The Lady and the Prizefighter

I've been having a vision and I know not whether it is literally true or false; did I actually see it or is my imagination being overly active as usual? The subject is real.

The vision is either a painting or a model diorama called "The Lady and the Prizefighter" and depicts USS Enterprise CV-6 and USS South Dakota BB-56 sailing together. Enterprise, the aircraft carrier also known as "The Big E", is of course The Lady. South Dakota is the Prizefighter, and for a brand new ship, quite robust.

Keep in mind that South Dakota at the time was the most heavily defended piece of ocean in the entire Pacific. Granted her nine 16" guns could match just about anything afloat (including Yamato and Musashi), the anti-aircraft suite was extraordinary. Five twin-mount 5"-38 mounts per side, accompanied by lots and lots of quad and twin 40mm Bofors mounts, dozens of 20mm Oerlikon, and numerous Browning 50-caliber.

In November 1942, South Dakota was assigned as a close AAA escort to Enterprise. During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, Enterprise was attacked by hundreds of Japanese aircraft, all intent on sinking her. Credit goes to South Dakota that they were unsuccessful. Enterprise's fighter compliment was up, yes, but for the leakers that made it into South Dakota's AAA arc, most of them were doomed. Enterprise, unfortunately, was hit enough times that her flight deck was finally put out of action, but not before the main Japanese carrier force was knocked out.

USS Hornet CV-8, who, along with Enterprise and USS Yorktown CV-5, was one of the hero ships of the outstanding incredible victory at Midway Island in June 1942, was set afire and eventually sunk by a combination of bombs and torpedos from aircraft that penetrated her screen of fighter aircraft, cruisers, destroyers and her own AAA.

At one point, Enterprise's steering suffered a casualty which left her rudder jammed at full starboard and caused her to nearly ram South Dakota. South Dakota managed to turn inside Enterprise and increase speed to pull ahead until she could cross to the outside of Enterprise's turning circle. Her AAA never missed a beat, even as the captains breathed a sigh of relief.

Here's to the Lady and the Prizefighter.

This is the result of a 9/11 moment I had last year, before I ended up in the hospital again, as a matter of fact, before I totaled my truck:

A sparkle, a flicker in the early morning sunlight catches her attention, then SLAM!! FIRE, DEBRIS, high above the streets of the city. " Dear God," she thinks, "not here! NOT HERE!"

Smoke rises, billowing from an inferno carved out of the topmost layers of the building struck. The city rouses; distant wail of emergency vehicles, fire, police, hospital and others. Frantic activity at the fireboat station in the nearby park, lines cast off while engines begin their rumble and turnout coats are fumbled closed.

A second shape, moving fast, crossing in front, then straightening its course and rolling slightly so there is no question of the second tower swallowing it whole.

More flame, more debris crashing down on the lesser towers surrounding them. The smoke clouds join in a massive welling that is swung by the prevailing winds. It engulfs and hides her.

Her massive head bows, and a tear trickles down her face. Just one.

As the curtain parts once more, she raises her head and faces toward her city, firm, resolute again. In her mind runs the prayer written so long ago: " Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."

This is my blog. Way cool! I've never done anything like this.