The Hallowed Grounds of Pearl Harbour
Due to its unique position and exceptional command, the Battleship Missouri played a pivotal role in the surrender of the Empire of Japan. While most of us grow up reading about it, visiting the memorial was an experience in itself. My initial expectation was to get badass photos of a real battleship, but I left with goosebumps, sadness, and respect for the soldiers.
The second World War was a brutal occurrence. Thousands of lives were lost, and today, the USS Missouri, together with sunken Arizona, serve as reminders of all the sacrifices made by the young men in service of their country. If you want to know why we decided to visit the USS Missouri Memorial and what we saw, keep reading!
Battleship Missouri – Pearl Harbor
The Battleship Missouri, also known as Mighty Mo, was commissioned in June 1944 joined the rest of the fleet in January 1945. It played a central role in the United States’ nautical defense and offense. Battleship Missouri carried out airstrikes on Japan and assisted with its anti-aircraft guns by destroying four Japanese aircraft and took over when Carrier Franklin was damaged.
On the 11th of April, USS Missouri was attacked by the Japanese Kamikaze that struck the vessel's side. The impact led to the spilling of gasoline over the deck, which quickly caught fire. The crew, however, got it under control in no time, saving the Battleship from substantial damage.
Importance Of Pearl Harbor
The bombing of Pearl Harbor carried out on December 7, 1941, is now remembered as the Day Of Infamy. The deck of Battleship Missouri marks the site of Japan's unconditional surrender to the United States, marking the end of World War 2.
The ship has now been refurbished and is open for visitors who want to take a closer look at it and experience what the inside looks like, complete with official uniforms, bunkers, arms, and numerous other artifacts from the war itself.
Exhibits
The Iowa Class Battleship allows visitors to tour the decks, wardrooms, and soldier quarters to experience how they lived, where they ate and slept. The battleship, made from solid steel armor plating, features 16-inch guns, each 65 feet long and weighing 116 tons. We also toured the Surrender Deck, where the papers were signed, marking the end of the war. Make sure not to bring any large bags as it's strictly prohibited.
The exhibits also feature quite a lot about the Japanese soldiers, complete with Kamikaze footage and letters they wrote to their families before sacrificing their lives for their country. The photos and military portraits gave the place a solemn air, like the spirits of those who passed away never really left. I defiantly felt something, a lot of something. And looking around at my friends who were with me, I can tell they sensed something too.
This was the part of the tour-experience that really nailed it down into my mind what war really was. Reading the translations of the letters the soldiers wrote to their family, along with the footage playing on loop of them crashing into the vessel, really hammering it home. Over and over. This was the heaviest room.
But back to the topic at hand. Would this be a cool shooting location? Well naturally setting wise, it’s a battleship, an aircraft carrier. But what seperates this from just another hunk of floating metal is the history and souls tied to this place.
As a photographer, shooting here is possible, but be respectful and tactful. I personally wouldn’t do a cosplay shoot here. If so, it would have to be done tactfully. I think most shoots that could be done here would be something along the lines of portraits, veteran ship, weddings and etc.
On a completely different note, the souvenirs and monuments from the site sparked a new sub interest in certain nautical themes, which I'll indeed be pursuing further. More so some sailor core.
Artwork by Andrian Tihomirov
Food
On the memorial sight, there are many food stands to get some quick bites like hotdogs, fries, chips and drinks. Something to tie you over until you’re done viewing the battleship. (You can’t eat on the ship though.)
After the tour, we headed to Fresh Catch which is located at 3109 Waialae Ave Kaimuki. They offer several bowls, from fresh seafood to grilled chicken. The interior is designed to match the sailor theme of the entire area, which was interesting. The food was delicious, and the staff was delightful.
The shop itself had a really cool nautical themed interior. I wish I actually took more photos of it. I think I funneled too much effort into vlogging it. All in all, the food, people and location were amazing.
Conclusion
The USS Missouri Memorial was an incredible and heavy experience. It gives a person a unique perspective on a bygone era and makes us realize how we take today's peace for granted.
