“There’s a new battle plan for bringing the battleship Iowa to San Francisco,” the Chronicle reports.
The battleship’s supporters now hope to gain the support of city leaders by turning part of the vessel into a museum about the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and the contributions of gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities and women to the military.
The Board of Supervisors rejected the ship in July, and two supervisors explained their “no” votes by saying they objected to the military’s policies toward gays and lesbians, while others opposed the war in Iraq.
You gotta be kidding me! I served for over 20 years and to even remotely think of making something that is as honorable at the USS Iowa anything other than a War museum is just plain STUPID! God why don’t these liberal freaks move to Iran and Saudi Arabia and see how they will tolerate their diatribes over there! Give us Veterans a break and stay out of what is done with military hardware!
Sailorcop
Jacksonville, Fl.
I’m a veteran, I served four years, part of them in Desert Storm, and was honorably discharged. I’m also queer. First I’m dissappointed by the stunning level of illiteracy shown here. It says they plan to turn part of the vessel into a museum about gays, not all of the ship. Iowa isn’t going to become a “gay museum”. Second to all of you verterans out there, do the contributions of your fellow service men and women who happen to be gay mean nothing? Should they be forgotten? Maybe we should do away with memorials to Black service men and women, how about no memorials honoring Italian service men and women etc etc.
Fact is that you’re simply homophobic.
Considering how San Francisco and the surrounding area tended to treat the military when I was there, I don’t think they deserve anything that could contribute to their economy. They certainly didn’t contribute to my feeling welcome as a military member. Put the Iowa someplace where they respect the military. I agree – Run her up the Mississippi and park her in the state of Iowa.
As a retired Command Master Chief, it makes me sick to even think one of our proud ship of the line to be used in that manor. She deserves better. I would rather see her made into a reef that go to San Francisco.
I live near Jacksonville and they let the Saratoga go and it’s being scrapped- enough- save the ship. I saw the Mothball fleet from WWII and even the first nuclear sub-I think it was the Nautilus? up by Portsmouth Va. years ago being cut into railroad sise car pieces of steel, sold to Mexico, then to Japan, re-tooled, and sold back to us. What an ignoble end for the vessels that saved the world. I Believe the Navy wanted 3 million for the sara and Jax could only raise (Sarah’s vet’s) around 2 mil so they sold it to a scrapper for around 1 mil. Horsheshit. Save the ship priority one, don’t let it be scrapped, then we have the rest of history to argue about her.
What an ignominius end this would be for one of the most decorated ships in the history of our country. Move her to some port where she will be appreciated and revered – she deserves it…
To use such a honored piece of American history to endorse a sexual life style is abhorrent.
This is unbelievable!!!! Having served for 20 years I have met many people on active duty. I always followed one simple rule. They were Sailors, Marines, Soldiers or Airmen, regardless of their gender, race, color or creed. What they did in their private lives was their business. So long as it did not enter the workspace or bring dishonor to the Nation or our armed services. I never believed that any one group of people should be singled out for ANY reason. Sure, fifty years ago we desegregated, and women made awesome strides in being treated as equals, but I’d like to think that niether of those things happened because of who was sleeping with who. Even still, those are just examples of good choices and progress. My tolorance of recognizing “special people” has been worn out. I was an HM1(FMF/SW). That means E-6, Fleet Marine Force and Surface Warfare qualified. Nowhere in my title did it indicate my sexual preference, gender or color. My ribbons displayed my accomplishments and where I’ve been. I don’t remember having a ribbon for being strait or being faithful to my wife. There will never be a museum for Sailors who bought the most hookers or had the least STDs. Nor will there ever be one for those who fell asleep at the watch or smoked pot and got away with it. The mighty Iowa is a warship, it’s Sailors represented an American coulture that spanned three generations of SAILORS and MARINES who put their lives on the line everyday in the service of their country. Nothing more, just make it a museum keep the sex out of it.
I am a Veteran first, but also a Gay Veteran. I agree with previous comments that the Iowa should honor ALL who served. But this DOES include the gay and lesbian sailors that served as well. Over 1 million gays and lesbians have served silently with very little recognition for their sacrifices. They too deserve to be honored equally with everyone else that served. I’m not talking about turning the ship into a ‘Gay Museum’, but a Museum that honors ALL who have served and perhaps tells a little more of the sacrifices and stories of gay and lesbian sailors that otherwise is left out. You will find throughout history that proud, patriotic gay and lesbian sailors have served at every rank and level within the U.S. Navy. They have fought hard and sacrificed just as everyone else while also serving in silence. They served for the same reasons that everyone else does, nothing more, nothing less but love of country, honor, duty and patriotism. And they continue to serve today regardless of the additional sacrifices they have to make because of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. For my fellow Veterans and current Servicemembers, let me repeat that we aren’t here to dishonor the Iowa or the memory of all who served aboard. Also, we are not here asking for your ‘approval’ of our relationships or sexual orientation. We are simply asking for our sacrifices, equal to your own, to be honored and respected. And for those gay and lesbian patriots that come after us who want to serve their country to do so without fear of repraisal simply because of their sexual orientation. It’s not about anything but Honoring and Serving Our Country! Again, we are Veterans first regardless of our differences. Please remember we are also your fellow Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.
USAF Veteran
You missed point. Everyone knows gays have been in the military for thousands of years. My whole point is why single out that group. Perhaps we should set aside a spot on the ship for the married sailors, single sailors, single parent sailors, sailors from broken homes, prior service sailors. We have all done our time, we should be honored on our merit and military accomplishments. I don’t really care what gender you prefer. The ship should represent the those who chose to serve. If you need to be singled out, use this stat. Veterans (gay and strait)represent only 1% of the population.
As a unit, a team, a flight a troop, a group and in the the name of military honor and merit…. please tell me what any, if any, gays or lesbians, as a whole have ever contributed to our great military. Have they, as a whole, accomplished something so signifigant that they as a whole, deserve any section in any great militery ship to celebrate they’re sexual preference? When was the last time a unit made up of entirely gays and lesbians, dropped into a war zone? What was the names of any of the militarys great war ships, that were manned solely by gays and lesbians. What about flight crews? Air raids, ground missions? All consisting only of gays and lesbians. Someone educate me, because as far as I know, it’s never happened. For God’s sake, you want to be gay, be gay, but do you really need any part of a great military ship such as the Iowa, to solidify that?
Save the military museums for great moments in military history, great losses in military history and great remembrances for those men and women who deserve to be remembered, not for they’re sexual preferences, but for they’re deeds, they’re merits, they’re bravery and perhaps they’re loss of life for this great country. Isen’t that what our United States Military is suppose to be about? We honor those that contribute to past and present military causes…..not those that that feel they deserve honor for coming out of the foot locker. (closet)
ABOUT THE BATTLESHIP IOWA THE SHIP AND ALL THE SAILORS THAT SERVED ON HER ARE TO GOOD TO BE IN SUCH A F****D UP CITY. I HAD RATHER THE IOWA BE TOWED OUT AND USED AS A TARGET THAN GO TO SANFRANCISCO. DO NOT FORGET A LOT OF PEOPLE GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
BM2 (SW/AW) THOMAS D. GIBBS
Are you kidding??!!!!!
I hope that the powers to be have enough sense of Naval tradition and honor to not allow the USS Iowa and her sister ships be dragged through the immoral ditch that is the “Gay Community”.
I personally believe that the service of the USS Iowa deserves better thann to be known as the the “Gay Battleship”.
I believe everyone has a choice in how they live, but there is no reason to push that way of life on the US Military or the government and all of us who live normal lives.
I like the idea. It’ll be a butthole ship instead of a battleship.
The USS Iowa does not belong in SF. Does the homosexual movement have to desecrate every aspect of our society and turn the whole world upside down? Do we as citizens have to have this idiotic philosophy shoved down our throats at every turn? NO. If Long Beach or Stockton want the ship, tow it there. This proposal is a crime-Period.
Considering how anti-military (as well as anti-American) that San Francisco has proven to be over the years through their city government, the Iowa shouldn’t be docked there. Ever.
The Iowa is sacred, not a compromised memorial for every special interest group that they care to load on; it should celebrate all veterans as veterans, not as their civilian subgroups.
I’m an ex-crewman, having proudly served aboard USS Iowa from 1988-1990. I was aboard during the turret 2 explosion, and I helped lay her up post-decommissioning.
I’d rather see her cut to razorblades than to be put to such a desecration. The mere thought of this dishonors the men who proudly served aboard her decks. I am outraged.
The mere fact that there is rampant homophobia in this country that professes “liberty and justice for ALL” and that the homophobia extends to cover an entire city as lovely and wonderful as San Francisco – speaks to the need to honor those who are still persecuted for simply being different. God bless all the men and women who choose something different – regardless of the dominant culture that demonizes them based on their religious beliefs. I thought we were truly making progress to include everyone in the equation of diverstiy. Now, South Africa has legalized gay marriage. It’s ironic that the US lags behind in being an open CIVIL society for EVERYONE. I am sure many will think I am a liberal gay person, but I am not. I am an 80 year old woman who respects all types of people because I have met them and they form a very important part of my family. Gays are not bad people, but they are still treated as evil and if we don’t help them pull themselves up from the gutter instead of pushing them into it…well, I don’t see why you all protest so much. Perhaps you are hiding your real desires? I’ve seen it before – those who protest the most are usually the real sick perverts who molest children because they can’t accept themselves. Come on people, we are better than this, it’s the 21st century and it feels like the dark ages – no worse, Neanderthal. I thought we were more intelligent that some of these comments show. A lot of education is needed – and we don’t LEARN from people who are LIKE US. We learn from differences. Period.
Hello fellow Americans, My name is Adam and I live in the great city of Stockton Ca. When I heard that the USS Iowa was to come here I was very pleased. The Iowa is one of the only last four battleships made by America,(Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, and Wisconsin)and for one of them to be brought here to my home town means a great honor. Stockton also has the Sea cadets who are maily kids who learn about the sea life and life on a ship. The USS Iowa is not going away from service, but will start a new chaper in its distinguished carreer as the Flag ship for a new generation of Sailors. I personaly was not happy of San Frans rejection of the ship, and then for them to want it back, only because they think they can turn it into a symbol of Homosexuality. Well guess what, that ship is strong, the crew who served on it were strong, gay or straight, but there is nothing strong or right about defacing our history. Don’t ask don’t tell, the gays who serve and have serve know why this rule is in place and they accept it without prejudice.
The gays who are making this into what it is are cowards, who have never served and never will because even the representative of the San Francisco city counsil said last night that there is no need for Americas military, and some how he came to power?? Bless our Soliders, Sailors and Marines who are fighting today, while we have to deal with fag idealism, we dont want your life style, stop pushing or we will push back. Thanks to all who want to preserve the USS Iowa’s honor.
Adam Gomes 20
Stockton, Ca
The Iowa will go to Stockton. Fresh, deep water. Just like the other three ships of the class.
They’re gonna use my tax dollars to paint the old gray lady PINK and dedicate a museum to
“fudge packers?” Sound like they’re movin’ at warp speed on the greasy slick rails to hell!