VIP Visits
In her lifetime the USS Wisconsin was visited by celebrities, high ranking military personnel, political representatives and news media personnel.
Some notable events include the live TV show broadcast of Toast of the Town from the USS Wisconsin’s fantail in 1955 and a performance by Bob Hope’s Desert Shield USO Troupe in 1990.
The photo on the right is from actor Ann Blyth’s visit on Easter Sunday, 1952 while The Ship was in Pearl Harbor.
Click the + symbols below see the full list of VIP visits and scroll down to read accounts from the various events!
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Ann Blyth (actror and singer)
Ed Sullivan
Peg Leg Bates
Burl Ives (singer and actor)
Jack E. Leonard, billed as “Fat Jack” E. Leonard (comedian)
June Valli (singer)
Arizona Boys Choir
Richard Hearne (actor and comedian)
The Balladinis (English jugglers)
The Marine Drill Team
The band of the USS Wisconsin
Cardinal Francis J. Spellman of NY
Steve Martin (comedian, actor)
Victoria Tennant (actor)
Bob Hope’s Desert Shield USO troupe
An Jillian
Marie Osmond
The Pointer Sisters (Ruth, Anita and June)
Krystyne Haje
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RADM Architzel, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic and LCDR Costello visited The Ship while escorting actress Karri Turner (from the TV show JAG). The RADM invited the crew to join his party.
General Colin Powell
General Norman Schwarzkopf
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Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee
Senator John Warner of Virginia
Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence Garrett III
Ed Sullivan and Captain Patrick
June Valli
Burl Ives
Ed Sullivan and Ship's Crew (photo sent by B. Hancock)
Steve Martin with the ship's crew (photo sent by Steven Kuechle)
USO Group with Captain D. Bill (photo sent by S. Pelon)
USO Troupe (photo sent by Edward Lowe)
Dick Hamann, actor Karri Turner and Dom Menta
Karri Turner in the Admiral's Quarters
Karri Turner
Dick Hamann, Claire, Karri Turner, RADM Architzel, Lil and Dom Mentaunder the 16" guns.
Docent Ben Benzel, RADM Architzel, Lil Menta and Karri Turner
Senator Estes Kefauver (photo from R. Zinkan)
Captain J. Blesch and Gen. Colin Powell (photo from Cap. J. Blesch)
General Colin Powell and Captain J. Blesch (photo from B. A. Johnson)
Robert Eisenberg and General Norman Schwarzkopf (photo from Robert Eisenberg)
Robert Eisenberg and Senator John Warner (photo from Robert Eisenberg)
Captain David Bill, Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence Garrett III and Bob Eisenberg (photo from Robert Eisenberg)
Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth
Rocco Episcopo, Cardinal Francis J. Spellman of NY, John Episcopo
General Colin Powell greeting crew members along side Vice Adm. Henry H. Mauz Jr. (photo from the National Archives)
June Valli
Captain Patrick and the Marine Drill Team
General Colin Powell, Lt Jim Russel (Gunnery Officer) and LTJG Chuck Ramsey (Turret #1 Officer), September 1990. (photo from Soctt Allen)
Vice Adm. Henry H. Mauz Jr. with General Colin Powell
RADM Architzel and Karri Turner
Ann Blyth, 1952
Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth performing for the crew of the USS Wisconsin on Easter Sunday in Pearl Harbor