Desmond T. Doss Students Spend Three Days on WWII Aircraft Carrier

Last week the USS Yorktown WWII aircraft carrier became the temporary residence for students from Potomac Conference's Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy in Lynchburg, Va. Seventh through 10th grade students spent three days and two nights on board the historic ship at the Charleston Harbor in South Carolina.

“Our students had the rare opportunity to walk in the steps of our country’s heroes while participating in the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum’s camping program,” explains Steve Doss, principal. “Morning and evening meals were served to the group aboard the Yorktown just as they were to the ship’s sailors decades ago while at sea.”

During the trip, the group became “shipmates” while touring the museum’s three, 70-year old warships: the USS Yorktown, World War II destroyer USS Laffey, and Cold War submarine USS Clamagore.

The USS Yorktown is also home to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s official Medal of Honor Museum. “It was a great opportunity for the group to learn about those who were awarded our nation’s highest military honor, The Congressional Medal of Honor,” says Doss. “Seeing the school’s name sake, Desmond T. Doss, honored there was a highlight of the trip for our students.”

The students also took a ferry ride out to Fort Sumter and were able to see, firsthand, the seam where the nation was torn apart by the start of the Civil War. Students took part in raising the flag one morning at the fort. In addition, students had the opportunity to learn about the Vietnam War in the museum’s new interactive, Vietnam Experience—a two and a half acre recreation area of the Brown Water Naval Support Base and Marine Fire Artillery Base.