Sad sights, believe me.  I remember seeing the New Jersey when she headed to Vietnam in 1968.  At Ft Amador, my boss, a Colonel, closed up Combat Developments & we all walked over to the Canal bank to watch her head out -- smartly dressed with flags flying, & sailors visible all over the ship enjoying the view.  We had a small office -- Colonel, one LTC, two Majs, one 1Lt, one MSGT and me.  All of the men were Vietnam vets & the New Jersey had provided supporting fire to help them out in tough situations.  They saluted.  I got goose bumps then & I've got them as I type this & remember those fine men & that day.. 

When she came through this last time, I made a special effort to get to that very place again & take a picture -- with a lump in my throat.  She was under dead tow & going very, very slowly which was just fine as I then skedaddled over to the old ferry slip in Balboa for the picture under the Bridge of the Americas (you can see the remains of the ferry slip) & then high-tailed it for the pier area where I talked my way in.  They were getting set up to a ceremony the next day -- Christie Todd Whitman (Gov of NJ at the time) was arriving from the US to go aboard for a ride through Miraflores Locks.

While I was at the pier, there was a tuna boat tied up alongside (near the New Jersey's bow).  I talked to the crew & when they asked why all the fuss was being made over this big Navy ship, I explained that she was the USS New Jersey.  Would you believe they all knew about her? -- these men were Bolivian, Portuguese, Taiwanese, Chilean & one Scot. 

All of the New Jersey's hatches & doors were welded shut.  No one could get below decks. The Iowa was also a dead tow & her hatches were probably welded shut, too. The Iowa is so special an entire Navy "Class" is named for her. I was out in Gamboa taking pictures when she came into view heading into Gailliard Cut.  It's a long nine miles & she was also under dead tow, so I had time to get to Miraflores Locks.

I was awe-ful in the presence of these great ships -- full of awe.

©NBK