Pearl Harbor - Friday Sep 28

We left our hotel (Best Western Plaza - right outside the airport) and decided to walk to the Navy Exchange. (The hotel breakfast was a little pricey and we figured there would be a food court at the exchange)
The Exchange is about a mile from the hotel and the weather was perfect!
Indeed, we found a McDonald's and had a nice breakfast for about $5! (Gotta love that senior coffee!)
We did not know there was a free shuttle bus to Naval Station, so we hiked the additional mile +.
We walked through the Naval Station (noticing the bus stops for the free NEX Bus!) and came out the other end near the Valor in the Pacific Memorial (formerly the USS Arizona Memorial).
We had been here years ago and WOW! they have expanded it greatly with the addition of a submarine, USS Missouri, USS Oklahoma Memorial, etc.
We obtained our free tickets to USS Arizona Memorial and spent a while strolling about, reading plaques, etc.
Finally, after a 17 minute video with some fantastic clips of the actual attack, we rode the shuttle boat to Arizona. 
I got excited when I saw a name on the list with the rate "CTC" but knew there was a disconnect - you see I was a CTC but it stood for Cryptologic Tecnician Chief - and I knew the CT rate was not formed until the 50's. The Park Ranger looked it up and sure enough, it was Chief Turret Captain - apparently in charge of one of the 16" gun mounts.  Enough gab - some photos!

Just inside the gate Naval Station Pearl Harbor

A short 1/2 mile walk through the base brought us to the Memorial - expanded and renamed

USS Arizona was the only battleship sunk but not raised. Most of the guns and other useful equipment was removed for use in the war. The simple but beautiful memorial spans the ship and is soberingly beautiful.

#3 Main Battery turret barbette protrudes from the harbor waters - testimony to the ship beneath. 

The far wall lists those who died aboard Arizona Dec 7, 1941

USS Missouri is moored just forward of Arizona

On the Memorial - you can see the Mighty Mo over Theresa's shoulder

We pause on the ramp to the boat dock to catch a photo

A plaque in Misouri's deck commemorates the spot where the Japanese surrendered ending WW-II

Crew's Mess

Crew's berthing - the curved bulkhead to the right is actually the outer surface of the after 16" gun barbette which goes down 5 decks from the mount.  These barbettes were heavily armored all the way down. These ships were made to take punishment!

In CEC Combat Engagement Center (when I was on active duty this would have been calle CIC - Combat Information Center)

TheCIWS - Close In Weapons System - call SeaWhiz by the crew, is unique in that it's radar not only tracks the "bogey" (target) but it tracks it's own bullet stream and causes them to converge. It is  a deadly effective system aimed at downing cruise missiles that have slipped through all other defenses.

Theresa tries out the Skipper's Chair on the flying bridge.  The bulkhead to the right is an armored shield for the combat bridge.

This is the helm inside the armored bridge

When I say armor, I don't mean a few inches - here you can see how thick the armor is at the entrance!  They even  had crank mechanisms to raise armored glass flaps in front of the view ports

USS Arizona Memorial just forward of Missouri

We had to reprise "the Times Square kiss" made famous by a Life Magazine photographer! Unfortunately, we did it in one take! Theresa's caution "Don't drop me!" Always the romantic!

 

 

Tomorrow: Waikiki Beach & Marine Base Hawaii for the Blue Angels air show!