10/21/2026
Remembering the Becker Brothers — December 7, 1941
As we approach the 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I wanted to share a piece of my digital artwork that is deeply personal to me and my family.
On December 7, 1941, my uncles Marvin and Wesley Becker were serving aboard the USS Arizona. Both lost their lives that morning when the ship was attacked. Their older brother, Harvey Becker, also served aboard the Arizona but survived because he was ashore with his wife that morning.
All three brothers served in Turret Two.
In this composite, Wesley and Marvin are pictured individually on the left and right. Above them is a photograph of all three brothers together, taken just days before the attack. Harvey is standing in the center, with his arms around his younger brothers.
Following the attack, the guns of Turret Two were salvaged. During that process, the remains of sailors recovered from the turret were interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. For decades, many of these men have rested in graves without individual identification.
This December, I will travel to Pearl Harbor to participate in the 85th anniversary remembrance and attend a ceremony recognizing the beginning of military efforts to identify these sailors' remains. For our family, this represents an especially meaningful step toward honoring the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Over the past year, I've been studying photographic compositing and digital painting with renowned photographic artist Richard Sturdevant. I wanted to use what I've learned to create something more than a collection of historical photographs — an image that honors my uncles, their service, their sacrifice, and the enduring memory of the USS Arizona with its crew of sailors and Marines.
This is my tribute to Marvin, Wesley, and Harvey Becker, and to all those whose lives were forever changed on December 7, 1941.
Remember Pearl Harbor. Honor their sacrifice. Preserve their memory.
