USS American Victory

USS American Victory - Part 1

Poking out from the Aquarium I spied what looked to be a gray ship. Then I remembered reading something about it quite a while ago. After walking the Aquarium, which was quite nice, I asked my entourage if they would wait while I walked behind the building to investigate that ship. They all wanted to see, too, so like the troopers that are, off we walk to see something really neat.

And then it came in full view. The USS American Victory, one of only 4 fully operational World War II ships in the US.
It was a military cargo ship and was built toward the end of the war. It was a self-guided tour, and not many people at all, so it was like we had the complete run of the place. A couple of areas were roped off, the engine room being one of them, but for the most part it was open and accessable.

What caught my eye from the Tampa Aquarium. I come from a long line of seamen so naturally this piqued my interest.

Approaching the USS American Vistory and ahead of her was the Carnival line Legend preparing to set sail.

View of the aft. Or is that the stern? Poop deck?

This ship takes 2 annual crosses each year. For $99.00 you can go with her on a cruise, and I guess they have fly-overs and things. I'd sure like to do that.

Inside the ship which also serves as a maritime Museum was this propeller from the German U-Boat 352, sunk off the coast of North Carolina by the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus on May 9, 1942.

Looking down into the hold area.

Below those beams is the hold or cargo compartments.

A lifeboat on display.

Apparently a popular drawing during WWII.

On deck, looking toward the rear, with lots of rope neatly arranged.

View from ship.

Faded banners on the bridge.

Winches are still operational.

Forward gun. That's the Legend on the left.

Big honking anchor.

Crew's quarters.

More sleeping areas.

Spartan conditions.

This was a dumbwaiter in the kitchen designed to bring meals to all decks.

Kensie looking at a shower area.

More sleeping berths.

Looking down into the engine room.

This area going down to the engine area was roped off.

There is one of the engines.

Kitchen, or galley. See I told you I came from seaman lineage. I can even speak the language.

TOMORROW WE WILL CONTINUE AND CONCLUDE THE TOUR OF THE USS AMERICAN VICTORY.

Comments

Flashback Friday

Class, Or Lack Thereof The Dwight Vice gravestone in Oquawka, Illinois. I bring this old chestnut out every so often just to remind me that class is classless. Dwight Vice was killed in his home near Oquawka in 2001. It was one of those things that can generate crime: two guys thought Dwight had a lot of money stashed at home because of his pot-selling sideline to supplement his fishing job. Not really one of those big drug deals gone-bad things. Marijuana was, according to the trial, about the only stuff Dwight sold. But these two guys barge into the house and killed Dwight and attempted to kill his 11 year old kid, Darryl, before they took off with what money they could find. His son, now 23, was stabbed in the back and left for dead. He survived and is wheelchair bound and has undergone several surgeries to repair his wounds. He will be paralyzed for life. None of this is pleasant. Reading the f...

The Mary Davis Home - Part 2

None of these pictures were taken by me, they came right from the MDH website. I am posting these so that friends who have never seen inside where I worked can gain access. After 27 years I have many stories, tales and acquaintances. But, I wouldn't know how to express them appropriately in a few paragraphs. I enjoyed 98% of my stay there and hope I made a difference in the lives of a fraction of the kids who entered. The original MDH at this site was just the front part. The large red-roofed area in back was added on in the 90's. This is the Jerry Carlton library. It was unofficially named after one of the counselors who truly loved the place. He passed away around 2002, I think. Mr. Farber looks like he is explaining a few things to a client. The classroom. Activity area with the gym behind the windows. Another shot of the classroom. It was a little different area to teach since we had 2 classes and 2 teachers i...

Flashback Friday - Cold Case - Part One

53 years ago today, Gordon "Peel" Duncan walked into the dark post office in Seaton Illinois and was brutally assaulted by an individual or individuals. He died two days later. The murder was never solved. Gordon Duncan was one of the publishers of the Seaton Independent, a weekly newspaper in town that started in the late 1800's and stopped publishing in the 60's. We boys were just young children when this took place, but we have been fascinated by it ever since. The imagination of kids, I suppose or maybe the fact that it was unsolved. Regardless, this was a big deal in our little lives. For our parents it tended to shatter the idea that Seaton, our town, was safe. That it could fend off the forces of evil in the world, that in our little universe we would be impervious to harm was gone forever. For us kids I don't suppose we were old enough to know real fear. Fear for us was not getting our list ...

Existing In BFE

Search This Blog