SAVE OUR SHIP CAMPAIGN
Photo from: Personal Photo from the USS North Carolina (Shona Gilmer)
The USS North Carolina was decommissioned on June 27, 1947 and brought to be placed with her fleet in Bayonne, New Jersey. (USS North Carolina, hnsa) She was left abandoned until “1960 when the Navy announced its intention to scrap the famous battleship. Two natives of Wilmington North Carolina, were first to propose her rescue” (B. Blee, p.92). The USS North Carolina was left unattended for years like many battleships, however because of the strong heart that the North Carolinian's provided their efforts were able to save her.
James S. Craig, Jr. first conceived the idea when he read about the idea to scrap the Battleship in his Wilmington Morning Star newspaper (Rescue Mission, Ourstate). Craig was a former Army veteran and to him the thought was unthinkable and horrific because he understood what importance and value the ship stood for. Craig then enlisted the help of Hugh Morton “who was a prime mover and organizer of a plan, to save her for posterity”, a way that all future generations could appreciate her. (B. Blee, p.92). Morton wanted to save the USS North Carolina and turn her into a floating museum where people could travel to visit her to learn about her history and what the North Carolina Battleship stood for during World War II. Morton was the “former publicity manager for North Carolina Governor Luther H. Hodges” who he knew would be able to persuade citizens, state officials, and government members to save the North Carolina.
James S. Craig, Jr. first conceived the idea when he read about the idea to scrap the Battleship in his Wilmington Morning Star newspaper (Rescue Mission, Ourstate). Craig was a former Army veteran and to him the thought was unthinkable and horrific because he understood what importance and value the ship stood for. Craig then enlisted the help of Hugh Morton “who was a prime mover and organizer of a plan, to save her for posterity”, a way that all future generations could appreciate her. (B. Blee, p.92). Morton wanted to save the USS North Carolina and turn her into a floating museum where people could travel to visit her to learn about her history and what the North Carolina Battleship stood for during World War II. Morton was the “former publicity manager for North Carolina Governor Luther H. Hodges” who he knew would be able to persuade citizens, state officials, and government members to save the North Carolina.
“Morton remembered visiting Houston, Texas and seeing the Battleship Texas, a World War I and World War II ship that became a memorial at the San Jacinto Battleground. Surely, he thought, the same could happen to the North Carolina. She could become such a memorial, a place for 10,000 North Carolinians lost in World War II to, in a way, come back to life” (Rescue Mission, Ourstate). Here Morton knew exactly what task had to be completed to save the USS North Carolina and preserve her to become a memorial like the Battleship Texas. The idea caught fire and thousands of citizens contributed to help save the USS North Carolina, including young children.
“They would create a “North Carolina Navy”. From each of the state’s 100 counties, they would select an “admiral” responsible for seeing that their counties met a fund-raising quota. People who gave $100, equivalent to about $725 today, would be named an admiral, earning a certificate and lifetime free admission to the ship. Incoming Governor Terry Sanford suggested they involve the schools, so every child who brought in a dime received a pass for free admission” (Rescue Mission, Ourstate). Creating the “North Carolina Navy”, was an excellent way to raise money to save the USS North Carolina. It was a way to get citizens of North Carolina involved and passionate about saving B-55 and when Sanford was able to get the school systems involved the project came to life. By doing this, “they raised 330,000 to acquire the ship from the Navy, and prepare a suitable berth for her” (B. Blee, p.92).
In September of 1961, B-55 was saved from being scrapped in Bayonne New Jersey and was brought to be placed in the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. The North Carolina Battleship today recognizes these individuals on board the ship. She displays a special area for those who were involved in Operation Save Our Ship and the ones who helped make her a war memorial in Wilmington.
“They would create a “North Carolina Navy”. From each of the state’s 100 counties, they would select an “admiral” responsible for seeing that their counties met a fund-raising quota. People who gave $100, equivalent to about $725 today, would be named an admiral, earning a certificate and lifetime free admission to the ship. Incoming Governor Terry Sanford suggested they involve the schools, so every child who brought in a dime received a pass for free admission” (Rescue Mission, Ourstate). Creating the “North Carolina Navy”, was an excellent way to raise money to save the USS North Carolina. It was a way to get citizens of North Carolina involved and passionate about saving B-55 and when Sanford was able to get the school systems involved the project came to life. By doing this, “they raised 330,000 to acquire the ship from the Navy, and prepare a suitable berth for her” (B. Blee, p.92).
In September of 1961, B-55 was saved from being scrapped in Bayonne New Jersey and was brought to be placed in the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. The North Carolina Battleship today recognizes these individuals on board the ship. She displays a special area for those who were involved in Operation Save Our Ship and the ones who helped make her a war memorial in Wilmington.