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Clayton, Robert Roland

UNITED STATES NAVY
WORLD WAR II
CA
Individual Type Unaccounted For
Rank Cox
Service Number 3821169
Location Hawaiian Islands
Date of Loss 12/07/1941
Unit USS Arizona; UNITED STATES NAVY

On December 7, 1941, Japanese carrier-based aircraft launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy base and ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the attack, the USS Arizona (BB-39) was struck by eight armor-piercing bombs. One penetrated the Arizona's deck near its No. 2 turret, causing a large explosion that destroyed the forward half of the ship and started a fire that burned for two days. It is thought that most of the Arizona’s crew members died instantly during the explosion. More than 1,100 sailors and Marines were lost along with the ship.

Coxswain Robert R. Clayton, who entered the U.S. Navy from California, was aboard the Arizona on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack and was among the men lost with the ship. His remains were not recovered. Today, Coxswain Clayton is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Robert R Clayton