I only had a set of sound powered phones. I can remember seeing smoke, smelling smoke, and being scared out of my mind. My gentle quarter station was magazine about 52.
I got bored turn my back and was walking away when I heard the explosion behind me. I remember them shooting flashless powder. I was standing topside on the O2 level watching the gun turret shoot.
I ran the armory from 1988 to 1990.Īpis a day that will always be etched in my memory. On board the IOWA I was in gun mount 53 and 51. I reported aboard May 1987, and immediately we set out to see the world.įrom 1987 to 1989 I saw more of the world than my dad did in all of his 20 years of service. I chose the USS Iowa BB 61 Because it was a gunner's dream. Passed B.E.E and gunner school with grades high enough to pick where I wanted to be stationed. Immediately afterward I went to gunner A school in Great Lakes Illinois. I graduated from boot camp in July of 1986. I went to boot camp in San Diego, California. I joined the Navy in 1986 right after graduating from high school. Our time on the Med cruise was awesome, getting paid to go halfway around the world. It might sound cliche, but we were all brothers, not just shipmates. My time on the Big Stick had ups and downs, but it has helped me become a better person.
Virtual sailor pilot how to#
The guys seemed to really get along and they knew how to have fun. I reported onboard Septemand from the beginning, this ship seemed different. I was set to be released to full duty at the end of August and I was offered a billet on the Iowa out of Norfolk. In October of 1987 I was diagnosed with bunions and sent in November for surgery and another in April of 1988. It was an impressive sight, and I never thought I would have a chance to serve on a battleship. It was a nice ship and I can remember doing an un-rep with the Wisconsin and I thought that it was cool riding alongside those big guns. I joined in 1986 and went to RTC Great Lakes, and was there until February 1987 when I went to my first ship, the USS Mt.