A Glimpse of Hell: The Explosion on the USS Iowa and Its Cover-Up

by Charles C. Thompson II and Charles Alexander Thompson

Book Overview

Probes the explosion of the center gun on the USS Iowa, a disaster that instantly killed several sailors on board, and the fouled investigation that followed, resulting in a large-scale cover-up.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393047148
• ISBN13: 9780393047141
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 430 Pages
• Weight: 1.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A factual, well-written documentation of a terrible tragedy!

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!

Exposes the truth

I am the sister of one of the men in Turret One, who was mentioned in the book. My brother is an honest person, with no "ax to grind" or "score to settle". The book basically agrees with what he has told us over the past 10 years. He also lost good friends in the explosion, and all he and our family have ever wanted was for the truth to come out. This book does exactly that. The truth is sometimes hard to believe and accept, but the fact is that yes, the Navy did cover up this terrible tragedy. They tried to blame it ALL on one sailor, whose family had the courage to stand up, against enormous odds, and say this is wrong! For 10 years I have lived with the knowledge that my brother could have easily been one of the 47 men killed that day. All those families deserve to know the truth, no matter how distasteful it might be to some. I do entend to read Mr. Schwoebel's book also, and encourage everyone to do the same. I challenge anyone who has different opinions and/or information to do some research and write your own book, this can only help uncover the truth!!!

Former Crew Member and Reviewer From Northern Virginia

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.

Finally, the truth about what really happened!

Charles Thompson has taken a long time to write this book, but it was absolutely worth the wait! For those of us who have lost family members that fateful day in 1989...this will put everything in perspective once and for all. Although we may never know what actually caused the turret two explosion on April 19, 1989, the one thing that we know for sure is that is was definately not caused by GMG2 Clayton M. Hartwig. What in the world were those in charge of the investigation thinking? Did they not think that his family, friends, and shipmates would fight these lies until the bitter end? The Navy was wrong to do this to this innocent young man who was not around to defend himself, and I hope that they have learned a lesson, and never, ever try to do this to anyone again!

The story of the Iowa explosion and the Navy coverup.

A Glimpse of Hell is a page turner which reads like a combination of a Tom Clancy novel and a detective story. In April 1989 the center gun of number two turret on the battleship Iowa exploded killing 47 men. The men who manned the turret had been writing their families telling of a dangerous situation with ancient equipment and inadequate training. After the explosion the Navy quickly launched a coverup which settled on false allegations of homosexuality about two members of the turret crew and an alleged suicide plot by one of them. Thompson, the author, a newspaper reporter and TV producer, and a former naval gunnery officer, got involved when a crew member came to him shortly after the accident. The resulting scandal, still brewing after 10 years, is one source of morale problems which bedevil the Navy's recruiting. In the end the truth comes out thanks to Thompson and other investigative reporters. Anyone who cares about the military will devour this book. I read it in two days.