April 19, 1989 - USS Iowa turret explosion

[mahatmakanejeeves]

"The homo did it," the Navy said. Not so fast:

USS Iowa turret explosion

They just couldn't wait to blame it on someone who couldn't defend himself, but a second investigation showed that there were other issues.

[sarge43]

1. If you find it, read A Glimpse of Hell by Charles C. Thompson II

It's a detailed and no quarter given expose of what really went down. In short, those guns were a disaster and tragedy waiting to happened and them what be in charge knew it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Thanks. There's a Wiki for it.

A Glimpse of Hell

[sarge43]

4. Good summation

I remember talking with a friend, Navy vet. He said the "lover's quarrel" story stunk on ice. A swab would never turn on his crew mates. He might kill himself or go after the officers or civilians, but never his fellow swabs, especially those in his unit.

[Poll_Blind]

2. I jumped right to the Lawsuits section, wondering how things had turned out.

I can't believe they fucking got away with such monumental slander.

If you are in the military and something goes wrong and you're killed, the military will do its utmost to blame whatever it was on their dead servicemen and women. It's just fucking disgusting.

I actually spent a lot of time watching the congressional hearings on this. It was huge news at the time. I'd basically forgotten about it until your post.

It's important to remember things like this, though I really wish the coverup and character assassination hadn't been part of the Navy's response. Dishonorable in the extreme.

PB

[tbyg52]

5. Thank you for reminding me of that.

Not the United States Navy's proudest moment.