Veterans of USS Iowa push for memorial

Veterans who served on the battleship “Iowa” are among those seeking to havethe ship turned into a floating naval museum in San Francisco. John Larsonof Logan, Iowa served on “Iowa” from 1951 to ’55. Larson says it’s the”birthplace” of his adulthood.Larson, a Council Bluffs native, asked to be assigned to the Iowa.The battleship is three football fields long with 16-inch-thick armor. Dr. J.D. Martin of Clarinda served on “Iowa” during the last two years ofWorld War Two. Martin says when you look at “Iowa” — you’re struck by hersize.Martin says the battleship was in every battle in the Pacific but Iwojima.The two veterans were among those who attended a memorial ceremony at theIowa capitol today to honor the 47 “Iowa” crewmen who lost their lives in anApril 19th, 1989 explosion aboard the battleship.