In this episode of Carolina Journal, we find our host Michael Collins aboard the nuclear powered missile cruiser, the U.S.S. South Carolina as it pays a visit to its namesake on October 9, 1984. The ship was first commissioned on January 25, 1975, and our host describes the majestic ship’s arrival in Charleston on a cool fall morning with flags flying and sailors in their dress whites lining up in the rain. The massive ship cleared the Cooper Bridge by a mere two feet.
This documentary is about its men, its mission, and its trip home. On Sunday, October 7, liberty boats picked up the last of the crew members on Nassau. Because the ship is nuclear powered, it is not allowed to dock in the harbor at Nassau and the only way off or on the ship is by way of small boats. All men on board, the 596-foot cruiser charts the course for Charleston.
Captain Kenneth R. Sydow spoke about the missions of the U.S.S. South Carolina, which included anti-submarine and surface warfare and how each of these would be woven together as a ship within a battle group. The ETV crew received a tour of the vessel and met some of the personnel who helped keep the enterprise up and running.
Time at sea involves training of the forty officers and five hundred and fifty enlistees to be ready to respond. Officers and sailors talk about life aboard the ship, including long hours, the food, close quarters, and camaraderie. Included is a photo montage of the many South Carolinians who fulfilled various roles on board. Do you see anyone you know?
As the ship docks in Charleston harbor, we catch a glimpse of a sailor warmly embracing a family member, glad to be back home.
