USS Archives

Solemn Ceremony Honors Lives Lost Aboard USS Iowa: Remembering the Iowa 47 on 33-Year Anniversary

NORFOLK, Va. — A somber ceremony took place at Naval Station Norfolk to honor the lives lost aboard the USS Iowa. The USS Iowa Memorial at Iowa Point served as the gathering spot for dozens who came together to pay their respects. While this ceremony was not the first of its kind, it held significant meaning for all in attendance. On April 19, 1989, a tragic explosion in gun turret two of the USS Iowa …

Tribute Paid to 47 Sailors Lost in USS Iowa Turret Explosion of April 1989

NORFOLK, Va. – Nearly three decades ago on April 19, 1989, tragedy struck USS Iowa during routine exercises in Puerto Rico when a gun turret explosion resulted in the loss of 47 Navy sailors. What was initially deemed as an intentional act was later revealed to be a tragic accident caused by an over-ram of gunpowder. The impact of this disaster continues to resonate with the families, friends, and crewmembers who gathered at Iowa Point …

Whitehouse High School Graduate Remembered 35 Years After Tragic USS Iowa Explosion

WHITEHOUSE, Texas – The Whitehouse City Council recently paid tribute to hometown hero Tyrone Foley, who tragically lost his life in the USS Iowa explosion 35 years ago off the coast of Puerto Rico. During a council meeting, a proclamation was approved naming April 19, 2024, as “Tyrone Dwayne Foley Day” in honor of the 1980 Whitehouse High School graduate who was among the 47 sailors who perished in the ship’s explosion. Foley was remembered …