Not only was the vessel a hometown hero, the USS New Orleans also participated in almost every major campaign against Japan. And when faced with great tragedy, she always bounced back, much like the people of New Orleans did after disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Bussel spent a year as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down over Germany—a traumatic experience that would fuel his work on behalf of veterans and former POWs later in life.