San Diego, California War Memorials

"National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military The "National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military" was a combined effort of the port of San Diego, the Hope family, and Navy vets of World War II's Battle of Leyte Gulf. The plaza and sculpture were officially dedicated in July, 2009, with two of Bob Hope's children on hand. The figure with the mic is a bronze likeness of Bob Hope, the legendary movie/TV comedian and entertainer, in his prime. Hope had performed in hundreds of USO events since 1941, entertaining US military audiences in far-flung theaters of conflict, from World War II to the Gulf War. He was much loved by men and women in uniform. On the plaza, there are 15 life-sized bronze statues, arranged as if attending a Bob Hope show. Each figure represents a serviceman from a different conflict. Both men and women in the service are represented, as are wounded vets, with a racial diversity that underscores Hope's broad appeal. This memorial is located in Tuna Wharf, San Diego."

"USS San Diego Memorial Located in the corner of N Harbor Dr. and Tuna Wharf St. on the waterfront of downtown San Diego, this piece of public art honors the distinguished service of the cruiser USS San Diego and its crew during World War II. The five-piece walls are polished granite and composite terra cotta, and the floor contains a terrazzo map of the Pacific theatre. The ship’s travels are marked with inlaid brass strips in the floor, and inlaid stars mark the places of battles and engagements, from Guadalcanal to Tokyo Bay. The 18 brass stars represent the number of battle stars earned by the vessel and its crew. A life-size bronze statue, representing the rest of the crew of the ship, gazes out over the Pacific. Anti-Aircraft light cruiser USS San Diego (CL-53) was commissioned on 10 January 1942, and serviced mainly in the WWII Pacific theatre and involved in many sea battles. After the Japanese surrendered, San Diego continued to support the post-war effort as part of Operation Magic Carpet that brought thousands of American troops home. San Diego was decommissioned and placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet in November 1946. More than ten years later, the mighty ship was struck from the Navy list and was scrapped in Seattle in 1960. San Diego received 15 battle stars for her exceptional World War II service."