The Mighty Mo

Nearly everyday, for the last 4 months. I walked down the pier towards this 887 foot long, 50 thousand ton (I know how ever does it float??) Iowa Class Battleship. The last of her kind. I learned lots of things I never knew I'd want to learn. Met lots of people that left their marks on my heart, and then...I met them. Those tourists who want to argue or be mean or yell at you. Who want to tell you that you cannot take their picture because their in the witness protection program, or we are violating their constitutional rights.  Seriously guys? You're in Hawaii. Take a deep breath. Relax. 

 View of the Arizona from the pier

In my final days in the Missouri, in the hours before work I went on deck with the happy and the unhappy tourists to capture a piece of the Missouri you might have missed.

I love these gigantic chains.

 

Phallic, no?

 C.j. working hard.

I can count the number of thank you's and good jobs I've been told on one hand.  Sure it's our job to make this experience enjoyable for you, but why not make it enjoyable for us too?

Or we'll just lick your food when you're not looking. Kidding!.... or am I?

This was my favorite thing to see every morning, the light crawling under the pier, reflecting the water. 

 If you look close enough, you can see Bruce and Brandon shooting. I didn't want to crop them out, because they're part of my bigger picture.

The deck. 

The Missouri's nine 16 Inch guns are her most notable feature.  Each gun barrel is to approximately 67 feet long and can fire a 2,700-pound shell up to 23 miles. In 50 seconds. With pinpoint accuracy. Oh boys and their toys. 

 Lots of stairs on board. 

 Dog tags. Makes me sad. I think they want you to cry in this room.

A lot of  people get confused, thinking that the Missouri was in Pearl Harbor the day of attack on December 7th. She wasn't she was not completed until 1944. On September 2nd 1945, the Japanese surrendered on her decks. Where she stands today is where the Oklahoma stood the day the harbor was bombed.

I took this shot laying down on the floor. 

 Shot from the tail. 

 If you look closely, you'll see all the little caps say "joy". Danger = Joy!

"What ever you do... don't press the little red button! You got that?!"

"What happens if I push the little red button?"

"DON'T!!"

"..Self destruct count down initiated..." 

View of us. While you're walking around...we're watching you. No, that wasn't a joke. 

 

 The first time the Missouri was decommissioned was in 1955. I bet you can't guess where she was stored.... The Puget Sound. She was recommissioned again in 1986, the year I was born. Yes, my life has come full circle. 

 The Aloe plant behind our sales booth. Every time I see a sun burned tourist I wanted to give them some. 

To continue our history lesson, the Missouri's last run was during Desert Storm, where she fired her guns for the last time.  Pearl Harbor has been her home since 2008. 

 I love Rosie the riveter!

Don't forget... when you're looking at guns and chains and talking battles and history. We're still in HAWAII!!!

I took the long walk across the parking lot the the Oklahoma Memorial.

Then I took a walk down the street.

Ford Island today is home to not only the Missouri, the Oklahoma and the Utah memorials. She's also an Active Military installation and home to many Navy families.  Oh, and the Pacific Aviation Museum too. 

It's been a long post. It hasn't been all that long that I've been away but I miss it already. Not so much the obnoxious tourists, but my super mega awesome co-workers...mostly. 

I leave you today with one of my favorite Shakespeare quotes, written on the wall at the Oklahoma Memorial. 

Piece. Out.