Posted on 08/20/2005 10:25:19 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The USS Iowa joined in battles from World War II to Korea to the Persian Gulf. It carried President Franklin Roosevelt home from the Teheran conference of allied leaders, and four decades later, suffered one of the nation's most deadly military accidents.
Veterans groups and history buffs had hoped that tourists in San Francisco could walk the same teak decks where sailors dodged Japanese machine-gun fire and fired 16-inch guns that helped win battles across the South Pacific.
Instead, it appears that the retired battleship is headed about 80 miles inland, to Stockton, a gritty agricultural port town on the San Joaquin River and home of California's annual asparagus festival.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a former San Francisco mayor, helped secure $3 million to tow the Iowa from Rhode Island to the Bay Area in 2001 in hopes of making touristy Fisherman's Wharf its new home.
But city supervisors voted 8-3 last month to oppose taking in the ship, citing local opposition to the Iraq war and the military's stance on gays, among other things.
"If I was going to commit any kind of money in recognition of war, then it should be toward peace, given what our war is in Iraq right now," Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said.
Feinstein called it a "very petty decision."
"This isn't the San Francisco that I've known and loved and grew up in and was born in," Feinstein said.
San Francisco's maritime museum already has one military vessel - the USS Pampanito, an attack submarine that sank six Japanese ships during World War II and has about 110,000 visitors a year.
Officials in Stockton couldn't be happier. They've offered a dock on the river, a 90,000-square-foot waterfront building and a parking area, and hope to attract at least 125,000 annual visitors.
After the Korean war, the Iowa was decommissioned and placed in reserve in a Philadelphia shipyard for three decades. In 1988, it was recalled to duty escorting oil supply ships safely in and out danger in the Persian Gulf. In 1989, 47 sailors were killed in an explosion that tore through a gun turret during a training exercise.
The warship, decommissioned by the Navy in 1990, is currently anchored with a mothballed fleet in Suisun Bay, near the mouth of the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta.
San Francisco's rejection of such a storied battleship is a slap in the nation's face, said Douglass Wilhoit, head of Stockton's Chamber of Commerce.
"We're lucky our men and women have sacrificed their lives ... to protect our freedom," Wilhoit said. "Wherever you stand on the war in Iraq ... you shouldn't make a decision based on philosophy."
Rep. Richard W. Pombo, R-Calif., has sponsored legislation authorizing the ship's permanent move to Stockton. Feinstein has countered with a bill to open bidding to any California city.
The two versions will have to be reconciled by a House-Senate conference committee considering the Pentagon spending bill.
AP-ES-08-20-05 1219EDT
cool story. thanks
The first time I stopped in Stockton was 1977. It was at a motel on Charter Way near the fairgrounds and I think, airport road. We left after finding out the smell in our room was from the livestock people had brought with them to the fair. I don't want to know why they were in the motel room.
I have fond memories of a couple of the dance clubs on the North side.
A co-worker and his father got the funding for and built the Filipine Center. Went to a couple of festivals there.
I would not say Stockton was the gateway to anywhere, but I would describe it as the gas stop.
I was full time in the early 90s. Not 80s. Lived in Elk Grove.
I don't know, but it sure wouldn't surprise me.
Just California.If we're lucky we'll hit a fault line in such a way as to cause the state to separate from the rest of the continent and drift into the ocean.
It's a good thing that fanatical Islamics wouldn't have a motivation to hit San Francisco. And it's a good thing that San Francisco doesn't have a landmark like the Golden Gate bridge that would make a tempting target.
I absolutely agree and I have lived in Stockton four times longer than you. Getting the Iowa would be a great boon to Stockton. Too bad our stupid City Council studied the World Wildlife Museum to death several years ago...
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
16 inch, 50-caliber guns can throw a 2,000 pound projectile (the size of a Volkswagen bug) 20 miles.
If a battleship fires a broadside while at a standstill does the ship move sideways? Just curious.
Thanks for the info :)
I agree.
MY Dad said they did...and I believe the would. They may displace 45,000 tons, but they are sitting in water, so I believe the recoil would produce some movement.
It's not a matter of anger managment it's a matter of having to put up with all this anti-American anti-War crap.
NO ONE wants war even hawks but no nation should be made to lay down and be a doormat to a fascist plague like al-quaida
These people by not supporting the actions of war against our enemys however slight in my assumption are'nt real Americans but throwbacks to a Communistic societal parasite feeding on the blood of real Americans who are willing to give their lives and blood to their country.
And now with this stupidity of not using a heroic warship one that undoubtedly did it's job and deserves a resting place of honor to be spit on by a bunch of pandering hippie like commies is just deplorable to say the least.
It's not a matter of anger managment it's a matter of having to put up with all this anti-American anti-War crap.
NO ONE wants war even hawks but no nation should be made to lay down and be a doormat to a fascist plague like al-quaida
These people by not supporting the actions of war against our enemys however slight in my assumption are'nt real Americans but throwbacks to a Communistic societal parasite feeding on the blood of real Americans who are willing to give their lives and blood to their country.
And now with this stupidity of not using a heroic warship one that undoubtedly did it's job and deserves a resting place of honor to be spit on by a bunch of pandering hippie like commies is just deplorable to say the least.
Or is this just a California thing?
Just California.
I don't think so.
Too bad the Navy won't reactivate one of Iowa's turrets to teach city hall a lesson.
Good thinking John! Lets kill everyone in the entire city! Brilliant!
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