I was in the Navy when this happened, stationed on the USS Kitty Hawk. I was one of the volunteers who escorted the sailors that were killed. I escorted Rodney Maurice White. Even though I was not a Iowa shipmate it brought me to tears taking him home. The passengers on that flight from Philadelphia to Louisville KY showed the utmost respect. I was traveling in uniform and they knew what I was doing. To this day it still brings me to tears. BC🇺🇸

It is weird how memories fade and morph. I was in the powder flats of Turret one that day. I remember the EOD guys being present when they opened the breech in left gun. There was a nice hole burnt through the bag just to the right of the red ignition patch if I remember correctly. I remember pulling the powder out and throwing it overboard but I can almost swear it was done that night of the explosion but I could be wrong. I went with Petty Officer Kurl to be part of the new crew of turret two after the explosion until the NIS had be transferred off the ship.

I live in Iowa, was in the Navy and created a 3d model of the Iowa class ships. After watching the memorial service today I realized I can honor the 47 that perished by raising turret 2 center gun fully to honor their memory. It is a small thing and may go unnoticed but the gesture will happen. The model is for sale on the internet and I will remake the listing to reflect the service of the 47 sailors in that turret on that day.

Thanks for serving, Mark. It still amazes me how we can remember significant events as if they had happened the day before, sights, smells & sounds. I was a UH-1H crewchief in the mid-90's and can still recall every single second of the day it crashed into the runway (pilot error). RIP Turret 2 crew.

The navy's conduct of the investigation was disgraceful. I'm glad there has been some closure with the congressional report but the Navy still never apologized for throwing innocent sailors under the bus.

@BattleshipUSSIowaLosAngeles

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We won't comment on how the investigation was handled, but the Navy did issue a formal apology: www.c-span.org/video/?22104-1/defense-department-news-briefing

As one serviceman to another and as a soldier who has lost dear friends in combat. You and yours are in my thoughts hoorah.

Thanks for sharing, Mark. A buddy of mine from high school (Jack Thompson) was one of those that perished that day. I'll never forget it.

I remember being on a Coast Guard cutter tying up behind the Iowa at Norfolk one day. We were a toy boat next to the Iowa.

Thank you for sharing your experience and your service! Rest in peace Iowa 47.

We need more stories from Iowa crew members like this one. At that time, I was AIMD SeaOpDet for Airwing 1. My group was stationed out of NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville, FL. The USS America, CV66 was the carrier for Airing 1. We had just finished carrier quals for our upcoming Med/IO cruise - this included sailing to the Caribbean for weapons eval, then sailed to the North Atlantic for Operation North Star to conduct flight ops in the Vestfjords of Norway which included the Blue Nose initiation. We arrived back in Norfolk near the end of March that year 1989 for our PreOverseasMovement (POM) load out. My SeaOpDet group was flown back to Jacksonville. Then came the Iowa incident April 19. We watched on TV as the Iowa was pulling into Norfolk, all dressed out to look her best with turret 2 still pointing starboard. On May 10, 1989, my SeaOpDet was flown back to Norfolk to ready ourselves for the Med/IO cruise departing the next morning. At that time, long before the words 'text messages, cell phones and emails' were invented. There was a group telephone booths of what looked like a hundred of them, on the pier and the Iowa was berthed right in front of them. I can still remember to this day, calling home to say a last goodbye to my family and telling them that I am staring at the bow of the Iowa as I spoke. It was in the evening of May 10,1989 - a haunting sight it was to behold, I'll never erase that image from my mind. I am deeply interested in these Iowa stories - please post more .... Thank You.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts from that day Mark! God Bless you Sir!

Thank you for sharing your experiences and recollections Mark. I was on board April 26th, what an amazing experience!

Can't wait until I can head out there. Maybe get into Turret 3. Good to see Mark again

Darrell Lewis crewed the port side, aft, twin 5 inch gun of the Iowa. A loader, he was senior man in his gun when turret #2 exploded. He was one of the first crew to arrive on scene, and later participated in the recovery of his crew mates. It's impossible to watch him speak about that day without seeing the pain and anguish he carries with him. This is somber content, and most likely NSFW. "USS IOWA (BB-61) APRIL 19 1989", kzread.info/dash/bejne/eoetucdrc6i2h8o.html

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for sharing

That’s one for the record !

Iowa is where she belongs as a museum and a tribute. Her guns where are all worn and put to rest.