In the line of duty

San Diego has a very large military presence.  And the city has done a wonderful job in creating the USS Midway Museum so visitors and residents can learn more about the life of a Naval man.

The USS Midway, which carried approximately 200,000 sailors over the course of its active life, was the USA’s longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20^th century and sailed from 1945 to 1992.

Since its retirement, the enormous carrier has been turned into a museum and now offers people the opportunity to see the sailors' bunks, mess hall, laundry, post office, flight  control stations, ready rooms and lots of fighter jets that are housed on this enormous ship.

The audio guide that accompanied the tour offered excerpts from sailors and captains and really helped to give a sense of what life must have been like living on this ship.  Most surprising was the very close quarters of the 4,000 sailors who lived on the ship, with bunks stacked three rows high and each given just a small locker and drawer to store all of their belongings.  This was necessary, however, in order to accommodate all of the sailors as well as all of the tools, ammunition and the incredible number of jets and planes they needed for their missions.

The ship was a true design marvel. It was also great to see the MIA table, which is a table kept constantly set for those sailors Missing In Action. This serves as a reminder to all those serving of the danger they experience, and the importance of taking care of their fellow servicemen and their families.