The DECK-LOG!!
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We'd like to know what you think about our Battleship and our web site. Please leave
your comments in this public guest book so we can share your thoughts with other visitors.
Here are a few hints:
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Please read through the existing comments before
making your own.
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There are "Webmaster Comments" beneath some entries - so if you make a specific
request, it may very well be answered so check back!
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Don't forget to go to our ONLINE EMAIL LIST, if
you are a former crewmember, and add your name!
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To discuss the Turret#2 incident - please CLICK
HERE.
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Here are the entries in our "Deck Log"
Although this deck-log is
"Available to the general public" the information
contained herein may not necessarily constitute the policies and
thoughts of the Veteran's Association of the USS
IOWA(BB-61). The information contained in these deck log
pages is COPYRIGHTED to our Veteran's Association. Media
outlets do NOT have permission to use quotes from it.
Webmaster
Comment: If some type of 'error' appears below, please check
back in 30 minutes. If it still appears, EMAIL
ME ASAP!
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Name: |
BM1 SW CHARLES BROWN USN RET.
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Date: |
08/25/2010
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Comments: |
TO ADMIRAL GNECKOW YOUR QUITE WELCOME. I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT OUR OLE BATTLEWAGON. MAYBE OUR SHIPMATES OF BB 61 ALL ERAS CAN GET THIER STORIES TO MASTER CHIEF HELVIG ED. OF THE (JERSEYMAN). SURE HE WILL BE HAPPY TO HEAR OUR STORIES. HE CAN BE REACHED AT WWW.USS NEW JERSEY .COM
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Name: |
Bryan A. Moss
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Date: |
08/15/2010
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Comments: |
To All Shipmates!!
Pacific Battleship Center has launched the web site. Addressis: www.pacificbattleship.com. All are welcome!!!
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow
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Date: |
08/12/2010
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Comments: |
To BM1 Charles Brown: Thanks very much for sending me the battleship and cruiser information each month. You are a real shipmate! I am already receiving the JerseyMan Newsletter, so you don't need to send that one. I always enjoy hearing from you and hope you are doing well. Maybe we will meet at a reunion one of these days. Take care of yourself. All the best, Admiral Gneckow
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Name: |
Marty Palmiere
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Date: |
08/04/2010
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Comments: |
To "Jon Born in Iowa"
In response to your questions posted on 7/21/10, the USS IOWA.com site will take you to a site run by Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square or HSMPS as you have already identified. This is the group that has been attempting to get custody of the ship for about 10 years now. until recently they have been the only group recocognized by the Navy to have a "viable" application of file, this this has recently changed with the emergence of another group with infinatly more in the way of funding than HSMPS has produced to date. Bottom line, any money sent to HSMPS is like thowing it into a black hole, their accounting is atrocious. Hang on to your money for the time being, when things are more firm on the ships disposition, there will be instructions posted on this site as to where and how to donate your funds.
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Name: |
Martin A. Palmiere
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Date: |
08/04/2010
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Comments: |
Hi John, how are you, we all miss your shining face at the reunions
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Name: |
Stephen Mason PN1(SW), USN-Ret
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Date: |
07/24/2010
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Comments: |
I remember Ed, who was a RM1 @ the time would come down to Personnel @ night and him and I would BS and drink coffee together. Radio Central was just down the Passageway fm Pers. If I remember correctly OC berthing was on one side of Pers and Radio Central was on the other side of Pers. RIP my good friend.
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Name: |
John Schultz
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Date: |
07/22/2010
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Comments: |
Today we both celebrate and mourn the passing of Ed Nicholas. Ed was my 'boss' here at the Association helping with Web-Mastering tasks. While onboard Ed was my Leading Petty Officer wile I was a young seaman and 3rd class. His leadership, guidance, and compassion helped me to become the man I am today. Ed - you will be sorely missed and my prayers go out to your family during this difficult time!
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Ed's Viewing will be tomorrow evening from 6-8pm tomorrow at HD Oliver on Laskin Road in Virginia Beach. The funeral will be held at St. Timothy Luthern church located on Kempsville Road this Saturday at 11am. Here is a link to the information online: http://obit.hdoliver.com/obit-807534
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Name: |
Jon (Born in Iowa)
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Date: |
07/21/2010
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Comments: |
How do the different groups play in the attemp to save the Iowa? There is this site and the dot com of the same name and the HSMPS, and a Battleship group (don't remember the name), and one or two more. All seem to want to preserve the Iowa. Are they competing for who will run things or do they all tie together somehow.
I'm trying to decide which group to pay dues to.
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Name: |
Dick Blair '52-'56 "EX"
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Date: |
07/16/2010
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Comments: |
Shipmates,some Good News on the "San Pedro Home Port" for the IOWA. Check out (www.dailybreeze.com) San Pedro Newspaper with IOWA Museum Information? Hope for Good reunion turnout in Reno, NV 19th-22nd. RADM J.Gneckow, Best wishes for your forthcoming Surgery?
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Name: |
Michael S. Pacheco
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Date: |
07/16/2010
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Comments: |
I hope that everyone is doing fine..1982-84
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Name: |
BM1 James D. Andrews Jr.
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Date: |
07/14/2010
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Comments: |
RADM Gneckow,
To USS IOWA BB-61 former crew members. I am PROUD to once again wear the ball cap of USS IOWA BB-61.My medical condition
has some what changed, I am having open heart surgery real soon, 4-way by pass, I still love serving her and with the proud crew members that served her. To Deck Department, 5th & 6th division. Hello ! and as well to all other IOWA precom crew as well.
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Name: |
Ken Leff, VP, Historian
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Date: |
07/10/2010
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Comments: |
I recently returned from a trip to the Norfolk area to accepto Master Chief Bobby Scott's memorabelia collection that was displayed at Afloat Training Group, Naval Station Norfolk. The items, including his shadow box, USS Iowa ring, Shell Back certificate from USS Iowa, two formal uniform waist coats and several plaques will be sent to the Historical Society of the State of Iowa for preservation/storage and eventually end up in the USS Iowa museum. Our thanks to ATG for the safe keeping and donation of Master Chief's collection. The Chief that contacted me about the items was unable to determine how and when ATG got custody of the collection but as the command grew and more room needed it was necessary to move the collection.
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Name: |
Stephen Mason
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Date: |
07/04/2010
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Comments: |
To all my Battleship Brothers, Happy 4th of July. And God Bless our Soldiers, Airman, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardmen where ever they are. I am proud to have served with men as you.
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Name: |
Bryan Moss
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Date: |
06/29/2010
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Comments: |
To all Shipmates:
This document speaks for itself and I thought all should be able to read it. If you care to respond to Dr. Sefton: james.e.sefton@csun.edu,
Dr Sefton has taught at Cal State Northridge, CA for 45 years.
WHY THE PACIFIC COAST NEEDS USS IOWA AS A BATTLESHIP MUSEUM
James E. Sefton
Professor of History
California State University, Northridge
Upon America’s entry into World War II, the west coast became the staging ground for the largest naval campaign of World War II, and indeed, in all of American history. Thousands of tons of war supplies and equipment left west coast ports. Thousands of servicemen and women saw their last glimpse of their homeland at ports from northern Washington to southern California. But ironically, there are very few naval vessels serving as museum ships on the west coast. The distribution of battleships in particular shows just how significant the imbalance is. The two nearest battleship museums to the west coast are USS TEXAS at Houston, and USS ALABAMA at Mobile. Other than USS MISSOURI at Pearl Harbor, all of the rest are on the east coast. The density of population centers, together with the presence of year-round tourist destinations, clearly make a compelling case for establishing USS IOWA as a west coast attraction.
How do present and future generations study the wars of the past? At one level, they study by proxy. They read books by historians, or they watch movies and TV series. They can get a step closer by reading the memoirs of admirals and generals who were there, or collections of letters written home by enlisted men and women. If they are fortunate, they can still sit down with an elderly family member, listen to stories, and ask questions. Those opportunities, however, fade rapidly as we lose our veterans. For every one veteran who is still willing and able to talk about the past, there are many who cannot, for physical or emotional reasons.
We can also tramp the battlefields. It is one thing to stand on the cliffs above the beaches at Normandy and reflect on what thousands of men did there, on land and sea. That is war in macro. It is quite another to stand at the wheel of USS TEXAS, where a young helmsman was mortally wounded by the explosion of a 14” German shell during the bombardment of Cherbourg following D-Day. That is war in micro. The visitor will learn his name, his rate, his age, his hometown, and that he was the only combat fatality in the entire 35-year service life of the ship. That is a particularly personal, emotional experience. It is available to present and future generations because the ship is a well cared-for museum, with interior spaces fully open. During a recent visit, a group of typically animated young people stood in motionless silence as a volunteer docent narrated in detail the events leading to the young man’s death.
A battleship is not merely a 900-foot long space full of passageways and compartments where 3000 sailors fought our wars. And sometimes died. It is also the space where they lived. To visit a battleship museum is to be invited into a sailor’s home – his home beyond the Golden Gate, as it were. Simply to stand in a crew’s washroom and reflect on the process of showering is to appreciate the effects of war on the most mundane aspects of life.
The present generation of students, for whom showering is a familiar ritual but very different from the shipboard version, has very little concept of what World War II sailors went through every day. Our generation, well familiar with youthful obesity, is slow to comprehend that many of their classmates could not fit through the hatches inside a 16-inch turret. This is a generation that has never experienced a draft. It ended before they were born. This is a generation that stares in wonder at the statement that, in 1957, all male undergraduates in the University of California were required to take two years of Military Science to graduate, even if they were temporarily draft-deferred. This generation needs the opportunity to sit in the trainer’s seat on an antiaircraft gun, protected by a splinter shield but not at all from the sky, and see the last thing another 19-year-old saw before a kamikaze killed him.
One of the most important elements of education is continuity. How are we related to earlier generations? How did their lives, their values, their experiences, their decisions, their actions, affect ours? What have we done with their legacy? History is the most important vehicle for securing that continuity. History enables us to educate ourselves by studying our past. It is always popular to criticize the past based on modern values. But it is far more important, and far more useful, to understand the past on its own terms. The decks of USS IOWA are in fact a historic stage, walked by thousands of young men in war and peace. By preserving those decks, we ensure that those young men will continue to speak to us, with their own lines and in their own voices, about the experiences of their generation. We cannot be so unconcerned about our historic past that we let pass a major opportunity to secure that heritage for our future.
James E. Sefton, Ph.D.
Professor of History
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge, CA 91330-8250
818-677-3549 (Direct and VM)
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Name: |
Charlie Williams
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Date: |
06/27/2010
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Comments: |
Sorry I missed the official cermoney on 4/19. I worked a 12 hr shift and brought flowers like 10pm. I thought nothing was done. it was all cleaned up and I remember the late news didnt say anything about nothing. I will remember to check on here regularly then. Its awesome to see that there are Navy Vets who still keep in contact and are greatful for being apart of something special. (SN/PN3 86-89)
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Name: |
Joseph Brown
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Date: |
06/18/2010
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Comments: |
Just four more weeks until the reunion. Any railroad fans coming to the reunion?
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Name: |
HorrorneRop
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Date: |
06/14/2010
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Comments: |
Whats up? New around here and figured I should post and say hello.
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Name: |
Edward Glad
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Date: |
06/09/2010
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Comments: |
World War II Service on the ship for five years
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow, President, Veterans Association of the USS Iowa
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Date: |
05/27/2010
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Comments: |
I learned recently the our 1st VP and Editor, Mark Gustafson, does not desire to run for re-election. This means we need to find a new 1VP and editor soon. If you are interested in being the editor of the USS Iowa Newsletter, or would like to help temporarily while we locate a new editor, please contact me by e-mail or phone.
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow, President, Veterans Association of the USS Iowa
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Date: |
05/26/2010
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Comments: |
The reunion in Reno, NV is now only a little over 6 weeks away. If you would like to submit an agenda item to be discussed at the crew meeting or the Executive Board Meeting, please send it to me prior to July 1, 2010. Your agenda item should also include a short summary of the subject or issue that you would like us to discuss.
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Name: |
Bryan Moss
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Date: |
05/25/2010
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Comments: |
On behalf of the Pacific Battleship Center, we are proud to announce that the organization has sent a Letter of Intent to make an application for the ex-USS Iowa (BB-61)for the ships restoration, museum development.
Fair Winds and Following Seas.
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow, President Veterans Association of the USS Iowa
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Date: |
05/24/2010
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Comments: |
The Federal Register dated May 24, 2010 officially announced the Notice of Availability for Donation as a Museum/Memorial, the Battleship ex-USS Iowa (BB-61). This document gives notice of the re-opening of the donation process and requires that the donee locate the ship in the State of California. Letters of Intent are required within 45 days and applications must be received within six months.
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow, President, Veterans Association of the USS Iowa
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Date: |
05/15/2010
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Comments: |
For all those who are looking for information about the 2010 reunion in Reno, NV: Access reunion information, POD, tours, reservations, registration form, etc by clicking on the Reunion '10 Info line in the hotlinks at the top right hand side of homepage.
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Web-Master Comment: There's also a bunch of info about the hotel on the Registration Info Page. Looks as tho we landed a GREAT place to go with plenty of activities and in-hotel restaruants!
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Name: |
Warren T. Greene
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Date: |
05/15/2010
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Comments: |
I just learned of the passing of former 6th Division shipmate and friend, Felix "Blackie" Blackmon, from the 50's crew. Felix passed away October 22,2008, in Ft. Worth, Texas. I had lost track of him and did a people search and found out this info last night. God rest his soul, and peace to all our friends who have passed on and their families who mourn their loss.
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow, President Veterans Association of the USS Iowa
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Date: |
05/11/2010
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Comments: |
The guest speaker at our banquet in Reno will be Command Master Chief Fred Barton, who is serving as CMDCM at NAS Fallon, NV. Master Chief Barton will provide us with the prospective of a senior enlisted man in today's modern Navy. He has almost 30 years of service and is an Air Warfare Specialist (AW), Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist (EXW), and is Enlisted Surface Warfare (SW) qualified. He is a graduate of the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy and has a variety of experience in ships and Air Wings.
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow, President Veterans Association of the USS Iowa
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Date: |
05/08/2010
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Comments: |
I received official word today from the Secretary of the Navy that he has decided to reopen the competition for donation of the USS Iowa to an organization that will display the ship in the state of California. A new Federal Register will be published within the next 30 days to formally reopen the competition. In addition, the Pacific Battleship Center has informed me that they have received an official invitation to submit an application. This development will increase the pressure on all competing applicants to quickly move forward with their plans.
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Name: |
Steve Rolph LTjg
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Date: |
05/04/2010
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Comments: |
Is anyone planning on bringing golf clubs to the reunion in July? Should be plenty of opportunities to play. Anyone know of good courses in / around Reno? How about a group golf event sometime between Monday and Thursday?
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Name: |
Paul Roales
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Date: |
05/04/2010
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Comments: |
I am looking for anyone who knew CWT Frank James Ryan. He served on the Iowa from 2/22/43 until 1/11/46, after surviving the sinking of the USS Vincennes earlier in the war. If you knew him or knew of him, please send me an email. Thanks.
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Name: |
Mark Rutenber
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Date: |
04/30/2010
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Comments: |
Today I lost many good friends, I will never forget them. The Iowa steams on carrying our memories, laughing and telling our acounts of what happened on liberty in front of their racks. Their racks are empty still, just reminders of those who laid their head in them until reveille sounded. Gendron; Gedeon..., Walter Scot Blakey, and Moses whose glasses still lay on your pillow be proud to have served on the baddest SHIP in the time of the greatest Navy in the world! I saw the 47 trees reaching towards heaven, so beautiful. I will see you shipmates once again in a place where the cruise never stops and the chow is out of this world. Thank you God for allowing me to keep their memories alive, I put their souls to rest in my mind as they suffer no more. My fears of dying today I relenquish to the Almighty, who is more than able to keep us til we man the rail on our way to heaven. Today, I remember Turret Two. God bless all who survived that day, we will carry on smartly in their honor. 0955, Never Forget! I wrote this at 0500 the day of and read it after the 47 names were read. I would like the navy to put this on a placard...
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Name: |
Mark Rutenber
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Date: |
04/30/2010
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Comments: |
oday I lost many good friends, I will never forget them. The Iowa steams on carrying our memories, laughing and telling our acounts of what happened on liberty in front of their racks. Their racks are empty still, just reminders of those who laid their head in them until reveille sounded. Gendron; Gedeon..., Walter Scot Blakey, and Moses whose glasses still lay on your pillow be proud to have served on the baddest SHIP in the time of the greatest Navy in the world! I saw the 47 trees reaching towards heaven, so beautiful. I will see you shipmates once again in a place where the cruise never stops and the chow is out of this world. Thank you God for allowing me to keep their memories alive, I put their souls to rest in my mind as they suffer no more. My fears of dying today I relenquish to the Almighty, who is more than able to keep us til we man the rail on our way to heaven. Today, I remember Turret Two. God bless all who survived that day, we will carry on smartly in their honor. 0955, Never Forget!
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Name: |
Horton, SA Deck/Mess
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Date: |
04/20/2010
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Comments: |
Sending props to my shipmates. The date just struck me. Now I know why I've been in a funk for the past couple days. God Speed and calm seas.
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Name: |
Travis Camp
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Date: |
04/20/2010
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Comments: |
I last time i saw the Iowa was when the barge was tied up to the ship to accomadate visitors. I would llike to see the ship in her last resting plece, but wont be able to because my health is fading fast. Thanks to all former crew members that made my toiur on the iowa so rewarding. 1951- 1953
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Name: |
IOWA SAILOR
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
Someone mentioned to me today that this is the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy. Indeed, it has been 15 years since that terrible moment in time. While none of us from the IOWA Family have forgotten our own moment of loss and tragedy on this very same day... It is my humble opinion that GOD must have seen fit to have 47 of the US NAVY's Finest Guardian Angels meet those 168 souls as they made their way home to their Lord. GOD Bless them all...
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
To all those who helped organize the memorial ceremony for the Iowa-47. BZ! I saw the media coverage of the event. You all did a great job. Thanks for helping to remember our shipmates who lost their lives in 1989.
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Name: |
Shannon Allen
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost their loved ones on April 19, 1989, and to all my fellow shipmates.
May God Bless the Iowa families
Shannon Allen
OS2 OI Division
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Name: |
Anthony M. Carr
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
Many prayers and thoughts of our brothers and their families this morning. GOD Bless the IOWA 47 and all of the BIG STICK sailors who served on her. Fair Winds and Following Seas to us all...
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Name: |
Lee Starkel
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
Thinking of the IOWA 47 and all of my ship mates today.
God Bless!
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Name: |
Bryan Moss
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
God be with the ships mates and families of the Iowa 47. God Bless America.
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Name: |
MM1 Jim Brewington
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
Saluting the men who gave their last full measure of devotion on this day 21 years ago.
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Name: |
Barry Mylan OSC(SW) Retired
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
God Bless our shipmates who died on April 19, 1989 !!!!
We will never forget !!!!
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Name: |
Jerry Gneckow
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
On behalf of all the members of the Veterans Association of the USS Iowa, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends of our shipmates who died on this day in 1989. God Bless the Iowa-47. We will never forget you.
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Name: |
John Geoghegan
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of our fallen 47 on this anniversary of that fateful day. God Bless you.
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Name: |
Peter Sunshine JO2 88-92
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
I can't believe it's been 21 years now... seems like yesterday.
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Name: |
Peter Sunshine
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Date: |
04/19/2010
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Comments: |
I can't believe it's been 21 years now... seems like yesterday.
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Name: |
BM2 Steve Hawes 85-89
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Date: |
04/16/2010
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Comments: |
Friday is coming to a close and I will most likely not be online this weekend; I want to pay my respects now for our fallen 47. I will continue to pray for the families so that they can get thru yet another painful year. May God Bless our Iowa 47 and their families.
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Name: |
Billy Holland
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Date: |
04/12/2010
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Comments: |
Man i sure wish i could make it back this year! My wife and I had a blast seeing all my ole shipmates! It was a very moving ceramony!
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Name: |
John E. Schultz
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Date: |
04/11/2010
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Comments: |
4/19 is ONE WEEK AWAY! If you plan to attend you need to click the link at the top of the page and sign up!
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GET SIGNED UP ASAP FOLKS!
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