A/N: April 19, 2019
47
-9-
Iowa calmly paced up and down her Broadway. Memorial services and events were being held on the main deck, but she needed some time alone. Almost every visitor gave their condolences, their sympathies, and even apologies. Iowa figured no one meant her any harm or disrespect. But to be reminded of the accident every few seconds, while the main event for today was dedicated to the accident, has taken its toll. She found herself in the living quarters at Frame 79 on the starboard side.
Something was amiss.
She walked to a specific bunk and toggled the light switch.
Click-click. Click-click.
Iowa pressed her lips together into a straight face and walked out of the compartment, passing the bullseye on the way out:
2-79-1-L
FR79-87
G-2 DIV
Iowa climbed onto the main deck and headed towards the aviation locker near the aft gangplank. She sourced a screwdriver and a lightbulb before climbing back down to Deck 2.
Back in the living quarters, she reached the same bunk and began unscrewing the light cover. She replaced the bulb and screwed the cover back into place. She turned the bunk light on.
Click.
On the bare metal, written in black ink:
IN MEMORY OF GmG2 Clayton M. Hartwig
T-2 4/19/89
R.I.P BROTHER
A solid black heart accompanied the message.
A/N: Today's the 30th Anniversary of Iowa's explosion in Turret 2.
In memory of the 47 men who passed on April 19, 1989.
Fire Controlman 3rd Class (FC3) Tung Thanh Adams
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Robert Wallace Backherms
Electrician's Mate, Fireman Apprentice (EMFA) Dwayne Collier Battle
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Walter Scot Blakey
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Pete Edward Bopp
Seaman Recruit (SR) Ramon Jarel Bradshaw
Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LTJG) Philip Edward Buch
Seaman Apprentice (SA) Eric Ellis Casey
Gunner's Mate 2nd Class (GM2) John Peter Cramer
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Milton Francis Devaul Jr.
Seaman Apprentice (SA) Leslie Allen Everhart Jr.
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (BM2) Gary John Fisk
Seaman (SN) Tyrone Dwayne Foley
Seaman Apprentice (SA) Robert James Gedeon III
Seaman Apprentice (SA) Brian Wayne Gendron
Seaman Recruit (SR) John Leonard Goins
Electrician's Mate 3rd Class (EM3) David L. Hanson
Gunner's Mate 1st Class (GM1) Ernest Edward Hanyecz
Gunner's Mate 2nd Class (GM2) Clayton Michael Hartwig
Legalman 1st Class (LN1) Michael William Helton
Seaman Apprentice (SA) Scott Alan Holt
Seaman Recruit (SR) Reginald L. Johnson Jr.
Seaman Apprentice (SA) Nathaniel Clifford Jones Jr.
Seaman (SN) Brian Robert Jones
Seaman (SN) Michael Shannon Justice
Seaman (SN) Edward J. Kimble
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Richard E. Lawrence
Fire Controlman, Seaman Apprentice (FCSA) Richard John Lewis
Seaman Apprentice (SA) Jose Luis Martinez Jr.
Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class (BM3) Todd Christopher McMullen
Seaman Recruit (SR) Todd Edward Miller
Legalman 1st Class (LN1) Robert Kenneth Morrison
Seaman (SN) Otis Levance Moses
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Darin Andrew Ogden
Seaman (SN) Ricky Ronald Peterson
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Mathew Ray Price
Seaman Recruit (SR) Harold Earl Romine Jr.
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GMG3) Geoffrey Scott Schelin
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Heath Eugene Stillwagon
Seaman Recruit (SR) Todd Thomas Tatham
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) Jack Ernest Thompson
Gunner's Mate 2nd Class (GM2) Stephen J. Welden
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (GM3) James Darrell White
Seaman Recruit (SR) Rodney Maurice White
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (BM2) Michael Robert Williams
Seaman (SN) John Rodney Young
Senior Chief Gunner's Mate (GMCS) Reginald Owen Ziegler