When docked in Charleston we looked across the harbor and could see “The Fighting Lady” – the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier. Sunday, May 29, we took a water taxi over to the ship to tour her.

Crossing the harbor in the water taxi was itself an adventure. The captain maneuvering the boat has to know what he’s doing – the waters are so choppy, it’s like being on the ocean. His dock hand was adept too, grabbing the lines and securing the taxi as we stopped. She hurt her hand at one point. Patrick pointed out on the trip over the front line was frayed, about to break. Sure enough it did break later but she was quick to replace it.

The USS Yorktown is one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy. Initially to have been named Bonhomme Richard, she was renamed Yorktown while still under construction, after the Yorktown-class aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), which was sunk at the Battle of Midway. (My father served in the Navy at the Battle of Midway.) She is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name, though the previous ships were named for 1781 Battle of Yorktown.

Yorktown was commissioned in April 1943, and participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning 11 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.

To give you an idea of her size – when we reserve a slip at a marina, we first say name of motor vessel – Sunshine – then they ask for length, beam and draft of the vessel. For Sunshine, length is 34 feet; beam 12.5 feet; draft 3.5 feet. For Yorktown, the length is 820 feet; beam 93 feet; draft 34 feet!

The tour was beyond our expectations. You can see in the photos below. What impressed me most was how the sailors, marines, air crew, and soldiers fought with little technology. And how young and innocent they were! We saw a video of life on the ship. The planes would come crashing on the aircraft carrier, some on fire, some missing parts. Smoke was everywhere, men running rampant to rescue plane and pilot. And the pilot would miraculously climb out of the top of the plane. Or not.

It really gives new meaning to the words we utter to service men and women – “Thank you for your service.” There just are no words to express the gratitude warranted. To all of you we send much respect and admiration.