[Fred Douglass]

.......the old Mighty Mo is in sad need of repair (which goes a bit beyond "maintenance"). Also, while I was aboard, the "docent" (which is weirdese for "museum guide") was yammering on with ALL types of misinformation.....

The ship itself is absolutely mind-boggling. The only limitations imposed upon her design (wrongly, in my humble view) were the Panama-canal-dictated beam (106') and the length----if they'd thrown caution to the winds they could have made the Iowas like the projected (but never built) Montana class. I don't know the beam stats on them, but they were going to have FOUR triple 16" mounts and upwards of TWENTY AA/Dual Purpose 5" twin mounts.

The other thing, when you're there, is to go 'way up to the bow and look back (yikes!) and then north, at the Arizona memorial. You sort of see the entire course of the war----its start (for us) and its end. When you're on the Arizona, find the name "Horrocks"----this was the father of one of my gunner's mates! He told me that his old man died on the Arizona (and is still there!) when he himself was 2 (if I remember correctly).

In all, the whole display is worthy of a full day. We only spent 4 hours and should have spent 'way more. Thanks to Ron61, quite a few of photos got posted. (It'll save ya airfare---ar-ar-ar). Seriously, one thing well-worth a few hours is the base museum. Just the models alone are breath-taking. The view toward the southwest takes in Battleship Row from under the swaying palms. After getting home, I finished reading Michener's "Hawaii" but also got into several books on Pearl Harbor (most from the United States Naval Institute publications list---incidentally, and EXCELLENT site to visit).

If you (any of you) get a chance, get a copy of Kemp Tolley's "Cruise of the Lanikai--Incitement to War". It's like something out of a romantic south seas adventure movie! The Lanikai was purchased and commissioned in a matter of days, just before the Phillippines were attacked. The point (which is clear from the title) was that FDR wanted, and in his view, politically NEEDED, the Japanese to attack some "expendable" US asset. He wanted to chum them in with this 85-foot clunker of an inter-island schooner. In fact, FDR got 'way more than he bargained for and Tolley and his crew escaped and got down to Australia after threading through the Dutch East Indies (Java, Bali, etc.) JUST as they were being attacked!!!! A great read!

Karioke,