Jonesboro in Craighead County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

The Arkansas

Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 9, 2018

1. The Arkansas Marker

Inscription. This is the 16,000 pound anchor off the bow of the nuclear powered guided missile cruiser USS Arkansas, CGN-41. This anchor was placed here in grateful memory of those who served aboard her. Four ships of the United States Navy and one of the Confederate States Navy have borne the name Arkansas. The first USS Arkansas was a wooden hulled barkentine-rigged steamer in the American Civil War. The second, BM-7, was a single-turreted monitor. The third USS Arkansas, BB-33, a Wyoming-class battleship, saw action in the Mexican-American War, WWI and WWII including combat action against the Japanese at Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. CGN-41 was 586 feet long, 63 feet at the beam and displaced 1,600 tons. She was powered by two nuclear power plants. Her crew was 45 officers and 540 enlisted. The ship was armed with antiaircraft and Tomahawk cruise missiles. It participated in Desert Storm in 1991. She was launched in 1978 and decommissioned in 1998. After CGN-41 was decommissioned Craighead County Judge Dale Haas requested that Governor Mike Huckabee assist in securing the anchor from the Arkansas for display as part of our veterans monument.

Erected by Paragould Monument Co.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World I • War, World II

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• Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1991.

Location. 35° 50.27′ N, 90° 42.338′ W. Marker is in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in Craighead County. Marker is on Union Street south of West Washington Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Union Street is one-way running south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 511 Union Street, Jonesboro AR 72401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. In Memoriam United Spanish War Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); Craighead County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Jonesboro (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery C, 206th Coast Artillery (AA) Dutch Harbor, Alaska Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Craighead County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Hattie W. Caraway A.B., LL. D. (within shouting distance of this marker); Craighead County 9/11 Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Flames of Freedom (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jonesboro.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the USS Arkansas. (Submitted on April 22, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Additional commentary.

View of the Arkansas Marker, anchor and the Craighead County Courthouse. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 9, 2018

2. View of the Arkansas Marker, anchor and the Craighead County Courthouse.

1. USS Arkansas (BB-33) participation in Mexican actions
The marker is in error, as the USS Arkansas (BB-33) could not have participated in the Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American War occurred between 1846-1848. The USS Arkansas (BB-33) was launched on January 14, 1911. The Arkansas did participate in the US invasion of the city of Veracruz in 1914, probably contributing to the error. As Wikipedia notes, "In early 1914, an international incident with Mexico culminated in the American occupation of Veracruz. Arkansas participated in the occupation, contributing four companies of naval infantry, which amounted to 17 officers and 313 enlisted men. The American forces fought their way through the city until they secured it. Two of Arkansas's crewmen were killed in the fighting, and another two, John Grady and Jonas H. Ingram, received the Medal of Honor for actions during the occupation. The ship's detachment returned on 30 April; Arkansas remained in Mexican waters until she departed on 30 September, to return to the United States. While stationed in Veracruz, the ship was visited by Captain Franz von Papen, the German military attaché to the United States and Mexico, and Rear Admiral Christopher Cradock, the commander of the British 4th Cruiser Squadron, on 10 May and 30 May 1914, respectively." Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

View of anchor near rear of the United States Courthouse. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 9, 2018

3. View of anchor near rear of the United States Courthouse.

— Submitted April 22, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.

The <i>USS Arkansas</i> (CGN-41) image. Click for full size.

Public domain, April 22, 2018

4. The USS Arkansas (CGN-41)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 339 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 22, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.