USS South Dakota Launched Again

www.usssouthdakota.com

 

The USS South Dakota Battleship (BB57) will be launched for a third time March 24 --- this time into cyberspace.

The most decorated battleship in World War II will soon become available to the 1.9 billion Internet users around the world via a “VTour” (virtual tour) authorized by the ship's Memorial Board.  A Memorial to the famed WWII war ship was built in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1969 as a tribute to the 114 officers and 2,240 enlisted sailors; 95 who were killed in action.  Though named for the State, this ship had crew members from the then 48 states making the USS South Dakota truly an All-American Battleship.

The new "VTour" allows any Internet user to tour the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial viewing key parts of the ship and a large collection of memorabilia.  This combined with oral histories of various shipmates, battle video, photos and an interactive route of the ship during WWII to highlight major battles combines into a museum just a click away.  A 1950s interview with the late Sergeant Shriver, one of the ship's officers, gives a unique firsthand account of naval battles fought by the USS South Dakota.

The VTour concept was conceived by Rick Lingberg, For Your Information (FYI), Sioux Falls, and a group of volunteers who wanted to share this national treasure with the world.  VTours are the next generation in e-publishing for historical, artistic and cultural experiences.

"We've taken the past into the present and preserved it for the future," said Lingberg.  "It's a tribute to those who helped win the naval battles of World War II," he added.  "We believe we have created a unique new concept that will be helpful to museums, historic societies and others wanting to preserve history," added Lingberg.

Dr. James Canton, a leading American Futurist, said,  “The USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial has established a new Internet usage combining a variety of multi-media applications that will bring museums and how we show history into the 21^st Century.”

The Virtual Tour can be accessed at www.usssouthdakota.com

USS South Dakota VTour website allows visitors to take a 360º tour of the Memorial from anywhere in the world.

The USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial President Dave Witte said, "While we're physically opened Memorial Day through Labor Day, viewers can now experience the story of this famous battleship 24/7 from anywhere in the world."

Lingberg said additional attractions will be added to the site and links to other naval historic sites will also be included.

The USS South Dakota was build in Camden, NJ, and launched June 7, 1941.  It was commissioned March 20, 1942.  The South Dakota's first major battle action in the South Pacific was the Battle of Guadalcanal and Santa Cruz; ultimately receiving 13 Battle Stars for combat.

The USS South Dakota was reported sunk three times by the Imperial Japanese Navy so through much of World War II it was called "Battleship X", "Old Nameless" and “Sodak”.

It was the first of the large powerful battleships built to bolster the World War II Navy; all named for states with the USS Missouri being the last to be built.

It was decommissioned in the 1950s and scheduled to be cut up for scrap.  Between 1962 and 1969 a Sioux Falls group was able to negotiate saving key parts of the ship, building a Memorial in the Sherman Park Complex on Sioux Falls City Park land, and housing records and memorabilia from the ship.  The surviving crew has held a reunion at the Memorial biannually for much of three decades.  Two additions have been added to the Memorial to hold the ever-expanding collection.  The newest addition is scheduled for grand opening in July.

The USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial is free supported by donations and many volunteers along with assistance from the City of Sioux Falls Parks Department.

Contact:

Rick Lingberg
FYI
2613 W. 29^th St.
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
605/338-5551This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.