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August 17, 2009

The Virginian-Pilot
© August 17, 2009

By Jaedda Armstrong

NORFOLK

About 500 newly selected Navy chief petty officers celebrated their advancement Monday with a special tour that took them inside the battleship Wisconsin.

Because the battleship is still on inactive reserve and subject to recall in times of national emergency, its interior remains closed so that dehumidifiers can ward off rust. Early this morning, the new chiefs walked through the ship's dimly lit, narrow hallways and spoke to museum guides about its history, which stretches from World War II to the first Persian Gulf war.

From the bridge, they could see the ship's six huge 16-inch guns pointing upward toward nearby skyscrapers.

“I can just imagine those actually firing and feeling the rumble of the ship,” said Chief Selectee Colleen Seawell.

Chief Selectee Steven Paull had never been aboard an actual battleship, and said he couldn’t wait to recap the tour to his father-in-law, a World War II historian.

“I loved hearing the docents talk about the history of World War II. They’ve lived what we are striving to be,” he said. “I’m looking forward to all the challenges that will come with my new position, but first you have to know where you came from to know where you’re going.”

For more details, return to PilotOnline.com later and read tomorrow's Virginian-Pilot.

Jaedda Armstrong, jaedda.armstrong@pilotonline.com or (757) 222-5846