How the USS Lexington Became a Floating Symbol of American Resolve
Our American Stories
iHeartPodcasts
4.6 • 817 Ratings
🗓️ 12 August 2025
⏱️ 9 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this episode of Our American Stories, she was built for war but became a beacon of memory. The USS Lexington (CV-16) launched into battle during the darkest days of World War II and earned her place in history through courage, endurance, and an uncanny ability to survive. Nicknamed the “Blue Ghost” by Japanese forces, she was reported sunk multiple times—but each time, she returned, ready for more. Today, the aircraft carrier serves as a museum in Corpus Christi, offering a tangible link to a pivotal era in naval warfare. Our American Stories contributor Anne Clare walks us through the enduring legacy of the Lexington.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an IHeart podcast. |
| 0:04.2 | Here insightful, entertaining discussions on today's important health and wellness topics |
| 0:09.1 | on the Health Discovered podcast from WebMD. |
| 0:12.3 | Through in-depth conversations with experts, |
| 0:14.4 | Health Discovered covers everything from tips for healthier living to the latest on therapy and mental health. |
| 0:19.7 | My goal is to really destigmatize mental health treatment and looking at it from a whole |
| 0:25.4 | health perspective. |
| 0:26.7 | Physical health and mental health can be intertwined. |
| 0:30.1 | Listen to WebMD Health Discovered on the IHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:34.8 | Music or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:49.6 | This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, |
| 0:52.9 | the show where America is the star and the American people. |
| 0:59.0 | The USS Lexington was the first aircraft carrier to deploy air-to-surface missiles, and it sailed enough miles to circle the globe eight times. |
| 1:04.0 | Standing as tall as a 19-story building, there's much more to this warship. |
| 1:10.0 | Here's our regular contributor, Anne Claire, |
| 1:13.4 | with the story. |
| 1:19.2 | I was in elementary school when I saw my first aircraft carrier. My family and I had gone to visit |
| 1:26.1 | my aunt and uncle in South Carolina. |
| 1:28.3 | My uncle had retired from the Navy and was working at Patriots Point, where there are a number of U.S. naval vessels that are now museums. |
| 1:37.3 | He took us up onto the flight deck of the USS Yorktown. This would be the Yorktown, not that was sunk at Midway, |
| 1:45.5 | but the one that was named after it |
| 1:48.4 | that served at the end of World War II. |
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