USS Missouri
The USS Missouri was an Iowa Class Battleship that was built in the New York Navy Yard. She was officially commissioned on June 11, 1944. The Missouri, the third ship to be named after the state, spent the next few months training for combat in the Pacific. In 1945, The Missouri sailed to Iwo Jima where she would become an active participant in combat operations.
The Missouri provided support for the soldiers who were storming the beaches in Iwo Jima. The ship boasted several large guns with long range firing and armor piercing capabilities. She also was fitted with anti aircraft weapons to help defend against the possibility of attack from enemy pilots.
Iwo Jima was her temporary home until March, when she sailed to the Japanese mainland to provide support to the troops there. By March 24, she was in Okinawa to participate in the battle for the invasion that was to begin in April. On April 11, the Missouri was attacked by a kamikaze pilot. The crew was able to shoot the plane down, but it collided into the ship on the starboard side. One of the planes' wings sheared off, and crashed into a gun mount, causing a large fire on board. The crew quickly contained the fire, and the entire incident only left the Missouri with a minimal amount of damage.
The Missouri maintained a very successful record during her time in Iwo Jima, and sailed off in May. It was not long, however, until she was back in action at Okinawa. In June she participated in a major battle on Kyūshū, and led the 3rd Fleet in this endeavor. She was stationed in this area for nearly three months, and then moved on to prepare for attacks to the Japanese mainland.
Throughout July The Missouri continued the battle in Japan, and on August 10, 1945 the ship had the honor of being the actual site on which the ceremony for the surrender of the Japanese was held. This event signaled the official end to World War II.
The Missouri spent the next several years in the Atlantic, and was still on active duty at the beginning of the Korean War. She was utilized in several major battles in 1950 and 1951, off the coast of Korea. In 1952 she was in action again, providing support with her massive artillery. She remained in action until March of 1953, when the current commanding officer, Captain Warner R. Edsall, died following a heart attack. On April 6 she was officially replaced by the USS New Jersey and sailed away from Korea.
On February 26, 1955 The Missouri was officially decommissioned from active duty. She became a tourist attraction at her home in Bermerton until the mid 1980's when she was temporarily re-commissioned. The Missouri received modern weaponry and participated in Operation Earnest Will in the Persian Gulf. This was not to be her only experience in this area. She was deployed to the Persian Gulf again in 1990 and was active until March of 1991.
In 1998, the Missouri was brought to Pearl Harbor and the next year it became a museum that is currently open to the public. The USS Missouri had a long and distinguished career and her crew survived many battles. One unexpected battle that the crew faced was with the toxic substance known as asbestos. Many ships that were used in World War II included insulation materials that were made with asbestos. Today it is well known that the fibers that make up asbestos can be easily inhaled, and lead to diseases such as mesothelioma, a type of cancer. Anyone who was part of the crew of the Missouri while she was contaminated with this dangerous substance should seek medical attention immediately.
Last modified: May 06 2008.
