‘In the Navy, you save your ship, your ship is your home’
01:29
Copied
History has been made and remembered. Twenty-four surviving sailors from the USS Franklin held a reunion at Patriot's Point in Charleston. In 1945, the Franklin, nicknamed “Big Ben” was hit by 2 Japanese bombs, exploding 31 armed and fueled aircraft sitting on her deck. More than 800 were killed, the worst casualty count for any surviving US warship, and second only to the USS Arizona. The Franklin is also this nation's most decorated ship, including 2 Medal of Honor recipients from that battle. The skillful and heroic efforts of her crew saved the ship.May 17, 2013