The SS Jeremiah O’Brien, one of the last working ships from D-Day, is undergoing a critical dry dock visit to help keep her running. The 80 year old Liberty ship carried cargo on several cruses in the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. But she is remembered most for her trip to Normandy during the D-Day Landings. And 50 years later she was rebuilt and sailed by WWII vets – Back to Normandy to take part in the ceremonies.

Liberty ships were built to just last 5 years — so not surprising, she’s showing her age. Yet she steamed to the Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, California and will under go cleaning, painting inspections and a variety of repairs.  Mare Island, a former Naval base, has its own special history. Built before the Civil War in the 1850’s — it was the first west coast Navy base in the United States. It played critical roles in World War One, World War II Two, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. The O’Brien is being worked on in a dry dock that was used in World War Two. The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is now a living museum berthed at Pier 35, near Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco. Once repairs are finished,  she will be open again for visitors — and run her famous fleet week cruses in October, 2023.