The Hoga, a Navy tug that did duty moving bombed vessels and fighting fires at Pearl Harbor during World War II, arrived in North Little Rock today where it will become a part of the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, along with a submarine.
The arrival was the end of a journey that began in 2005 with North Little Rock’s successful bid to acquire the tug for preservation. Moving the tug from California provided a difficult and expensive task, with this journey finally being accomplished by ship, tow and barge.
I hope Pat Hays, the mayor when the city embarked on its maritime museum project, was on hand and somebody gave him a commodore’s cap.
UPDATE: For Hoga buffs, here’s a website that has followed the Hoga every step of the way, by Navy ship historian Vern Bouwman.