Remembering Pearl Harbor and the Iowa Class Battleships

Photograph at left is from the DoD photo by: PH1HILTON Date Shot: 15 Aug 1984 http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/Defens

Today is the 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Hawaii. The USS Arizona was sunk at the harbor and lies there today as a monument to the attack, and to the those who fought Japanese imperialism. A few yards from the ship's wreckage is the floating museum of the USS Missouri, the battleship where the Japanese later signed cease fire documents in 1945 at Toyko Bay. In essence the beginning and the end of the World War II in the Pacific theater is enshrined at Pearl Harbor.

The USS Missouri is an Iowa-class battleship, and part of a group of six fast attack battleships - Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kentucky. The first ship built of that class was the USS Iowa which served both theaters of war, the Korean War, and later conflicts through the 1980s. It currently lies in Suisun Bay in California as part of the decommissioned ghost fleet, awaiting being made into a museum or another fate. Find the USS Iowa and other decommisioned ships at this map link. Know that.

USS Wisconsin Prepares for Navy's 234th Birthday

The USS Wisconsin, anchored in Norfolk, Virginia, is being decked out today in patriotic bunting in preparation for celebration of the US Navy's 234th birthday this week. The Iowa-class battleship entered World War II service and presently is a key attraction in the downtown waterfront area. The standout weaponry on these battleships are the nine 16-inch guns.

One remarkable feature of this decorated warship is the rebuilt bow. After a foggy collision with another navy ship during the 1950s, the damaged USS Wisconsin's bow was taken off and replaced with the bow section from the last Iowa class battleship under construction at the time, the USS Kentucky. The merger of the two ship parts is fondly referred to as the WIS-KY after the abbreviations for the two states.

While the USS Wisconsin was closed to tours on this Monday, the ship is readily accessible along the Cannonball trail - the extended sidewalk that allows spectacular views of the warship. Take time to read the various information displays along the walkway. Statues and monuments to other Norfolk-based personnel who gave their lives in defense of our country are located along the path. Know that.