My dad, Ben, served aboard the USS IOWA in the Korean conflict. He never really ever talked about his experiences there, until the IOWA was permanently docked in California's Port of San Pedro . Now it is a museum, and Dad loves taking friends there. He takes people from his church, and anyone else who'll go with him. When I went, they piped him aboard (this is also known as a bosun's call), he is so proud when he receives that honor. And the IOWA docents follow him around to hear his stories. We had a pack of visitors to the ship in our pack that day! But when Dad and I were alone, he told me that while he was serving, as he and a crew member/friend were drinking coffee next to the 5 inch gun turret they worked in, the friend relaxed and took off his helmet. A moment later, he was shot from a craft in the water, and died there next to Dad. It was one of the only times the IOWA was ever fired on. My whole life with him, I had never heard that story.
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