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Post by Elwood on Apr 19, 2024 19:16:46 GMT
Somewhere around here we had a discussion about the USS Iowa and the turret explosion that killed 47 sailors in 1989. Darned if I can find it tho. Today,4/19, is that sad anniversary. Thought I’d post a remembrance. RIP to those 47 souls.
The Iowa is on display in San Pedro, Ca. Just north of Long Beach. I know they have been working hard on an upgrade/maintenance on her, tho not in dry dock as the New Jersey currently is.
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Post by quincannon on Apr 20, 2024 1:32:12 GMT
The only story I know about Iowa is that a sailor was unjustly accused of causing the turret explosion. My dad was in the hospital at the time, and while we were watching this story on TV, he asked me for a piece of paper and pencil. He sketched for a few moments and then said that kid did nothing wrong, here (showing me) is why it exploded. As it turned out that is exactly what a months long investigation concluded as well, unfortunately not until after an innocent young sailor's name was dragged through the mud. Why was my dad qualified to make the statement he did? He built the gun that exploded, as well as all the American battleship guns built between 1931 and 1945. It was a design flaw coupled with just the right set of circumstances that caused the accident. Almost exactly the same thing happened on USS Newport News too.
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Post by miker on Apr 20, 2024 11:16:38 GMT
I seem to INCORRECTLY recall the previous USS Iowa also had a turret explosion...it was USS Mississippi BB-41 which suffered not 1 but 2 explosions in turret #2. One in 1924 near San Clemente Island killing 48 and the other in 1943 off of Makin Island killing 43. Both occurred due to failure to ensure the bore was clear.
Previous to that was an earlier USS Missouri In 1904 which killed 32.
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Post by Elwood on May 1, 2024 1:57:04 GMT
battleshiptexas.org/4-27-24-battleship-texas-update/Texas update. They are replacing the wooden desk which will be cleaned then recovered. With oak, I believe. You can view pics of this on the last 2 updates in the link above. Anyone have a 1911 semi-auto? They are selling grips made from wood taken off the Texas. Pretty neat although I only have a couple of revolvers and a .40 caliber pistol. Anyway, Texas is looking good. Still several months to go before finishing up.
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Post by quincannon on May 1, 2024 3:25:32 GMT
More probably teak.
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Post by Elwood on May 1, 2024 21:26:09 GMT
Teak makes sense. I say oak because there’s a pic on that site that shows door being recovered in oak. I’m good either way.
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Post by quincannon on May 3, 2024 14:34:56 GMT
Some of those BB's were really tricked out with some really nice, very plush areas inside.
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Post by Elwood on May 3, 2024 16:42:02 GMT
The Iowa still has FDR’s room as it was when he journeyed on it to, I believe, the Potsdam conference. Bathtub and all. The story goes, if he had lived thru the end of the war, the surrender ceremony would have been on the Iowa. It was in Tokyo Bay at the time. Truman of course chose the Missouri.
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Post by Elwood on May 3, 2024 16:50:40 GMT
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Post by quincannon on May 4, 2024 3:31:39 GMT
I mentioned several times a book my dad had on the Spanish American War. It contained a bunch of Remington's sketches including the 71st New York getting cut up at a creek crossing on the way to San Juan Heights, and incident you may remember from the made for TV movie "The Rough Riders". There were also a huge number of photos including one I recall of the Captain's Stateroom on the USS Maine. The damned thing looked like an 1890's bawdy house, fine oak and walnut everywhere, very expensive looking furniture, and I also seem to remember an upright piano. It was more like a Fifth Avenue apartment of that era than a captain's cabin.
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Post by Elwood on May 4, 2024 16:12:57 GMT
I mentioned several times a book my dad had on the Spanish American War. It contained a bunch of Remington's sketches including the 71st New York getting cut up at a creek crossing on the way to San Juan Heights, and incident you may remember from the made for TV movie "The Rough Riders. The movie with Tom Berenger as Teddy, also Gary Busey? Good movie. Read some on Teddy, his biggest fear was that the war would be over by the time he arrived. He was a person that had to constantly challenge himself. Weren’t the Rough Riders mustered in San Antone?
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Post by quincannon on May 5, 2024 4:26:16 GMT
They were. Visit the bar at the Menger Hotel "Across The Alley From The Alamo" No pinto pony or A Navajo, but a picture of Colonel Roosevelt hangs there for all to see, as a memorial for that august watering hole being to site of some of the Rough Rider recruitment. They were trained right across the street from San Jose Mission in what is now Roosevelt Park. Berringer nailed Roosevelt in that movie.
Most people do not either understand or realize it, but the Spanish American War and the U S Army's poor performance therein was watershed moment for the Army. Miserable you say. They won, didn't they? Yes, but at the cost of exposing the dirty laundry they had collected since the civil war. We have talked about it here since this board was established. Roosevelt becoming president as a result of his performance and the notoriety generated from it started a series of reforms which bore fruit in 1942-45. That started with the Root Reforms directed by Teddy.
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Post by Elwood on May 7, 2024 17:07:41 GMT
Berringer nailed Roosevelt in that movie. Yes, excellent job almost to the point of over acting, then again I suppose Teddy was a lively character. Seems like that movie made an honest attempt to be accurate. I enjoyed the Busey portrayal of Joe Wheeler.
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Post by quincannon on May 7, 2024 20:53:43 GMT
Well having read everything I can about the Rough Riders, what I can tell you about the movie is that they moved all of the well known people of that day into one troop. That was not real, but it is easily understood why it was done, so the story would be more compact. Bucky O'Neil commanded Troop A, and the story would have you believe all of the principles were in Troop G. Other than that the story is about as accurate as can be. Thoroughly enjoyable movie. Busey nailed Wheeler too. Great performance.
I highly recommend Teddy's own book on the Rough Riders and one even better if you can find it at a library "The Rough Riders" by Virgil Carrington "Pat" Jones. Pat also wrote "Ranger Mosby" and "Grey Ghosts and Rebel Raiders". Spent a very enjoyable day with him at his home in Centreville, Virginia about 45 years ago doing research for my C&GSC paper (writing requirement) on the Battle of Chantilly.
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Post by Elwood on May 7, 2024 22:31:24 GMT
Read a good book, not Teddy’s, on the RRs. Can’t remember the author, think I loaned the book to someone, don’t think it came back. Two things I remember, logistics, supplies were consistently a day, at the least, behind. Also Teddy sewing extra pairs of glasses into his clothes. Will look for that author you recommend.
Couple of years ago, my librarian girlfriend asked me to read and review for her store a copy of River of Doubt. Book about Teddy’s adventures on an unexplored tributary of the Amazon river. This was after his presidency. Interesting but not a “fun” read. Teddy became quite ill with malaria and an infected leg wound. Leg was almost amputated but they figured he was going to die anyway. Probably should have, several of his party did, but he somehow survived. His body took a terrible beating and contributed in part to his death just a few years later. The river they journeyed down was named Rio Roosevelt in his honor.
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