Rating: 
Summary: Don't Look for Facts
Review: Mr. Charles C. Thompson II, a producer for "60 Minutes", has woven a tale of deceit and cover-up that, in true "60 Minutes" fasion, is completely unfettered by fact. Although I served nearly 3 years in USS IOWA, the ship he describes is completely unknown to me. I vividly remember the inspections and training that Mr. Thompson claims we never underwent. In spite of his impressive list of references, his story actually comes from 4 or 5 crewmembers, each with an axe to grind. Had the book been footnoted, that fact would have been obvious. He seems to point blame at everyone except those few former crewmembers who collaborated his story.Slurring the reputation of the ship, those who sailed in her, and the Navy in general does little to answer the questions surrounding the accident. To add insult to injury, on pages 394-396, Mr. Thompson relates the great pride he took in his part of smearing the reputation of ADM "Mike" Boorda over a "disputed" V on ADM Boorda's Navy Achievement Medal. The Navy later acknowledged that ADM Boorda was eligible to wear the device. I question why anyone would take pride in having a part in such a tragic event. I must admit that Mr. Thompson's motives became much clearer to me when I discovered that his last major book effort was a conspiracy theory surrounding the death of Elvis.
Rating: 
Summary: A NAVSEA Perspective and relationship to TWA 800
Review: Mr. Thompson's long awaited book was worth the wait - and money. I hope to read Swoebel's book also. Today marks the eleventh anniversary of the tragedy - and coverup, which started immediately. To the victims' families, particularly Ms. Kubicina, I am sorry. I feel the USS Iowa tragedy/coverup can be better understood by studying the TWA 800 tragedy/coverup of 7/17/96. They look the same to me. I hope Mr. Thompson tackles that one also. The navy has deteriorated immensely since 1989, IMO. As a former NAVSEA type, I have placed responsibility on them for both tragedies - and no responsibility on our operational forces. Our shipboard sailors are merely victims also. My largest achievement was to steer my offspring away from navy careers. Charlie never cracked the NAVSEA wall. My attempts to help merely destroyed my career and got me kicked out of timid higher-ups offices. No one wants to tackle the underlying safety/reliability issues of weapons. I gave up. I am convinced that Dan could not have prevented the USS Iowa tragedy. The History Channel hour on the USS Iowa coverup provides insight. Oddly, Miceli isn't mentioned. I taped it if anyone missed it. The Masterchief (Mort?) made the most sense - as always. Dan Meyer and Hartwig's sister are the heroes of the book - in my mind (and Truit). Dan's "a professional ethic, corrupt" line in his resignation my favorite. Miceli, NAVSEA's hatchet man for butcher admirals, the villain (and my greatest problem from 25 years ago). Captain Moosaly is simply a punk "team player" like the captain of the ship that allegedly accidentally shot down TWA 800. The two didn't make admiral - a shallow victory.
Rating:
Summary: A needle of accuracy in a haystack of falsities!
Review: No one will ever know what truly happened that fateful day! This book, aside from promoting a handful of glory seekers, has proven nothing. Laying blame on a Commanding Officer, who had taken command less than one year earlier, is ludicrous. Having served under all four of Iowa's Commanding Officer's, I can tell you that the crew of the IOWA respected and had a great deal of faith in Capt. Moosally. You gather a large number of the former crew today and you will hear nothing of low moral (except maybe under his predecessor's tenure), fear aboard ship, or any of the other illusions that were said to have existed. It's obvious that the author chose the wrong sources for this book for a reason, because if he had chosen from the other 1,000 plus crew he would have had a more realistic reflection of the tradgedy. Plus, I might have given him a two-star review.
Rating:
Summary: Shows Navy Cover-up
Review: Thanks to Charlie Thompson's book, the world will know what was being done and not done on the USS IOWA prior to the explosion that killed 47 sailors including my oldest son, Steve. This book is very well written and very well researched. It is obvious that the author is thorough in examining all aspects of evidence before him including information from navy personnel and the families. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what really happened on the ship on April 19, 1989.
Rating:
Summary: Former Crew Member and Reviewer From Northern Virginia
Review: The saddest part of all of this is the fact that it took 10 years for someone to finally tell the truth, unfortunately it wasnt the Navy. Mr. Thompson hits the nail squarely on the head in his analysis of the mental state of the crew of the Iowa in April 1989. His portrayal of a Division Officer and Leading Petty Officer, (G-1)concerned for the safety of the men under them is also right on target. Anyone who has a personal knowledge of this tragedy and reads this book will (like this reviewer) be instantly catapulted back ten years to April of 1989.
Rating:
Summary: FINALLY, the TRUTH is EXPOSED!!!
Review: This book is a MUST read for every young Amercian who is thinking about joining the Navy. Thank God that Mr. Thompson took the time to uncover the truth about what those involved in the IOWA investigation tried to do to Clayton Hartwig's memory and reputation. I simply cannot believe that the Navy allowed this to happen..it should be ASHAMED!!!! Milligan, Edney, Micelli, Kelso,and last but not least, Captain Fred Moosally...may you all rot in hell. How can any of you possibly sleep at night? My only hope is that some day you will all realize what anguish you have caused Clayton Hartwig's loved ones and friends. And all without a single shread of evidence...how dare you?? Thank you Mr. Thompson for exposing these people and the horrible things that they've done. God Bless the IOWA-47.
Rating:
Summary: A factual, well-written documentation of a terrible tragedy!
Review: This book is a MUST-READ for every leader in the military, as well as every citizen of the United States of America who cares at all about the conduct of the leaders of those who are enlisted in the armed forces! If I could, I would give it 10 stars! As the mother of one of the "Iowa 47" who died on that fateful day in April, 1989, I want to personally thank Charlie Thompson for this unbelievable work. The exhaustive investigation that he conducted in order to reveal the inconceivable facts about the farce that was purported to be an "investigation" goes beyond my comprehension. Each phase of the author's research, as detailed in this book, reveals another, even more horrific, truth about this drama as it was actually played out. There is not one stated fact that has been, or even can be, disputed by the Navy. As each page of this drama unfolds, the author holds the reader spellbound. I felt that I could have been reading an imaginative work of fiction. The absolutely most disturbing and chilling reality is, however, that what is described is NOT fictional! It has been my experience that when a loved one dies, the tendency is to idealize the behavior of the individual, and so I do understand those who believe their loved ones may have been maligned. In reality, however, Mr. Thompson was able to portray each individual he names accurately and fairly. Through the eyes of shipmates, these real characters came alive to me, and I understood who they were, without prejudice. Thank you, Charlie, for showing to the world the truth of how these brave, trusting men were sent into a life-threatening situation by their superiors without regard for their safety. The danger they faced should have been and could have been foreseen and avoided, had those in charge cared more about safety than about their own overblown egos! This head-in-the-sand egotistical attitude will surely spawn more such tragedies if those who should care do not change the system!
Rating:
Summary: Poorly Done
Review: This book is as poorly done as the investigation it criticizes and for EXACTLY the same reasons that it is critical of. The author decided in advance who would be the heroes and who would bear the blame in his story and created evidence to support the former and ignored evidence that absolves or mitigates the latter. Richard Schwoebel's book is far superior in all regards. I was a crewmember on the IOWA and was taking over as Turret Officer for Turret One on the day of the explosion. I later served as a Turret Officer on the USS WISCONSIN for the Gulf War. While the Captain and senior officers of the IOWA were not perfect, they were highly professional and Monday-morning quarterbacking their decisions in such an inflammatory manner as this book does says more about their critics than themselves. The best example of how poor an effort this author puts forth is that he did not footnote his sources. This was a deliberate decision on his part because he realized that if he did so then readers would realize that he relies much too heavily on the words of a few disgruntled sailors and officers with no regard to balancing their views with those of other people involved in the explosion and its aftermath. Schwoebel's book is fully footnoted and much more professional overall. While an interesting read, as fiction often is, this book is just that-- fiction. I realize that the explosion onboard the IOWA was highly traumatic for more than just the crewmembers involved, but this book does nothing to answer the questions that still linger from that tragic event. Spencer Garrett
Rating:
Summary: Poorly Done
Review: This book is as poorly done as the investigation it criticizes and for EXACTLY the same reasons that it is critical of. The author decided in advance who would be the heroes and who would bear the blame in his story and created evidence to support the former and ignored evidence that absolves or mitigates the latter. Richard Schwoebel's book is far superior in all regards. I was a crewmember on the IOWA and was taking over as Turret Officer for Turret One on the day of the explosion. I later served as a Turret Officer on the USS WISCONSIN for the Gulf War. While the Captain and senior officers of the IOWA were not perfect, they were highly professional and Monday-morning quarterbacking their decisions in such an inflammatory manner as this book does says more about their critics than themselves. The best example of how poor an effort this author puts forth is that he did not footnote his sources. This was a deliberate decision on his part because he realized that if he did so then readers would realize that he relies much too heavily on the words of a few disgruntled sailors and officers with no regard to balancing their views with those of other people involved in the explosion and its aftermath. Schwoebel's book is fully footnoted and much more professional overall. While an interesting read, as fiction often is, this book is just that-- fiction. I realize that the explosion onboard the IOWA was highly traumatic for more than just the crewmembers involved, but this book does nothing to answer the questions that still linger from that tragic event. Spencer Garrett
Rating:
Summary: A grocery store tabloid in hard cover.
Review: This book says a lot of terribly ugly things about everybody except the group who collaborated with the author. That "Gang of Four or Five" are, of course, depicted as heroes. This is an unbalanced portrayal that just doesn't stand up to reason. For example: How can ANYONE spill and cover up a major 20,000 gallon oil spill in one of the busiest ports in the U.S.? Remember, this is a commercial port full of merchant ships, yachts, fishermen, and the Coast Guard! Is the simple answer that you can't and it just didn't happen? How does the second in command on a U.S Navy ship beat up another senior officer, and while actually on the ship no less? Stop! You're making my sides hurt! If you're reading this book to find out what really happened on that ship, you came to the wrong place. Save your money.
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