Veterans Bring Battleship Back to Life | USS North Carolina | Veteran Stories

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  • Опубліковано 9 лис 2016
  • The USS North Carolina served in World War II, earning 15 battle stars, but now serves a new purpose, as a museum ship in Wilmington, N.C. Surviving crew members gather to retell some of their experiences on board during the war and reinforce how important it is to preserve the ship for future Americans to experience.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 71

  • @AARP
    @AARP  8 місяців тому

    Watch our final episode of "Reporting for Duty," and meet the Air Force veterans turning our nation's heroes into music stars: ua-cam.com/video/fSZovLyrsvA/v-deo.html
    You can watch the entire 14-part series here: www.aarp.org/reportingforduty
    AARP is honored to fight for issues that are important to nearly 4 million AARP members who have served in America’s military and their families. Veterans have given their all for this country, and they deserve supportive services to help them live their best lives.

  • @TheLL1954
    @TheLL1954 7 років тому +14

    My father helped build and served on this ship throughout the war. We have visited the ship with him and have never had the official tour and love that we got to see the ship through his eyes.

  • @53Auggie
    @53Auggie 7 років тому +8

    I'm happy to see that they are getting the stories from these people before they are all gone.

  • @seanjohnson8622
    @seanjohnson8622 7 років тому +55

    God bless our WW2 veterans...they grow fewer in number everyday. Thank you.

  • @ouroboris
    @ouroboris 7 років тому +25

    You. Awesome. Bastards. I love you guys.

  • @RW4X4X3006
    @RW4X4X3006 7 років тому +6

    I'm so very fortunate to have known a number of WW2 vets, growing up. Just the best people!

  • @chuck6187
    @chuck6187 7 років тому +6

    I've been on this battleship 4 times. I love it more every time I'm on it.

  • @rvnmedic1968
    @rvnmedic1968 6 років тому +9

    I only wish they had talked about WW2 experiences years ago. My Dad was in the Navy, joined in 1937 and his first ship, the USS Selfridge DD357, sailed into Pearl Harbor on Dec 6th, 1941. Bad timng. They were one of the first to return fire and get out of the dock into open water. Later torpedoed in the Solomon Islands battles, tore the bow off the ship. He died of cancer at age 63. I have now outlived him by 7 years. I'll be visiting the North Carolina when we see our son in the Spring in NC. Were it not for these guys and gals we'd be speaking German or Japanese right now...

  • @glensullivan5737
    @glensullivan5737 7 років тому +21

    Thank you for your service, I do hope more of the stories are told

  • @terrirush2295
    @terrirush2295 7 років тому +89

    That's my grandfather in the film...Fred Pierce

    • @kiwiandapple503
      @kiwiandapple503 7 років тому +4

      Looks like a very awesome & energetic person! Go listen to some of his stories if you can find the time, I'm sure he has plenty left in him.
      Also, as a human being. I am very thankful for his service!

    • @kiwiandapple503
      @kiwiandapple503 7 років тому +2

      pearlsnaredrummer77 I did last Sunday. He's 90 and still kicking! Sadly a bit lost now and then, but my grandmother is still with him. She sadly is very deaf, she barely hears what we say.. Which makes it hard to communicate.
      Oh well, I'm glad they're still with us!

    • @ffar662
      @ffar662 7 років тому

      I could have knocked him out with a rock :D

    • @samfontenot7757
      @samfontenot7757 7 років тому

      Terri Freels Fred reminds me of my great grandfather, he always had the best stories...

    • @normanalvarez5751
      @normanalvarez5751 6 років тому

      What an honor, thank you for your service sir God bless you.

  • @aero1ret
    @aero1ret 6 років тому +2

    Bless them all. Everybody should have the number '465 Thousand' written in their hearts . That's the number of these wonderful men that didn't make it home alive in 45. And some people say that America does nothing but 'take' . w3

  • @Heartuver
    @Heartuver 6 років тому +5

    I've been on this ship an Always wanted to hear the stories.

  • @paulletchworth8127
    @paulletchworth8127 5 років тому +1

    How can 10 people not like this , thinking they can not be real Americans , these men fought fir this country and now in the twilight of their lives they are sharing the memories of war and duty , I salute you all for your sacrifice , my dad served in wwII and in Korea also , so Gentlemen I thank you all .

  • @nedyarbnexus9460
    @nedyarbnexus9460 7 років тому +14

    fantasticly well designed ship, greatest battleship in the world when it was commissioned and if she had gotten into a 1v1 fight with Bismarck who at the current time after her comissioning was reeking havoc in the North Atlantic I would say NC would have won.

    • @elishaschoonover8914
      @elishaschoonover8914 4 роки тому

      Ya think NC could have taken Bismarck? I'm not sure. Some people over estimate Bismarck, but more under estimate that behemoth.

  • @richardmaddamma7177
    @richardmaddamma7177 4 роки тому

    I took my father to the Crews 60th Reunion. He had a great time seeing many of his shipmates during that visit. I remember seeingg and hearing stories of some of these men.

  • @tpiasecki
    @tpiasecki 7 років тому +16

    The greatest generation

  • @AviatorJohn70
    @AviatorJohn70 7 років тому +3

    All of these guys are awesome!

  • @thewastelander8046
    @thewastelander8046 3 роки тому

    From ineta pierce-moore daughter of fred pierce: so proud of my daddy, he was a patriot all the way until he passed on 1/2/21. Gonna miss him.
    From the wastelander: I had the honor of meeting and getting to know fred pierce for the last two years. He was a kind and friendly man who shared a few stories with me about his time in the service. He was, is, and always will be a hero and a patriot. Rest in peace.

  • @Lilnasty-jo3dc
    @Lilnasty-jo3dc 7 років тому +1

    Toughest men this country has ever known!! We love all you WWll vets! We owe you guys so much! God bless each of you and your families!!! 🇺🇸

  • @decaturdavis5192
    @decaturdavis5192 4 роки тому

    What a cliffhanger! I love our ship and I hope I get the honor to meet a member of her crew.

  • @hermes3255
    @hermes3255 4 роки тому

    My great grandpa served on north Carolina. His name is fred cuddy he is 97 and I love him alot

  • @matts6269
    @matts6269 6 років тому +4

    i love the uss North Carolina

  • @bunbun4629
    @bunbun4629 5 років тому

    They all look so cheerful.....and happy after what they've seen

  • @HellzNord
    @HellzNord 4 роки тому

    Thank all of you servicemen for all that you've done. Great video!

  • @cranedigiangaming6113
    @cranedigiangaming6113 7 років тому +5

    Such a great story

  • @hermes3255
    @hermes3255 4 роки тому

    I actually saw these guys once at a battle ship reunion they were very nice people

  • @rocketman4885
    @rocketman4885 7 років тому +1

    This is my favorite battleship. I have been on it 3 times and each time I just love going into the turret rings and looking at the powder rooms and also know that the men that worked down here were one of the safest people on the ship but then again on one of the most unsafe parts of the ship at the same time due to the gunpowder being right next door.

  • @brucebartman4782
    @brucebartman4782 6 років тому +1

    This was America's greatest generation that along with it's allies saved Civilization from Fascism and Imperialism. My Dad who is now deceased served in the US Army went to England, France then Germany. When I was young, I asked my Dad what he did in WW ll? I received the same answer several time's. "Son, I did what I had to do. It was a long time ago and I don't want to talk about it." Fair enough answer.

  • @kensummerlin180
    @kensummerlin180 4 роки тому

    As I watched the men that once formed the tip of the sword serving on the Showboat, I found myself wanting one of those caps, autographed by these great warriors. I went to visit the Showboat yesterday, despite living in eastern NC all my life. I regret I ever waited. However due to the carona virus the lower decks, and turrets where closed for viewing. One of the anti-aircraft guns still works so my daughter and I hopped up and shot down some Zeros before the next family came up and their kids wanted to give the enemy some hell, so we hopped off. I will definitely be going back to see what's down in her lower decks after this virus is gone. You won't regret coming to see this majestic piece of Naval Whoopass. aka. Showboat

  • @terrirussell7909
    @terrirussell7909 6 місяців тому

    There story's are amazing

  • @ColonelMarcellus
    @ColonelMarcellus 7 років тому +1

    This ship was docked in North Carolina, I think, back in the 1960s. As a boy, I went with my family aboard and looked around, as it was a "floating museum" at that time.

  • @Subswithnovideos-wq5vm
    @Subswithnovideos-wq5vm 7 років тому +2

    My Grandpa is a WW2 Veteran

  • @mrs3533
    @mrs3533 6 років тому +1

    It’s been 26 years since I last seen the Showboat.

  • @marksolarz3756
    @marksolarz3756 6 років тому

    Wonderful Ship......so glad it’s story will be told,....helps so much to have “the ship” Other Navys let there’s be scraped......such a shame!

  • @RoyD_S
    @RoyD_S 7 років тому +1

    peace to the fallen.

  • @TheEricAnthony
    @TheEricAnthony 5 років тому

    I have been on this ship. It was awesome.

  • @Volker1944
    @Volker1944 7 років тому +5

    My uncle was one of the Last crewmembers of the gneisenau to Larve the ship. Main Artillery Officer was his Rank i believe. He Died Two years ago thanks to cancer.

  • @whackyjinak4978
    @whackyjinak4978 6 років тому +5

    YES I WANT YOU TO TELL ABOUT IT WHAT IS ITTT

  • @neilkorpal7437
    @neilkorpal7437 7 років тому +3

    Good Job because we going to need her back in service

    • @andypage9
      @andypage9 7 років тому

      Pieces are cut out for display and accessibility. She is fully a museum and memorial now and can't return to service.

    • @neilkorpal7437
      @neilkorpal7437 7 років тому +1

      To bad we need her in service , The big war is started . America better wake up .

    • @Revkor
      @Revkor 7 років тому +1

      if any battleships are returned to service it would be the Iowas

    • @lespaulguitarist92
      @lespaulguitarist92 7 років тому

      this is a ww2 ship.. its outdated.

    • @kirukun-rk3uo
      @kirukun-rk3uo 6 років тому

      Sadly it just can't happen.

  • @animalcorvair
    @animalcorvair 6 років тому

    going to sunset beach ...we went on that tour ..loved it ...

  • @boataxe4605
    @boataxe4605 7 років тому +2

    Great men & great story's, but they did not bring the ship back to life, that would require firing up the boilers and running the turbines!

  • @delmarmeyer3384
    @delmarmeyer3384 7 років тому +3

    Surprised to hear a Navy veteran speak about going to the "end" of the ship rather than the "stern" or the "fantail".

  • @ColKorn1965
    @ColKorn1965 3 роки тому

    Praise Jesus

  • @timothysmith8300
    @timothysmith8300 7 років тому +2

    now the uk can do with battle ships like the us iowa class we should not have got rid of any 2nd ww battle ships if the usa can keep there,s so can the uk.

    • @bella_ciao4608
      @bella_ciao4608 5 років тому

      No they couldn’t. The UK was absolutely bankrupt at the end of the war. The most they could afford to turn into a museum and NOT scrap was the Belfast.

  • @hermes3255
    @hermes3255 4 роки тому

    Look up Fred Cuddy on Google then go to images then you'll see him. He is the old white man with a lot of white hair. He is 97 and still going

  • @ObamaTookMyCat
    @ObamaTookMyCat 7 років тому

    ahh the North Carolina... the ship that had more problems out of the shipyard than the zumwalt....

    • @andypage9
      @andypage9 7 років тому +3

      Are you high?

    • @kensummerlin180
      @kensummerlin180 4 роки тому

      Showboat was the most decorated BB of the USN during WW2.

    • @ObamaTookMyCat
      @ObamaTookMyCat 4 роки тому

      @@andypage9 not really, North Carolina was plagued with vibration issues to the stern in the beginning, which totally mauled rear gun director accuracy. This was improved by reinforcing the rear frame areas, but it was never fully fixed. Added to that, Im pretty sure one of the ships dislodged a propeller shaft during sea trials....

    • @shields8947
      @shields8947 2 роки тому

      @@ObamaTookMyCat I think the South Dakotas had a similar issue like that as well

  • @seankelly1663
    @seankelly1663 7 років тому

    DON'T FORGET, PLEASE DO NOT FIRE ALL THE 16" GUNS ON SAME SIDE. USS JERSEY DID IT ALMOST FLIPPED OVER. BALLAST CONTROL AND BT PERFORMED WELL. 1967 VIETNAM USN VETERAN.

    • @MrBen527
      @MrBen527 7 років тому

      They should!!

    • @peterson7082
      @peterson7082 6 років тому

      +Sean Kelly
      A full salvo is not strong enough to do that. There are several photos of _New Jersey_ firing full broadsides.
      Thank you for your service nonetheless.

  • @johngordon4116
    @johngordon4116 3 роки тому

    Mr trump bring back our battleships ,sub trackers exist now ,with a flight deak on one for cover aircraft it would be unstoppable .with a mix of modern and old ,a battleship can still operate ,even if computer systems are down .and capible of even fireing nuclear shells with the 16 inch guns .let hope no need to use one ,but should be there for protection