Navy says Mare Island best place for USS Iowa

Contra Costa Times ^ | 11/15/7 | Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

[SmithL]

VALLEJO - The creation of a USS Iowa memorial and museum in Vallejo has moved a giant step closer to reality with the Navy's declaration that Mare Island is the mothballed battleship's only practical option, it was learned Thursday.

"The Navy has deemed our organization the only viable candidate, so the other parties are out of the running," said Merylin Wong of the Vallejo-based, nonprofit Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square. "We're very excited. We've survived the competitive bidding process."

The historic ship fought in World War II and the Korean War and has been in the Suisun Bay's mothball fleet for the past several years.

San Francisco and Stockton were competing to become the Iowa's permanent home, though only Stockton seemed to be seriously pursuing it.

Bidding, which included presenting the Navy details about logistics, funding, dredging, pier improvements and ship restoration, took about a year, though Wong said her organization has been working on the project for a decade, she said.

In a letter dated Oct. 31, Vice Admiral David Architzel wrote Wong that once evidence of firm financing has been received, the Navy will "further consider the (group's) application for donation of ex-Iowa."

The letter was also sent to Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, who represents Vallejo, said spokesman Justin Hamilton.

"The Navy said it has made the determination that Vallejo is the best option," Hamilton said. "Congressman Miller would be very happy to have the Iowa in Vallejo. It's an important historic ship that played a major role in defending our country and it deserves a place of honor."

Miller lobbied hard to make Vallejo the top candidate, Hamilton said,

"A big, initial hurdle has been cleared," he said.

Nothing now stands in the way of bringing the Iowa to Vallejo except money, Wong said, adding that realizing the dream will cost $15 million to $20 million.

Mare Island's main landlord, Lennar Mare Island, backs bringing the Iowa the Vallejo, said spokesman Jason Keadjian.

"We have supported the efforts to locate the USS Iowa to Mare Island and continue to be supportive," he said. "We feel the ship has the potential to be a positive amenity and contribution to Mare Island's reuse."

Keadjian noted the obstacles still to overcome, like financing, but calls the latest development "a step in the right direction."

Now the focus turns to fundraising, Wong said.

"We're looking for contributions, donations, guarantees, loans or pledges," she said.

Contributions can be sent to Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square, P.O. Box 361, Vallejo, Ca., 94590.

[SmithL]

Contributions can be sent to Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square, P.O. Box 361, Vallejo, Ca., 94590.

[SmithL]

Vallejo is certainly more deserving than San Francisco, but USS Pampanito has done exceptionally well at San Francisco’s Fishermen’s Wharf.

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

Yes - Fisherman’s Wharf is better located, better accessed, better advertised. Lots more (by many tens of thousand) walk-by tourists and locals.

Too bad it is next to San Francisco resident looneys.
They could have had a good exhibit: able to grow in the future, with the WWII battleship, WWII Liberty Ship, WWII submarine ... SFO is world-famous for its bases and airbases, (former) shipyards and construction (like the Kaiser yards, NAS Alameda, SF Naval Shipyard, Treasure Island, Oakland, Vallejo Naval Shipyard, the air bases and blimp stations in San Jose, the naval weapons depots up the Sacramento river, etc.

But the current residents?

They'd be honored in Kamchatka in the Siberian gold mines under Stalin.

[SmithL]

The USS Hornet is seriously struggling at Alameda. It is really out of the way. It deserves better.

[attiladhun2]

The best place for the USS Iowa is to be refitted with nuke-warhead-armed missiles and cruising off the coast of Iran ready to kick camel-jockey arse.

[PeteB570]

I second your idea.