The Mighty Missouri

This is the view from the wreck of the Arizona. Overlooking the site is the Missorui battleship, now decommissioned and serving as a museum. Most of the smaller anti-aircraft guns have been removed.

I was so impressed with the massive guns. They can shoot a shell over twenty miles. The ship was last used in Desert Storm in Iraq. It "softened up" the shoreline before the invasion. Inside the ship made you feel a little claustrophobic. You have to step over each threashold, which is designed so that you can seal off the doors in case of flooding. Sleeping quarters shown are shown as being bigger and more spacious than they actually were. It was like a floating city wit h crew members stacked everywhere. The average age of those who served was under 19 years of age. This is Captain Shirley, sitting in the Captain's Chair on the main tower. Most of the instruments have been removed, but you definitely get a feel for the actual size of this monster. This is the Captain's view looking out over the bow. Directly in front is the Arizona Memorial. This is the actual spot on the deck where the Japanese officially surrendered. Throughout the tour there was a feeling of reverence for those who gave their lives for our freedom as well as those who survived and were never the same. I came away with a greater sense of appriciation for our freedom.