USS Iowa: Progress Report

Iowa in San Pedro

Volunteers on Iowa

Today I was privileged to spend the day on board the USS Iowa with dozens of motivated volunteers and a small dedicated staff who are literally working their tails off getting Iowa ready for the celebrations the will begin July 2, and continue as she hosts the USS Iowa Veterans Reunion and then her grand opening on July 7. The work already done in Richmond produced amazing results for a ship that was left absorbing the elements for over twenty years. Much work is still needed to get her ready, and what amounts to enough volunteers to almost fill her original complement, have stepped forward in such numbers to keep the scheduling staff working day and night, processing the applications of those willing to lend a hand.

This was my second day aboard the Iowa. Last weekend I joined up with a small group of strangers who soon became shipmates, as we went about the task of removing the walls of a petty officers lounge to make way for expanding the museum space. The task at first seemed daunting as the walls resisted our grinding tools that made little progress against what turned out the be honeycomb metal walls. We soon collectivly seized upon using a combination of metal saws and grinders to cut away the walls and open the space. Sparks flew, smoke spewed, and the ever present danger of fire, was suppressed under a careful watch. The walls soon gave way to present a new problem of how to get them topside. All the while, our little group continued to bond and in doing so, put our heads together to solve the problem of removing walls, then winching them topside through the hatch via a block and tackle. By the end of the day we were the tightest of shipmates, and left for our homes with a feeling of accomplishment, and even deeper, that sense of comraderie when you've made new friends.

Lt. Dan, Operations Boss

Today was no different, as the volunteers gathered in a crew dining space and awaited the safety meeting which is the daily benediction, before fanning out to the various assignments. Except for staff, most of the faces were new to me; except James a fellow volunteer from our Saturday crew. He and I were assigned to go with the Ship Ops Lead, Mac, to  raise the colors on the fantail, and them forward to raise the pennant on the bow. We then collected a half dozen ROTC students from San Pedro High, who had been coming aboard every day this week to lend a hand. The main task today was to move a large stack of life rafts racks to the side of the ship for removal to the dock. They were nested in rows below the barrels of number three turret and needed to be moved to the side of the ship where they would be hooked on to the forks of a lift and off loaded onto the dock. I must admit, it was challenging work, as we carefully untied the racks, stacked four high, and then by shear muscle power lifted then to the deck, and carried them to the rail, careful not to mar the wooden deck.

"Mac"

Our leader, was a former Iowa crew member who we will acknowledge as "Mac" who's first priority was doing it Safely, Safely, and more Safely!. The students worked along side old salts, and this old army guy, as we moved those heavy racks one by one to the side for offloading. Mac, kept everyone's head in the game with his ever present cautioning and if needed chewing out if anyone strayed from paying attention to the lurking danger associated with offloading such material. He demonstrated, then supervised the careful hooking of the straps, and calling out caution as each rack soared over the side onto the dock.  We them moved onto other assignments, each acomplished without a whimper of complaint, or any shirking to the task by old or young. The ROTC group consisted of five boys and one girl, who represented the diversity of Los Angeles and America today. Our next task was moving 60 cases of water, by forming a chain gang and passing the cases across the deck to a hatch where they were slid them down to the galley below and via chain gang moved snake like to a storage space. Again, us old guys were hard pressed to keep up with the enthusiasm of those students. During a break I learned that they were part of an Air Force ROTC program, and all planned to go into the Air Force, (too bad Navy, as they would make great sailors). All I can say is I tried to pitch them to consider switching services when they graduated.

I came away with two impressions, the first, that all of those who have volunteered, each feel a deep sense of commitment to the ship and the sea service. And second, they all share the feeling that they are part of a great enterprise, and take immense pride in working on the Iowa. Even more heartening, was my impression of the high school students who never once complained, or shirked from any assignment, and actually jumped at any task they were assigned. I am assured, that some of America's future leaders were among that group, and demonstrated the kind of grit and innovation that is a purely American trait.

This week, the "Transit of the USS Iowa", matched the "Transit of Venus", for a once in a lifetime event

USS Iowa's Transit to Home

Iowa, courtesy of Port of LA photo

This week saw two events take place that will only happen once in the lifetime of living humans. One, a celestial event where the planet Venus transited across the face of the Sun and except for the media sending images around the planet, would have passed unnoticed by most of humanity. The other great event, was visible. It was the transit of the USS Iowa, the last battleship to taste the open sea as she was moved down the main channel of the Port of Los Angeles to her permanent berth, where she will assume a new mission of being a living museum and education center, serving the people of Los Angeles and the millions of future citizens who will walk her decks to learn of the great naval heritage of America. Thousands lined the main channel, and millions more, were treated to viewing the transit on their evening news reports, as dozens of reporters, supported by a half score of helicopters hovering overhead, filming every meter of the Iowa's passage.

I cannot emphasis enough, the impact seeing this great ship come up the main channel meant for those of us who know the history of the United States Navy's birth from Six Frigates, to grow into the global force we field today. This force has matured with the nation, and today, is being called upon to resume their place as the prime strategic asset, as well as "A global force for good."  Ships like the Iowa, over their lifetime rarely fired their guns in anger, but as the ship's nickname "Big Stick" implies, allowed the United States to not only speak softly; but caused nations less inclined, to become silent, and listen to our message about guaranteeing freedom of the seas, and fair trade, as well as goodwill to all nations who have joined in a partnership that has seen the world move from countless millenniums of grinding poverty, to one where half the people on the planet have achieved middle class.

LA Maritime Museum

I was fortunate to view the passage from the fantail of the LA Maritime Museum's Angels Gate Tugboat where the complement reflected the diversity and interest of the community. As this  little group waited to watch the passage of the Iowa, the stories of why people turned out added to the tapestry of what the Iowa symbolized to those standing along the shore. One lady explained that she was there because her father had worked repairing Navy ships in the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in San Pedro for 40 years, only taking off two weeks in that entire time. Her father had passed, but she was their to pay tribute to the Iowa and honor her father's legacy. Hundreds of old sailors some barely able to walk, became silent, and stood at crisp attention and held their salutes as the ship's colors passed. One young man in the company of his parents, was decked out in a USS Iowa tee shirt and hat. His parents in casual conversation related how much their teenage son was interested in naval history and had actually toured the USS Missouri in Hawaii four times. My history professor genes kicked in, and we began to talk naval history, where upon this young man's knowledge was remarkable including knowing about Alfred Thayer Mahan, and how the two President Roosevelt's had been so instrumental in building the US Navy into a global force and ushering in our great power status. The young man's parents learning I was a great supporter of the Pacific Battleship Center wanted to know how their son could become involved as a volunteer. They were pleased to learn that the battleship would have both a education program as well as an overnight element to allow young people to experience the legacy of our maritime heritage.

Port of LA photo

Over the next few weeks as the Iowa prepares to open, hundreds of hands will be lent to put on the final touches before she opens July 7, 2012. I have noted it before, but cannot repeat it enough to publicly acknowledge a few people who brought the Iowa to life.

Trish Place and Robert Kent, PBC

Bryan Moss, USS Iowa veteran

This story began when Robert Kent as a young student, was in a library and book about battleships caught his eye. That chance encounter fostered a lifelong love affair with these great ships. Later, in the middle of a successful business career, Robert did what many do when they want to follow a dream. He changed careers, and founded an organization to help preserve these great ships.

The story of how the Iowa came to San Pedro, really started when a former Iowa crew member who had served on the Iowa during the Korean War, Bryan Moss, approached Robert, and proposed that the Pacific Battleship Center go after the Iowa and bring her to San Pedro. Over the next two years, Robert organized, planned, and promoted the idea to turn the Iowa into a dream he had nurtured for decades. That dream was to open a living ship museum  that would tell the story of these great ships in a way never before done. It is impossible to name the many people who supported Robert and the PBC, in this endeavour. But one stands out, his fiancee Trish Place has been the unsung hero who has been Robert's unwavering supporter, helper, and soon to be life partner.  In the beginning, Trish was the go-to person for all interest and questions, and today, symbolizes what loyalty and love can do. To Bryan, Robert and Trish, we who love this country, and the legacy that being a maritime nation has wrought; will be forever grateful for your intrepid pursuit of the dream to bring the Iowa to life.

UPDATE: Video of The transit of the USS Iowa courtesy of Joe Buscaino, LA City Councilman

A River Runs Through It: The Enduring Memory of Events Long Past

Bound for Vietnam 1966

The threads of a life experience begin to cling to our memories from our earliest recollections, and continue to be woven into other threads that bind us even closer to an experience until it becomes a highway that some random event, sends your thoughts careening back to recall that earlier moment.  This blog has as a heading, "Bound for Vietnam 1966" with a photo, and the phrase; "..the beginning of a quest to understand our world." The experience of serving in the Vietnam War with all the attendent experiences has led to shaping my life long pursuit to study history and understand how it affects our world. A couple of things entered my life, to send me hurtling back to reflect on my experience in Vietnam and how it affects my world today. One occurred a couple of day ago, and the other, will take place next week. Both are examples of the six degrees of separation that bind us to events in one's past.

Joe Cook and the Cambodian National Baseball Team

Last Thursday evening, I had the pleasure of being invited to view a film about baseball. This was not your average "feel good" film about a bunch of young men playing baseball, but a film that captured a nation in transition as it tries to still recover decades later, from what would in any terms, be a holocaust on a national scale. The viewing was sponsored by Tom and Chris, the founders of the Pepper Project which has as it's mission statement. "... to get the word out about all the treasures that Cambodia has to offer starting with a spice that is highly regarded in many parts of Europe, but that most people have never heard of." In keeping with that pledge, they provided a platform to introduce Rice Field of Dreams a film that follows Joe Cook a Cambodian, who escaped Pol Pot's "Killing Fields" to become a chef in an Alabama Japanese steakhouse. Joe return to Cambodia in 2002, to visit his long lost sister and soon begins a quest to introduce the game of baseball to the youth of Cambodia. The film captures more than just a group of young men as they struggle to overcome the barriers of language and the rules of the game. The film captures little moments like when they queue up to try on the dozens of donated sunglasses and the smiles that those small gifts generated. I don't want to give away the plot, because it is more than watching a group of kids learn the game. Part of what it reveals, is the fault lines between the founder and the imported North American coaches who can't seem to get their minds around how to motivate the team. I would encourage everyone to make it a point to give this film a look when it is released this April. My degrees of separation comes from both the Vietnam War which in part triggered the events that led to this film's subject, and even the filmmaker being in the position to make this film; and my own personal experience with the people of Cambodia.

Maj. Charles R. Soltes Jr.

Dr. Dang and Rob's sons

Turning to the next event, that is also has it's roots in the Vietnam War, is the dedication next Wednesday January 25, 2012 of the Blind Rehabilitation Center at the Long Beach Veterans Hospital in  the name of Maj. Charles Robert Soltes Jr. My connection to Major Soltes comes from being a patient of his wife, Dr. Sally Dang who tirelessly lobbied Congress to name the center after her husband as an honor to their children, and other's who had lost their lives in Iraq. Besides, the personal connection of being one of Dr. Dang's patients, the thread runs, as Norman McLean novel's title "A River Runs Through It." would attest. Major Soltes father, a career officer in the US Army, served in Vietnam as a pilot during the time of my deployment. We never crossed paths other than serving in the same area at the same time, but the comradeship remains indelible between those who served. Dr. Dang's parents, fled the fall of Vietnam and joined the thousands of refugees who made their way to our shores to begin a new life. Dr. Dang, is a product of their hopes and dreams, and in turn chanced to meet Rob at school, fell in love, and began to raise a family. Rob's life was cut short in an IED attack in Iraq in 2004, leaving Sally to carry on, and not only raise their three sons, but in turn, dedicate part of her life to helping wounded soldiers with traumatic eye injuries.
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I would invite all who could attend to make time next Wednesday January 25, 2012 at 10AM, to attend the dedication at the Long Beach VA Healthcare Center 5901 E 7th Street, Long Beach CA
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The enrichment of people like Davon Ker, the filmmaker of Rice Fields of Dreams, Joe Cook, and Dr. Sally Dang, and the countless others who have risen from the ashes of the destruction visited on Cambodia and Vietnam, add new threads to the fabric of this nation, and will insure that the United States and it's creed that all people are created equal, will endure.