USS New Jersey Veterans Celebrate Navy's 250th Anniversary

USS New Jersey Reunion

• ⚓ Veterans reunited aboard the USS New Jersey to celebrate the Navy's 250th birthday.
• 💡 Among the attendees was Mike Holmes, who was involved in reactivating the ship in the 1980s.

World War II Veteran's Service

• 💯 Paul Robbins, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, shared his experiences.
• 🗓️ Robbins served on the ship for 32 months and commissioned it on May 23rd, 1943, the same day he graduated high school.

Memories of Beirut Deployment

• 💔 Mike Holmes recalled his worst moment on the ship during the Beirut bombing on October 23rd, marking its 42nd anniversary.
• 😔 He expressed that losing a chief still affects him, and described participating in rescue efforts, pulling Marines from the rubble.
• 🎗️ Holmes mentioned that nine other crew members were nearly killed but had gone for a walk that morning.