USS Alabama celebrates 70th anniversary

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The Navy Ceremonial Band entertained hundreds under a tent aboard the 70-year-old USS Alabama.  Some local politicians, along with family and friends of former crew sweated out the heat to mark the occasion.

“I'm pleased to welcome you to the ceremony, welcoming you to the 70th anniversary of the commissioning of the battleship USS Alabama,” said Battleship Executive Director, Bill Tunnell.

Former crew members, who were aboard the USS Alabama in 1942, shared anecdotes with the crowd.

“It started out in Chesapeake Bay, halfway to Baltimore and ran aground. It ran aground on an unmarked sandbar,” said Philadelphia attorney and former Gunnery Operator Robert Brown Jr.

Gene Giarrusso, who lives in New Orleans, joined the navy in 1944. He boarded "The Mighty-A" in the Marshall Islands. He spent the day showing his adult grandson where he spent most of his time aboard the Battleship.

“I think about all my old shipmates, some of the things we went through and all of that. It just brings back a whole lot of memories. Most of them are all gone now,” said Giarrusso.

Giarrusso was part of the fire control crew who fired the 16-inch guns on the USS Alabama.

“We didn't load them. All we did was range them and fire them,” said Giarrusso.

The USS Alabama and its crew were in Japan during the signing of the peace treaty that ended the Pacific conflict. Giarrusso was 20-years-old.

“Well, all the guys were up there taking a look, you know. If you look in the range finder, you can see a long distance,” said Giarusso. “It was an honor to be there, you know. I figure we had earned our stripes to be there.”

He said in his day, people knew the United States had a war to win, but these days seem to be a different situation.

“I'm tired of us trying to keep other countries free. Why do we got to lose our boys, you know?” said Giarusso.

Giarrusso's been coming to the Battleship since the 1960s..

“It's been through so much and it’s done a whole lot toward freedom,” said Giarusso.

It took about 3,000 men and women working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 30 consecutive months to build battleship USS Alabama.