Dozens of veterans travel to Omaha for tour of USS Hazard
By Craig Nigrelli
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OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — One by one, veterans who once served on the USS New Jersey got off a bus on Omaha’s riverfront recently to view a piece of history.
They were part of a group that arrived at Freedom Park for a tour of the USS Hazard.
The Hazard was a World War II minesweeper that has been in dry dock in Omaha since 1971.
The USS New Jersey, often dubbed the nation’s most decorated battleship, saw action in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, among others.
The vets accepted an invitation from 101-year-old fellow veteran Paul Robbins of Omaha to travel here from various parts of the country and see the Hazard up close.
From the mess hall to the sick bay and the pantry inside to the weaponry and flags outside, the veterans took it all in.
“Seeing some of the stuff on the Hazard, it’s really an amazing thing to think of the sacrifice that sailors have done throughout all of U.S. history, ” said Danny Fielder of Mississippi.
Each participant served on the USS New Jersey at some point in their military careers and the tour was also about camaraderie and connections.
“Every time we come to these things, actually you get to meet different people. I’ve met people from Korea that I didn’t know that were here before, ” said George Gunderman.
Others like Mike Holmes said they carry the memory of fellow military members who did not make it back from past conflicts and remain missing in action or were prisoners of war.
“They’ve always been near and dear to us because they never came home,” Holmes said.
Robbins wore a shirt with the pictures of his three brothers on it. They also served in the military but have since died.
“I’m the last one,” he said.
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