The USS Iowa, a ship with a historic past filled with times of war— World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War— and tragedies— a 1989 turret explosion that killed 47 sailors— serves as an example of the type of life many veterans have had.
Such is true for the 83-year-old— for a moment, he felt like he was 18 again.
That man’s fateful visit was 16 years ago, and his story is like many others. Veterans revisiting the USS Iowa, a retired battleship turned museum that once served as a home for them during times of service, is common— some cry and some laugh, but it remains true that it’s something that changes lives, said Jonathan Williams, president and CEO of the USS Iowa board of directors.
A steel ship is nothing without her crew, Williams said, and their military stories provide a connection between veteran and citizen.
“We can give Americans the capability to connect with those veterans and be proud of a country that we live in and the freedoms that we live under every single day,” he said. “That’s what this is. It’s a symbol of all that. It’s a connection point for all that.”
The USS Iowa Museum allows tourists nationwide to visit the historic battleship at the LA Waterfront. It also allows for what Williams calls “veteran socialization” — veterans connecting with veterans and being able to just talk.
Vets get to share their military stories with each other and the public every day on the ship— a simple gesture, but for people who risk their lives in the name of freedom, re-assimilating back to civilian life after years of military service serves as a challenge, Williams said.
The turret explosion in 1989 that claimed the lives of many sailors profoundly affected the 1,900 other seamen on-board, and now they live with the struggle of PTSD as a result of losing their fellow comrades.
For veterans to be able to share that experience is a “healing process,” Williams said.
“Sometimes, it’s just talking to someone who understands,” he said. “I don’t understand. I never will understand. But, I do see it first-hand, and I do understand what other veterans do for veterans, and I see what this place does for it… We’re here to tell the story of American spirit to the population, to the world. So, a lot of people that come on have never been on a ship, have never been exposed to American service. This is a very touching experience for someone to talk to a veteran for the first time in their life and hear a story.”
The Battleship USS Iowa Museum, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., is open daily from 10am to 5pm— except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information about the USS Iowa and tickets, visit pacificbattleship.com.
