Mare Island

We have been waiting for a box of camping gear that we shipped from home. It did not come yesterday as expected so we had some time today. Ellie had worked over night so after she came home and went to bed we borrowed her car and drove to Mare Island near Vallejo. Mare Island Shipyard was founded in 1854 under Navy Commander David Farragut (later) the first Admiral of the USN. This shipyard built many navy ships and submarines before it was closed by the Navy Department in 1996. During WWII, atomic bombs, Little Man and Fat Boy were loaded on the fast cruiser Indianapolis for delivery to Tinian Island where they were armed and loaded on B-29 Enola Gay for delivery to Japan. On the return trip, Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine with the loss of many sailors lives. Approximately 900 sailors went in the ocean, 317 were eventually rescued.

Mare Island Shipyard has a museum and gives tours of the Admiral's mansion and St. Peter's Chapel. The chapel was constructed in 1901 for $5000 and eventually had installed 16 Tiffany Studio's stained glass windows. It is a beautiful chapel and a fitting memorial for many service personnel who lost their lives in defense of this country.

There was an historic ship available to tour. It was LCS-26, a Landing Craft Support ship. One hundred thirty six of these warships were constructed in the last year of the war. They were designed to support amphibious landings on Phillipines Sea islands and perhaps the island of Japan. LCS-26 is the last surviving ship of this design and survived only because it was transferred to Thailand at the end of the war and was maintained by them for 40 years. The LCS was a shallow draft (4') vessel that could be run up on the beach. The large stern anchor was dropped offshore then the ship would be winched off when it was time to relaunch.

The next picture is of Bill, an 84 year old veteran of the LCS -82. He is part of a veterans group that is trying to keep LCS-26 afloat and turn her into a museum ship. He was grinding rust from the bridge deck before we came aboard. Great guy! 

Next post probably from the road.