It's Hard to Love a Gopher

Well, college football season is upon us and everyone is optimistic, demonstrating amazing abilities to ignore the past. 

I was badly spoiled in my youth.  My team, the Minnesota Gophers, went to the Rose Bowl consecutive years - '61 & '62 - and won once and were declared National Champs in the year they lost!. The baseball team won the College World Series 3 times - 3! - '56, '60, '64. The basketball team won the Big 10 title in '72 & '82. In my youthful naivety, I expected these kind of successes to continue and continue. I loved those teams  - Sandy Stephens, Bobby Bell, Carl Eller, Tom Brown, Dick Siebert, Dave Winfield, Terry Kunze, Lou Hudson, Archie Clark …  

But for the past 50 years, the Gophs have become harder to love. I own a ‘Disappointment Awaits’ T-shirt. It refers to Cape Disappointment, a notch near the mouth of the Columbia River where the Lewis & Clark expedition holed up for several days in the Dismal Nitch waiting out a severe storm.  It's my go to shirt when Minnesota football faces Michigan, Ohio State or Iowa and when the basketball completes its non-conference patsy schedule. Gopher Championships have been few and far between. And it is vexing to witness the disdain shown for a team whose mascot is a small, cute rodent. In North Dakota, when Minnesota Hockey visits, tossing dead rodents on the ice has become tradition. Several Big 10 teams have animals as mascots. However, a Badger, a Wolverine, a Hawkeye or a Wildcat present a fearsome image, whereas a cuddly Gopher, well ... Nevertheless, the Gopher is not the meekest mascot in the Big 10. That honor goes to the Buckeyes, a team named after a horse chestnut.

Attempting to remedy their image problem, the UofM powers that be decided to the tweak nickname to “Golden Gophers”. Not so sure that works. Perhaps Minnesota should mimic Maryland’s tongue in cheek “Fear the Turtle” motto.  e.g.  We Are Golden .. Eat My Dirt .. We Will Bury You.

I confess, even though mainly middle of the pack finishes seems destiny, I enjoy Minnesota Golden Gophers sports of all flavors. It's great entertainment. The enthusiasm of college athletes is a refreshing contrast to the routineness of the pro's. [See UofM post] 

And it's not all doom and gloom. The mens and womens hockey and track teams consistently contend and there is perennial excellence in women's volleyball and softball. But with the new era of NIL professionalization of college sports, it probably only gets harder for we middle-of-the-pack dwellers. I hate it. It's sports imitating life. The rich get richer. 

Here’s the scorecard.

• Football. 7 National Championships.  Last 1960. 18 Big 10 Championships. First 1904, latest 1967.  Long drought.  If you were alive in the Bernie Bierman era, of the 30's & 40's, you would be shocked.  My generation has gotten used to Mayonnaise Bowl appearances. Keep in mind, Minnesota has been in the Big 10 Conference since 1896.
• Baseball. 24 Big 10 Championships. Last 2018. National Champions in 1964 back when Dave Winfield was a 2 sport superstar. Nowadays,  Minnesota weather makes it hard to compete with southern schools.
• Men's Basketball. 8 Big 10 Championships. Last in 1982.
• Men's Golf.  8 Big 10 Championships. National Champions 2002
• Men's Gymnastics. 21 Big 10 Championships.  Last 1995
• Men's Swimming. 9 Big 10 Championships. Last 2007
• Men's Tennis. 15 Big 10 Championships. Last 2015
• Men's Track & Field. 7 Big 10 Championships. Last 2016. 1 National Championship 1948.
• Wrestling. 12 Big 10 Championships. 3 National Championships 2001, 2002, 2007.
• Men's Ice Hockey.  21 Conference Championships 5 National Championships!  Last being 2003

• Women's Basketball. 1 Big 10 Championship.  1982  1 Final Four appearance 2004.
• Women's Golf. 1 Big 10 Championship.  1989
• Women's Gymnastics.  5 Big 10 Championships. Last 2021
• Women's Ice Hockey. 8 Conference Championships. 7 National Championships. Wow. Last 2023
• Women's Soccer. 4 Big 10 Championships. Last 2018
• Women's Softball. 4 Big 10 Championships. Last 2018
• Women's Swimming. 7 Big 10 Championships. Last 2015
• Women's Track & Field. 3 Big 10 Championships. Last 2024
• Volleyball.  3 Big 10 Championships.  Last 2018
• Dance Team. 23 National Championships since 2003. Wow

This is probably our year,

Copyright ©  2025  Dave Hoplin 

Search For Meaning

What does this mean?

If you are old enough, you Lutherans out there will recognize this dreaded question as one posed to you by your pastor on your Confirmation Day, testing your meager powers of memorization and worst case standing with your other confirmands in front of a hushed, sympathetic congregation. The question would follow a reading of a segment of Luther’s Small Catechism: The Creed or Ten Commandments, one of the sacraments or something more obscure if you were a trouble-maker. The memorized response might begin “I cannot by my own reason or strength …” and always ended with “This is most certainly true”. Agonizing. Thankfully, this form of child torture is largely in the past.

On a whole different level, in his memoir, Man's Search for Meaning*, (“Man” in the universal sense, as in HuMAN) Viktor Frankl, Austrian psychologist, neurologist and concentration camp survivor, chronicled his life in a Nazi death camp and how he was able to survive physically and spiritually. Frankl's suffering was unfathomable but he survived relying on an inner strength and a sense of purpose gained by dedicating himself to caring for other prisoners. He once refused an opportunity to escape to stay to help his fellow prisoners. Frankl argues that "we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose." To sustain himself while enduring backbreaking work or being beaten by guards, he held imaginary conversations with his wife, who unbeknownst to him had been murdered by the SS. (*Over 16 million copies of his book and have been sold in 52 languages.)

It is unlikely any of us will face anything near such challenges but his life can still serve as a model for us. You don't need to win a Nobel Prize or devote your life to the poor of Calcutta. Frankl found meaning by dedicating his life to service of others. We can emulate Frankl by practicing kindness in our daily interactions.

On a mundane level, a Harvard Business Review article titled "Meaning is the New Money" puts forth the premise that what people look for in life’s work is not (just) money but meaning and asks what really drives individual satisfaction. 

Here are 3 views of the same job from a Psychology Today article.  

"Three men are found smashing boulders with iron hammers.  When asked what they are doing, the first man says, 'Breaking big rocks into little rocks.' The second man says, 'Feeding my family.' The third man says, 'Building a cathedral.'"

Attitude matters.

“Self actualization” is a much used and abused term from psychology and its meaning refers to reaching your life's potential fully. In the work world it looks to those factors beyond basic fair compensation. No less a figure than Albert Einstein weighs in:

“One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community.”

In a survey, mothers of many nationalities were asked what they wished for their children. Not surprisingly, Chinese mothers said honor and respect for their elders. In America, the overwhelming response was happiness. My grandmother's view was more nuanced. Her response would be kindness. If she had been a mathematician, she would have added “if Kindness, then Happiness”.

Of course, not everyone finds their life "meaningful" but I would like to believe within us, everyone wants their life to be meaningful. And I believe the key to that meaning is not in wealth or power or the accumulation of possessions but rather the difference you make in the lives you encounter on your journey. Be kind - an easy task with those you love - deserving no great plaudits. But true kindness expands the circle. Kindness is more than isolated individual acts but rather a way of life where all are treated with respect and generosity and concern without an expectation of praise or reward in return. 

Socrates famously said "an unexamined life is not worth living”. This can be as simple as stopping and asking yourself when facing an issue what is right and what is wrong. Sadly, I think a sizable number of Americans do not reflect on moral choices, but rather choose a tribe to join and parrot the doctrines of that tribe. Meaning hinges on that membership. And (almost all) tribes define the common good in terms of how it benefits "us". Concern for the other is secondary - if at all.

So choose kindness. Traits like  honesty, integrity, compassion and basic human decency, principles professed by all religions, naturally follow. And the remarkable thing is kindness begets kindness. It’s contagious. You can change the world.

That's my last sermon for 2025 - promise.

Copyright ©  2025  Dave Hoplin

Hoplin Boys' Warships

This is a 'for the historical record' post.  I have assembled WWII information on Hoplin Greatest Generation sons for the cousins and for the next generation of Hoplin genealogists.  I hope someone picks up the torch. I only wish I had taken the time to ask more questions of these war veterans.

Ole & Esther Hoplin sent 4 sons to war.  WW II.  In Lowry, this was only topped by the Chan family with 5 sons serving. All of the Hoplins were "Navy men". Maybe they figured navigating Little Chippewa near the Hoplin Farm in Brandon in a rowboat made admiralty their destiny, but I expect Uncle Olaf's stories of WWI trenches might have tipped the scale toward water.

The oldest son, Oliver, served aboard the carrier USS Nassau in the Pacific Theater. Oliver enlisted before Pearl Harbor in Mar 1941 and was discharged Oct 1945.  Pharmacists's Mate. The Nassau ferried aircraft from California manufacturing sites all over the Pacific,  back and forth - about a begillion miles. 

Journeys of the USS Nassau

USS New Jersey War Log

Next in line, Glenn,  served aboard the battleship USS New Jersey in the Pacific.  Glenn enlisted after graduating from Augsburg College in 1942. Electrician's Mate. Discharged Oct 1945. Big J was in every major Pacific campaign from 1943 to war's end. You can read his story, in his own words, in my post: https://ussbb62.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-life-war-years.html

Third son, Donald,  served aboard the carrier USS Lake Champlain in the Atlantic. Shipfitter. Donald enlisted on 11 Nov 1942.  

Service Schools Command, Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Il.

Receiving Station, Norfolk, Va.

Air Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

The youngest, Paul, served aboard USS Corson, USS Audubon, USS Hamlin in the Pacific. With parental approval, Paul was granted early release from high school. His mother accepted his diploma at the graduation ceremony. He was one of 4 GHS 1945 grads to do so.

Enlistment Date 1:	17 Jan 1945
Release Date 1:	19 Jul 1946

My uncle, James V. Anderson married a Hoplin girl. He served in the US Army 1943-1945.  PFC saw action hauling a bazooka in the Philippines and Okinawa acquiring jungle infections along the way.

A cousin, Herman Peter Hoplin, made a career out of his military service.

Decorated Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star medal. Commissioned 2nd lieutenant United States Army, 1942, advanced through grades to colonel, 1965, director material acquisition Washington, 1970—1972, retired, 1972. Long range logistic planner Joint Chiefs Staff, 1968—1969

Appendix: The WW II Warships
Reference: Dictionary of American naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

USS Nassau CVE-16 - Oliver Hoplin

The USS Nassau (CVE-16) (originally AVG-16 then ACV-16) was laid down 27 November 1941 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington, as M.C. Hull No. 234; launched 4 April 1942; sponsored by Mrs. G. H. Hasselman, Tongue Point, Oregon; acquired by the Navy 1 May, towed to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, and converted to an escort aircraft carrier; and commissioned 20 August, Captain Austin K. Doyle in command.
Nassau was one of thirty-seven Tacoma-built C3 CVE's, of which twenty-six went to the Royal Navy. It is one of the ten Bogue Class escort carriers.
On the 10th of October, Nassau arrived at the Naval Air Station, Alameda, California, loaded aircraft, and four days later steamed for Pearl Harbor, thence to Palmyra Island, arriving 30 October. For the next four months, she operated between Palmyra and Noumea, New Caledonia and Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
Nassau returned to Pearl Harbor 14 February 1943, embarked personnel and aircraft, and sailed the 21st on a ferry mission to Espiritu Santo. She returned to Pearl Harbor in mid-March and then continued on to Alameda, California. In April, she moved to San Diego and conducted flight training operations, after which she rendezvoused with Task Group 51.1 and steamed for Cold Bay, Alaska with VC-21 embarked.
Nassau got underway on a search mission 4 May and conducted flight operations with Task Force 51, providing air cover for the occupation of Attu Island from 11 through 20 May. She returned to San Diego in late May, arrived at Alameda 8 June and onloaded 45 aircraft destined for Brisbane, Australia. She delivered the aircraft 2 July and returned to San Diego via Noumea, New Caledonia.
In August, she trained off San Diego before ferrying planes to Samoa. Returning to San Diego from Samoa, 19 October, Nassau embarked Marine Fighter Squadron 225 for passage to Pearl Harbor. Arriving the 30th, she conducted air operations off Pearl Harbor during the early days of November and on the 7th she embarked VF-1 and steamed for the Gilbert Islands for operations with Task Force 52.
Nassau's mission was to transport VF-1 to Tarawa and to send it ashore as soon as facilities were available. The invasion of Tarawa commenced 20 November but encountered bitter resistance. As a result, VF-1 was assigned combat air patrol and flew bombing and strafing runs from the carrier in support of the assault troops. The Squadron flew a total of 106 missions and spent 237 hours of flying time in four days of operations without losing a single plane or pilot.
Nassau returned to Pearl Harbor on 5 December following flight operations. She then sailed to the Marshall Islands with Task Group 51.2 and launched strikes 29 January 1944 against Taroa Field on Maloelap Atoll. The next day, the Task Group centered its operations around Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap Atolls, with Nassau conducting both anti-submarine and combat air patrols. Nassau returned to Pearl Harbor 3 March, disembarked VC-66, and took on aircraft, cargo, and passengers for ferry to the Marshall Islands. Throughout March, ferry missions were performed between Kwajalein, Majuro, and Pearl Harbor. After repairs and alterations at Mare Island Navy Yard, the carrier sailed with 51 aircraft for Finschhafen, New Guinea 5 May. The next four months she performed ferry missions from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, the Admiralties and the New Hebrides Islands.

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Upon arrival at Seeadler Harbor 1 September, Nassau reported to Commander Task Group 30.8. Thus began her tour of duty with Admiral Halsey's 3rd fleet, which made unprecedented naval history in the following months. Nassau's mission was to operate out of the Admiralties with other escort carriers to provide replacement aircraft and pilots for the attack carriers of Task Force 38. Steaming in company with the oiler groups, which refueled the ships of the Task Force at sea, Nassau made three cruises into the western Pacific. She returned to the Admiralties with disabled aircraft which were destined for shipment to Pearl Harbor or the United States for reconditioning.
The first of these replacement trips was in support of the strikes against Palau; the second in support of operations against the southern and central Philippines. Then Task Force 38 shifted to more northerly targets in the Philippines and Formosa. Nassau reached Manus 20 October. After offloading old aircraft and taking on new ones, she departed on her last replacement trip. Steaming to Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands, she joined up with Task Groups 38.1 and 38.3 on 28 October and transferred 70 aircraft and 43 pilots to the attack carriers.
Task Unit 12.6.1, composed of Nassau, Tennessee (BB-43) and four other ships steamed for Pearl Harbor 5 November, arriving the 16th. Two days later, Nassau was dispatched to San Diego. Among her passengers were 382 survivors of light carrier Princeton (CVL-23), which was sunk in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 24 October 1944. Another ferry mission to Pearl Harbor followed in mid-November, with three more runs to Guam in December, January 1945, and February. Nassau returned to Alameda, California, 23 March and through the remainder of the war, performed transport and ferry missions between Alameda, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Manus, Samar and Saipan.
Nassau departed Alameda 13 May 1946 for Tacoma, Washington. On 28 October, she decommissioned and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Designated for modification for aircraft transportation purposes, her classification was changed to CVHE-16, 12 June 1955. Shortly thereafter she transferred to the Bremerton Reserve Group, and was struck from the Navy Register, 1 March 1959. In June 1961 she was towed to Japan for scrapping.
Nassau received five battle stars for World War II service.
Vital Statistics: Laid down: 27 November 1941 Launched: 4 April 1942 Commissioned: 20 August 1942 Decommissioned: 28 October 1946 Status: Sold for scrap General Characteristics Displacement: 9,600 tons Length: 495.75 ft (151.1 m) Beam: 69.5 ft (21.2 m) Draft: 26 ft (7.9 m) Speed: 16.5 knots Complement: 890 officers and men Armament: 2 x 5 inch guns, 8 twin x 40 mm Bofors, 27 single x 20 mm Oerlikon Aircraft and aviation facilities: 24

USS New Jersey BB62 - Glenn Hoplin

The second New Jersey (BB-62) was launched 7 December 1942 by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard; sponsored by Mrs. Charles Edison, wife of Governor Edison of New Jersey, former Secretary of the Navy; and commissioned at Philadelphia 23 May 1943, Captain Carl F. Holden in command. {Editor note: Glenn Hoplin was a member of the commissioning crew.}

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New Jersey completed fitting out and trained her initial crew in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean. On 7 January 1944 she passed through the Panama Canal war-bound for Funafuti, Ellice Islands. She reported there 22 January for duty with the Fifth Fleet, and three days later rendezvoused with Task Group 58.2 for the assault on the Marshall Islands. New Jersey screened the carriers from enemy attack as their aircraft flew strikes against Kwajalein and Eniwetok 29 January-2 February, softening up the latter for its invasion and supporting the troops who landed 31 January.
New Jersey began her distinguished career as a flagship 4 February in Majuro Lagoon when Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commanding the Fifth Fleet, broke his flag from her main. Her first action as a flagship was a bold two-day surface and air strike by her task force against the supposedly impregnable Japanese fleet base on Truk in the Carolines. This blow was coordinated with the assault on Kwajalein, and effectively interdicted Japanese naval retaliation to the conquest of the Marshalls. On 17 and 18 February; the task force accounted for two Japanese light cruisers, four destroyers, three auxiliary cruisers, two submarine tenders, two submarine chasers, an armed trawler, a plane ferry, and 23 other auxiliaries, not including small craft. New Jersey destroyed a trawler and, with other ships, sank destroyer Maikaze, as well as firing on an enemy plane which attacked her formation. The task force returned to the Marshalls 19 February.
Between 17 March and 10 April, New Jersey first sailed with Rear Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's flagship USS Lexington (CV-16) for an air and surface bombardment of Mille, then rejoined Task Group 58.2 for a strike against shipping in the Palaus, and bombarded Woleai. Upon his return to Majuro, Admiral Spruance transferred his flag to USS Indianapolis (CA-35).
New Jersey's next war cruise, 13 April-4 May 1944, began and ended at Majuro. She screened the carrier striking force which gave air support to the invasion of Aitape, Tanahmerah Bay and Humboldt, Bay, New Guinea, 22 April, then bombed shipping and shore installations at Truk 29-30 April. New Jersey and her formation splashed two enemy torpedo bombers at Truk. Her sixteen- inch salvos pounded Ponape 1 May, destroying fuel tanks, badly damaging the airfield, and demolishing a headquarters building.
After rehearsing in the Marshalls for the invasion of the Marianas, New Jersey put to sea 6 June in the screening and bombardment group of Admiral Mitscher's Task Force. On the second day of preinvasion air strikes, 12 June, New Jersey downed an enemy torpedo bomber, and during the next two days her heavy guns battered Saipan and Tinian, throwing steel against the beaches the marines would charge 15 June.
The Japanese response to the Marianas operation was an order to its Mobile Fleet; it must attack and annihilate the American invasion force. Shadowing American submarines tracked the Japanese fleet into the Philippine Sea as Admiral Spruance joined his task force with Admiral Mitscher's to meet the enemy. New Jersey took station in the protective screen around the carriers on 19 June 1944 as American and Japanese pilots dueled in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. That day and the next were to pronounce the doom of Japanese naval aviation; in this "Marianas Turkey Shoot," the Japanese lost some 400 planes. This loss of trained pilots and aircraft was equaled in disaster by the sinking of three Japanese carriers by submarines and aircraft, and the damaging of two carriers and a battleship. The anti- aircraft fire of New Jersey and the other screening ships proved virtually impenetrable. Only two American ships were damaged, and those but slightly. In this overwhelming victory but 17 American planes were lost to combat.

New Jersey's final contribution to the conquest of the Marianas was in strikes on Guam and the Palaus from which she sailed for Pearl Harbor, arriving 9 August. Here she broke the flag of Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., 24 August, becoming flagship of the Third Fleet. For the eight months after she sailed from Pearl Harbor 30 August New Jersey was based at Ulithi. In this climactic span of the Pacific War, fast carrier task forces ranged the waters off the Philippines, Okinawa, and Formosa, striking again and again at airfields, shipping, shore bases, invasion beaches. New Jersey offered the essential protection required by these forces, always ready to repel enemy air or surface attack.
In September the targets were in the Visayas and the southern Philippines, then Manila and Cavite, Panay, Negros, Leyte, and Cebu. Early in October raids to destroy enemy air power based on Okinawa and Formosa were begun in preparation for the Leyte landings 20 October 1944.
This invasion brought on the desperate, almost suicidal, last great sortie of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Its plan for the Battle for Leyte Gulf included a feint by a northern force of planeless heavy attack carriers to draw away the battleships, cruisers and fast carriers with which Admiral Halsey was protecting the landings. This was to allow the Japanese Center Force to enter the gulf through San Bernadino Strait. At the opening of the battle planes from the carriers guarded by USS New Jersey struck hard at both the Japanese Southern and Center Forces, sinking a battleship 23 October. The next day Halsey shaped his course north after the decoy force had been spotted. Planes from his carriers sank four of the Japanese carriers, as well as a destroyer and a cruiser, while New Jersey steamed south at flank speed to meet the newly developed threat of the Center force. It had been turned back in a stunning defeat when she arrived.
New Jersey rejoined her fast carriers near San Bernadino 27 October 1944 for strikes on central and southern Luzon. Two days later, the force was under suicide attack. In a melee of anti- aircraft fire from the ships and combat air patrol, New Jersey shot down a plane whose pilot maneuvered it into USS Intrepid's (CV- 11) port gun galleries, while machine gun fire from Intrepid wounded three of New Jersey's men. During a similar action 25 November three Japanese planes were splashed by the combined fire of the force, part of one flaming onto USS Hancock's (CV-19) flight deck. Intrepid was again attacked, shot down one would-be suicide, but was crashed by another despite hits scored on the attacker by New Jersey gunners. New Jersey shot down a plane diving on USS Cabot (CVL-28) and hit another which smashed into Cabot's port bow.
In December, New Jersey sailed with the USS Lexington (CV 16) task group for air attacks on Luzon 14-16 December; then found herself in the furious typhoon which sank three destroyers. Skillful seamanship brought her through undamaged. She returned to Ulithi on Christmas Eve to be met by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
New Jersey ranged far and wide from 30 December 1944 to 25 January 1945 on her last cruise as Admiral Halsey's flagship. She guarded the carriers in their strikes on Formosa, Okinawa, and Luzon, on the coast of Indo-China, Hong Kong, Swatow and Amoy, and again on Formosa and Okinawa. At Ulithi 27 January Admiral Halsey lowered his flag in New Jersey, but it was replaced two days later by that of Rear Admiral Oscar Badger commanding Battleship Division Seven.
In support of the assault on Iwo Jima, New Jersey screened the USS Essex (CV-9) group in air attacks on the island 19-21 February, and gave the same crucial service for the first major carrier raid on Tokyo 25 February, a raid aimed specifically at aircraft production. During the next two days, Okinawa was attacked from the air by the same striking force.

New Jersey was directly engaged in the conquest of Okinawa from 14 March until 16 April. As the carriers prepared for the invasion with strikes there and on Honshu, New Jersey fought off air raids, used her seaplanes to rescue downed pilots, defended the carriers from suicide planes, shooting down at least three and assisting in the destruction of others. On 24 March 1945 she again carried out the vital battleship role of heavy bombardment, preparing the invasion beaches for the assault a week later.
During the final months of the war, New Jersey was overhauled at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, from which she sailed 4 July for San Pedro, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok bound for Guam. Here on 14 August she once again became flagship of the Fifth Fleet under Admiral Spruance. Brief stays at Manila and Okinawa preceded her arrival in Tokyo Bay 17 September, where she served as flagship for the successive commanders of Naval Forces in Japanese waters until relieved 28 January 1946 by USS Iowa (BB-61). New Jersey took aboard nearly a thousand homeward-bound troops with whom she arrived at San Francisco 10 February.
After west coast operations and a normal overhaul at Puget Sound, New Jersey's keel once more cut the Atlantic as she came home to Bayonne, New Jersey, for a rousing fourth birthday part 23 May 1947. Present were Governor Alfred E. Driscoll, former Governor Walter E. Edge and other dignitaries.
Between 7 June and 26 August, New Jersey formed part of the first training squadron to cruise Northern European waters since the beginning of World War II. Over two thousand Naval Academy and NROTC midshipmen received sea-going experience under the command of Admiral Richard L. Connoly, Commander Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, who broke his flag in New Jersey at Rosyth, Scotland 23 June. She was the scene of official receptions at Oslo, where King Haakon VII of Norway inspected the crew 2 July, and at Portsmouth, England. The training fleet was westward bound 18 July for exercises in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic.
After serving at New York as flagship for Rear Admiral Heber H. McClean, Commander, Battleship Division One, 12 September-18 October, New Jersey was inactivated at the New York Naval Shipyard. She was decommissioned at Bayonne 30 June 1948 and assigned to the New York Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
Korean Conflict - New Jersey was recommissioned at Bayonne 21 November 1950,
Vietnam War - New Jersey's third career began 6 April 1968 when she recommissioned at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the only active battleship in the world.
October 2001: Arrives at her final destination on the Camden Waterfront in New Jersey, and opens to the public for tours

USS Lake Champlain CV-39 - Donald Hoplin

The second Lake Champlain (CV-39) was laid down in drydock by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth Va., March 15, 1943; launched by float November 2, 1944; sponsored June 3, 1945 by Mrs. Warren Austin, wife of Senator Austin of Vermont, and commissioned the same day, Capt. Logan C. Ramsey in command.
After shakedown and visits to New York and Philadelphia, Lake Champlain was assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty, departed Norfolk for England October 14, and arrived Southampton the 19th where she embarked veterans and returned them to New York.
She set a speed record for crossing the Atlantic November 26, 1945 when she arrived at Hampton Roads, Va., having completed a run from Cape Spartel, Africa, in 4 days, 8 hours, 51 minutes. This record stood until surpassed by SS United States in the summer of 1952.
Lake Champlain retired to the "Mothball Fleet" at Norfolk, Va., February 17, 1947. After the United States had allowed her active military strength to shrink to the danger point, the Communists struck in Korea. Fortunately, the Americans had ships in reserve, though it took time to obtain and train crews and provide materiel. Lake Champlain was reactivated and modernized at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. and recommissioned September 19, 1952, Capt. G. T. Mundroff in command.

USS Corson (AVP-37) - Paul Hoplin

USS Corson, a 1,766-ton Barnegat class small seaplane tender, was built at Houghton, Washington, and was commissioned in December 1944. She sailed from San Diego in February 1945 and, after briefly tending seaplanes at Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, arrived at Ulithi in April. In May she made two trips from Ulithi to the Palaus and participated in a one-day bombardment of Eil Malk island. Departing Ulithi in late June, she served at Eniwetok in July and early August and at Okinawa in August and September. Corson moved to Nagasaki, Japan, in mid-September and tended seaplanes there, at Sasebo, and in Hiro Wan in support of occupation forces. She departed Japan in January 1946 and arrived at Alameda, California, in February for inactivation. Corson was decommissioned in June 1946.
Corson was recommissioned in early 1951 and made four deployments to the western Pacific during the next four years. During her final deployment, in 1955, she performed a wide range of duties including serving as station tender at Hong Kong, laying a seadrome in the Pescadores Islands, and providing advance base support at Keelung, Taiwan. Corson was decommissioned in March 1956 and was expended as a target in 1966.

(AVP-37: dp. 1,650; 1. 319'9", b. 41'1", dr. 13'6", s. 18 k.; cpl. 215; a. 2 5", cl. Barnegat)

USS Audubon
USS Audubon, one of 117 Haskell class attack transports, was built to a modified Victory ship design at Vancouver, Washington, and was commissioned in December 1944. After training on the West Coast and operations from Hawaii, she arrived at Ulithi in April. There she loaded Army troops and supplies, which she delivered to Okinawa at the end of the month in support of the ongoing operations there. The transport then moved to San Francisco in late May and to Leyte in the Philippines in late June. In July Audubon transported Army troops from Guadalcanal to Leyte. At the time of the Japanese surrender in mid-August, she was on her way back to San Francisco for maintenance.
Audubon commenced "Magic Carpet" operations at the end of August with a voyage to the Philippines, but there she developed mechanical problems which required drydocking followed by repairs at San Pedro, California. In November and December she returned to the Philippines and brought almost 2,000 passengers home to San Francisco.
Audubon proceeded to the East Coast in January 1946 and was placed out of commission in reserve there in February. She was transferred to the Maritime Commission in February for retention in its reserve fleet and was stricken from the Navy List in March 1946. The Maritime Administration sold her for scrapping in April 1973.

USS Hamlin (AV15) (named for a sound on the South Carolina coast)
Kenneth Whiting Class Seaplane Tender: Laid down, at Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, WA; Launched, 11 January 1944; Commissioned USS Hamlin (AV-15), 26 June 1944; Decommissioned, 18 January 1947 at San Diego, CA; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego, CA; Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, September 1962 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisuin Bay, Benecia, CA; Stuck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1963; Final disposition, sold for scrapping.
Specifications: Displacement 8,510 t.(lt) 12,610 t.(fl); Length 492'; Beam 69' 5"; Draft 22'; Speed 18.7kts; Complement 1,077; Armament two single 5"/38 gun mounts, two quad 40mm gun mounts, two dual 40mm gun mounts, sixteen single 20mm gun mounts; Propulsion, steam turbine, two boilers, one shaft, 8,500hp.

Hamlin (AV-15) was launched by Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc., Tacoma. Wash., 11 January 1944, sponsored by Miss Constance Taffinder, daughter of Rear Admiral S. A. Taffinder; and commissioned 26 June 1944, Captain G. A. McLean in command.
Hamlin conducted shakedown drills off California until 16 August 1944 when she departed San Pedro for the Pacific. Arrived Pearl Harbor 24 August, the ship loaded aviation gasoline and supplies and got underway 29 August for Eniwetok. She unloaded cargo and passengers there and continued to recently won Saipan, arriving 11 September to take up her plane-tending duties. During this period, seaplanes tended by Hamlin were making important contributions to the Pacific fighting by engaging in reconnaissance, hunter-killer operations against submarines, and air coverage of fleet cripples. She moved to Ulithi 11 October and back to Saipan anchorage 29 December 1944, all the time continuing her vital support of plane operations. Hamlin's aircraft protected the cruisers Houston and Reno, damaged 14 October off Luzon and flew photographic missions and rescue flights as the Navy pressed home the ever-mounting attack on Japanese held territory.
The operation next on her schedule was Iwo Jima, necessary to safeguard lines of communication and provide a base from which fighters could protect B-29's in bombing missions over Japan. Hamlin proceeded 15 February to Guam for fuel oil and two days later departed for Iwo Jima. She arrived 2 days after this historic and bitterly contested landing had begun, and with two other tenders established a floating seaplane base from which search and rescue missions were performed.
Debris and off-shore gunfire prevented the establishment of the seadrome until 24 February, and Hamlin worked under the handicap of large swells and congestion of' the sea areas around Iwo Jima. The ship also experienced numerous air raids during this operation, but suffered no damage. She got underway for Saipan 8 March 1945 and after another voyage to Guam, she returned to prepare for the Okinawa operation and the largest seaplane tending job of the war.
Hamlin sailed 23 March from Saipan for Okinawa, the first step prior to the home islands in the long campaign across the Pacific. Her commander wes designated Commander, Seaplane Base Groups. The tenders arrived Kerama Retto, west of Okinawa, 28 March, the day after it had been secured and 4 days before the main landings on Okinawa. During the operation, Hamlin's planes provided long-range search, antisubmarine patrols, and airsea rescue services, even providing aviation gasoline and luboil to battleships and cruisers. Her work was performed amid nearly constant air attack by Japanese suicide planes, and, though many ships in the anchorage were damaged by repeated attacks, Hamlin fought off all attacks without injury.
The tender group shifted its base of operations to Chimu Wan Okinawa, 11 July. After the surrender of Japan, Hamlin and other tenders got underway to assist in the occupation 16 August, anchoring in Yokosuka harbor 30 August. She began tending seaplanes on patrol over Japanese home waters 2 September, and was anchored in the harbor when the historic surrender was signed on board Missouri.
Hamlin returned to California following a short period in Japan and decommissioned at San Diego 15 January 1947. She went to reserve with the San Diego Group and remained there until September 1962 when she was transferred to the Maritime Administration, under Navy ownership, and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Calif. She was struck from the Navy List 1 July 1963.
Hamlin received three battle stars for service in World War II.

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