From the July 19, 2010, Contra Costra Times by Donna Littlejohn.
The battleship USS Iowa's final destination is still up in the air. Will it go to Mare Island in northern California (by San Francisco) as pushed by the group Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square (HSMPS) or the Port of Los Angeles in southern California?
During the ship's World War II service, it ferried President Roosevelt across the Atlantic to meet with Churchill and Stalin. The Navy Inactive Ships Program oversees the donation of historical ships. Both San Pedro and Mare Island have ties to the navy.
In 1854, the navy's first Pacific Fleet was based at Mare Island. San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles became the official battleship anchorage of the Pacific Fleet in 1919, until it was relocated to Pearl Harbor in 1940 (probably a bad move).
The 900-foot long ship has been in storage in Benincia near Vallejo, California.
According to a look today at the website of HSMPS, they ended up with the Iowa.
Actually, I would have liked to see them try to locate the USS Iowa in its namesake state.
Either Way, It's Great That the Ship Will Be Preserved. That Class of Battleship, Our Last Ones, Are the Most Impressive Warships Ever Built. --DaCoot
1 comment:
Frankly, I don't think the San Fransisco bay area should get the Iowa.
Despite the bay area's rich military history, the extremely liberal political climate precludes them from having an appreciation for the military.
San Pedro is a much better choice. Besides, its much closer to my house!.
Post a Comment