A Memorable Look at History Up Close,Aboard the USS New Jersey By YM/GySgt Madysen Myers and YM/ Sgt Dustyn McGinity Westmoreland County (PA) One weekend last September, the Westmoreland County (PA) Young Marines went on an overnight educational trip to the battleship U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62). Not only was it educa- tional, but it was a fun time for all of the Young Marines. Now just imagine living on a Navy battleship with some- where between 1,500 and 3,000 shipmates during any the fol- lowing: the assault on the Marshall Islands in 1944, providing support in the assault on Iwo Jima, conducting the first shore bombardment at Wonsan, during the Korean War in 1951, pro- viding gunfire support along the Vietnamese coast in 1968, or providing heavy bombardment in 1984 outside of Beirut. It was a five hour long ride to New Jersey. When we first ar- rived, we flew in a flight simulator, which only took a few min- utes. The simulator moved realistically to the screen, which was cool. After the flight simulator, we boarded the ship. Our unit’s overnight encampment aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey began. What an awesome sight seeing the battleship sitting proudly upon the water. Once we boarded the ship we saw the racks where we were going to stay at night, and had about a half hour to look around the ship. Then, we ate chow. We were greet- ed by retired service men and women, who give of their time and expertise to keep history alive. Aboard ship, we learned how to navigate the ship through reading the numbering system at each doorway. The best part about trip was the tour of the battle- ship given by our jubilant and knowledgeable tour guide, Commander Skip, who served aboard the ship during the Beirut conflict. His knowledge of every part of the ship was truly inspiring. He answered every question and spent a lot of time giving us a real understand- ing of what is needed to make a battleship function effectively. Our tour took approximately two and a half hours. Imagine more than 5,000 miles of wiring, over 2 million gallons of oil needed to run the steam engines, working the communication systems that were used from the time the ship was built in 1941 to its decommissioning in 1991, launching the missiles, feeding the troops, sleeping in tight quarters, engine systems, operating the navigation system and medical facilities, the signaling system using flags, the bridge, the bell system (indi- cating time and watch duty), operating the weapons, and the list goes on. While aboard the ship, I kept smelling the scent of machine oil and sulphur and I would close my eyes an imagine what it was like during battle. Chills went down my spine. At the conclusion of the tour, we watched as the firing of a flare gun signalled the end of the day. Below deck, we headed to the dining hall to have a late night snack around 2200, as senior Young Marines conducted our usual debrief talk about day’s events and behavior of the Young Marines. Also aboard ship there were four Boy Scout troops conducting an encampment. On Sunday, we awoke and the first thing we did was pack up our belongings. We were up long before wake up call at 0700, getting ready for the morning PT, which we did on the top deck, just as the ship’s crew would have done while aboard ship. The only sounds during the solemn Raising of the Colors was the audio recording of trumpets. After chow, was our morning for- mation where nine of us memora- bly received promotions under the cannons. The Young Marines pro- moted were YM/MGy Sgt. Hoffman, YM/Gy Sgts. Myers M. and Falen- ski, YM/Sgts. Dham, Zahir, YM/LCpl Krupa, two other Young Marines, and YM/Sgt Dustin McGinity. Topping off the morning was a self- guided tour of the ship where we were spent even more time learn- ing about the ship’s history. I can’t express what staying on the ship overnight, getting the tour, getting promoted aboard ship and talking with the actual commander of the ship meant to all of us! We are so thank- ful for this opportunity and to be a part of the Young Marines program because it has given us so many opportunities and adventures! Some of us received our promotions were presented to us beneath the big guns of this mighty battleship. 20 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE