Their Story
Michael J. Giovenazzo was born on January 4, 1920, in Silvis, Illinois.[1] Michael was one of eight siblings in the Giovenazzo family and graduated from East Moline High School.[2] After high school in 1938, Michael enlisted in the Navy.
Michael was assigned to the U.S.S Arizona at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as a water tender or boiler custodian. The morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, was like any other Sunday on Oahu Island. It was a warm 73 degrees with partly cloudy skies.[3] Sunday mornings were time off for most service members; to spend time with their families, attend church, or just relax from a long week. Michael Giovenazzo was one of those service members who were enjoying this time. This Sunday would not end the same as any other Sunday. At 7:55 a.m., it would change from just being an ordinary day to what President Franklin D. Roosevelt would declare, “a day that would live in infamy.”[4]
The Empire of Japan ambushed Pearl Harbor with bombers, bombing the ships and the base as a whole. The U.S.S. Arizona, along with the U.S.S. Oklahoma and U.S.S. Utah, would sink in the harbor because of the bombings from the Japanese, resulting in 1,664[5] casualties out of the over 2,300 military members and civilians who would perish that day.[6] His younger brother, Sam, enlisted in the Navy, like many Americans, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.[7] On December 8, President Roosevelt asked Congress to vote on a declaration of war against the Empire of Japan. The vote passed overwhelmingly, with an 88-0 in the Senate and 388-1 in the House of Representatives.[8] America would officially join World War II.
While Michael died that day, another brother, Joe, who was also in the Navy, was at Pearl Harbor that day and survived.[9] The Giovenazzo family, back in Silvis, were told by the Department of the Navy that both brothers were safe. Although this wasn’t true, the brothers were mixed up due to so many casualties needing to be accounted for. On December 22, the Giovenazzo family received word that Michael was missing. [10] Almost two months would pass without a word of or from Michael.
On February 16, 1942, the Giovenazzo family received a letter signed by Secretary of the Navy Frank Nox that Michael was being considered killed in action.[11]
“Owing to the length of time which has elapsed since your son was first reported missing and due to the fact that no further word has been received about him, the Navy Department has abandoned all hope of his surviving an engagement in the Pacific. However, subsequent findings have revealed that the man listed as surviving is a brother, Joseph. The Navy Department and I extend to you our sincere sympathy and deep sorrow at the loss of your son.” [12]
Micahel would be one of three other sailors from the Quad Cities to lose their life on that day.[13] The U.S.S. Arizona, Oklahoma, and Utah became tombs for the 1,664 who sacrificed their lives for their country on December 7.
In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved legislation for the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial to commemorate the military personnel who lost their lives that day.[14] The memorial is constructed over the hull of the sunken Arizona.[15] In 1980, the memorial was turned over to the National Park Service, and the Navy and the NPS jointly constructed the visitor center that same year.[16] In December 2008, 67 years after the bombing, an executive order was signed by President George W. Bush to establish the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The executive order expanded the NPS mission to manage not only the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial but also the U.S.S. Utah and U.S.S. Oklahoma memorials.
While Michael Giovenazzo is entombed in the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, he has a Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablet at the Rock Island Arsenal.
[1] “Missing in Action– East Moline and Silvis Men Lost in War,” Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, IL), Dec. 22, 1941. 22 Dec 1941, 22 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com.
[2] “Silvis Sailor, Listed as Missing, Safe, Reported a Casualty by Navy,” Daily Dispatch (Moline, IL), Feb. 16, 1942.
16 Feb 1942, 11 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com.
[3] K. Walker, “Pearl Harbor Weather History,” The Baltimore Sun (blog), December 4, 2011, Pearl Harbor weather history – Baltimore Sun.
[4] “FDR’s “Day of Infamy Speech Crafting a Call to Arms,” Prologue Magazine 33, no. 4 (2001)
FDR’s “Day of Infamy” Speech | National Archives.
[5] “Description of the Memorial,” National Park Service, April 15, 2019, Description of the Memorial – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
[6] “Significance of the Memorial,” National Park Service, April 15, 2019, Significance of the Memorial – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
[7] “Missing in Action– East Moline and Silvis Men Lost in War,” Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, IL), Dec. 22, 1941. 22 Dec 1941, 22 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com.
[8] “S.J. Res. 116 Declaration of War on Japan,” Visitthecapitol.gov,
[9] “Missing in Action– East Moline and Silvis Men Lost in War,” Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, IL), Dec. 22, 1941. 22 Dec 1941, 22 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com.
[10] “Silvis Sailor, Listed as Missing, Safe, Reported a Casualty by Navy,” Daily Dispatch (Moline, IL), Feb. 16, 1942. 16 Feb 1942, 11 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com.
[11] “Silvis Sailor, Listed as Missing, Safe, Reported a Casualty by Navy,” Daily Dispatch (Moline, IL), Feb. 16, 1942.
16 Feb 1942, 11 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com.
[12] “Silvis Sailor, Listed as Missing, Safe, Reported a Casualty by Navy,” Daily Dispatch (Moline, IL), Feb. 16, 1942. 16 Feb 1942, 11 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com.
[13] “Missing in Action– East Moline and Silvis Men Lost in War,” Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, IL), Dec. 22, 1941. 22 Dec 1941, 22 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com.
[14] “Description of the Memorial,” National Park Service, April 15, 2019,
Description of the Memorial – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
[15] “Description of the Memorial,” National Park Service, April 15, 2019,
Description of the Memorial – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
[16] “Description of the Memorial,” National Park Service, April 15, 2019,
Description of the Memorial – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).