Free Republic

The USS Iowa may have been the first of the Iowa-class battleships to be commissioned, but she was the last battleship to retire permanently. Once called the "Battleship of Presidents" (having hosted FDR, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush), the USS Iowa had the biggest guns on any U.S. Navy ship, used primarily for anti-aircraft missions: nine 16-inch guns mounted on three stacked turrets on the flight deck (capable of carrying 2000 tons of firepower). She was the lead ship of the last class of battleships in the Navy, having served in three significant commissions: World War II, the Korean War,...

SAN PEDRO, California- The Battleship USS Iowa will welcome the University of Iowa Hawkeye fans to the Rose Bowl, by firing it's 5 inch guns in celebration. These are the small guns on the side of the ship. A pep rally will be held on the dock in front of the USS Iowa on Thursday December 31, from 12 to 5 p.m.. The guns may be fired around 4 p.m.. All Iowa fans are invited to the free rally. Food and drink will be available through local vendors. Because of the State of Iowa providing $3 million toward the restoration...

Republican presidential contender Donald Trump is promising subsidized private health care for frustrated veterans, charging that immigrants in the country illegally receive better care than the nation's wounded soldiers. The comments, delivered Tuesday aboard a retired World War II battleship in Los Angeles harbor, came on the eve of the second Republican presidential debate in nearby Simi Valley, where some of the billionaire businessman's GOP rivals are expected to challenge his fiery rhetoric on immigration. "We have illegal immigrants that are treated better by far than our veterans," Trump declared, the USS Iowa's massive 16-inch guns behind him. "It's not...

His appeal was on full display as GOP rivals prepare debate assault.LOS ANGELES — Master showman and Republican poll leader Donald Trump strode across a stage aboard a retired battleship on Tuesday night, reveling in the cheers and chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump!” “I am with the veterans 100 percent,” Trump declared when he took the podium on the USS Iowa, having just been endorsed by the group hosting the event, Veterans for a Strong America. Dubbed “the battleship of the presidents” for having hosted Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the Iowa offered a useful backdrop...

RUSH: Last night Trump offended everybody by showing up on the battleship USS Iowa standing in front of the three giant guns to make his speech at a rally. It bothered 'em that he dared show up on the Iowa. They thought he was gaming the system because of course the Iowa caucus, the Hawkeye Cauci, here's Trump speaking on the US Iowa which is a decommissioned battleship. By the way, Trump sent out a tweet. You know, I don't spend any time on Twitter so this was sent to me. I would have not known this had my brother...

. Live feed at this link: https://trumpgasm.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/watch-donald-trump-live-feed-stream-video-livestream-speech-conference-rally-battleship-iowa-los-angeles-san-pedro-california-9152015/ .

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump picked a World War II-era battleship in San Pedro as a backdrop to share his views Tuesday about national security. Trump’s appearance, organized by Veterans for a Strong America, is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees to the top deck of the USS Iowa, which has been docked in Los Angeles as a nonprofit tourist attraction, community gathering space and educational museum since 2012. The Iowa was launched in 1942 and recommissioned in 1984 during the military build up at the end of the Cold War. In April 1989, an explosion of undetermined origin...

In case you missed the live stream. Not as in depth as I would have liked him to be...no particulars.

Donald Trump, the celebrity GOP presidential candidate who has stumped campaign pundits by drawing huge crowds and maintaining a steady lead in the polls, will speak Sept. 15 at the Battleship USS Iowa in San Pedro.

GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump will deliver an address on national security and veterans' issues from the USS Iowa, a retired battleship, on Sept. 15. "Donald Trump is a long-standing supporter of veterans and the military and we are honored that he has chosen our organization and event for his major national security address,” said Joel Arends, chairman of the Veterans for a Strong America (VSA), in a statement on Thursday announcing the event.

Governor Palin attended last nights fundraiser for the SEAL – Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation aboard the USS Iowa in San Pedro, California.

Sarah Palin Honors SEALs Aboard USS Iowa Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin honors SEALs aboard the USS Iowa last night at a dinner gala and auction held by the SEAL-NSW Family Foundation. In a brief interview with Ruben Jay, she said, “what an honor for Todd and I to be here. This is iconic of course – the history of this chunk of metal and what it represents; the history and the representative that it is of the virtues and characteristics of our military. It’s an honor to be here to help raise money for families of Navy SEALs and...

MAF HONORS OUR TROOPS PAST AND PRESENT WITH THOUSANDS OF PATRIOTS AT THE USS IOWA!   Troopathon Operations Director Scott Raab and Online Marketing Director Jon Salazar were on site in San Pedro, Calif. today for a huge Memorial Day event at the USS Iowa. Thousands of patriots gathered together with MAF and our Southern California radio partners KRLA AM870 The Answer. This WW2-era battleship USS Iowa was built in 1940 and saw action in the Pacific Theater in WW2 as well as Korea. She is now a museum on full display while docked in San Pedro, one of...

The Ill-FatedUSS WILLIAM D. PORTER ["Willie D"] Kit Bonner, The Retired Officer Magazine, March 1994 --------------------------------------------------------- The "Willie Dee" created havoc from the time she was commissioned in July, 1943 until her unusual, and perhaps, charmed demise in June 1945. From November 1943 until her bizarre loss in June 1945, the American destroyer William D. Porter was often met with the clever greeting. "Don't shoot, we're Republicans!" when she entered port or joined other naval ships. The significance of this expression was almost a cult secret of the United States Navy until the story resurfaced and received wide publicity after...

The USS Iowa, one of the last battleships ever built, will open July 7 as a museum in Los Angeles Harbor. Advance tickets are on sale for tours of the ship, which served on and off from World War II to 1990. The 900-foot battleship with 16-inch guns was towed recently from Vallejo, on San Francisco Bay, to Los Angeles. It is the last of the four Iowa-class battleships to find a permanent home after years as part of "the mothball fleet." he Iowa will be operated by the nonprofit Pacific Battleship Center, which will begin offering tours July 7...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The USS Iowa — the iconic World War II-era battleship that once served as transport to President Franklin D. Roosevelt — left San Francisco Bay on Saturday on its way to its new home in Southern California. Surrounded by pleasure boats and other vessels, the 887-foot long, 58,000-ton battlewagon was towed through the bay and passed under the Golden Gate Bridge at about 2:30 p.m. Crowds watched from both sides of the bridge as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sockeye provided an official escort and the San Francisco fireboat Phoenix led the way... The center's future...

After seeing service in three wars and hosting more American presidents than any other battleship, the Iowa will take its final journey Sunday down the California coast to Los Angeles, where it will live out its days as a floating interactive museum.When the Iowa leaves the Bay Area - its home for the past decade - it will mark the last time a World War II-era battleship passes under the Golden Gate Bridge, said Bob Rogers, Northern California spokesman for the nonprofit Pacific Battleship Center. The Iowa is the last of its kind."She was built to go to sea and...

Future USS IOWA Museum The ship will be presented as a “living” ship, which provides “at sea” experiences. Auditory and visual backgrounds, interactive exhibits, and commemorative information will help visitors to understand the history and function of the USS IOWA over 50 years of service. Key exhibits include: The History of Gunner Ships from the Year 1400 to Present History of the USS IOWA History of U.S. Battleships History of Allied and Axis Battleships Rotating exhibits of particular interest Battleship Research Library Containing the most comprehensive library of every battleship built in the world, the library will be useful for...

Late Tuesday morning crews placed the USS Iowa’s original mast back onto the WWII era vessel. “It’s a major milestone on our path,” said Robert Kent, president of the Pacific Battleship Center, the organization working to restore the Iowa. The mast had been removed in 2001 when the Navy moved the Iowa to a reserve fleet in Suisun Bay, Calif. In late 2011, the Navy awarded the ship to the Pacific Battleship Center, who will eventually turn the ship into a floating museum in the Los Angeles area. Currently the ship is docked at the Port of Richmond, near San...