40th Anniversary of USS Missouri’s Recommissioning

Honoring the Sailors Who Brought the Mighty Mo Back to Life

On May 10, 1986, the legendary USS Missouri returned to active service, marking a new chapter in the ship’s extraordinary history. More than four decades after her World War II service, the Mighty Mo was called back in a new era — one defined by global tension and rapid technological change at the height of the Cold War.

A living bridge between conflicts, the Missouri is one of the few ships to serve in multiple defining chapters of modern history, from hosting the formal surrender that ended WWII to standing watch during the Cold War.

This era marked the return of the battleship, but in a new form. The Missouri wasn’t simply restored; she was transformed. Her modernization in the 1980s introduced advanced systems, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and updated defensive technologies. Blending WWII-era armor with contemporary weaponry, she became a powerful fusion of past and present.

The Boys Are Back In Town

In May 2026, the Battleship Missouri Memorial commemorated the 40th anniversary of the USS Missouri's 1986 recommissioning, welcoming more than 40 former Recommissioning Crew members back to the ship they once called home.

The milestone weekend celebrated the Sailors whose dedication returned the Mighty Mo to active service during the Cold War. Veterans, families, and members of the public gathered to reflect on the ship's enduring legacy through special events, a commemorative ceremony, and the opening of a new exhibit honoring the Recommissioning Crew.

Watch the Recap

Relive the memories from this unforgettable weekend as former crew members reunited aboard the Mighty Mo four decades after helping return the legendary battleship to active service.

Visit the Exhibit

Continue the story by exploring The Boys Are Back in Town: The 40th Anniversary of the Recommissioning of USS Missouri, located on the ship's Second Deck.

Featuring photographs, artifacts, oral histories, and interactive displays, the exhibit tells the story of the Sailors who brought the Mighty Mo back to life in 1986 and carried her legacy into the final years of the Cold War.

Now on display through May 2027.