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  • Iowa mentioned in 4/6 news article

    BENICIA, Calif. (CN) - The Naval Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay once housed almost 350 ships that saw action during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. But for the past several decades, the mothballed Ghost Fleet has sat as an eerily beautiful but environmentally damaging memorial in Suisun Bay northeast of San Francisco.
    Lead paint peeled off the ships and fell into the water and the decks rusted. The Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration surveyed the environmental damage and found more than 20 tons of toxic materials from the ships in the bay, which is critical habitat for fish.
    The government last week announced plans to remove the remaining 52 retired Navy ships as part of an agreement with environmental groups. And a nonprofit group is trying to save the battleship USS Iowa and turn it into a naval museum.
    Under the decision announced last week to remove the ships by 2017, the Maritime Administration must clean the horizontal surfaces of the ships every 90 days to stop the peeling lead paint from dropping into the water, and must inspect the ships on a monthly and quarterly basis and collect runoff samples for testing. The Maritime Administration said it will remove 20 of the ships in the poorest condition by 2012. The ships will be sent to dry dock for cleaning, then will be taken to Brownsville, Texas, to be broken and scrapped.
    Meanwhile, the Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square, a nonprofit, is partnering with the Navy to turn the USS Iowa into a naval museum berthed at Mare Island, 25 miles north of San Francisco.
    The Iowa is not part of the fleet affected by last week's decision. Historic Ships Memorial spokeswoman Marilyn Wong calls the Iowa "the most historic battleship in the world."
    It shuttled Franklin Roosevelt to and from the Tehran Conference during World War II and saw action during the Korean and Cold Wars. Wong said the Iowa has not deteriorated as fast or caused the same amount of environmental damage as other ships moored in Suisun Bay, partly because it was taken out of service only four years ago, in 2006, after its last recommissioning. The Navy kept the ship in good repair to use it for emergency and educational purposes.
    Wong says the inside of the ship is in "pristine condition," and says it has "received at least $1.5 million in work in the last four or five years."
    The nonprofit hopes to raise another $18 million on top of the $4 million it already has raised to restore the Iowa.
    The Navy accepted the group's proposal as the only viable plan other than scrapping the Iowa or sinking it during target practice to serve as an underwater artificial reef.
    Wong says the latter two proposals are "not an option for the Iowa." The ship is "too important for people around the world."
    Wong says visitors travel from Australia, England and other countries to see the ship on once-a-month boat tours that take visitors around the outside, but not onto, the ship.
    The nonprofit's goals are the same as the Navy's: to "promote public interest in the defense of the nation and to educate," Wong said.
    She envisions a "stand-out" naval museum that will show off the ship's unique characteristics, including the disabled-accessible presidential cabin, which will host annual conflict resolution summits that attract leaders from around the world.
    For now, the group will continue to raise money with the goal of having the museum running by the time the last of the ghost fleet ships leave Suisun Bay in 2017. Donations to the Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square can be made at Save the USS Iowa - Help Preserve the Battleship USS Iowa.

  • #2
    Originally posted by Spence580 View Post
    The nonprofit hopes to raise another $18 million on top of the $4 million it already has raised to restore the Iowa.
    The Navy accepted the group's proposal as the only viable plan other than scrapping the Iowa or sinking it during target practice to serve as an underwater artificial reef.
    Wong says the latter two proposals are "not an option for the Iowa." The ship is "too important for people around the world."

    If Mrs Wong's group cannot get the funding, she will find that the Navy does see scrapping or sinking as an option.

    They have been around since 1996 and only have 4 million to show for it.

    4 mil in 14 years and they hope to raise 18 mil in 7 years. Hope they have a better plan than the one in place now.

    Don't know how ling their web site has been around but its shows less than 170 thousand hits.

    Don't look good IMO.
    Last edited by Gun Grape; 11 Apr 10,, 06:45.

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    • #3
      Just goes to show out of sight out of mind. Especially so since the financial bar has been raised considerably and she has no big benefactor like the New Jersey and the Missouri had.

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      • #4
        Mrs Wong seems to think the Navy will wait until 2017 for her group to get everything ready. But If I'm not mistaken, the Navy only keeps ships on "Donation Hold" for around 2 years.

        I think her groups time is coming to a close.

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        • #5
          *I'm happy to read that atleast they recognize the Iowa and her importance.

          Surprising from tree huger ubber crazy politico correctness capital of the US. Zipperheads!:))
          Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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          • #6
            Remember CV-6, Enterprise. Even Halsey couldn't save her. What a disgrace.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Dreadnought View Post
              *I'm happy to read that atleast they recognize the Iowa and her importance.

              Surprising from tree huger ubber crazy politico correctness capital of the US. Zipperheads!:))
              Actually, No. Since you do not live here and only read what is reported in your papers you are not privy to what really goes on. The decision was made by the 11 City Council members. Should be noted that all the state and federal elected officials were for the the ship including the mayor. It simply takes 6 votes on the City Council to table the measure. With Newsom having several confirmed enemies on the board the measure was in trouble from the beginning. Now here is where it would help to know how the council members are elected which is by district and there are liberal districts and conservative districts in San Francisco. The Castro is liberal while the Sunset and Richmond are conservative as an example. Fleet Week routine pulls almost 1 million people out to see the show in this so called liberal bastion with only a few complaints against it. So with confirmed enemies all that was needed was a few more votes and it lost 8-3. The Board hailed the decision and everyone else panned the decision. So before painting with a broad brush all the people in the Bay Area with that statement you might want to get out your pinstripping brush instead and learn to paint...

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              • #8
                Originally posted by tbm3fan View Post
                Actually, No. Since you do not live here and only read what is reported in your papers you are not privy to what really goes on. The decision was made by the 11 City Council members. Should be noted that all the state and federal elected officials were for the the ship including the mayor. It simply takes 6 votes on the City Council to table the measure. With Newsom having several confirmed enemies on the board the measure was in trouble from the beginning. Now here is where it would help to know how the council members are elected which is by district and there are liberal districts and conservative districts in San Francisco. The Castro is liberal while the Sunset and Richmond are conservative as an example. Fleet Week routine pulls almost 1 million people out to see the show in this so called liberal bastion with only a few complaints against it. So with confirmed enemies all that was needed was a few more votes and it lost 8-3. The Board hailed the decision and everyone else panned the decision. So before painting with a broad brush all the people in the Bay Area with that statement you might want to get out your pinstripping brush instead and learn to paint...
                Really? I have seen their politics and posted in here in prior post (including live interviews discusing the very topic) just how they feel about Iowa. Either you came to the game late or have not read prior articles, They wasted her tow fee for how long she has sat with no home. She deserves a home. And the men that tended her deserve the credit for taking care of her with every little bit they could. The idiots that have denied her a home through their politics are the true ones to blame. Iowa sat here in Philly for a long time before her being reactivated and after, Her time since tow and storage in Suisan Bay (hopefully pronounced correctly) rivals her time in storage here in Philly. She got screwed due to the idiots serving California politics . Learn her past and the politics that screwed her before you go telling somebody more then familiar with her why she has not had a home since they wasted the money for tow and played games with California politics.

                *Iowa got screwed by people that have no idea of her past nor her legacy to this country! And just maybe these same individuals will realize (one day) the contribution she has given to this country.

                Hmm, would Barbra Boxer or Nancy Pelosi except her? Nope dont sit well with their politics. G,Theres a big surprise.

                She is one of very few left and she has well deserved the support they (the foundation) has asked for! Bullshit politics aside!
                Last edited by Dreadnought; 12 Apr 10,, 02:31.
                Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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                • #9
                  Learn the politics in California and the Bay Area. Oh, that is rich considering I lived in San Francisco for 12 years. I know the politics behind the ship from Thurmond to Pombo to the City Council. Might remind you that since I live here I know what is happening on a daily basis. Once again both California Senators, that means Boxer also, were on the wagon to bring her here. However, there was no predicting San Francisco politics with Daly and Sandoval. If you have a beef here it is with those 8 that voted against the ship and those that depleted the MARAD budget over the years for her care. It would also do well to remember that the Bay Area has a long, long tradition of Navy service and the Navy still has strong support here. Might that be too much for effete intellectual easterners to grasp or do they like to preach to the choir:))

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by tbm3fan View Post
                    Learn the politics in California and the Bay Area. Oh, that is rich considering I lived in San Francisco for 12 years. I know the politics behind the ship from Thurmond to Pombo to the City Council. Might remind you that since I live here I know what is happening on a daily basis. Once again both California Senators, that means Boxer also, were on the wagon to bring her here. However, there was no predicting San Francisco politics with Daly and Sandoval. If you have a beef here it is with those 8 that voted against the ship and those that depleted the MARAD budget over the years for her care. It would also do well to remember that the Bay Area has a long, long tradition of Navy service and the Navy still has strong support here. Might that be too much for effete intellectual easterners to grasp or do they like to preach to the choir:))

                    "Might that be too much for effete intellectual easterners to grasp or do they like to preach to the choir":))

                    *I wouldnt know, do they? OR Does the choir preach total bullshit?:)) Not meaning yourself ofcoarse but there are those that feel this was done for nothing but San Frans gain, They wanted her, the money was spent to tow her there and then she got left flat on her face. If you notice in the below picture, S.F. fought to get Missouri home ported there when she was in operation. When the USN pulled the ships from service, there was no money to be had and Iowa got left out to dry even know they spent the money.

                    Could it be because they have a budget so screwed up that they cannot equate what they spend with the taxpayer base they have? Or was it just pure S.F. politics in play as the anti-war capital of the US. S.F. is very strange when it comes to politics and what they spend their money upon. But also their person opinions play the game as well. They should be forced to return the money for the tow job and it be utilized to maintain her until she finds a home.

                    "At one time, the group wanted to dock the Iowa at San Francisco's port, but supervisors rejected the proposal, citing opposition to the Iraq war and the military's don't-ask-don't-tell policy toward gays. (That standoff, of course, resulted in Supe Gerardo Sandoval going on Hannity & Colmes and declaring, "I don't think we should have a military. Absolutely."

                    *Would love to know what planet this jackhole is from.
                    Attached Files
                    Last edited by Dreadnought; 12 Apr 10,, 18:14.
                    Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      There's hope!

                      Culver signs proclamation seeking to preserve iconic USS Iowa battleship

                      By Associated Press

                      3:41 PM CDT, April 12, 2010
                      DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Chet Culver has signed a proclamation intended to better the chances that the iconic USS Iowa will be converted into a museum.

                      Culver signed the proclamation Monday, allowing him to appoint a 10-person volunteer committee that will raise private money for the ship's restoration.

                      The battleship is among dozens of Navy ships that have been anchored for years in a shallow San Francisco Bay waterway. The decaying ships are polluting the bay, and there are plans to clean and recycle most of them.

                      Some want to preserve the USS Iowa, a likeness of which is displayed in the Iowa Statehouse Rotunda.

                      The ship served as transport to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was decommissioned after the Korean War, but reactivated in 1984. An explosion in a gun turret killed 47 sailors in 1989, and the ship was decommissioned in 1990.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Spence580 View Post
                        Culver signs proclamation seeking to preserve iconic USS Iowa battleship

                        By Associated Press

                        3:41 PM CDT, April 12, 2010
                        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Chet Culver has signed a proclamation intended to better the chances that the iconic USS Iowa will be converted into a museum.

                        Culver signed the proclamation Monday, allowing him to appoint a 10-person volunteer committee that will raise private money for the ship's restoration.

                        The battleship is among dozens of Navy ships that have been anchored for years in a shallow San Francisco Bay waterway. The decaying ships are polluting the bay, and there are plans to clean and recycle most of them.

                        Some want to preserve the USS Iowa, a likeness of which is displayed in the Iowa Statehouse Rotunda.

                        The ship served as transport to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was decommissioned after the Korean War, but reactivated in 1984. An explosion in a gun turret killed 47 sailors in 1989, and the ship was decommissioned in 1990.
                        Don't really see this doing much. And the state, with their budget crisis doesn't have a hand to lend.

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