Friday, January 8, 2010

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Returns Historic “Mighty Mo” to Battleship Row

I have a friend whose dad served on the U.S.S. Cowpens, named for the Battle of Cowpens in the Revolutionay War.
The nickname of the Independence-class aircraft carrier was The Mighty Moo.
From The Hawaii Reporter:
By Katie Vanes , 1/7/2010 6:14:50 PM





PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Nearly 100 Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard men and women undocked Battleship Missouri Jan. 7 to support the return of the floating naval museum to her Ford Island berth on Battleship Row next to the USS Arizona Memorial.

“Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard played a key role in winning World War II, so Shipyard workers have tremendous appreciation for Missouri’s historical significance,” said Shipyard Commander Capt. Gregory Thomas.

As the 54,889-ton ship glided over the sill of Dry Dock 4 at noon, the “Mighty Mo” entered the harbor waters for the first time in two and half months. Missouri had been dry-docked at the Shipyard since Oct. 14 for $18 million of extensive maintenance and preservation work. It was the first time since 1992 the Missouri was serviced in dry dock.

“We are proud of our role in helping to preserve this vital symbol of victory over oppression in World War II — but we are also humbled,” Thomas said. “We are in awe of the great men and women who served on Missouri over five decades and in three wars.

“It was particularly moving for Shipyard workers to look upon Missouri, sitting proudly in our dry dock as we went to work the morning of December 7, 2009,” he said....MORE