Dr. Jim Barnett fought through tears as he recalled his time aboard to U.S.S. Princeton, relaying memories of both good times and bad while serving on the aircraft carrier during the Korean War.

     “The Princeton was a great ship,” said Barnett, who was a flight surgeon aboard the vessel for about a year.

     In front of Barnett was a 1/72-scale model of the Essex class carrier that was dedicated to him and Jimmy Stevens, of Starkville, Saturday morning during a ceremony at the Military Memorial Museum in downtown Brookhaven.

     “Oh my …,” Barnett exclaimed as the model was unveiled moments earlier by his son, Paul, and local veteran Millard Smith.

     Using a cane to point out various places on board, the 85-year-old former state lawmaker marveled at the model ship and offered a few stories from his service time on board.

     “If you were in the Navy, there was no better place to be than on an aircraft carrier,” Barnett said.

     Barnett told tales of landing and flying off the deck and when his services were needed aboard other ships.

     “It was a thrill every flight,” he said.

     Barnett also remembered the times of rest and relaxation, usually either in Japan or Hong Kong, and the men he served with during the war.

     “I was close to all the enlisted men and the crew,” said Barnett, who had the rank of commander.

     The model was made by Lincoln County’s Randall Smith as a way to honor veterans and add to the artifacts and other historical items in the museum. Smith thanked the crowd of veterans in attendance at Saturday’s ceremony.

     “If it weren’t for y’all, none of us would be here today,” Smith said.

     Smith said the model ship’s flight deck measures 7 feet, 3 inches and sits on an 8-foot platform painted blue to resemble the ocean. On the flight deck are models of Corsairs and F6F Hellcats.

     The model is made from wood blocks and steel. Attached in front of the display are photos of the ship and crew and of Barnett and Stevens.

     “He was unable to come today, but he was real excited about what we did,” Smith said of Stevens, 92.

     Brookhaven’s Roffie Burt once lived next door to Stevens. He said Stevens served aboard the first carrier named the Princeton, which was lost during World War II, and on the one that was celebrated Saturday.

     “He was the best neighbor you could ever have,” Burt said.

     Following the model dedication ceremony, veterans inspected it and toured other parts of the museum.

     Cecil Rhodes, who served as a statistician with the 8th Air Force in England during World War II, was impressed with Smith’s work.

     “That’s a masterpiece,” Rhodes said.

     Smith, though, said the model was not perfect.

     “I did it from memory and that one picture,” said Smith, referring to the ship and crew photo in front.

     Smith said the Princeton that he based his model on served during Korea and Vietnam before being sold for scrap in 1971. After Saturday’s unveiling in the museum’s main area, Smith said the model will be moved to the Navy/Marine room.