seems to miss the point of why it exists. As such, the star rating speaks more to my considering the book a worthwhile read for its content and aim than a critical assessment of the writing. This is a humbling read: a sister's effort to honor her brother and his fellow musicians who died at Pearl Harbor. Driven by a desire to correct popular, inaccurate urban legends about how the band died, Kent's account is well-researched and well-cited, and her writing clear and accessible. Letters from her brother and his bandmates, and Kent's narrative voice, clearly influenced by her personal connection, make this a very moving, poignant read. Some anecdotes are repeated, and such a strong narrative voice could be off-putting to some who prefer neutral looks at historical events. However, the author states her intent as "to help you come to know its musicians and to understand what a terrible shock the loss of those twenty-one boys was to their family." At this purpose, the book succeeds, and Kent's distinct narration reinforces the sense of loss. As history moves further and further into past, accounts like this, which remind the reader of the humanity of tragic events, become even more valuable.

[Jeffrey Williams]

This book is a heartwarming story about Fred Kinney and the 20 members of the U.S.S. Arizona's band, told through the eyes of the sister of one of the cornet players. Kent brings out the character and personalities of each of the band members, gives us a good look to the level of training and the daily duties of the bands, heart warming stories told through the letters the bandsmen sent home and breaks through numerous myths that were told about their tragic deaths at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. When you finish this book, expect tears to well up in your eyes and have a moment of stunned silence as a tribute to the characters. With few people still living who remember Pearl Harbor, this true account of the band makes you feel the tragedy and sting of the loss.

The only problem I have with this book is that the author constantly reminds us of the forthcoming tragedy. We know the Arizona sank with huge loss of life. We know, from reading the introduction to the book, that the band perished. We readers did not need the constant reminders that December 7th was forthcoming because we already knew that. I will concede that because of the author's personal connection to the band and the events, that it was probably difficult for her to write the account.

Nonetheless, if you can overlook that one factor, you will find a wonderful heart-warming story. When it's finished, you'll feel as robbed as the families who suffered through their loss. This is one of those few Pearl Harbor books that you'll want to pick up and be glad that you did.

[Hans Myers]

A thoughtful, evocative history of Navy Band 22 written by the sister of one of its members, "USS Arizona's Last Band" is clearly a labor of love for her lost brother and his musical comrades in arms who were killed - along with over 1,000 others - nearly instantly when the ship exploded during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Shows its age - and the views of the author - regarding the lead-up to the Pearl Harbor attack, as well as some lingering racial prejudices. In all, an easily readable book only slightly marred by the author's highly visible disdain for Franklin Roosevelt and the Japanese.

[Lois]

This book is a definite worthwhile read. Including myself, most people associate Dec 7, 1941 with the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor, bringing the US into WWII, and that’s about it. This book is the result of exhaustive research from the author, the sister of one of the members of the Navy band aboard the ship who were all killed. Because of the time period, contact between sailors and their family back home was limited to telegrams and letters. The author collected information from other parents, siblings and friends, in order to find answers about the band members’ final days. Official communication between the Navy and families was heavily censored and sparse also.

The author explained why she wrote the book, because it is important to record events from a first hand account. Ironically, using modern day internet search (think of how ponderous researching such things were before computers!) I discovered the author died in 2020 at the age of 99. Without personal accounts, much of history is buried in tomes of textbooks.

Understandably, the author’s bitterness and resentment comes out toward the government, the US Navy, President Roosevelt and the Japanese. In spite of that, it was nice having names and faces to some of the casualties on that fateful day.

[David Ellis]

This is book address both my band geek and WWII history geek all in one. This is the story of the USS Navy Band 22 that was formed and trained at the US Navy School of Music in 1941. As the name applies they were assigned to the USS Arizona. While preparing to play for colors on the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked. The band dropped their instruments and reports to their battle station in the ammunition hold. When the bomb struck the hold that sunk the Arizona the entire band was killed. This book is by the sister of one of the cornet players in the band and tells the band's story. Highly recommend it to both band geeks and WWII history buffs.

[Nancy Loe]

Found this in the bookstore at the visitor center for the USS Arizona - it's a straightforward, affecting account of the young men who played in the Arizona's band, written by the sister of a lost sailor.