The USS Missouri was decommissioned for the last time.
So "Happy Retirement" to the ship and her caretakers. We spent some time on the Mighty Mo when we went to Hawaii a few years ago. Being part of the USS Iowa family, we were treated like royalty, and got to see some Behind The Scenes things that aren't normally open to the public.
And of course, we went to the USS Arizona Memorial, where I was doing OK until I saw the oil bubbling up...
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IF Hawaii gets past its draconian Covid restrictions/requirements, and IF we can still afford it, I want to go back at least once more. I've visited the Arizona several times, but not yet the Missouri. That needs to change.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just me, but the Sense of History I got when we went aboard her was immense.
DeleteWhen she was berthed in Bremerton, WA a small potion of the deck was open to the public. My parents visited her and were visibly moved being of the Greatest Generation.
ReplyDeleteStanding on the deck at the surrender placard and listening to the tour guide was mesmerizing. I know my Dad saw these big ships when he was all over the South Pacific as he talked about seeing the flashes of the Naval gunfire, and then hearing the sound roll in some seconds later.
DeleteI can remember in 1948 or so when the "Big Mo" steamed into Long Beach Harbor. I was about 5 and the folks took us to see her arrive for some work as she was preparing for another deployment.
ReplyDelete14 years after that (1962), I was actually attached to the Naval Base at LGB before shipping out to join the Naval Aviation Training Center in Millington, TN for the next year learning to be an Avionics Technician.
Oh, yes, the LBNSY! My first wife had an aide that was a retired CPO. He'd get us into the NCO club for the Christmas party, and other events. The first time I went on the base I was with Hughes, and we got to go aboard the Nimitz as guests.
DeleteI couldn't believe how BIG it was when we got there!
USS PRINCETON LPH-5 Left LGB beginning of May 1968 next stop on our way to Vietnam... Of Course!! was Hawaii!! Flight Deck Parade ... we lined the flight deck in Trop. White long's... as we passed by the "ARIZONA" the Chaplin over the "1-MC" gave short... "AMEN!!" ....
ReplyDeleteNeed I say more.......
"And may GOD rest the Souls that Perished inside her hull... from 07DEC till Christmas day 1941 "SOMEONE!!" one of the entombed men kept bhangng on the bulkhead with a wrench, piece of pipe or what... They were alive till Christmas then... the banging stopped.... Anybody wanna bitch about dropping the nukes on the japs in 08/'45??? As the late Frank gallop would say in his throty, baritone voice,"REALLY???!!!!!!!!!"'
skybill
PR-2 USN 05DEC1966-23NOV1970 USS PRINCETON LPH-5 and USS OKINAWA LPH-3 ...Ship's Company V-6 Div. "Parloft!!" "Vietnam '68"... APOLLO X (10) pickup.. May 69!!!!