What do you think?
Rate this book
A Glimpse of Hell : The Explosion on the U. S. S. Iowa & Its Cover-Up by Charles C. Thompson II
On April 19, 1989, Turret Two aboard the recommissioned battleship USS Iowa exploded, killing 47 men. In A Glimpse of Hell, former naval officer, newspaper reporter, and 60 Minutes producer Charles Thompson has written an authoritative exposé of the United States Navy high command's consistent efforts to manipulate the evidence of that disaster and slander deceased seaman Clayton Hartwig. The Iowa investigation is contextualized by Thompson's startling insights into the moral universe of the navy's masters, a cabal so protective of their own jobs that they prepared press releases indicating that an out-of-control Tomahawk missile launched from the Iowa was actually a part of a federal and military crackdown on an illicit marijuana field in Alabama. Unlike the Tomahawk debacle, the falsehoods embroidered into the investigation of the Turret Two disaster did become public, as naval officials accepted a noticeably botched report from investigators who "lost" two 2,700-pound projectiles and consistently claimed, with no foundation, that Hartwig, killed in the explosion, was a murderous and suicidal psychopath who blew up the turret in revenge for a thwarted homosexual affair. Two years later, they were forced to admit that they had no clear and convincing evidence linking Hartwig to the explosion and apologized to his surviving family members. (The family later initiated a $12 million defamation lawsuit against the U.S. Navy.) As active duty officers rebuffed his own investigation, Thompson found that many personnel, including captains and admirals, were willing to talk when their careers were no longer on the line. A Glimpse of Hell assiduously follows the Iowa story with a dedication that honors the dead and their families, as one journalist does more to expose the careerism and sexual preoccupations of ranking naval officers--and their consequences--than any government investigative agency. --James Highfill
Hardcover
First published March 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 25, 2024
Exceptionally well researched and written book. This happened during my service time in the Navy so it strikes home more than most history books I read. Very recommended
February 22, 2010
The battleship Iowa was an accident waiting to happen. The crew lacked confidence in the senior officers. The captain had made numerous public mistakes and tried to cover them up, training for the gunnery crew was minimal at best, and the chief gunnery mate was a battleship fanatic who had plans to put his name in the record books by shooting a projectile farther than had been done before, even if it meant using 50-year-old powder not designed for the purpose. One Tomahawk missile they had fired had attacked the state of Alabama, flying erratically off course, and finally slamming into a hill, the first federal offensive against Alabama since the Civil War. This error was hidden from public view because the Navy brass was on the Hill testifying that the new missile was so accurate it could "fly through bedroom windows."
On another occasion, they almost shot their bow off during a gunnery exercise. The crew was writing letters home about what a dangerous ship it was. The author, a former naval officer and 60 Minutes producer, has written the definitive expose of a horrendous accident that never should have happened and the unconscionable Navy cover-up that attempted to pin the blame on a lowly sailor. The huge sixteen-inch gun turrets are complicated pieces of machinery that require a very delicate ballet on the part of a highly trained crew to fire properly. Any mistake along the way can cause an incredible explosion. Many of the officers and men were not trained on these big guns, few had received any training, and the day of the explosion the captain was pushing them to the limit trying to show off for a visiting admiral. The same captain had clearly stated his bias toward missiles as opposed to artillery, and during the ship's refit had neglected to have much work performed on the turrets. Sailors had discovered that plugging in a light bulb larger than 25 watts would overload the circuits and blow fuses. The highly unstable powder that was loaded was dated from 1945.
The ship failed numerous inspections and its captain was written up. The inspection team reported to Secretary of the Navy John Lehman that the ship was unsafe and should be taken out of service. Lehman refused to do so. The investigation was botched from the start; evidence was ignored or suppressed, officers with obvious conflicts of interest were placed in charge of elements of the investigation and families were harassed. The Navy's final report created a firestorm of protest, it had so many holes. They were eventually forced to disavow the report and investigation and apologize to the family of the man they had falsely accused of causing the explosion. Then came Tailhook . . . .
On another occasion, they almost shot their bow off during a gunnery exercise. The crew was writing letters home about what a dangerous ship it was. The author, a former naval officer and 60 Minutes producer, has written the definitive expose of a horrendous accident that never should have happened and the unconscionable Navy cover-up that attempted to pin the blame on a lowly sailor. The huge sixteen-inch gun turrets are complicated pieces of machinery that require a very delicate ballet on the part of a highly trained crew to fire properly. Any mistake along the way can cause an incredible explosion. Many of the officers and men were not trained on these big guns, few had received any training, and the day of the explosion the captain was pushing them to the limit trying to show off for a visiting admiral. The same captain had clearly stated his bias toward missiles as opposed to artillery, and during the ship's refit had neglected to have much work performed on the turrets. Sailors had discovered that plugging in a light bulb larger than 25 watts would overload the circuits and blow fuses. The highly unstable powder that was loaded was dated from 1945.
The ship failed numerous inspections and its captain was written up. The inspection team reported to Secretary of the Navy John Lehman that the ship was unsafe and should be taken out of service. Lehman refused to do so. The investigation was botched from the start; evidence was ignored or suppressed, officers with obvious conflicts of interest were placed in charge of elements of the investigation and families were harassed. The Navy's final report created a firestorm of protest, it had so many holes. They were eventually forced to disavow the report and investigation and apologize to the family of the man they had falsely accused of causing the explosion. Then came Tailhook . . . .
August 14, 2011
What an excellent book.
Incredibly well researched, and despite the complexity and vast number of names to keep track of - pretty easy to keep track of. Instead of just repeating names, Thompson is more or less using their titles as well. Great help for a an old, ADD mind like mine!
I remember all this as it took place, but never quite got the outrage until it was laid out here. Given his point of view, as a 60 Minutes producer, this could have been a lot more self-serving, but he's more than fair in recognizing the contributions of other reporters and writers who stayed with this story and made the Navy more or less come clean.
Incredibly well researched, and despite the complexity and vast number of names to keep track of - pretty easy to keep track of. Instead of just repeating names, Thompson is more or less using their titles as well. Great help for a an old, ADD mind like mine!
I remember all this as it took place, but never quite got the outrage until it was laid out here. Given his point of view, as a 60 Minutes producer, this could have been a lot more self-serving, but he's more than fair in recognizing the contributions of other reporters and writers who stayed with this story and made the Navy more or less come clean.
June 13, 2021
If you want your faith in the US Government and especially the US Navy shattered then this book is for you. It is a thorough documentation of blatant immoral and unethical behavior at the highest levels.
One of the things I never understood when the explosion happened was why nothing happened to Capt Moosally for intentionally destroying evidence when he had the turret cleaned and painted before investigators could even look at it. Now I know, he was being protected by the powers to be to ensure he made admiral.
The investigation into the explosion in Turret Two was never about finding the truth. It was always about protecting careers and the Navy.
The author does a great job of documenting all the missteps, lies and just blatant criminal behavior by damn near everyone involved. The multiple interviews covering different aspects and referral to the reports when they contradicted lays out a clear picture that the Navy very early on knew its theory was wrong but for whatever reason stuck with it and ran its investigation making the evidence fit.
The amazing thing is that the longer this went on the harder the Navy kept trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
The really sad part of this book was the epilogue. When so many of the people involved went on to lucrative careers. Other than Moosally not getting promoted to admiral, no one involved in this scandal paid any type of real price. Families of the sailors who died were left with nothing but a lie.
A few years ago, I visited the USS Iowa. I stood at Turret Two and tried to image the horror of that day. After reading this book I realize that it is unfathomable to think of what the crew went through.
One of the things I never understood when the explosion happened was why nothing happened to Capt Moosally for intentionally destroying evidence when he had the turret cleaned and painted before investigators could even look at it. Now I know, he was being protected by the powers to be to ensure he made admiral.
The investigation into the explosion in Turret Two was never about finding the truth. It was always about protecting careers and the Navy.
The author does a great job of documenting all the missteps, lies and just blatant criminal behavior by damn near everyone involved. The multiple interviews covering different aspects and referral to the reports when they contradicted lays out a clear picture that the Navy very early on knew its theory was wrong but for whatever reason stuck with it and ran its investigation making the evidence fit.
The amazing thing is that the longer this went on the harder the Navy kept trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
The really sad part of this book was the epilogue. When so many of the people involved went on to lucrative careers. Other than Moosally not getting promoted to admiral, no one involved in this scandal paid any type of real price. Families of the sailors who died were left with nothing but a lie.
A few years ago, I visited the USS Iowa. I stood at Turret Two and tried to image the horror of that day. After reading this book I realize that it is unfathomable to think of what the crew went through.
April 27, 2020
This is one of the best pieces ever written on the failure to transfer operational knowledge. It is a case study worthy of further investigation. When the USS Iowa was taken out of moth ball and refitted for modern use, all the knowledge on how to operate the turrets was not readily available. In this case the turrets were operated in three different standard operating procedures since the senior noncommissioned officers all served on different battleships --New Jersey, Wisconsin, etc. There was no training system in the Navy since we had operated these ships in years. Also, the safety procedures for all three turrets varied.
July 8, 2009
there really isn't much to say about this one. It was one of the first books I bought when I started working in the bookstore (2/08/02) and it has taken me quite a while to get around to reading it. and shame on me for that fact.
It is not the best narrative I've ever read. It's got so many people it was difficult to keep track of who was who. but besides those few complaints this book is very good. also, I think that it is very important book that examines not only a tragedy but a conspiracy of the most disgusting type.
I was around 13 years old when this tragedy took place, I knew nothing about it. When I found the book on the shelf I still knew nothing about it. after finishing the book I feel like everyone should know about this event in history.
It is not the best narrative I've ever read. It's got so many people it was difficult to keep track of who was who. but besides those few complaints this book is very good. also, I think that it is very important book that examines not only a tragedy but a conspiracy of the most disgusting type.
I was around 13 years old when this tragedy took place, I knew nothing about it. When I found the book on the shelf I still knew nothing about it. after finishing the book I feel like everyone should know about this event in history.
July 17, 2012
This is a story about prestige, prejudice, and deception. With dozens of characters influencing the events, the author does a fantastic job of introducing each with sufficient clarity that the reader need not work to keep them from running together.
The story leaves the reader with a clear opinion of each character associated with this event. This is both commendable and despicable; with such excellent narration, I am left to wonder if some of the heroes and villains are truly deserving of those titles. Nonetheless, all events and evidence described by this book are cited carefully, and in hindsight it is clear that ambition and negligence should be counted as a terrible enemies of a nation at peace.
The story leaves the reader with a clear opinion of each character associated with this event. This is both commendable and despicable; with such excellent narration, I am left to wonder if some of the heroes and villains are truly deserving of those titles. Nonetheless, all events and evidence described by this book are cited carefully, and in hindsight it is clear that ambition and negligence should be counted as a terrible enemies of a nation at peace.
October 10, 2008
I learned that there ALWAYS has to be a "fall guy" with problem events in the Navy!
June 2, 2013
One of the best military non-fiction around. A must read for fans of Navy non-fiction. (The living "suspect" had his career ruined beyond repair years later in another case.)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews