On this weekend last year, Boy Scout Troop 97 participated in the USS Missouri Campout. They stayed overnight on board the Mighty Mo!
From Wikipedia,
USS Missouri (BB-63) ("Mighty Mo" or "Big Mo") is a United States Navy Iowa-class battleship, and was the third ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri. Missouriwas the last battleship built by the United States, and was the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan which ended World War II.
Missouri was ordered in 1940 and commissioned in June 1944. In the Pacific Theater of World War II she fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and shelled the Japanese home islands, and she fought in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. She was decommissioned in 1955 into the United States Navy reserve fleets (the "Mothball Fleet"), but reactivated and modernized in 1984 as part of the 600-ship Navy plan, and provided fire support during Operation Desert Storm in January/February 1991.
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| Gulf War etchings. |
Missouri received a total of 11 battle stars for service in World War II, Korea, and the Persian Gulf, and was finally decommissioned on 31 March 1992, but remained on the Naval Vessel Register until her name was struck in January 1995. In 1998, she was donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association and became a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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The above plaque commemorates the place where the
Japanese surrendered on September 2 1945. |
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During the Battle of Okinawa, a Japanese Zero
engaged in a Kamikaze attack. |
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Mighty Mo's guns shot down the pilot.
The ship's captain gave the pilot a burial at sea. |
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| The radar scopes .... |
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| .... with the light turned off. |
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| Memorabilia from the ship's legacy. |
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| Hawaii would become the Mo's retirement home. |
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| Notice the Arabic 7 Up can! |
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| The ship's final cruise before retirement. |
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| Can you imagine manually typing battle messages? |
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| The campout included dinner in the chow hall. |
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| Set menu to feed a large group of sailors, er, Scouts. |
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| Hubby and youngest enjoy dinner. |
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| Mugs from the crew. |
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| Hubby is taking picture of a two way mirror. |
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Mighty Mo is moored on Ford Island,
giving her a panoramic view of the Naval Yard.
Above is a Canadian ship leaving port. |
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| No doubt the Canadian sailors are sad to leave Hawaii. |
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We go to an extra large photo to show the Canadian sailors
"manning the rails" to respect the USS Arizona. |
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| After dinner, the Scouts perform Retreat. |
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| My older son is far right. |
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| They fold the flag under the canopy. |
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| Time for bed with the youngest .... |
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| ... oldest .... |
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| and hubby! |
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In the morning, the Girl and Boy Scouts
raised the flag. |
Have you toured a ship or a sub? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash. This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, March 3, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winners on Sunday, March 4.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about the USS Missouri, check out its website at www.ussmissouri.org.
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The beginning and ending of WWII -
USS Arizona and USS Missouri. |
Aloha Kim I ever travel around a ship when I was 13 years old. Been long time ago so forgot what it looks like:). Cheers Aretha zhen, arethazhen(at)rocketmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWe live near New London and have toured the sub there. I have also been on some ships in San Diego. I would love to have a sleep over on one but it could be very close.
ReplyDeleteSad to say I never visited a ship or toured one. Would love to though. Thanks for sharing the pics above with us.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Just commenting, not entering the contest.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are fantastic, your husband and sons have such wonderful memories, wow.
never ship toured ;(
ReplyDeleteWhat a great experience for the boys! Something they will always remember. I've toured the Stennis aircraft carrier, and the U.S. Midway Ship/Museum that is here in San Diego.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are fantastic Kim! I've toured the USS Midway a few times since moving to San Diego as well as staying overnight on the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi in middle school for Junior Historians. It was such a blast. Those bunk pictures bring back memories. They filled part of the Pearl Harbor movie on the Lexington so there's a room below decks that has pictures from the shoot.
ReplyDeleteI have not toured a ship or sub. The closest I've come to being on a ship or sub was at Disneyland in the Yellow submarine ride that goes under water. I was 8 years old and found out that day I have a phobia of water...lol
ReplyDeleteI love those pictures. Thanks so much for sharing them, I never would have been able to see any of that without your great pictures of it.
I toured a sub that is located on the river right near our science center. It is included in the things you can do at the science center. I couldn't believe how small it is inside. I wouldn't want to spend much time in one.
ReplyDeleteI've never toured a ship like the one your family did. Wow! I'm fascinated with WWII things, whether they be stories or ships from the era. So much history to garner. The ship I once was on was smaller, a boat really but it was fun taking us to a small, unihabitated island. There were only seals and gulls as far as I could see.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pics. I showed this one to my husband and apparently he knew all of that but I didn't lol. I toured a ship twice when I was in D.C. two separate times with my daughters school trips. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name. I do remember it had extremely narrow stairs going below deck. I missed the submarine in Pgh. 3 separate times - the scheduling just never worked out.
ReplyDeletecatslady
What a great experience your boys now have a wee taste of what it was like to live on a ship..
ReplyDeleteI have toured a Ship but I lived in Clydebank when we first moved up to Scotland John Browns Shipyard My Mother Uncle worked there he worked on the QE2 They day she set sail down The Thames I got to stay home from school to watch, It seemed like it took forever to pass by Huge So Huge well that 's what it seemed like to a 10 year old.
Have a good one Ann/alba
I've visited the USS Intrepid.
ReplyDeleteCool pics, have not but want too nexttume in Hawaii, would love to take tour,
ReplyDeleteKimh
I haven't toured a sub or ship before. It looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteI have toured a ship before, but it was so long ago I can't remember the name. Perhaps I'll have the opportunity to do so again - along with touring a sub.
ReplyDeleteVery cool post Kim I have never been on a ship before but it is something I would simply adore to do !
ReplyDeleteDesere
Kim we got lucky Mighty Mo was moored there right before we left Hawaii in 1989. We went on board but I don't remember going below deck. We also toured the sub, I can't remember the name, that is moored where the Arizona Memorial is located. We took the boat out to the Arizona I think I got to go out there three times. Twice while we were stationed there and once on vacation in 1984 with my mom. I loved Hawaii it was so beautiful and the people so friendly and kind. Mahalo for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate enough to have worked on the Mighty Mo before they sent her out on her around the world cruise, back in the mid 80's. I was invited to join the crew for that tour, but turned it down. (still kicking myself for that!) Great ship.
ReplyDelete