The Navy: Battle of the Punch Bowl

When the Navy decided to bring back the battleship five years ago, old hands could almost be heard humming Anchors Aweigh. Since then, two World War II- vintage battlewagons have been made ready for sea duty, and last week a third, the U.S.S. Missouri, was recommissioned in San Francisco as a crowd of 12,000 spectators cheered from its pier.

But no dreadnought is really shipshape, it seems, without a set of ceremonial silver. When the Missouri was mothballed back in 1955, ten years after the surrender ceremony ending World War II was held on her decks as she lay at anchor in Tokyo Bay, 338-piece silver set was returned to the citizens of Missouri, who had generously donated the finery. With the Missouri returning to action, the Navy wanted the silver back. Problem was, Missouri Governor John Ashcroft wanted to hang on to the ship’s engraved punch-bowl set, which has been on display at the state capital in Jefferson City. Finally, with the U.S. Attorney in Kansas City acting as mediator, the Navy and the state compromised: when the Missouri is at sea, all the silver is hers. But when she is in home port, the Navy will make the punch bowl available to the state. Grog all around, mates.