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USS South Dakota - BB57 Planning Reunion 2013

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Group photo of crewmembers and families at 2011 reunion in Sioux Falls. Click on photo to enlarge.

The USS South Dakota 2nd Generation Group is planning a reunion for crewmembers and their families June 27-29 in Sioux Falls. The Best Western Ramkota will again be the headquarters for this year's event. Click here to download registration form and reunion agenda.

Shriver Serves On USS South Dakota

An American Democratic politician and activist, "Sargent", Shriver is best known as part of the Kennedy family, the driving force behind the creation of the Peace Corps, and the Democratic Party's replacement candidate for U.S. vice president in 1972.

Shriver volunteered for the United States Navy in December of 1941. He spent five years in active duty, rising to the rank of lieutenant and served on the Battleship USS-South Dakota beginning in 1942.

Listen to his interview as he recollects the many battles he experienced as a crewman on the South Dakota.

Click here to listen.

Memorial's Developers Discuss Past, Present & Future of USS South Dakota

Microphone 200 Daryl Ferguson, one of the original developers of the USS South Dakota Memorial; Rolly Samp, current Board Member; and Rick Lingberg, Publisher of the USSSouthDakota.com discuss with Jon Michaels of Backyard Broadcasting in Sioux Falls the early history and the current cyber-developments of one of the Country's most decorated warships.

Program orginally aired Veteran's Day week, 2011 on Backyard Broadcasting's seven AM/FM stations.

USS South Dakota Memorial

Most warships are built for an active career of 20 or 30 years. The USS South Dakota was in commission less than five. But in that short lifetime she covered herself with more honors and glory than most other ships realize in much longer periods of service.

Because of her World War II exploits against the Japanese in the South Pacific, this mighty battleship became a legend before she was a year old. She caught the fancy of the American people when her heroics were reported in newspapers under the titles of "battleship X" and "Old Nameless."

Spurred by the Navy's announcement that it was going to scrap the battleship, a number of South Dakota citizens banded together to save part of the famous old "Battleship X." The memorial was completed in 1969 and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies September 7, 1969.

As Vice Admiral Bernard F. Roeder stated at the memorial's dedication, "This grand memorial shall stand in quiet triburte to a man-of-war - a Navy fighting ship that did its best for her country."

The memorial, located on the corner of 12th Street and Kiwanis, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

2nd Generation Newsletter

If you don't get the 2nd Generation Newsletter by mail you can download here.

Tom Brokaw's Tribute

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Tom Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation (1998) and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors.

Click here to hear Mr. Brokaw's tribute to the ship and crew of the USS South Dakota.

In Their Own Words

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USS South Dakota (BB-57) was a battleship in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1947. The lead ship of her class, South Dakota was the third ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the 40th state. The USS South Dakota fought gallantly in World War II sea battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

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In the summer of 2001 the Battleship USS-South Dakota crew members were interviewed by the Center for Western Studies in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Contact Information

Memorial Site:
P.O. Box 1591
Sioux Falls, SD 57101

Hours:
10 am -5pm
Memorial Day thru Labor Day

Phone:
605/367-7141

Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For Email Newsletters you can trust

Links To More Historical Sites

USS South Dakota - Navy Site

Guide to US Navy Museums

National Museum of Naval Aviation

Naval Museum of Armament and Technology

Naval War College Museum

Naval History Net

Board of Directors

Dave Witte, President
James Kirschman, Vice President
Rollyn Samp, Secretary
Harlan Bedford
Capt. Diane Diekman (Rt.)
Dale Kroger