WETSU: A Battleship New Jersey Podcast — CDR Skip Leeson: Sea Stories from the CO of the Battleship's Beirut Reserve Unit

Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Marshall Spivak
Guest: Commander Skip Leeson, USN (Ret.)

Overview

In this episode, host Marshall Spivak sits down with Commander Skip Leeson, who commanded the Reserve Unit attached to the USS New Jersey during its 1983-84 Beirut deployment—the only reserve unit ever assigned to an Iowa-class battleship. Leeson reflects on a naval career spanning Vietnam, revolutionary crew-relief operations off Lebanon, and decades of public education aboard America’s most decorated battleship. Through personal anecdotes and sharp leadership insights, Leeson spans the legacy of service and the ship’s unmatched impact on those who have served with her.

Episode Highlights & Key Discussion Points

Commander Leeson's Path to the Navy and Early Service

• Why Join the Navy?
  Leeson describes his unexpected path to the Navy, having intended only to drive friends to the OCS (Officer Candidate School) test—he was the only one who passed.

  "I drove them in. I’m the only one that passed it. And I figured, well, let’s do it." (02:10)

• First Impressions of New Jersey
  His first sighting came during Vietnam, when the destroyer USS Buck (which Leeson served on as OOD and gunnery officer) protected New Jersey off the DMZ. The experience made a strong impression:

  "It was awesome." (05:12)

• Coming of Age as a Junior Officer
  Leeson speaks about suddenly shouldering immense responsibility as a very young officer in a combat zone:

  "It made me a man in a hurry. You grow up fast when you’re 21, 22 years old and you’re standing up on a bridge of a ship in charge of it." (03:55)

• USS Pueblo Crisis
  The Buck was the first ship sent into the Sea of Japan after North Korea seized the USS Pueblo. The crew was on high alert, primed for a possible rescue mission:

  "If they had said do it, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now, but we were ready to go." (03:55)

The Reserve Command and Beirut Crew Relief

• Becoming New Jersey’s Reserve CO
  Leeson led the only reserve unit ever assigned to a battleship, after successfully starting up a unit for the nuclear cruiser Arkansas.

  "It was the first and only reserve unit ever attached to a battleship in the history of the battleships, the Iowa class and all the others." (02:47)

• Genesis of the Beirut Crew Relief Operation
  Amid the 191-day deployment off Beirut, Leeson successfully lobbied for his Reserve Unit to replace fatigued sailors—creating the largest peacetime crew relief in US Navy history:

  "We decided with the reserve unit, well, let’s call up the chief of navy reserve...see if we can get our reserve unit on board." (08:46) "First people they sent back were the ones who had children after they left. That tells you what kind of a leader you was." (09:37)

• Operation Logistics & Impact
  The relief required immense logistics—DC-9s ferried reservists across continents, while many volunteers had to be turned away. Reservists drew from their civilian skills to fix real technical problems onboard:

  "Most of them were well trained and worked in where they should...We had IT men come on board, guys that actually worked for the telephone companies that came on board and fixed everything." (12:01)

• Morale and Memories
  Leeson notes the enduring pride and unity forged by the relief operation:

  "We didn’t want to go back. I mean, we’re ready now, Marshall. I’m ready to fill this up with oil missiles and, you know, bullets on board, and I’m ready to go again." (13:09)

Life Aboard and The Human Side of Service

• Wardroom & Camaraderie
  The massive personnel rotations off Beirut required seamless teamwork under Captain Milligan, whom Leeson praises as the best leader he ever had.

  "Captain Milligan was the best leader I have ever worked under." (19:35)

• Interaction with the Marines (Mardet)
  Leeson gives insight into daily life and mutual respect between ship’s company and Marine detachments.

  "Five laps around the main deck between turret one and turret three is a mile. They’d be out running every lunchtime. ... I’m so glad they’re on our side." (27:30)

• Educational Legacy
  In retirement, Leeson shares ship history with new generations, infusing tours with humor and authenticity:

  "You have to add humor. You have to add it to keep. And with the little kids, you got to keep moving once you stop your day." (21:19)

  Describing the impact for overnight groups:

  "It’s an experience for these kids that they will never ever see again. ... getting those kids on board is absolutely phenomenal." (22:22)

Reflections & Advice

• Leadership Philosophy

  "You lead people, you manage things and the people you lead are the ones that they do the managing for you." (07:23)

• Proud Accomplishments
  Leeson’s pride is rooted simply in doing the job and helping sailors and young people succeed:

  "That I did it. I can’t say anything more than that, that I did it." (23:44)

• On the Navy’s Future
  He reflects on technological progress, admiring the Arleigh Burke destroyers for their capabilities:

  "Where it is now, it's all push button to me. I'd rather go back to where I was on an old World War II destroyer. ... The Arleigh Burke destroyer right now has as far as missiles go, has more firepower than the New Jersey." (29:03, 32:49)

• Advice to Young People

  "If you want to sell the ocean blue, join the Navy. ... Each one has their own separate training program which will train you for life, and it’ll give you the discipline that’s what I needed more than anything." (24:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On standing next to the USS New Jersey as she fired:

  "She would call us and say, we’re getting ready to fire the big guns. So we had to put everybody inside because of the noise. The noise level was terrible." (04:35)

• On the Bob Hope Show and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders:

  "First people they sent back were the ones who had children after they left. ... But when they were over there, they had the Bob Hope show. I missed that, but I was over there for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. That was a good show." (09:37-10:12)

• On daily shipboard routines:

  "Five laps around the main deck between turret one and turret three is a mile. ... I’m so glad they’re on our side." (27:30)

• On what home means:

  "When I step aboard it, I salute the flag. As an officer, I have permission to come aboard. I use the officer’s brow, not the enlisted brow in the back. Overall, I just love coming up with you. It brings back so many good memories." (36:36)

• On describing the ship in one word:

  "Amazing." (35:16)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic/Quote | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:10 | Leeson’s entry into the Navy | | 03:55 | "It made me a man in a hurry..." - on becoming a junior officer in Vietnam | | 05:12 | First sighting of New Jersey ("It was awesome.") | | 08:46 | Start of the historic Beirut crew relief operation | | 09:37 | Sending home sailors with new children first; Bob Hope show anecdote | | 12:01 | Civilian skills of reservists crucial for technical repairs | | 13:09 | "We didn't want to go back" — pride in the relief deployment | | 19:35 | "Captain Milligan was the best leader I have ever worked under." | | 21:19 | Humorous and engaging approach to tours for young people | | 23:44 | "That I did it." — proudest achievement | | 24:56 | Advice to young people on military service | | 29:03 | Reflections on Navy's technological future | | 32:49 | If serving today, Leeson would choose an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer | | 35:16 | "Amazing." — The battleship in a single word | | 36:36 | What home means stepping aboard New Jersey |

Conclusion

Commander Skip Leeson’s interview shines as a testament to service, leadership, and the enduring impact of the USS New Jersey on its crew and the public. From Vietnam to Beirut, and now as an educator, Leeson's stories connect personal experience to the living heritage of the battleship—instilling pride, humility, and a sense of duty to future generations.

Listen to the full episode or plan your visit at battleshipnewjersey.org.