San Pedro in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
USS Iowa (BB-61)
Turret 2 Explosion
Panel 1:
On April 19, 1989, a powder explosion occurred in Turret 2 while IOWA was conducting peace-time gunnery drills off the island of Viesques, Puerto Rico. Preparing to fire, the center gun's powder bags exploded before the breech was closed. The resultant fire spread throughout Turret 2 all the way down five decks below. Forty-seven Sailors lost their lives
IOWA's damage control crews responded quickly. Their efforts in fighting the fire prevented the remaining powder and projectiles inside the other two loaded guns from exploding. The turrets' magazines were flooded and the fires were extinguished in about 90 minutes. The brave and skillful actions of the crew prevented additional explosions from occurring, thus preventing the potential loss of additional crew and even the IOWA herself.
Panel 2:
Dedicated to the brave crewmen of the USS Iowa
who lost their lives on April 19, 1989.
Tung Thanh Adams, Fire Controlman 3rd class [FC3], Alexandria, VA
Robert Wallace Backherms, Gunner’s Mate 3rd class [GM3][FC3], Ravenna, OH
Dwayne Collier Battle, Electrician’s Mate, Fireman Apprentice [EMFA], Rocky Mount, NC
Walter Scot Blakey, Gunner’s Mate 3rd class [GM3], Eaton Rapids, MI
Pete Edward Bopp, Gunner’s Mate 3rd class [GM3], Levittown, NY
Ramon Jaret BradshawSeaman Recruit [SR], Tampa, FL
Philip Edward Buch, Lieutenant, Junior Grade [LTjg], Las Cruces, NM
Eric Ellis Casey, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Mt. Airy, NC
John Peter Cramer, Gunner’s Mate 2nd class [GM2], Uniontown, PA
Milton Francis Devaul, Jr., Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Solvay, NY
Leslie Allen Everhart, Jr., Seaman Apprentice [SA], Cary, NC
Gary John Fisk, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd class [BM2], Oneida, NY
Tyrone Dwayne Foley, Seaman [SN], Bullard, TX
Robert James Gedeon, III, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Lakewood, OH
Brian Wayne Gendron, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Madera, CA
John Leonard Goins, Seaman Recruit [SR], Columbus, OH
David L. Hanson, Electrician’s Mate 3rd class [EM3], Perkins, SD
Ernest Edward Hanyecz, Gunner’s Mate 1st class [GM1], Bordentown, NJ
Clayton Michael Hartwig, Gunner’s Mate 2nd class [GM2], Cleveland, OH
Michael William Helton, Legalman 1st class [LN1], Louisville, KY
Scott Alan Holt, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Fort Meyers, FL
Reginald L. Johnson, Jr., Seaman Recruit [SR], Warrensville Heights, OH
Nathaniel Clifford Jones, Jr., Seaman Apprentice [SA], Buffalo, NY
Brian Robert Jones, Seaman [SN], Kennesaw, GA
Michael Shannon Justice, Seaman [SN], Matewan, WV
Edward J. Kimble, Seaman [SN], Ft. Stockton, TX
Richard E. Lawrence, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Springfield, OH
Richard John Lewis, Fire Controlman, Seaman Apprentice [FCSA], Northville, MI
Jose Luis Martinez Jr., Seaman Apprentice [SA], Hidalgo, TX
Todd Christopher McMullen, Boatswain’s Mate 3rd class [BM3], Manheim, PA
Todd Edward Miller, Seaman Recruit [SR], Ligonier, PA
Robert Kenneth Morrison, Legalman 1st class [LN1], Jacksonville, FL
Otis Levance Moses, Seaman [SN], Bridgeport, CN
Darin Andrew Ogden, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Shelbyville, IN
Ricky Ronald Peterson, Seaman [SN], Houston, MN
Mathew Ray Price, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Burnside, PA
Harold Earl Romine, Jr., Seaman Recruit [SR], Brandenton, FL
Geoffrey Scott Schelin, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GMG3], Costa Mesa, CA
Heath Eugene Stillwagon, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Connellsville, PA
Todd Thomas Tatham, Seaman Recruit [SR], Wolcott, NY
Jack Ernest Thompson, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Greenville, TN
Stephen J. Welden, Gunner’s Mate 2nd class [GM2], Yukon, OK
James Darrell White, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Norwalk, CA
Rodney Maurice White, Seaman Recruit [SR], Louisville, KY
Michael Robert Williams, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd class [BM2], Shore, KY
John Rodney Young, Seaman [SN], Rockhill, SC
Reginald Owen Ziegler, Senior Chief Gunners Mate [GMCS], Port Gibson, NY
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!”
[Seal of the U.S. Department of the Navy]
[Seal of the USS IOWA [BB-61].
Erected 2012 by Pacific Battleship Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Notable Events • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is April 19, 1989.
Location. 33° 44.545′ N, 118° 16.674′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in San Pedro. Marker is at the intersection of So. Harbor Blvd. and W. 1st Street on So. Harbor Blvd.. The Battleship IOWA is permanently moored at Berth 87 in the Port of Los Angeles. It is accessible from I-110 and I-710 via So. Harbor Blvd. - west of the Vincent Thomas Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 250 South Harbor Blvd, San Pedro CA 90731, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fishing Industry Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Harry Bridges Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); U.S.S. Los Angeles (approx. ¼ mile away); American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial Wall of Honor (approx. ¼ mile away); American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); World War II Memorial: Propeller from Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. Canberra CA-70/CAG-2 (approx. ¼ mile away); Municipal Ferry Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Anna Lee Fisher - Astronaut (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Additional keywords. "Battleship Iowa"; Pacific Bat USS Iowa (BB-61)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2013, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,263 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on November 17, 2013, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 28, 2013, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.