CDR Mike Holmes: Bringing Big J Back: Inside the 1980s Reactivation

On this episode of WETSU, we go straight into the firepower of the 1980s reactivation era with CDR Mike Holmes (USN, Ret.) — a Battleship New Jersey plankowner who helped bring Big J back to life.Assigned to USS New Jersey (BB-62) in 1982 as the ship’s Reactivation & Repair Officer, Mike stood at the center of one of the most consequential moments in modern naval history—bringing the nation’s most decorated battleship back to life. Tasked with overseeing critical overhaul and maintenance efforts, he helped prepare the ship to rejoin the fleet under the direction of President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of the Navy John Lehman.From long days in dry dock to deployment off Beirut, Mike shares candid, unfiltered sea stories—including his firsthand experiences surrounding the aftermath of the Beirut barracks bombing. These are the kinds of stories only a battleship sailor can tell.Today, as President of the USS New Jersey Veterans Association, Mike continues his service in a different but still meaningful way — leading and preserving the legacy of the ship’s crew for generations to come. Join us for a powerful and deeply personal episode of WETSU.WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative (ELEC) 825.Send us Fan MailJoin the WETSU community or Follow us on Instagram.