PG_Raptor 0 Posted August 20, 2005 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050820/ap_on_...shunned_warship San Francisco Shuns Retired USS Iowa By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer 16 minutes ago SAN FRANCISCO - The USS Iowa joined in battles from World War II to Korea to the Persian Gulf. It carried President Franklin Roosevelt home from the Teheran conference of allied leaders, and four decades later, suffered one of the nation's most deadly military accidents. Veterans groups and history buffs had hoped that tourists in San Francisco could walk the same teak decks where sailors dodged Japanese machine-gun fire and fired 16-inch guns that helped win battles across the South Pacific. Instead, it appears that the retired battleship is headed about 80 miles inland, to Stockton, a gritty agricultural port town on the San Joaquin River and home of California's annual asparagus festival. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., a former San Francisco mayor, helped secure $3 million to tow the Iowa from Rhode Island to the Bay Area in 2001 in hopes of making touristy Fisherman's Wharf its new home. But city supervisors voted 8-3 last month to oppose taking in the ship, citing local opposition to the Iraq war and the military's stance on gays, among other things. "If I was going to commit any kind of money in recognition of war, then it should be toward peace, given what our war is in Iraq right now," Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said. Feinstein called it a "very petty decision." "This isn't the San Francisco that I've known and loved and grew up in and was born in," Feinstein said. San Francisco's maritime museum already has one military vessel ? the USS Pampanito, an attack submarine that sank six Japanese ships during World War II and has about 110,000 visitors a year. Officials in Stockton couldn't be happier. They've offered a dock on the river, a 90,000-square-foot waterfront building and a parking area, and hope to attract at least 125,000 annual visitors. After the Korean war, the Iowa was decommissioned and placed in reserve in a Philadelphia shipyard for three decades. In 1988, it was recalled to duty escorting oil supply ships safely in and out danger in the Persian Gulf. In 1989, 47 sailors were killed in an explosion that tore through a gun turret during a training exercise. The warship, decommissioned by the Navy in 1990, is currently anchored with a mothballed fleet in Suisun Bay, near the mouth of the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta. San Francisco's rejection of such a storied battleship is a slap in the nation's face, said Douglass Wilhoit, head of Stockton's Chamber of Commerce. "We're lucky our men and women have sacrificed their lives ... to protect our freedom," Wilhoit said. "Wherever you stand on the war in Iraq ... you shouldn't make a decision based on philosophy." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snapple2993 0 Posted August 21, 2005 (edited) Revoking one of our nation's military treasures is not a good way of getting homosexuals accepted into the mil. Glad to see that Stockton wants to take her. Edited August 21, 2005 by snapple2993 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firehawkordy 34 Posted August 21, 2005 Sen. Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., a former San Francisco mayor, helped secure $3 million to tow the Iowa from Rhode Island to the Bay Area in 2001 in hopes of making touristy Fisherman's Wharf its new home. But city supervisors voted 8-3 last month to oppose taking in the ship, citing local opposition to the Iraq war and the military's stance on gays, among other things. "If I was going to commit any kind of money in recognition of war, then it should be toward peace, given what our war is in Iraq right now," Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said. Feinstein called it a "very petty decision." "This isn't the San Francisco that I've known and loved and grew up in and was born in," Feinstein said. If that aint a kick in the nuts. I hope that the Senator remembers when she was mayor of San Francisco she declared the Bay Area a Nuke Free Zone and did all she could to prevent the Missouri and her battle group for relocating there from Long Beach. I think that it's poetic justice that every major facilitiy in the Bay Area was closed and now the Iowa going to Stockton means that a second rate Ag town will have a first rate Museum. I know I'll drive the 300+ miles to see her. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted August 21, 2005 Well that is California for yeah. Man when is that earthquake...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scout_51 0 Posted August 21, 2005 (edited) (If I was going to commit any kind of money in recognition of war, then it should be toward peace, given what our war is in Iraq right now," Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said.) I called 'his' office,asked what the situation in iraq was,if he was speaking from personal experience or was 'he' just another loudmouthed bore..then said that it fitted that 'he' was a member of now(yep national organization of women) and wondered if he qualified as a cross dresser or just being a total maricon......then said it was ok,the ship was a warrior and could find a better port than one where half the folks are gay and the other half were usually brain dead.......yeah I was talking to memorex lol.but Id have rather enjoyed talking to the numbnuts real voice... hell San Diego could or ought have asked for the ship,berth it right next to the Midway..damm,great weather and those two Warriors out in the bay to admire..and having seen her goin by a few times I understand why they were called 'showboats',damm they looked Impressive...no wonder ronnie brought them back lol Edited August 21, 2005 by Scout_51 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wrench 9,848 Posted August 21, 2005 Well that is California for yeah. Man when is that earthquake...... For the G....Bay Area, not soon enough!! And this from an Angeleno that's been through many quakes! And to think, right across the Bay Bridge, in Alameda, is the USS HORNET. Now that would have been a good place to park the IOWA!! Wrench Kevin Stein Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+ST0RM 145 Posted August 22, 2005 Great news for Stockton! My Dad is in nearby Manteca and I'll be thrilled to spend my money in a town that actually wants a good museum. Somehow SF seems to forget that it was a FAG that caused the turret to explode aboard the Iowa, in the first place. Storm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scout_51 0 Posted August 22, 2005 And to think, right across the Bay Bridge, in Alameda, is the USS HORNET. Now that would have been a good place to park the IOWA!! ohh hell yes,but they dont want be reminded their freedom of speech (these days rather abused,sorry to say) has a price tag.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scout_51 0 Posted August 22, 2005 Somehow SF seems to forget that it was a FAG that caused the turret to explode aboard the Iowa, in the first place (tongue definetly in cheek) They could have erected a shrine to that 'guy' right next to the turret....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skater 0 Posted August 22, 2005 Great news for Stockton! My Dad is in nearby Manteca and I'll be thrilled to spend my money in a town that actually wants a good museum. Somehow SF seems to forget that it was a FAG that caused the turret to explode aboard the Iowa, in the first place. Storm <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ok cool it guys... Despite what many of our beliefs are or our feelings towards the homesxual lifestyle or behavior may be, this is not a place to call names, throw insults, or wield racial epithets. Lively discussion is one thing, voicing of opinions, fine... But outspoken hatred is another. The Iowa is a fine ship. And citizens of the Bay Area have been done a disservice by some petty legilators and self-serving politicians with an agenda... So what else is new? SSDD. But we will have no "fag-bashing" here. This one's locked. Open a new topic on this if you like, but lets leave the slurs out of the discussion. -Skater Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
