I was a gunner onboard USS IOWA BB61 Turret 3 86 to 90. On the morning of April 19th 1989 . We were going to do a fire mission practice shoot off viegus. Turret I shot first . Misfiring in left and right guns.. instead of normal procedure of hold fire until cleared. Turret 2 was told to continue the fire mission. I was in right gun room Turret 3 on sound powered phones. On 0952 senior chief Ziegler reported that center gun turret 2 was having issues. Than at 0955 I heard a screaming saying fire in center gun. Felt the explosion ripple through the ship. In the end I lost 47 Brothers that day .

- Mike C.