The first of a new class of battleships to join the American fleet during World War II, the North Carolina served its country for only six years. In that time, though, it earned 15 battle stars fighting in nearly every major battle in the Pacific. Later, it was towed to Wilmington to serve museum duty. Sporting an unusual new camouflage paint job, “The Showboat” is celebrating the victory it fought for and helped win a half-century ago.