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rickinvegas
06-28-2010, 02:45 AM
When I was 14, my Father and I started taking regular trips to Hawaii and throughout the Pacific visiting WWII historic sites. Those who think that the Arizona Memorial is the only thing to see in Hawaii let alone Pearl Harbor as it relates to December 7th have no idea what they are missing. Back in 1978, we explored Ford Island on our own. Back then (Before the bridge), the place was almost deserted. Ford Island NAS was a derelict with all the buildings and hangers empty. You could walk into the Hangers and still see battle damage from the attack. There was still some activity in the Administration buildings but that was it. On the opposite side of the island, there were memorials to many of the ships present that day and the wreckage of the USS Utah still rose out of the water (The “Other” Battleship still at Pearl Harbor). It was an amazing sight! We visited Wheeler Field, Haleiwa, Barbers Point, Kaneohe NAS (Where my Father was stationed during the war as part of a flight crew) etc. Again, all amazing places that still showed some of the scars of the Day of Infamy. Lots of History!
Over the years, we traveled to many Pacific Battlefields. I have been to Midway. Scuba dived on the wrecks in Truk Lagoon. Stood on the runway that the Enola Gay took off from to drop the Atomic Bomb. I’ve been in the cave that Admiral Nagumo committed suicide in on Saipan as well as swam out to a Sherman Tank that is still sitting on the reef off the landing beach (The Saipan landing took place one week after D-Day). I visited Pelielu and the site of that bloody mess. Kwajalein (Where my Uncle landed during the invasion of that island with the Marines as a Navy Radioman). I flew into Yap Island on a cargo 727 and as we taxied to the “Terminal” (that was actually a straw hut with the radio being powered by a Toyota Pick Up battery by using jumper cables), we passed a line of Japanese planes still lined up along the runway as they were left there in 1945. Zeros, Kates, a Betty. All still up on their gear. I’ve always wondered what happened to those planes. This was in 1981. Needless to say, I was/am a Pacific War junkie!

My first job out of College was working at the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. I got to see up close and personal the 90% of the collection that is not on display. I have sat in the cockpit of “The Swoose”. The last B-17 to get out of the Philippines before it fell. I sat in the cockpit of the Enola Gay while it was being restored for eventual display. I saw a lot of cool stuff while I was there to say the least.

Well, today I got to add one more experience to my list. I have been in the Islands on business for the last week and finally had a day off today. I decided to go out to Pearl and visit the Missouri for the first time. What an amazing place. An incredible war machine! I wandered around the ship for a couple of hours and took as many pictures as I could and I wanted to share them with you guys. Hope you enjoy………….


I have to start off by sharing my favorite picture. This is my father AND my Grandfather (Who I knew very well. He died at the age of 92) walking down the street while on leave in Waikiki in 1944. My Grandfather was actually a civilian contractor on loan from Western Electric supervising installation and training on sonar and radar systems. When he was deployed on ships in the war zone, he was given the rank of CDR. In case of capture, the Japanese would have executed him outright if he wasn’t given this status. I still love this image of a father and son in uniform at the same time and place in a time of war..

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/RERCarpenter010.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270017.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270020.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270023.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270026.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270040.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270031.jpg
Yes, those decks are real wood!
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270029.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270034.jpg
Interesting perspective of the spot where the Big Mo was hit by a Kamikaze at Okinawa
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270036.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270037.jpg
Ship’s Library
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270041.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270042.jpg
CPO Lounge
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270043.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270044.jpg
Small Arms Locker
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270045.jpg
Marine Racks
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270047.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270048.jpg
Hey Perro, I think I found our new Lathe for the Shop!
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270050.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270051.jpg
The site of surrender
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270052.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270054.jpg
Captain’s Cabin
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270056.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270038.jpg
A true relic from December 7th
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270066.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr310/mpi_photo/Pearl%20Harbor%200610/P6270061.jpg
M1 Tanker
06-28-2010, 03:23 AM
How long ya gonna be here Rick? I live on Schofield.
Noskov
06-28-2010, 03:59 AM
Awesome pics. I've been the Pearl Harbor Memorial but haven't been to the Mighty Mo yet.
7.62guy
06-28-2010, 07:14 AM
great pics. thanks for sharing them with us. hope you can get with some of the members that are there while you visit.
SteelCore
06-28-2010, 08:09 AM
Nice. Last time I was in HI was 1999, haven't had a chance to get back yet. Did get out to Pearl City, and the AZ, but missed the MO.
Old Grump
06-28-2010, 08:42 AM
Great pictures, served with the USS New Jersey during my two Viet Nam tours on different ships and got to walk across the fantail when we moored alongside of her but never saw the interior, this is the closest to seeing what it looked like for my father when he served. He was on a different battleship at the tag end of WWII as a Fireman apprentice and I would bet he didn't get to see some of what you could see on your tour. I can see why the other side didn't much care for us.
WildBillCody
06-28-2010, 09:09 AM
I've been to Kwajalein, Tarawa, J.I., Ponepi, Great diving in Kwaj, well great diving all over the south pacific, lots of wrecks in Kwaj. We have the Wisconsin here in Norfolk, the only thing that sucks is you can't go into it. Just walk around the outside. You need to go to Diamondhead and walk up those stairs(just to say you did it WOW)
rickinvegas
06-28-2010, 09:47 AM
I've been to Kwajalein, Tarawa, J.I., Ponepi, Great diving in Kwaj, well great diving all over the south pacific, lots of wrecks in Kwaj. We have the Wisconsin here in Norfolk, the only thing that sucks is you can't go into it. Just walk around the outside. You need to go to Diamondhead and walk up those stairs(just to say you did it WOW)

I was only on Kwajalein for the day. Just enough time to walk around the beaches and explore a little. I wish I could have dived there. Ponepi was beautiful but not a lot of war history there. I forgot about Johnson Island. We refueled there only. Very "Secret" facility at the time and they didn't let us off the plane. Oh, did Diamond Head when I was younger...been there, done that! :-)

Hey Tanker, I'm here till Friday. Maybe we can get the Hawaii crew together for dinner this week. Tomorrow or Wednesday are my only real opportunity this week. I'm staying in Waikiki.

Thanks guys, glad you liked the pics..............
WildBillCody
06-28-2010, 11:38 AM
I Very "Secret" facility at the time and they didn't let us off the plane.

I was just telling someone about this the other day, we had to radio the island and let them know we were coming with some secret codes. We pull up to the dock and there are two Hummers with .50's each pointed at us. We couldn't leave the boat untill a armed squad checked it out, then they took us 10 at a time to get fitted for a gas mask and atropeen(SP) shot. If they wind changed direction and the alarm sounded you had like 30 seconds to get on the mask and give yourself a shot, I hear it's not like that anymore.

Ponpei had a Jap airbase on it, but yeah it doesn't have the major wrecks like other places. It does have an old Jap tank in the town square, a Chinese Embassy, and behind a hut(when I was there anyway) an old WLA Harley.

I have a Jap fuse from Kwaj that I found snorkeling.
http://www.kwajaleinscubaclub.com/
turbothis
06-28-2010, 11:57 AM
wow
very cool
thanks
drine
06-28-2010, 01:49 PM
Great pics, Rick. That one of your dad and grandad is priceless.
Sturmvogel
06-28-2010, 04:43 PM
Someday... maybe if I'm lucky I'll get there. I had a relative that was Captain of the Mighty Mo during Korea, died aboard her of a heart attack. Another good friend, gone now, was Engineering Officer and Plank Holder on the Iowa. The stories he could tell and the history that he saw.
weasel_master
06-28-2010, 05:40 PM
I was just telling someone about this the other day, we had to radio the island and let them know we were coming with some secret codes. We pull up to the dock and there are two Hummers with .50's each pointed at us. We couldn't leave the boat untill a armed squad checked it out, then they took us 10 at a time to get fitted for a gas mask and atropeen(SP) shot. If they wind changed direction and the alarm sounded you had like 30 seconds to get on the mask and give yourself a shot, I hear it's not like that anymore.


What's the story with that?
okie shooter
06-28-2010, 06:13 PM
What's the story with that?

It's the site for demilling chemical weapons in the pacific, thus the security and problems, very bad things were worked on there. Thus I guess they wanted to know who was there, and if they were ready for a release from the plant.

Heres a link to an article on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnston_Atoll_Chemical_Agent_Disposal_System
WildBillCody
06-28-2010, 06:34 PM
Here's the fuse:
wandering_ronin
06-30-2010, 12:53 AM
Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing. I have always thought that they should raise the midget sub sunk by the USS Ward and put it on display by the USS Missouri...kind of an Alpha and Omega thing.
Gairwyn
07-01-2010, 09:02 AM
Beautiful pics thanks for sharing them, I've always had a fascination for the battleships and have all ready seen the Massachusetts and the South Carolina. I haven't seen an Iowa class Battleship yet though and want to one day get to Hawaii and see the Missouri and Arizona.

Michelle