U.S.S. North Carolina Tour - Photo Gallery

No vacation is complete without a visit to the World War II memorial, the U.S.S. North Carolina! Commissioned in April 1941 until its retirement in June 1947, it held 2,300 men and fought in every engagement in the Pacific against Japan. It destroyed enough enemy craft to receive 15 battle stars. It was turned into a memorial in 1962.

Welcome aboard! A ship 729 feet long (2.5 football fields) is like a small floating city, and tough to squeeze into a photo.

The front of the ship has a plane and a crane for raising and lowering smaller boats into the ocean.

Captain Darren Freidinger is the noble commander of the historic ship.

Gunner Duane ("Dad") Freidinger is ever ready. "Bring it, Japan!"

Artillery sergeant Dena McDonald is the bombshell supplying the bombs.

Captain Freidinger directs your gaze up to the powerful all-seeing radar.

Gunner Freidinger's eager. "Is she ready for me to blast away, Captain?"

A loose bomb on board? Dena smiles. "Any bomb is a good bomb!"

"Come on down and see my toys!"

"We like to shoot all day long, so we have quite the store."

"This is Gunner's stash. Did I mention how much he likes to shoot things?"

"Our other gunners are pretty lean, but feisty."

It's a sweet ride, so you know it needs a dentist office.

As the only doctor on board, his rates are outrageous!

What in the world are they making in the lab?

Ah, yes... drugs.

You're riding with 2 million gallons of fuel, miles of wiring, asbestos, and 8,000 tons of explosives. What better place to have a smoke?

Stowaways! "I wonder what would happen if I press the 'Blow Up The Ship' button?"

"Hey you stowaways! What's going on down here?"

"Back away from the periscope and come up to walk the plank!"

Captain studies the regulations regarding maximum door height with some dismay.

Time to raise anchor and set sail!

Farewell North Carolina! And thank you for protecting our nation.