Latest news with #BattleshipMissouriMemorial
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pearl Harbor Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII from Aug. 30-Sept 2 Announced; Made possible by the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a powerful tribute to the heroes of America's Greatest Generation, the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum proudly announce a series of commemoration events honoring the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II from August 30 – September 2. The multi-day commemoration is made possible by the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation. "We are honored to remember the heroes of World War II as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII," said Linda Hope, Chair and CEO of the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation. "We are proud to announce — on my father Bob Hope's birthday — this tribute to the valor and sacrifice of those who served in our military during World War II, as well as to the everyday Americans on the home front who also sacrificed to help make victory possible." On September 2, 1945, with the U.S. fleet and air forces standing by, thousands gathered on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay to witness the signing of the Instrument of Surrender that brought World War II to an end. Eighty years later, on September 2, 2025, we will honor that historic day, welcoming USS Missouri veterans who were present for the ceremony that shaped a more peaceful future. "Nowhere else in the world can you stand on the very deck where World War II officially ended. The Battleship Missouri Memorial offers a powerful, tangible connection to history, one that leaves a lasting impression on all who visit," said Michael Carr, President and CEO of the Battleship Missouri Memorial. "It is our duty and mission to honor the stories held aboard this ship and preserve her place in history." The Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are joining efforts to commemorate this historic occasion. The 80th Commemoration will begin on August 30th with the Commemoration Concert at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, a public tribute to veterans and service members, featuring Gary Sinise and The Lt Dan Band and culminate on September 2nd with the official Commemoration Ceremony on the pier adjacent to the Surrender Deck of the Battleship Missouri. Other public events during the 4-day commemoration include a large-scale RC air show, movie premieres, family activities and the official Commemoration Gala. "It is our honor to engage the public in several days of reflection and tribute. From the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack that cast America into WWII, to the solemn event on the Battleship Missouri that ended it, the commemoration experience will remind us of the resilience of our greatest generation and our collective hope for peace," said Janeen Woellhof, Interim Executive Director of Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, America's WWII aviation battlefield. For more information on the full schedule of events and how to participate, please visit or Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Walk the Pearl Harbor battlefield where the attack began, enter the bullet-scarred hangars, and see the control tower and aircraft of the battle, including a Japanese Zero and the B-17 Swamp Ghost. Hear the stories of World War II heroes and their response to the attack that changed our nation and world. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, open daily, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on membership, volunteers, and donations for support. For more information, call (808) 441-1000 or visit Battleship Missouri Memorial Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 10-million visitors from around the world with a fascinating tour experience showcasing the USS Missouri's unique place in history. Located a ship's length from the USS Arizona Memorial, the Mighty Mo completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the "day of infamy" and sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and ends with Japan's formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. The USS Missouri had an astounding career over five decades and three wars – World War II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm – after which it was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial as a historic attraction and oversees her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants, and donations. The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open daily. For information or reservations, call (808) 455-1600 or visit Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation ( supports organizations that bring "HOPE" to those in need and those who served to protect our nation. The Foundation also supports charitable organizations that preserve and honor the legacy of Bob Hope as an American entertainer, humanitarian, patriot, sportsman and supporter of military personnel and their families. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Battleship Missouri Memorial offers free admission to Hawaii educators
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Battleship Missouri Memorial is honoring Hawaii educators with free admission this weekend in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Month. Kapaa Bypass Road upgrades cause temporary closure On Saturday, May 24, 2025, all public and private school teachers in Hawaii can visit the historic 'Mighty Mo' on Ford Island free of charge. No advance registration is required, but teachers must present a valid school-issued ID at Chris Latronic went live from the memorial with Elizabeth Po'oloa, director of visitor operations, for a preview of the event. Throughout the day, educators can stop by the ship's Wardroom to connect with the memorial's Education Team, who will be on hand to share information about school programs, field trip opportunities and classroom resources available through the memorial. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Standard parking and shuttle procedures for Ford Island will remain in effect. For more details, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
11-04-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
A US Navy captain ordered a military funeral for a kamikaze pilot during WWII. Here's why.
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'This is one of the ship's great stories and explains, in part, why the ship became an international symbol of peace and reconciliation within two years of its launching and rather than just an instrument of destruction,' said Michael Carr, CEO of the Battleship Missouri Memorial. 'This is a remarkable story of compassion and humanity, even in the midst of one of the worst battles of World War II.' Advertisement Here's what to know about the attack on the Missouri and the pilot's burial: What is a kamikaze pilot? Japan launched a suicide attack campaign as a last-ditch measure to push U.S. forces back late in the war, when it was hopelessly losing. Advertisement The Imperial Navy founded the Kamikaze Tokko Tai, which translates as Divine Wind Special Attack Corps, and the Imperial Army followed with its own unit. Internationally their missions are called kamikaze, but in Japan they are better known as 'tokko,' which means 'special attack.' The pilots flew hastily constructed planes and even reconnaissance and training aircraft because the military lacked sufficient equipment. They took off on one-way flights with just enough fuel to reach their targets. Kamikaze sank their first ship on Oct. 25, 1944, when a navy Zero pilot smashed into the USS St. Lo in the Philippine Sea while carrying a pair of 550-pound (250-kilogram) bombs. Britain's Imperial War Museum says they killed 7,000 Allied naval personnel in all. Their initial 30% success rate fell to about 8% by mid-1945 due to declining crew skills, dwindling aircraft capabilities and improved U.S. defenses. Some 4,000 pilots died on suicide missions, about 2,500 navy and more than 1,400 army, most of them university students drafted in late 1943. Many launched from Chiran, a tea farming town that today is part of Minamikyushu, a city in southwest Japan. The missions became more intense as Japan's outlook grew more dire and the military showcased the sacrifice of the pilots to drum up patriotism and support for the war. Those who failed to take off or survived were considered a disgrace. Despite stereotypes of kamikaze as super-patriots who volunteered to die, many were not, as shown by their carefully nuanced last letters to loved ones and survivor accounts. 'They were victims of war,' said Hiroyuki Nuriki, mayor of Minamikyushu, who noted the pilots were only around 20 years old and had futures. Advertisement 'I'm sure they didn't want to die, but they still had to go,' he said. 'That's the tragedy of war, and that's why we should never start a war again.' What happened when the plane hit the Missouri? The Battle of Okinawa lasted 82 todays, with fierce fighting on land and sea. On April 11 the Missouri fended off aerial assaults from multiple directions and already had downed one kamikaze plane when a second approached. The Missouri's gunners hit the Zero fighter with a 5-inch (12.7-centimeter) round. The plane plunged, but it leveled out about 20 feet (6 meters) above the ocean and headed for the ship's starboard side. The crash ripped off the plane's right wing, which landed on the deck. Fuel in the wing caught fire, unleashing a giant plume of smoke. The crew controlled the fire within five minutes. The dent left by the attack is still visible on the Missouri's hull. What happened to the pilot? Capt. William Callaghan ordered the funeral to be held the next morning. The crew collected red and white cloth and sewed a makeshift 'rising sun' flag so he could be buried under his own colors, said Frank Clay, curator of the Battleship Missouri Memorial. They cleaned the body, wrapped it in canvas and placed it on a tray against the rail beneath the flag. Marine rifle guards gave a gun salute and a bugler played taps. The chaplain gave an invocation and said, 'Commit his body to the deep.' The crew tipped the tray and the body slid into the sea. It was the only known instance of U.S. forces holding a military funeral for a kamikaze pilot. Some crew members resented the ritual, while others grumbled but later came to believe it was the right thing to do, Clay said. Advertisement Ed Buffman, who was a teenage gunner's mate 2nd class on the Missouri, said he did not dwell on it: 'The next day you're ready to go back and battle again.' Little is known of Callaghan's reasons for ordering the ceremony, which appeared on the ship's daily schedule for meal times and other routine activity. Carey Callaghan said his grandfather never spoke of the burial and his family didn't learn about it until 2001. He said his grandfather had empathy and a sense of dignity, which was reflected by the funeral. A remarkable thing, Callaghan said, was that three years earlier, his grandfather lost his brother, Rear Adm. Daniel Callaghan, to Japanese gunfire off Guadalcanal. What is known about the pilot? Scholars believe he was Setsuo Ishino, a petty officer 2nd class in a flight training program. The pilot took off from Kanoya air base in southern Japan with 15 others as part of the No. 5 Kenmu Squadron. Most failed to hit their targets and crashed into the ocean. 'Dear Mother, The time has come for me to blossom at last. I am fulfilling my final duty with a smile. Please don't say anything, this is for our country,' Ishino wrote. 'The next time we see each other, we will be under the beautiful cherry blossom trees at Yasukuni Shrine. Please don't cry, only smile and tell me 'well done.'' Why is the anniversary being remembered decades later? Then-President Barack Obama referenced the burial in 2016 when he visited Pearl Harbor with then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He told those gathered that Callaghan showed 'we must resist the urge to demonize those who are different' and do so 'even when hatred burns hottest.' Advertisement Thanks to Callahan's act, the Missouri museum and the Chiran Peace Museum, which displays army tokko artifacts, today are partners and help each other with exhibits. Nuriki, the Minamikyushu mayor, said it is important to remember the events of April 11, 1945, and the tragedy of kamikaze pilots as Asia-Pacific tensions rise. 'We share the history between the former enemies that have become friends,' he said. 'We should keep telling the story and think about peace.' Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.
