The Battleship North Carolina is undoubtedly one of North Carolina's top tourist attractions. For decades, children (both young and old) have enjoyed inspecting the ships inyards and marvel at the gators that swim around the massive vessel that sits in Wilmington. Oh, and the fireworks shows were neat, too.
But the ship's former intelligence officer has completed a 172-page book chronicling the ship; his hope is to shed light on the monumental moments that the ship -- and those that sailed on it -- took part in.
The author, Capt. Ben Blee, wrote the first edition of the book Battleship North Carolina in 1982, according to Freedom Press. This new version "greatly expands on the information provided in the first, including more than 200 new photographs, two dozen new charts and diagrams and a feature called 'Life Aboard,' which has quotes and observations from those who actually served on the ship during the war."
“I want this book to be viewed by naval historians and the general public as the defining history of the Battleship North Carolina,” Blee told the press. “I want readers to believe they are getting an honest, authentic history of this great warship.”
The article goes on to say that "The North Carolina was one of the most decorated U.S. battleships of World War II. It participated in a number of the most famous of the Pacific’s many island-hopping battles such as Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The warship and her crew had to deal with typhoons, Japanese submarines and kamikaze pilots.
"Because of that dangerous and historical experience, the North Carolina holds a special place in the heart of all those who served on her."
Blee concurs.
“For many of those who served on her only for the duration of World War II, that experience was the most meaningful period of their lives, and they love to relive it when they get together,” he said. “Those of us who were career Navy men, serving for years at a time in other ships, are just as proud of our North Carolina service, but those other ships share our affection.”
Read more about the book and the battleship here.
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