WHERE IS HOME??? Luzerne County Courthouse 200 North River Street Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania 18711 |
 Aerial View of Luzerne County Courthouse The Courthouse is located on four acres of parklike land on the bank of the Susquehanna River. Among the flowers, shrubs and trees of this great site is the U.S.S. Wilkes-Barre CL-103 WWII Memorial with her Anchors and Bell. Can you find the "Willie Bee" WWII Memorial in this aerial view?  "USS Wilkes-Barre CL-103 WWII Memorial" Front View  "Bell" Close Up  "Memorial Plaque" ( To read entire plaque see print version below )  "Memorial" Right Hand Oblique View  "Memorial" Rear View  "Memorial" View From A Distance |
U.S.S.WILKES-BARRE CL-103 THESE ANCHORS AND BELL ARE PRESERVED HERE AS A MEMORIAL TO A VALIANT SHIP. THE U.S.S.WILKES-BARRE,CL-103, WAS A 10,000-TON CLEVELAND CLASS CRUISER, LAUNCHED DECEMBER 24,1943, COMMISSIONED JULY 1,1944, AND ATTACHED TO THE PACIFIC FLEET, CRUISER DIVISION SEVENTEEN. BECOMING A PART OF TASK FORCE 38, THIRD FLEET, THE CRUISER TOOK PART IN THE BOMBARDMENTS AGAINST THE ENEMY AT FRENCH INDO-CHINA, CHINA, IWO JIMA, OKINAWA AND JAPAN. DURING THE OKINAWA CAMPAIGN,THE U.S.S. WILKES-BARRE AIDED THE STRICKEN CARRIER U.S.S.BUNKER HILL AND GAINED CREDIT FOR SAVING THE CARRIER. THE U.S.S.WILKES-BARRE RECEIVED WORD OF THE ENEMY SURRENDER WHILE OFF HOKKAIDO AND ENTERED TOKYO BAY TO COVER THE LANDING OF AMERICAN TROOPS. THE U.S.S.WILKES-BARRE WAS DECOMMISSIONED ON OCTOBER 9,1947. THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED IN 1971 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF MR.OSCAR WEISSMAN AND THE N.E.PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL OF THE NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES |
