The Mighty MO-BB63
While in Hawai'i with my husband, we made time to visit "The Mighty MO," also know as, the USS Missouri. This ship hits home with me, quite literally. I'm a Missouri native. Harry S. Truman was a Missouri native, and his daughter also christened the USS Missouri. By the way, Walt Disney and Mark Twain are from Missouri. And Harry S. Truman insisted that the USS Missouri be the ship to host the Japanese in the signing of surrender documents in Tokyo Bay. Just a tidbit of Missouri and American History for you.
Visiting the USS Missouri wasn't my first time on a Navy ship. My husband was an FC in the Navy. I had several tours around the USS Carl Vinson when she was stationed in San Diego. I also attended a Family Day Cruise in 2012 after my husband (boyfriend at the time) came home from his 3rd deployment. That was an amazing experience. We actually pulled out of Coronado Bay and witnessed the shooting of a 50cal while aboard, as well as touring the areas of the ship we had clearance for. Funny thing, while also watching an air show on the flight deck, the residents of the shore side of San Diego were reporting earthquakes occurring. In reality, the "earthquakes" people were reporting were the sonic booms from the jets of the air show we were watching on deck. We laugh about it even now because they simply had no idea what they were missing. I captured a picture of a jet breaking the sound barrier that day.
The tour on board the USS Missouri was enlightening. We stood on the Surrender Deck at the same spot where the signing of the surrender documents took place, which was nostalgic, to say the least. There were CIWS mounts on board, also known as Close In Weapons System. This is the system my husband handled in the Navy, and also maintains now as a Federal employee. Walking amongst the video areas and cases containing handwritten letters from Sailors to home and other miscellaneous items, as well as viewing pictures of President Truman's daughter visiting the Sailors on board, a large model of the USS Constitution, and seeing the "spaces" which are also known as the different departments on the ship, was a fascinating experience. This battleship is similar, but also very different from Aircraft Carriers, DDGs, and LSDs. The things that were most interesting to me were the letters written to home, particularly because in lieu of the recent death of my grandfather, I had the privilege of reading a couple letters he had written home to his family, and some in response to those letters from his parents. Although not in WWII, he was in the Army during the Korean War several years later.
As we followed the green arrows around the ship, we discovered how different this Battleship is from the other ships we've explored. Whether it be the simple fact that the USS Missouri is a Battleship or that it's older than some of the most recent ships Paul has worked on, I don't know, but I've never seen so much room to move on a ship. Navy ships themselves, although large, feel very small on the inside. From the hallways, to the doorways, even the bunks in the berthing are in tight proximity. This ship had elbow room EVERYWHERE. It was refreshing to see something different from what we'd seen before. It even felt fun. We got a laugh at the "Spud Locker" and some graffiti that was discovered and left up for visitor viewing. The ship itself felt happy, young, and artistic.
Being a ship that was christened AFTER the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Missouri became a huge part of our American History and gave Missourians a lot more to be proud of. Being the center of the US, doesn't bring in many Navy ships ya know...Even more so, she didn't feel like she was mourning although she became one of the most well known Navy ships in history for hosting peaceful negotiations and ushering the end of WWII. Odd thing to say about a ship, I know. But when you visit historic places like this you do feel something. You feel an energy surrounding the place. Sometimes it's a joyful energy, like seeing "Spud Locker" on the food storage door, or the bakery within the ship--food makes people happy--and then sometimes you look around and your heart mourns for a past you only understand in a modern way. As much as I would love to claim I understand what my husband has endured as a Sailor who deployed with the Army, and then twice with the USS Carl Vinson in a matter of 3ish years, and now as a civilian who recently came off a 6 month deployment, I cannot make that claim and be truthful. I only understand from past and present viewpoints; the girlfriend on the peer looking up to the CIWS mount, watching the ship pull away, and the freshly pregnant wife sitting in the front seat of our car trying not to let our sons see me cry. There is nothing easy about my job, or the job of the wives and girlfriends, or husbands and boyfriends who share the same viewpoint. We pick up on the energy surrounding places like this though, and we're generally filled with pride.
My sappy love photos above.....That stud is mine, just sayin'.
Anyway, speaking of energy and mourning, there is one particular part of the guide that struck a nerve with me. Not just a nerve, but tugged my heart strings. I felt rage, and hurt, and sadness to the point of inhaling so hard, I had to take a moment to get the ringing out of my ears. When we stood on the Surrender Deck, we viewed a photo of the representatives of Japan and the US, and the sailors who were within view of the camera. There were 2 men who stood behind the table as the surrender documents were being signed (they're numbered 1 & 2 in the below photo), who were recently released POWS (Prisoners of War). Lt. General Johnathan M. Wainright of the US, and Lt. General Sir Arthur E. Percival of the British Army were each roughly 100 pounds when they were released, skin and bones for men their size, physically and mentally weak, and yet there they were, standing on the Surrender Deck with pride. That moment took my breath away. I felt so many emotions, including pity. But the dominant one that came after the ringing of other emotions and information from our tour guide left my ears, was relief. These men went home alive. There are so many others who did not. And even more who didn't get home at all. Finding joy in their release and return home is an important emotion to hold on to.
realize as I'm writing that a lot of the pictures I thought I had did not take on my phone. It does not always save the picture, which is frustrating. Luckily, I have the most important ones (in my opinion). This is a must experience adventure. Besides Hawai'i being on your Bucket List, you should seriously add USS Missouri and the Arizona Memorial to your list as well. Which brings me to the disappointing part of this article. I was not able to tour the Arizona Memorial. I was SO BUMMED! Apparently, the memorial itself has been closed down for several years undergoing repairs from rust damage. Our schedule wouldn't allow for a boat ride around Battleship Row, which included viewing The Mighty MO from the water. Right after I left Hawai'i, the dock leading to the boats for Battleship Row tours was closed needing repairs as well. Things don't last forever in salt water.
I was, however, able to see the memorial from The Mighty MO. Breathtaking at a distance. I'm sure even more so in person. I'm looking forward to visiting the memorial next time.
There is so much we viewed while on board. My mind was in full overload of information. Being a Missouri native, it almost felt like being home again. Yet another strange thing for you to understand if you've never set foot on a ship before, much less one named after your home state. Yes, strangely enough, it brought me closer to home for the amount of time we were on board. It was David's first time on a ship. He won't remember of course, but it's still a big deal for our family. Just before Paul deployed last year, we toured two ships he had been working on prior to that. It was the first time Isaac, Nolan, and Ethan had been on a ship before as well. For safety reasons obviously, because they are so young, and simply having time to do a tour because ship tours are not short thing although you definitely don't see everything. There are spaces Paul wasn't allowed to see while enlisted because he didn't have the clearance for that particular area. We've been privileged to experience what we have on board several US Navy ships.
Pictured below is our brief visit to the USS Utah which "...was capsized during the attack on Pearl Harbor, trapping dozens of Sailors inside. This included the Medal of Honor Recipient Chief Watertender, Peter Tomich, who stayed on his post to make sure the ship's boilers were secured and all fire room personnel had left their stations." Another place that, as I stood at the memorial and looked out at the sunken vessel and felt the breeze off the water, for a moment, mourned the once home and souls of so many Sailors, but more so felt a sense of peace and calm although viewing remnants of a war the US never intended to join.
n closing, I find it most appropriate to bring you back to The Mighty MO's dock. As you step off the ramp and look around, you feel the breeze off the water that waves the flags near the entrance. Behind you, the USS Arizona and her memorial, stark white in the distance, rests in the wake of the waves. And then you look skyward, at the ship you just stepped off of, taking in each area you can see from where you stand, and visualize the Sailors standing watch. With your eyes resting on each post, collectively feeling the eyes of thousands of men staring down at the dock, you no longer see a floating piece of steel. "It's not just a keel, and a hull, and a deck. That's what a ship needs. But what a ship is..."--Captain Jack Sparrow--What The Mighty MO really is, is the collective soul of the men who built and maintained her. Those who poured their blood, sweat, fears, their heartbreak, their love, and their knowledge into. In the words of the builders themselves:
"This Ship We Built."
"And each man who joins feels the breath of her life--
As he stands up and takes heart again--
So he takes to himself the old sea as a wife
And the ship's made a man among men."
--Excerpt of "The Soul of a Ship"