The Vial

This vial contains something very special. This is not just any vial of dirty liquid.

This is a vial of fuel oil that came from the USS Arizona. It was collected by a US Navy dive team that included New Hampton native Don Dixon. Don was on his way to Vietnam in the 1960s when he his ship docked in Pearl Harbor, near the USS Arizona site. He noticed a dive team was getting ready to dive and since he had just completed Naval Diver training he took the chance to get closer to see what was happening. As luck would have it, the dive master didn't just let him watch. He had him get his equipment and Don joined the diving group. Their mission was to collect samples of the fuel oil that continues to escape from the hull of the sunken ship. After the dive was over and the samples were processed, the dive master gave each diver a vial with containing fuel oil from the USS Arizona. Don kept this in his closet for over 50 years, telling almost no one, including his family. When this display was put together Don realized that this was the way to help keep alive the memories of the men lost not only on the USS Arizona, but in Vietnam, and all other wars.