USS Arizona Whaleboat Team: Standing left to right: Lawrence J. Griffin, Herbert A. Dreesbach, Marvin A. Hughes, John McRay Baker, Eugene Brickley, Gordon E. Shive, and Burnis L. Bond. Kneeling left to right: Francis J. Pedrotti, Robert C. Erskine, Robert W. Dunnam, Donald E. Fleetwood, David W. Bartlet and Russell J. McCurdy. During the summer of 1941, the Marine detachment engaged in the Whale Boat competition with the Pacific Fleet. We raced against other Marine detachments, and won. We pulled against all the divisions of our ship, and won. In getting ready for the Fleet Championship run off, the USS Arizona had to field a team. The ship's captain, Franklin Van Valkenburgh, thought the best men from each division should make up the team.
