32 years ago today, while conducting gunnery exercises off the coast of Puerto Rico, Turret II exploded aboard Iowa. 47 members of her crew were killed. Every year, a memorial ceremony is held for them, and I was able to attend in 2019 and honor the men who died.
- Tung Thanh Adams - Fire Controlman 3rd class (FC3) Alexandria, VA
- Robert Wallace Backherms - Gunner's Mate 3rd class (GM3) Ravenna, OH
- Dwayne Collier Battle - Electrician's Mate, Fireman Apprentice (EMFA) Rocky Mount, NC
- Walter Scot Blakey - Gunner's Mate 3rd class (GM3) Eaton Rapids, MI
- Pete Edward Bopp - Gunner's Mate 3rd class (GM3) Levittown, NY
- Ramon Jarel Bradshaw - Seaman Recruit (SR) Tampa, FL
- Philip Edward Buch - Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LTjg) Las Cruces, NM
- Eric Ellis Casey - Seaman Apprentice (SA) Mt. Airy, NC
- John Peter Cramer - Gunners Mate 2nd class (GM2) Uniontown, PA
- Milton Francis Devaul Jr. - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3) Solvay, NY
- Leslie Allen Everhart Jr. - Seaman Apprentice (SA) Cary, NC
- Gary John Fisk - Boatswains Mate 2nd class (BM2) Oneida, NY
- Tyrone Dwayne Foley - Seaman (SN) Bullard, TX
- Robert James Gedeon III - Seaman Apprentice (SA) Lakewood, OH
- Brian Wayne Gendron - Seaman Apprentice (SA) Madera, CA
- John Leonard Goins - Seaman Recruit (SR) Columbus, OH
- David L. Hanson - Electricians Mate 3rd class (EM3) Perkins, SD
- Ernest Edward Hanyecz - Gunners Mate 1st class (GM1) Bordentown, NJ
- Clayton Michael Hartwig - Gunners Mate 2nd class (GM2) Cleveland, OH
- Michael William Helton - Legalman 1st class (LN1) Louisville, KY
- Scott Alan Holt - Seaman Apprentice (SA) Fort Meyers, FL
- Reginald L. Johnson Jr. - Seaman Recruit (SR) Warrensville Heights, OH
- Nathaniel Clifford Jones Jr. - Seaman Apprentice (SA) Buffalo, NY
- Brian Robert Jones - Seaman (SN) Kennesaw, GA
- Michael Shannon Justice - Seaman (SN) Matewan, WV
- Edward J. Kimble - Seaman (SN) Ft. Stockton, TX
- Richard E. Lawrence - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3) Springfield, OH
- Richard John Lewis - Fire Controlman, Seaman Apprentice (FCSA) Northville, MI
- Jose Luis Martinez Jr. - Seaman Apprentice (SA) Hidalgo, TX
- Todd Christopher McMullen - Boatswains Mate 3rd class (BM3) Manheim, PA
- Todd Edward Miller - Seaman Recruit (SR) Ligonier, PA
- Robert Kenneth Morrison - Legalman 1st class (LN1) Jacksonville, FL
- Otis Levance Moses - Seaman (SN) Bridgeport, CN
- Darin Andrew Ogden - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3) Shelbyville, IN
- Ricky Ronald Peterson - Seaman (SN) Houston, MN
- Mathew Ray Price - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3) Burnside, PA
- Harold Earl Romine Jr. - Seaman Recruit (SR) Brandenton, FL
- Geoffrey Scott Schelin - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GMG3) Costa Mesa, CA
- Heath Eugene Stillwagon - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3) Connellsville, PA
- Todd Thomas Tatham - Seaman Recruit (SR) Wolcott, NY
- Jack Ernest Thompson - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3) Greeneville, TN
- Stephen J. Welden - Gunners Mate 2nd class (GM2) Yukon, OK
- James Darrell White - Gunners Mate 3rd class (GM3) Norwalk, CA
- Rodney Maurice White - Seaman Recruit (SR) Louisville, KY
- Michael Robert Williams - Boatswains Mate 2nd class (BM2) South Shore, KY
- John Rodney Young - Seaman (SN) Rockhill, SC
- Reginald Owen Ziegler - Senior Chief Gunners Mate (GMCS) Port Gibson, NY
They came to the Navy as strangers. Served the Navy as shipmates and friends and left the Navy as brothers in eternity. - George H.W. Bush
Comments
So sad. The USS Iowa has a memorial for obvious reasons on board. I guess it was not that uncommon back in the day to the battleship. I just wish the Navy hadn't tried to blame it on a sailor for less than honorable reasons.