[FLHTbiker]

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003 , 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.'

The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

[mwelych]

Cool... I had a cousin in the 2nd tower... I'll never forget that day!!!

[voodoochild]

Cool, I hope that thing kicks some serious ass!!

[deweylsmith]

I would like to hear that it did, just that. Kick ASS.

[chucktx]

very cool!!!!!!! thanks for the post....and it will kick some butt....if our govt will let it!!!!!!!!

[Red Rider]

The USS New York is what we call a "gator freighter", in that it is used to move and support Marines and SOF units around the globe. It has some defensive abilities, but it's real power is in delivering Devil Dogs into the bad guys' neighborhood. A fine ship.

[2fastnaz]

A fast ship going in harms way. God bless all who sail on her (and her sea going bell hops as well) I never will get used to them being all haze grey. I'm too used to the black mack (smoke stack). I guess 10 years of feeding boilers will do that to you.

JD

USN 79-89 BT1

[FLHTbiker]

2fastnaz, only 4 years and 3 months (held over do to Vietnam) USN EN2, USS shelton, Vietnam. Todays Navy is a much better Navy than it was during the Vietnam War. Guys are better educated and care.

[SK]

Originally Posted by FLHTbiker

Guys are better educated and care.

That's the difference between volunteering and being drafted. Not that many draftees weren't educated or didn't care (many were), but volunteers do it because they want to.

[FLHTbiker]

SK, back then when the draft was going on those in the Navy and Air Force were not drafted but those that were drafted went into the Army and my understanding is that those drafted spent 2 years in the service.
I joined the Navy and your time in service was 4 years. Many of those that also joined were under educated and many of those even in the Navy back then would never even make it into the Army today.
I remember some didn't even know how to brush there teeth and did not even graduate from high school. Some could barley write their name or it was so un-legible that you couldn't read it even if they printed it. You can't even join the Army to be a foot soldier today without a high school certificate. No, I think most of those in the service today are better educated and the service is a better place because of those requirements.