Groups Hammer Out Plan to Upgrade SF Memorial

By Meg Dixit

Two black granite marble plaques will be installed in what is hallowed ground for a group of World War II veterans - the USS San Francisco war memorial at Land's End.
The battle-scarred bridge of the ship, damaged during a fierce battle with the Japanese fleet near Guadalcanal 60 years ago, was saved and installed as a tribute to the 112 men who died fighting. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area's 18-member citizen's advisory commission on Oct. 22 gave final approval for the project.
"This project took four years from inception to obtaining final approval," said Johnny Johnson, 79, a retired Navy chief who served on the cruiser and represents the USS San Francisco Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the shrine. "Veterans and their families donated $100,000 from their pockets to support this effort," he said. "A big gift came from the Dean Whittier family, whose son died on the ship."
One of the plaques will have a diagram of the ship and the other will have a synopsis of its combat history. Both plaques will measure six feet wide by three feet tall. Herber Holbrook, a Dixon resident and president of the USS San Francisco Association, said about $600,000 was raised for the project.
"I am happy the GGNRA has approved our request and I am pleased that things are progressing well," he said.
Holbrook said the group had to overcame obstacles in a battle of sorts between the GGNRA and the USS San Francisco Association. The organizations couldn't agree who would have responsibility for the plaques. In addition to the plaques, the GGNRA will install permanent outdoor wayside exhibits, measuring three-foot-by-three-foot, which will describe how the ship was built, its combat missions and include a memorial for those who died on it.
The exhibits will be constructed on flat, graded ground near the memorial so no major construction is necessary. The cost is between $4,000 and $5,000.
"We recognize the need to improve the interpretation of the memorial," said Howard Levitt, GGNRA's associate superintendent of operations, about the other planned exhibits.
The memorial will also get an upgrade to its rusting steel and broken fencing. Better security will be installed to save it from vandals, who often stole its American flag. The memorial was constructed in 1951.
The project's construction time is approximately six months. A major public ceremony is planned upon completion.
The USS San Francisco was the lead attack cruiser in the fiercely-fought nighttime battle for Guadalcanal. After major repairs, the ship returned to combat and served for three years in various campaigns in the Pacific Theater.