Should America allow the scrapping or sinking as an artificial reef of this symbol of America's greatness? Or should some of the incumbent's often vaunted 'stimulus package' be allocated to this symbol. Do we really want to lose her? You decide. I would really be interested in your thoughts, it is a part of our history. do we want to lose it? Thank you ahead of time.
2010-09-06T12:09:45Z
Vietnamk: At some point you have to get over it and just go on with life. Be happy that America now seems to love its veterans. Good luck to you... ...Vietnam 1967-1970...
2010-09-06T14:05:53Z
Majgross: I'm not navy either but I would think it would be a pretty good thing to hang onto the oldest surviving steel warship in the world. Look up Admiral Dewey at Manila for info on the Olympia. It also brought home the WWI unknown soldier (a Doughboy by the way) from Europe after the war. Thank you for your service and goodluck to you... ...26 years Army service...
2010-09-06T14:12:14Z
bdub 360: Thank you for the valuable naval history lesson. Only one error that I can see the original Hornet aircraft carrier was CV-8 not CVA-8. Attack carriers did not become a class until after she sank. Does the 'Great White Fleet' mean nothing to you?Thank you for your service and good luck
Jer.L2010-09-07T19:14:09Z
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We should save the USS Olympia. Just for the historic value of the ship.
It seems that some of our national military treasures are only "treasures" to that time period. The main issue for the Olympia was the Spanish-American war for Cuban Independence and what historical significance does that hold for rest of the US or what good does it do now?
The USS Constitution is America's oldest warship and now a museum. Need I say more about a ship that was around during the earliest beginnings of the US and one of the first capital ships authorized by the newly formed nation.
The USS Missouri (BB-63) will always be known as the ship which ushered in the close of WWII (probably one of the best documented old time battles) and shows the might and tenacity of the US military. Conversely, the USS Hornet (CVS-12) which is ported in Alameda, Ca. is only known for it's service during the Vietnam War and the recovery of the first American manned space mission Apollo 11, unlike it's predecessor CVA-8 (sunk during the Battle of Santa Cruz) which launched the first direct raid (the Doolittle Raid) against Japan in 1942 in retaliation for the Pearl Harbor attack.
The USS Texas (completed in 1914 and served in both WWI, WWII and was a part of D-Day operations) is the oldest surviving battleship still afloat.
Currently, there is momentum in getting the USS Ranger (CV-61) which starred in the movie Top Gun, to be a museum ship near Portland, Oregon. In its 36 year active duty history it supported operations in Vietnam, Desert Storm and is probably the only aircraft carrier that launched/recovered a U-2 spy plane. The USS Kitty Hawk (now sitting in Bremerton, Wash) was the oldest active duty ship next the USS Constitution after serving for 49 years.
I guess my point is what do any of these objects have in common to people not associated with them? Probably nothing and all they are is a money maker for the local economy and serve some historical value.
I have been watching with interest for several years now the plight of this ship. As the only remaining vessel of her era and a ship of actual historic significance there is a real case to be made for her preservation, unlike so many other warship museums. Her material condition however is very poor and the current owners can not afford to maintain the ship on a day-to-day basis, let alone the overhaul this ship desperately needs just to stay afloat. I would like to see ownership transfer to a museum that could afford to maintain USS Olympia properly but I don't see anyone tripping over each other to get into that line. Stimulus money is a no-go. I wouldn't be in favor of that at all. It is somewhat surprising no Pennsylvania legislator has earmarked funds to it. Representatives have built so many useless museums and local projects this way.
Objectively, the odds of this ships continued preservation are slim.
I'm not familiar with the Olympia, so maybe my opinion would change if I knew more. But I don't see that we need to hold on to every symbol of American Greatness. Is there something about the Olympia that sets it apart from the rest? I like the idea of creating reefs out of the vessels. I think it is a much better ending than being sold to Japan to be made into razor blades or sunk as a target in a bombing exercise. I can think of nothing better than to dive on a reef made from one of these. As an aside, and no where near as significant, when I got new mortars and mortar tracks back in 95, we turned in our old tracks to be used for a reef project off Florida. I still have the Lat/Long for this reef and I hope some day to make that dive.
Maybe all those rich guys that want to give their money to a worthy cause can pony up. If I was Bill Gates Rich I would buy that ship, totally refurb it to as new condition and then live on it in the Admirals quarters. Maybe once a month take it out for a spin with tourists onboard.