Album: Wounded Veterans Assist in Research at the USS Arizona

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

In March 2018, the National Park Service Submerged Resources Center and our partner Pacific Historic Parks - USS Arizona Memorial completed a pilot project that involves our wounded service members in the scientific study, interpretation, and protection of one of our nation’s most important memorials to military service and sacrifice - USS Arizona. The program augments NPS underwater archaeologists and photographers with disabled veterans trained in scientific diving to assist the NPS National Dive Program with its ongoing management responsibilities for this American icon. US Army veteran David Ortiz, a T-10 complete paraplegic from a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, participated in this dive at the USS Arizona.