Remember the Iowa 47 : 19 years ago today

[Shipwreck]

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Psalms, 107:23-30

In Memoriam of the 47 sailors killed in the explosion aboard USS Iowa on 19 April 1989.

Tung Thanh Adams, 25 y.o., Fire Controlman 3rd class (FC3)
Robert Wallace Backherms, 30 y.o., Gunner's Mate 3rd class (GM3)(FC3)
Dwayne Collier Battle, 21 y.o., Electrician's Mate, Fireman Apprentice (EMFA)
Walter Scot Blakey, 20 y.o., Gunner's Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Pete Edward Bopp, 21 y.o., Gunner's Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Ramon Jarel Bradshaw, 19 y.o., Seaman Recruit (SR)
Philip Edward Buch, 24 y.o., Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LTjg)
Eric Ellis Casey, Seaman Apprentice (SA)
John Peter Cramer, 28 y.o., Gunners Mate 2nd class (GM2)
Milton Francis Devaul Jr., 21 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Leslie Allen Everhart Jr., 31 y.o., Seaman Apprentice (SA)
Gary John Fisk, 24 y.o., Boatswains Mate 2nd class (BM2)
Tyrone Dwayne Foley, 27 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Robert James Gedeon III, 22 y.o., Seaman Apprentice (SA)
Brian Wayne Gendron, 20 y.o., Seaman Apprentice (SA)
John Leonard Goins, 20 y.o., Seaman Recruit (SR)
David L. Hanson, 23 y.o., Electricians Mate 3rd class (EM3)
Ernest Edward Hanyecz, 27 y.o., Gunners Mate 1st class (GM1)
Clayton Michael Hartwig, 25 y.o., Gunners Mate 2nd Class (GM2)
Michael William Helton, 31 y.o., Legalman 1st Class (LN1)
Scott Allen Holt, 20 y.o., Seaman Apprentice (SA)
Reginald Johnson Jr., 20 y.o., Seaman Recruit (SR)
Nathaniel Clifford Jones Jr., Seaman Apprentice (SA)
Brian Robert Jones, 19 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Michael Shannon Justice, 21 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Edward J. Kimble, 23 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Richard E. Lawrence, 29 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Richard John Lewis, 23 y.o., Fire Controlman, Seaman Apprentice (FCSA)
Jose Luis Martinez Jr., Seaman Apprentice (SA)
Todd Christopher McMullen, 20 y.o., Boatswains Mate 3rd class (BM3)
Todd Edward Miller, 25 y.o., Seaman Recruit (SR)
Robert Kenneth Morrison, 36 y.o., Legalman 1st class (LN1)
Otis Levance Moses, 23 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Darin Andrew Ogden, 24 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Ricky Ronald Peterson, 22 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Mathew Ray Price, 20 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Harold Earl Romine Jr., 19 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Geoffrey Scott Schelin, 20 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Heath Eugene Stillwagon, 21 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Todd Thomas Tatham, 19 y.o., Seman Recruit (SR)
Jack Ernest Thompson, 22 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3)
Stephen J. Welden, 24 y.o., Gunners Mate 2nd Class (GM2)
James Darrell White, 22 y.o., Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM2)
Rodney Maurice White, 19 y.o., Seaman Recruit (SR)
Michael Robert Williams, Boatswains Mate 2nd class (BM2)
John Rodney Young, 21 y.o., Seaman (SN)
Reginald Owen Ziegler, 39 y.o., Senior Chief Gunners Mate (GMCS)

May their souls rest in peace.

[Parihaka]

Amen

[dave lukins]

The Lord is my Pilot, I shall not drift;
He lighteth me across the dark waters;
He steereth me in steep channels,
He keepeth my log book,
He guideth me by the Star of Holiness.
For His Name’s sake.
Yea, though I sail ‘mid the thunders and tempests of life,
I will dread no danger, for Thou art with me,
Thy love and Thy care, they shelter me.
Thou preparest a harbour before me in the homeland of eternity.
Thou anointed the waves with oil - my ship rideth calmly.
Surely sunlight and starlight shall favour me on the journey I take,
And I will rest in the port of my God for ever.


RIP

[Silent Hunter]

R.i.p.

[RustyBattleship]

During my inspection of the Iowa about a year and a half ago, we noticed something odd about panel T-9 on top of Turret II. Panel T-9 is the one that has to be taken off to change out large items such as vent fans, etc. and Norfolk had already loosened the bolts with Wintergreen before the repairs were cancelled.

However we did find that 47 bolts of the 348 that held the 83,160 lb panel had been removed and weather-tight caps put in their place.

We don't know if the bolts were used collectively for a memorial sculpture or individually engraved for the family members of those who died.

[Gun Grape]

Rest in peace.

[BBwarrior]

God bless all who perished aboard USS Iowa...

[maximusslade]

Oh Trinity of Love and Power
Our breathern sheild in danger's hour.
From rock and temptest, fire, and foe;
Protect them where so e'er they go.
And ever let there rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from Land and Sea.
Amen

[Dreadnought]

Rusty,
I have seen it before where such missing things (pieces of machinery, even the smallest things such as bolts) end up wrapped in an American Flag before being presented. At first I though I was seeing things but was then told it is not uncommon for it to happen pending the circumstances.

[Dreadnought]

YouTube - USS Iowa -- BB-61

R.I.P.!

[Johnny W]

I am actually in that picture you posted. Just below and to the right of the CIWS mount. Two names on that list I remember well. Lt Buch was my division officer when I arrived onboard. And I remember standing watch with SA Casey a few weeks before the explosion. I remember him because he was from Mt Airy NC, 35 miles north of the City I grew up in.

It was a dreadful day that still brings back painful memories.

[Shipwreck]

Originally Posted by Johnny W

It was a dreadful day that still brings back painful memories.

Very painful indeed.