The Admiral Nimitz And Pacific War Museums – Part II

Here’s a quiz for you.  Yesterday we highlighted Admiral Nimitz who was a five star admiral.  The five star rank is reserved for times of war.  Do you know how many American officers have been promoted to the five star star rank?  Can you name them?  Answers to follow.

The Pacific Combat Zone is a three-acre indoor and outdoor exhibit area which offered us a clearer understanding of the struggle that took place between Allied and Japanese forces on the Islands of the Pacific.  This is a guided tour which began in the hanger of a World War II aircraft carrier.  A TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber, the type flown by George H. W. Bush during WWII, is on display in the hanger.

Next was the PT 309 display.  This is an actual PT boat restored to its original configuration.  There were two major manufacturers for the PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats.  This one is a Higgins Industries boat while the PT 109, that Kennedy commanded, was built by Electric Launch Company (ELCO).  The major difference between the two is the location of the bridge with Higgins design being further forward than ELCO’s.

There were two different landing craft on display.  The ones with wheels would often get stuck in the mud on the beaches requiring the soldiers to wade ashore while the landing craft with tracks could roll right up on the beaches with little problem.  Our tour guide, who was very knowledgeable, was standing next to one of the amphibious landing crafts.

Then we passed by several bunkers displaying various antiaircraft guns.  If you look closely you’ll see numbers on the sides of the bunkers.  The numbers were used by the spotters to inform the gunners in which direction the enemy aircraft were coming from.

This is a fully functional Stuart light weight tank that was used on the islands during the Pacific War effort.  It is active during the reenactments that take place at the Pacific Combat Zone eight times a year.

Our tour concluded with this display of an Army field hospital.  There was a twelve minute audio presentation explaining the “state of the art” field medical facilities of that time.

There were crosses erected displaying the losses for all the branches of the service.  My dad and several of my uncles served in the U. S. Navy during World War II.

The Plaza of Presidents is a tribute to the American Presidents who served during World War II.  Each stone monument holds a bronze plaque that describes that President’s military service during the war.  Here’s another quiz.  How many Presidents served during World War II?  And, can you name them?  Answers to follow.

Unfortunately it was pouring down rain so we didn’t get any time to spend in the Memorial Courtyard.  The Nimitz Hotel’s courtyard is surrounded by limestone walls which have been transformed into a Memorial Wall.  The plaques honor the contributions of individuals, ships, and units during the War in the Pacific.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of National Museum of the Pacific War.  This is a very well done exhibit and well worth a visit.  After five hours we barely scratched the surface.  The tickets are good for two days and a true history buff could easily spend both days, from opening time to the closing, viewing all the displays.

Well, you can almost guess what’s next.  “Feed Me” showed up so we rounded up the posse and headed to Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant.  It was very good with with waaaaay more than enough to eat – “Feed Me” was sent packing in a hurry.

Well now, that brings you up to date on our Thursday and Friday outings.  Yesterday was a cold soggy rainy day so we stayed to home, I never even got out of my sweats.  Judy and I had BLTs for lunch and then made a nice beef stew for dinner.  We journeyed next door for Martini Time, the only time we ventured out.  It was kind of nice to recline, relax, and read. 

You’ll never guess what we have planned for today and we’re not telling, but you just know that food will play a part in it.  You’ll just have to come back tomorrow to find out.

And now, here are the answers to today’s quizzes –

How many American five star officers?  Nine - The Army's five star generals were General George C. Marshall, General Douglas MacArthur, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and General Omar N. Bradley. The Navy's five-star fleet admirals were Admiral William D. Leahy, Admiral Ernest J. King, Admiral Chester Nimitz, and Admiral William F. Halsey. And General Henry Arnold was the Air Force's five star general.

How many Presidents served during World War II?  Ten – Franklin D. Roosevelt, Commander in Chief; Harry S. Truman, Commander in Chief; Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. Army; John F Kennedy, U.S. Navy; Lyndon B. Johnson, U.S.Navy; Richard M. Nixon, U.S. Navy; Gerald R. Ford, U.S.Navy; James E. Carter, Jr., U.S.Navy; Ronald Reagan, U.S. Army; and George H. W. Bush, U.S. Navy. 

Thanks For Tagging Along and May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -