The
two RV Gypsies visited
The USS Razorback and
The Beacon of Peace and Hope Monument
and the downtown area
in North Little Rock, Arkansas
October 15, 2022
  
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USS Razorback (SS-394), a
Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to
be named after the razorback, a species of whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
found in the far southern reaches of the Pacific Ocean. She is arguably
the longest-serving combat front-line submarine still existing in the
world, having been commissioned by two different countries for 56 years
of active duty. She was in Tokyo Bay during the surrender of Japan.
In 2004, the state of Arkansas adopted the submarine (although she was
not named after the University of Arkansas Razorbacks mascot) and she
is now a museum ship at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum. |
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 Below:
Hoga (YT-146/YTB-146/YTM-146) is a United States Navy Woban-class district
harbor tug named after the Sioux Indian word for "fish." After
World War II, the tug was known as Port of Oakland and then City of
Oakland when she was a fireboat in Oakland, California.
Authorized on 18 June 1940, she was built by the Consolidated
Shipbuilding Corporation in Morris Heights, New York. Her keel was laid
on 25 July 1940. Launched on 31 December 1940, she was christened Hoga
(YT-146). Placed in service on 22 May 1941 at Norfolk, Virginia, Hoga
was assigned to the 14th Naval District at Pearl Harbor. She made the
trip there by way of the Panama Canal, San Diego, and San Pedro.
At Pearl Harbor, Hoga was berthed at the Yard Craft Dock,
and worked moving cargo lighters and assisting ships in and out of berths.
Like other YTs, she carried firefighting equipment. Hoga was present
during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The last surviving vessels from the
attack are museum ships, the US Coast Guard cutter WHEC-37 (formerly
USCGC Taney) in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, and Hoga at
the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.
After several other docking stations, Hoga arrived at
the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum on 23 November 2015. At the museum
she is part of vessels that are bookends for the US in World War II,
with Hoga from the beginning of the war at Pearl Harbor, alongside the
submarine USS Razorback which was present in Tokyo Bay at the surrender
of Japan. |
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The two RV Gypsies were not able to board the USS Razorback at this
time. But they both have been on other submarines. |
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Located at 600 North Main
Street, near the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, the Beacon of Peace
and Hope was erected by Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) to
inspire those who view it to think of a world where PEACE and HOPE survive
hand in hand. The goal is to inspire people to find ways to advance
the ideals of PEACE and HOPE and to share them with their descendants.
The Beacon is surrounded by The Peace Garden, planted in memory of Frederick
“Sandy” Philips (1961-1988), who was one of 270 victims of the bombing
of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. |
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Below: The Broadway Bridge
aka Veterans Memorial Bridge is dedicated to all of the veterans who
have served. |
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Below: The two RV Gypsies ate
at Gus's Fried Chicken in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were not happy
with the food. |
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