The Second decommissioning :United States Battleship Missouri, March 31, 1992, Long Beach, California.

32 Pages·1992·2.9 MB·English

by  [Washington, D.C.? :Dept. of the Navy,

The Second
United States Battleship Missouri
March
1992
31,
Long arm
Beach, Calif a
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016 with funding from
University of Florida, George A. Smathers Libraries
https://archive.org/details/seconddecommissiOOwash
MW TMW
jP3LAM MAY.
THE BATTLESHIP USS MISSOURI (BB 63)
COMMANDING OFFICER COMMAND MASTERCHIEF
CAPT A. L. Kaiss PNCM (SW) T. C. Hofman
Tuesday, 31 March 1992
Sunrise 0542 Sunset 1827
For Official Use Only.
FINAL EDITION
Carry Out Ship’s Inport Routine Except as Modified Below:
0730 Liberty Expires on Board for All Hands
0800 MusterTraffic Directors with Operations Officer
0845 Ushers Assemble with Weapons Officer
0915 Assemble the Crew for Decommissioning
0930 Formations in Position
0959 Commanding Officer Arrives
1000 Honored Guests Arrive
1000 Decommissioning of Battleship USS Missouri
Announcements
Commanding Officer's Final Note: Our final day has arrived. Today the final chapter in battleship
MISSOURI'S history will be written. It's often said that the crew makes the command. There is no
truer statement...for it's the crew of this great ship that made this a great command. You are a
special breed of sailors and Marines and am proud to have served with each and every one of you.
I
To you who have made the painful journey of putting this great lady to sleep. thank you. For you
I
have had the toughest job. To put away a ship that has become as much a part of you as you are to
—
her is a sad ending to a great tour. But take solace in this you have lived up to the history ofthe
ship and those who sailed her before us. We took her to war. performed magnificently and added
another chapter —in her history, standing side by side our forerunners in true naval tradition. God
bless you all. A. L. Kaiss
K. S. Jordan
Commander, U.S. Navy-
Executive Officer
Mo”
“Mighty
History of
n 1944, the newspapers
heralded the launching
headlines such as
“World’s Greatest War-
Iship Is Launched in
Brooklyn.” In 1986, the
newly reeommissionned
dreadnoughtwasgreeted
with the headline “Mighty Mo
Rules The Waves Again.”
From the moment she was
launched, the history ofthe USS
Missouri has been a drama of
adventure and triumph. No Hol-
lywood moviemaker could have
come up with a better script.
—
January 29, 1944 USS
Missouri is launched. Harry S.
Truman, the then-junior senator
from the state of Missouri, was
the main speaker. He predicted
in his speech that this greatwar-
ship would sail victoriously into
Tokyo Bay. At the conclusion of
his speech on that cold, gray
morning, hisdaughter, Margaret,
tookamagnumofMissouricham-
pagne and, gripping it like a
baseball bat, gave a mighty bash
againsttheship. Thebottlebroke,
but nothing happened.
"It seemed to havea mind of
its own and was not in the mood
forlaunching,” MargaretTruman
related.
Since a great deal of Missouri rolls backwardfor herfirst taste ofsalt water.
Missouri’s superstructurewas in sioningonJune 1 1, 1944,James Missouri was underway for the
place, it was the heaviest ship V. Forrestal, then-Seeretary of Pacific. She reported for duty on
ever launched at that time. the Navy, sent the battlewagon Christmas Eve 1944. To the sol-
Playfully,thecollegestudent intoactionwiththesesimple,but diers, sailors and Marines
putherhandonthebowandgave prophetic words: “Good luck, throughout the Pacific theater of
theshipashove. Miraculously,at good hunting, God blessyou and war, this was more than a
that moment, the ship began to may you come back soon.” battlewagon. This was Santa
slide down into the water. Early June was gray and Clausand ataste ofhome. Every
It had onlybeen threeyears rainy in New York, but on the available space on the ship was
from the time the keel was laid at morning of Missouri's commis- crammed with mailbags, bring-
the New York Naval Shipyard. sioning the sun broke through ing Christmas greetings and
This was to be the last battleship for the first time. The day re- packagesfromlovedonesbackin
built bytheUnitedStates, but her mainedbeautifulthroughoutthe the U.S.A.
destinycalled hertobemorethan ceremonies, then itbegan torain Whatfollowed isrecorded in
a warship. again. the ribbons now painted on her
At the ship’s first eommis- OnNovember 10, 1944,USS bridge wing. She received three
(left) Margaret Truman, daugh
ter ofthen junior Missouri Sena
tor Harry Truman, prepares to
break the bottle to christen Mis
souri.
MISSOURI TODAY." “Welcome
Waits Surrender Ship," "Big Mo.
StarofFleet,ToDockinTriumph
Here This Morning." The next
day, the headlines told of the
outcome: "Boarding Party of
75.000 Captures Mighty Mis-
souri."
A reporter ofthe day wrote:
"New York opened its generous
hearttotheUSSMissouriyester-
day and the result left the
battle-tested crew ofthe historic
Tokyo Bay surrender gasping
...
By sundown, police estimated,
75.000 had gone up the gang-
planks and stepped across the
bronze plaque
Battle Stars. The first for the Iwo of Surrender ending one of the Buttheadulationdidn'tstop
Jima Operations. The second for mostbloodiestwarsinthehistory there.
Okinawa Sunto Operations and ofmankind. On Navy Day. October 27.
the third for3rd Fleet Operations Thus did the ship assume 945whiletheshipwasanchored
1
against Japan. an enduring place in the history in the Hudson Fhver. a launch
TheIwoJimaOperationsin- ofthe world. camealongsidecarryingthePresi-
cludedraidsagainstHonshuand AttheconclusionoftheSur- dent ofthe United States. Harry
the Nansei Shore as well as the render Ceremony, the Supreme S. Truman, while signing the
final assault and occupation of Commander ofthe Allied Forces, guest log, said 'Thisisthehappi-
IwoJima in February and March General of the Army Douglas est day ofmy life." He then went
1945. MacArthur, spoke these words: ontoremindhiscompanionsthat
In March through June Let uspray that peace be hisdaughterMargarethadchris-
1945, Missouri took part in the now restored to the world and tened the ship. Other visitors
5thand3rd Fleetraidsinsupport that God will preserve it al- included Margaret Truman and
ofthe Okinawa Sunto Operation ways. These proceedings are New York Governor Thomas
and then followed this with the now closed.” Dewey. At the end of her two
3rd Fleet Operations against the At that moment, the sun week stay in NewYork. Missouri
mainland of Japan in July and came out for the first time that had seen one million visitors on
August. day. .anotherperfect endingfora her decks.
.
OnSeptember2, 1945,Harry climactic scene in this real-life “Peace on Earth" was the
S.Truman,theformerjuniorsena- drama. message broadcast to the nation
tor from Missouri was President Upon departure from Japa- on the surrender deck of the
of the United States. The entire nese waters, Missouri stopped in "Mighty Mo" on December 21,
world had theirattentionfocused Pearl Harbor, transited the 1945. Themusicofthe 100-voice
on the deck of USS Missouri, at Panama Canal and stopped in choir from the New York Naval
anchor in Tokyo Bay. Norfolk, Virginia, where the Sur- Shipyard was broadcast over a
Just as the junior senator render Plaque was set in place. nationwide radio hook-up.
moved to Vice President and, ThousandsofVirginiansboarded The next big event for Mis-
movingwith resolute dignity and the ship for a view of the spot souri was a Mediterranean
gracetotakechargeofthehighest where the surrender took place. mission. Bearing the remains of
office in the land, so too, did USS Butthiswasnothingcomparedto MehmetMunirErtegun,deceased
Missouri take her place in the thewelcome mat that laywaiting Turkish Ambassador to the
spotlight where, it was said, she in New York. United States, the battleship
became “an altarofpeace" as the The headlines were an au- headed for Istanbul where he
Japanese signed the Instrument gur of things to come: “HAIL would be buried in his native
INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER
Japanese G*o.vaecrtnimnegnbtyocnodmmtahnedJoafpaannedsemIbmephearlifalofGtehneeraElmpHeeraodtquoafrtJearpsa,n, the
ohferetbhye aGcocveeprtnmetnhetsproofvistiheonsUnisteetdfoSrttohrems,theChdmeoclaornadtioGnrea•stsuBendtbaymthoenr2e6ads
PJSouoclwiyearl>sis9t45R,epoufblPioctss,dwahmi,chonfdoursupbsoewqeuresntloyreahdehreeraefdtertorbeyfetrhreedUntioonasofthSeovAileltied
We herebyproclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied
Powers ofthe Japanese Imperial General Heodquorters and of oil
Japanese armed forces andall armed forces underJapanese control
wherever situated
We herebycommond all Joponese forces wherever situated and
mfreomJadpoamnoesgee palelopslheipst,oaciercorsoefl,hosatinlditimeislitfoorrythwoitnhd,ctiovilprpersoeprevretyonadndstaove
complywithall requirements which moybe imposed bythe Supreme
Commander forthe Allied Powers or by oqencies of the Japanese
Government at his direction
We hereby commond the Joponese ImperialGeneralHeadquarters
to issue at once orders tothe Gommonders of all Japanese forces
and allforces under Joponese control wherever situated to surrender
unconditionally themselves ond all forces under their control
We hereby commond oil civil, military ondnovo!officialsto
boybeythaendSuepnrfeomrceeCaollmmparoncdlearmatfioornst,heorAdlelrisedoPnodwerdsiretcotivbeesprdoepeermetdo
effectuate this surrender and issuedby himorunder hisauthority
ond we direct all such offidolstoremain at their posts ondto
continue toperform their non-combotont duties unless spec/ficolly
relieved by him orunder his authority
We hereby undertake for theEmperor, the Japanese
Government ondtheir successorsto carry out the provisions ofthe
Potsdam Dedorotion in good faith, and to issuewhatever orders
ondtake whatever action moy be requiredby the Supreme Commander
for the Allied Powers orby any other designated representative of
the AlliedPowers for thepurpose ofgiving effecttothat Declaration
Wehereby commond the Joponese Imperial Government and
the Joponese Imperial General Heodquorters ot once toliberate all
alliedprisoners of war ond civilian internees now under Japanese
ciomnmterdoliaatnedttroanpsrpoovritdaetiofnortothpeilracepsrotoecstiodni,reccatreed, maintenance and
The authority ofthe Emperor and the Japanese Government to
rAullleiedthePoswteartse swhhaollwbiellsutbojkeectstuochthesteSpsuproesmeheCdoememmasndperropefrortothe
effectuate these terms of surrender
onthe SignedoltEGftijMkHyq BAY. JAdPoAyNofot &°Eg/l£9*'U/
ByCommandondin behoIf oftheEmperorofJapan
ondtheJapanese Government
(above) TokyoBay, Japan:Alliedplanesfly over USSMissouri
following the surrender ceremonies, (right) The Surrender ByCommondand In behalfof the Joponese
Document. Imperial Genera! Headquorfen
land. Acontemporarynews-
memoTrahbelevisointe.toThTeuTrukrekyiswhagsov-a tpraepaetredr—ephoerrtead:s "aThekiTnudrkosf oUfUonnnriitotthnehedeoNtUoAntSciioctoveeniepsdtteSoSdttaoaOctoiLewtas&al,—triLstIOfRwiefiRipt.euhTpbQulbiJBlcaiApcTosa.f,n.MdCafhanfiydAnHaIon,ftUhneaittIentdSerEe£KPs>iTtns9EgMdoBOofEmRt2haendothtlehre,1945,
ernment issued special postage shrine asymbolofpeace.
stamps bearing a likeness ofthe Aftertheyhadmilledonand
ship. Newspapersprintedspecial off the decks, there wasn’t
editions and Turks filled every- even a cigarette butt to be JedStatus RopfJsentoUvu
thing that could float to go out found."
RepublicofChmoRepresentative
and meet the "Mighty Mo" as she Thehonorsandrecep-
§r~~Q0la-tUK
sailed into the Bosporus. tions continued—wherever United Kingdom Reprevsseanmtuortrrvvuo ,—.
“Theycouldn'tdoenoughfor she put in port Athens,
us," ChiefCarpenter’s Mate Fred Tangiers, Naples. In Rome,
Miletich of Seattle explained. PopePiusXII postponedhis
"Why, we asked a storekeeper EasterSundaypublicaudi
dominionofCanoda Representative
where a placewasand hewalked ence for a special meeting
seven blocksjust to show us.” with 400 crewmembers be- PRRreeoppvuuibbslliiioccn--alRReeGpporrevesseeernnnttmaoettni/tvveeofthe French
The official reception and cause "our American sons
parties ran steadily the fourdays have come to see us Easter Kilngd.omoftheNketthheerrJllalanndidss-Rjepresentative
the ship was in Istanbul. Sundayandwewanttoful- DominionofNewZealondRepresentahv\
fill their wish.” longboats of the Vikings: lhe commission when she was again
Missouri's next venture into special initiation for the crossing called into combat in support of
the spotlight occurred when she ofthe Equator. the United Nations' forces in Ko
became the “Floating White When “Ruffles and Flour- rea. Serving two combat
House.” On the second anniver- ishes" are sounded for the deployments between 1950 and
saryofsurrenderday,theTruman President of the United States, 1953, she earned five additional
family came aboard in Rio de he’s entitled to four ruffles. The battle stars in numerous gunfire
Janeiro for a trip back to the "Royal Visitor” on that occasion support missions, including the
United States followingthe Inter- received six rutiles, and a one- Inchon invasion.
American Conference for the gun salute. Peacetimereturned theship
MaintenanceofHemispherePeace Thus, on Missouri's fantail, to a routine of training, upkeep
and Security. thePresidentoftheUnited States and Midshipman cruises, which
While anchored in Rio, the became the nation’s number one carried her almost halfa million
ship's company took part in the Pollywog,whoalongwith hisfam- miles byhertenth anniversaryof
Brazilian Independence Day cel- ily and staff was answerable to uninterrupted active service.
ebrations with Missouri's entire the crew’s Trusty Shellbacks. Norfolk. Virginia, Missouri's
detachment of Marines and two Missouri was then chosen homeportsinceSeptember, 946.
1
divisions of sailors leading the as the Navy’s ship for the annual bid thebattleshipgood-byeinAu-
parade. Midshipmantrainingcruisesdur- gust, 1954,ashersistershipUSS
"Duringtheparade,westood ingthe summerseasons. During Iowa rendered honorsacross pier
atattentioninthereviewingstand theseperiodsatsea, theMidship- 7.
whilewhatseemed like theentire men experienced hands-on Following a 12-hour transit
Brazilian Army marched by for training and much of their time of the Panama Canal, the ship
fourhours,”reminiscedMargaret was devoted to simulated battle mooredforgeneralvisiting. Other
Truman. “Itwasabeautiful, even conditions. Additionally, naval stops at Long Beach. San Fran-
a spectacularshow, and themili- diplomacy was practiced with cisco, Seattle and Bremerton
tary music was magnificent.” muchsuccessduringportcallsto brought aboard additional visi-
OnthecruisetotheU.S., the Greece,Algeria. France, Portugal, tors for a total of 100.000 guests
Truman family and White House Great Britain and Cuba. biddingafond farewell to"Mighty
staffers took part in a traditional In 1950. Missourifoundher- Mo.”
ceremony that finds roots in the self the only battleship in Cold rain and snow squalls
were the order of the
dayon themorningof
February 26. 1955 at
the Shipyard in Bre-
merton, Washington.
It was Missouri's de-
commissioning day
and history did not
repeat itselfwith sun-
shine appearing as it
did the day of com-
missioning and the
Surrender ceremony.
Only a small group
was present for the
ceremony that would
mark her retirement
from the active fleet
and the miserable
weather drove them
from the quarterdeck
to the wardroom. A
FleetAdmiral Chester
Nimitz signs the In-
strument of Formal
Surrender during the
ceremonyonMissouri.
6
(top) On thefourth anniversary ofV.J. Day in 1949, Missouri crewmen took part in a commemoration
ceremony, (below) America's Iowa-class battleships (nearest the camera) USSIowa, USSNewJersey, USS
Missouri and USS Wisconsin steam in the line-abreastformation on June 7 1954.
,
lone Seaman remained on deck people paid their respects each These weapons platforms were
to haul her ensign down. year to the valiant lady at rest as needed foranexpanded600-ship
Guns silent, engines stilled, part ofthe reserve fleet. Navy to lead battle groups and
bleached teakwood decks turn- In May, 1984, the sleeping helpestablishtheU.S.navalpres-
inggray,USSMissourispentthree giant once again heard the call to ence around the globe.
decades moored in Bremerton, arms. The United States Navy May 10. 1986. USS Mis-
Washington. Never forgotten by was recalling its dreadnoughts souri is recommissioned in San
the public, more than 180,000 for modernization and updating. Francisco.
(top) The battleship begins itsjourney to
modernizationfrom the mothballfleet in
Bremerton, Washington, (left) Using a
heavy crane, one of the six twin mount
five-inch guns is lifted forplacement on
the battleship, which is concealed by
tiers ofscaffolding.
‘This is a day to celebrate the rebirth of
American sea power,” said then-Seeretarvof
Defense Casper W. Weinberger to an audi-
ence of 10.000 witnessing the historic
ceremony. He admonished the crewto "Lis-
ten for the footsteps ofthose who have gone
before you. They speak toyou ofhonor and
the importance ofduty. They remindyou of
your own traditions.”
Four months later, our nation's most
historicbattleshipdepartshernewhomeport
ofLongBeachforanaround-the-world-cruise.
bringing her message of“Strength for Free-
dom"toeightnations:Australia.DiegoGarcia.
Egypt. Turkey. Italy. Spain, Portugal and
Panama.
OnJuly 25. 1987. the crewofMissouri
was ordered for dutyin the troubled waters
of the Persian Gulf and departed on a six-
month deployment to the Indian Ocean and
North Arabian Sea. The ship spent more
than 100 continuous days at sea in a hot.
tense environment which posed a striking
contrast to theWorld Cruise monthsearlier.
As the centerpiece for Battlegroup Echo.
Missouri steamed into the volatile operating
arena and maintained a level ofpeace in the
MiddleEastwhichremainedfragileandvital.
Missouri returned to the United States
During theKorean Conflict, USSMissourifires asalvoof16-inchshellsfrom Turret #2 toward
the Korean coastline at Chong Kim on October 21, 1950.
via Diego Garcia, Australia and members ofthe crew. The video, George Bush sent the first ofsev-
Hawaii in early 1988. Several although controversial due to eral hundred thousand troops,
months later, Missouri’s crew Cher's outfit, was a smash, and alongwith a strong force ofnaval
again returned to Hawaiian wa- the song “If I Could Turn Back support to Saudi Arabia and the
ters for the Rim of the Pacific Time" was a chart topper. A few Persian Gulf area to support a
(“RimPac”) exercises involving months later, Missouri and crew multi-national force in a standoff
more than 50,000 members of departed for Pacific Exercise with the Iraqi dictator. A sched-
theArmed Forcesand shipsfrom (“PacEx”) '89, which found Mis- uled four-month Western Pacific
the navies ofAustralia, Canada. souriandhersistershipUSSNew port-to-portcruiseforSeptember
JapanandtheUnitedStates. Port Jerseyperformingasimultaneous was cancelled just a few days
visits in 1988 included Vancou- gunfiredemonstrationfortheair- beforetheshipwastoleave. Mis-
verandVictoriaIslandinCanada, craftcarriersUSSEnterpriseand souri was put on hold, in
San Diego, Seattle and Bremer- USS Nimitz. The highlight of anticipation of being called to
ton. PacEx was a port visit in Pusan, support the still-growing force in
1989 was a hectic year in Republic of Korea. the Middle East.
the life of Battleship Missouri. With the advent of a new The word came. Missouri
The early part of the year found decade, 1990had Missouri doing departedinmid-Novemberforthe
theship in the Long Beach Naval a repeat of the RimPac Exercise troubled waters of the Persian
Shipyard for routine mainte- with ships from Australia, Gulf. Amid the press coverage
nance. Independence Day Canada, Japan and Korea in ad- thatashipthestatureofMissouri
weekendbroughtitsshareoffire- ditiontoUnitedStatesNavyships. is used to receiving, the mighty
works. AcademyAward-winning On August 2, 1990, Iraqi dreadnought pulled away from
actress/singerChermadea rock dictatorSaddamHusseininvaded Pier 6 at Long Beach and headed
musicvideoonMissouri’sfoc’s'le, thetinyemirateofKuwait. In the for Hawaii, first stop on the long
which starred a couple hundred middle of the month, President journey to the gulf. Missouri's