The USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California

While on a trip to San Diego this year, my husband and I had the pleasure of getting to visit the USS Midway museum for the first time. It was a special tour that included some behind the scenes places of the carrier. I didn't know what to expect, and took some photos of some of the spots we stopped in. Here, I am sharing some of the photos so others might be able to see some of what life must have been like for those that served their country in this capacity.

The average age of those that served was just nineteen years old. One of the things I learned very quickly, was that things aren't what the movies portray them to be. We often see things only from that top level of a carrier. Think of Top Gun, for example, but there are many more. Going on a tour like this helps to give a new found appreciation for what actually goes into making that top level be able to run smoothly, if at all.

For example, the man power to make ten tons of food daily, and the areas in which they made it in, is quite incredible. That is one small part, however, of the greater whole.

My hope here is that the pictures share a bit of that history with people. I am more than impressed by the sacrifices of the men (and later, some women) to help serve their country in the manner that they did. I never knew that it was rare for some to ever go out of their initial living quarters or beyond their own working environment. It wasn't normal for example, to just wander around the air craft carrier at will. The more you learned, the more you realized why this was the case, at least partly. The way to keep order for all involved, when so many humans lived and worked on this ship, was really a science of its own.

I hope you can get a small taste here from the images I share. The amazing part is, that for the few hours we spent there, I realized that what I learned was really just a drop in the bucket compared to what there is to learn about.

Walking on several different levels on this carrier was both interesting and fascinating. I learned very quickly, for example, how to walk down the very steep ladders that took you to the different levels. Initially, it can be intimidating as you are trying to follow those in front of you. The key is to not rush it, and go at your own pace, while listening to the advice of those giving the tour. You can come to see how they learned almost how to just fly down those steps, or ladders, as needed. Narrow corridors and doors you had to duck to get through were very common. Keep in mind, I am a short person! They really maximized the space of course.

The places where people slept were something that really made an impact on me as well. The place each one slept was not really that long. If a man was very tall, it likely wasn't too comfortable to sleep. They packed the bed areas in like sardines almost! It would have been a tough place to be homesick.

While they slept, some areas always stayed lit with a particular kind of light. I couldn't have imagined this! It was necessary and they did get used to it evidently. It wasn't your ordinary kind of light, and served a function.

Some areas got very poor ventilation, as you can imagine. When the temperatures were higher, the men were obviously very warm. Passing through each area, you realized just how many men and women are needed to run this small community. Everyone was needed, and had a job that fit their skill set. Not all can be on that top level of the carrier. Yet they all work so that the activities on the top level can be safely carried out.

As usual, coming back from a tour like this is very eye opening. One realizes that it is far too easy to take what we have for granted, including our freedom! We have so many modern conveniences day in and day out that not everyone has. Our soldiers that work so hard, have it pretty rough sometimes. I try to thank people that have served in our military, by also mentioning their sacrifice. I don't just thank them for their service. They all give things up for the greater good. I will always be thankful for that and hope others are as well.

This article shows some photos we took, but there were much more. These are but a sampling of my collection of photos, and in some parts of the carrier it was better to focus on getting up and down the different levels. It wasn't always ideal to have my camera out.

As for this trip to San Diego, that included this tour, I am glad to have gone with my husband there. It was a great time, even though it sometimes feels rushed. I am a firm believer in trying to see and experience all kinds of things in life. On a trip such as this, it would have been easy to overlook this opportunity. I am glad we took the opportunity to go see the USS Midway in San Diego.

The harbor, and other things in the distance were a joy to see while at the USS Midway. I love the ocean anyway, so the water is always something I want to be around, or see whenever I can. I loved feeling the wind on my face, and seeing a little sailboat off in the distance. Those are some of my favorite things about being near the water, or ocean in this case. There is something refreshing about it for sure.

If you ever get the chance to go and visit the USS Midway, I hope you will take it. It is interesting, educational, and gives a feel for what it must have been like to be on such a carrier, serving your country.