• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Navy Signs Over Historic Pier, Paves the Road for Midway Museum

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030911-17

Release Date: 9/12/2003 4:00:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class David Van Scoy, Navy Region Southwest Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- In a historic ceremony Sept. 8, Rear Adm. Jose Betancourt, commander, Navy Region Southwest, signed an agreement conveying the more than 60-year-old Navy Pier 11A here to the Port of San Diego.

The deal brings a sigh of relief to the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, which has been diligently trying for more than 11-years to procure the pier as the future home of USS Midway (CV 41). The 1,001-foot-long Midway is expected to arrive from Bremerton, Wash., later this year. The ship will be transformed into a public museum, and is expected to open some time in the spring.

"The pier has served the Navy for many, many years in tremendous ways," said Betancourt in his remarks. "But now [the pier] can be put to much better use, in what I think is a marvelous partnership between the Port of San Diego, the Navy and the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum."

The Navy hasn't operationally used the pier for some time, and it has become in need of repairs. Betancourt said that with the expenditure of port and state funds, the repair process could begin almost immediately in order to make it suitable for Midway.

Although the conveyance of the pier includes the building in which the Navy's Mussels Gym and Naval Reserves Readiness Command Southwest are housed, the two entities are to remain there for at least four years due to a no-cost lease between the port and Navy.

"This is a culmination of 11 years work," said retired Cmdr. John Leach of the museum's board of directors. "I think the public is really excited about it. Our active-duty Navy folks will be very, very proud of what is going to happen here."

Leach said Midway, named for the role-reversing World War II battle in which the outnumbered American Navy crushed the Imperial Japanese forces, isn't going to be just another tourist attraction.

"It [will serve as] a memorial to the fighting men and women of our country," said Leach. "It will also be a major education center, where we will have on-board classes, training and youth activities," Leach said.

Leach also said the museum, a non-profit organization, will play a role in funding the rebuilding and reinforcement of the pier in preparation for the ship's arrival.