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1930s

During the 1930s, the West Virginia participated in annual fleet exercises, and on six occasions was awarded the "Meat Ball," or Battle Efficiency Pennant, an honor given to the battleship achieving the best score in gunnery, communications, and engineering combined.

Envelope from the US Fleet, Summer Cruise, 1938
Envelope from the US Fleet,
Summer Cruise, 1938

USS West Virginia baseball team, 1938
USS West Virginia baseball team, 1938

 The men of the West Virginia also excelled in athletics. Organized fleet-wide competitions were held in sports such as boxing, wrestling, basketball, football, baseball, sailing rowing, and marksmanship. The General Excellence Trophy for Athletics, better known as "the Iron Man," was given annually to the ship which tallied the highest combined score for all events. The West Virginia won its first "Iron Man" in 1931, and would capture several more before the end of the decade.

Crew members
Crew members
Photo courtesy
of Chester Elliott

Admiral's barge, 1939
Admiral's barge, 1939

Junior Officers Mess, Pearl Harbor, May 11, 1940
Junior Officers Mess
Pearl Harbor
May 11, 1940
The men ate well while aboard the West Virginia, as evidenced by this holiday menu. The ship's newsletter, The Mountaineer, was published weekly.
Recruit's handbook Recruit's Handbook
The Mountaineer

Top of No. 2 16
Top of No. 2 16"gun turret, 1940
Photo courtesy of B. A. Hannah

Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
Photo courtesy of
Chester D. Elliott

In 1936 an abandoned army post near Seattle was renamed Camp West Virginia, and was used as a weekend getaway locale for the men of the USS West Virginia. Some campers enjoyed swimming, fishing, horseshoes, hiking, softball, volleyball, basketball, bowling and tennis, while others used the time to do nothing but relax.

Informal pictures of Camp West Virginia
Informal pictures of
Camp West Virginia

James McNally, CS Division
James McNally, CS Division

Preston Pradia
Preston Pradia

Chester D. Elliott, 1935
Chester D. Elliott, 1935
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