I had just returned for a Med depolyment on the USS John F. Kennedy.
4 events stand out during my 20-year Naval career (besides the Gulf War)
In the spring of 1981, an EA-6B crashed on the Nimitz flight deck, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others. I was TAD at achool away from Nimitz at the time.
The Stark.
The USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58), on her first deployment, hit a mine in the Persian Gulf, which broke the keel. I remember the crew used cables to tie the ship together and saved her.
The turret explosion on the USS Iowa, which was first blamed in a supposedly gay crewman, then finally blamed on old gunpowder and static electricity.
The turret explosion on the USS Iowa, which was first blamed in a supposedly gay crewman, then finally blamed on old gunpowder and static electricity.
I was on my way out to ride the Iowa to do a software install the day this happened. I got to Roosevelt Roads and was waiting for the helo out when they told us what happened. Ended up flying out to a carrier (might have been Ike, I don’t remember) and stayed for a couple of days until they decided to send me home. It was a real shame. Iowa was my favorite ship; rode her several times.