USS “Wisky”
The USS Wisconsin (BB64) was commissioned in 1944, decommissioned in 1948, re-commissioned in 1951, re-decommissioned in1958, re-re-commissioned in 1988, re-re-decommissioned in 1991, finally discharged from the navy in 2006.
Served in WWII, Korea, and the first Gulf War. It is now a museum ship in Norfolk, VA where I took this photo. Her keel was laid after the Missouri’s but was commissioned before. The Wisconsin was the highest numbered battleship to see service, and along with the Iowa, were the last battleships in active service.
The ship collided with a destroyer in heavy fog at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay in 1956. Her bow was heavily damaged and in order to get her seaworthy, the bow from the under-construction USS Kentucky (BB66 – ever completed, never commissioned) replaced that of the Wisconsin, resulting in the nickname “Wisky”.
The Kentucky was to be the last battleship built but was never completed, was used for parts, and finally scrapped in 1958.
Time sure flies. How things have changed. Found this little ditty and enjoyed.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2006
Resolution…
Start new
again.
This night.
Each day.
Resolve
this moment.
Step up.
Move on.
Now
heh…one of my first poems on Pondering…….
82nd Airborne
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This what it looks like. (2500 ft)
Not bad at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVW1tSvPCpc
We are watching a series on Prime Tv titled “World War II–The Pacific Theater. It is a “Great Courses” program. It is about our pacific fleet. All of the classes are very good, but the most interesting is #11 titled “The Big Blue Fleet”. When you see how fast we bult all types of ships and airplanes you will weep knowing that we couldn’t even come close to that industrial effort today. I hope you get a chance to enjoy the series it is very detailed and very good.
I read them backwards but the end result was the same.
First, I read DT’s comment on todays post about gov’t “efficiency” relating to his trips to Santa Barbara.
Then I read your comment of gov’t-industrial efficiency 80 years ago. Quite a contrast, no?
I have several (multiple DVD’s) series of documentaries about WW1 and 2 and the Depression and other very difficult times in American history and when I watch them you are right, almost brought to tears by the vast diff between then and now.
This stuff has been weighing heavily on my mind lately and I may have more to say about it later.
It’s 6:40 am right now and I’ve been up since 5:30am trying to be efficient at my chosen vocation in spite of the arduous multiple mazes of difficulties I must navigate to be successful. I’m in my 54th year of employment of this profession and I remember when the difficulties were not so much. A lot has changed in the past 80 years since WW2 and most of it not good.
Yes, I’m one of them old dood’s that long for, and cling desperately to the remnants of, the old daze.