It took most of the morning to make their way to Mare Island and home. The two escorts moved ahead to moor before Iowa arrived. It was nearly noon when Iowa rounded the last turn and saw the approach to Mare Island. People lined the waterway welcoming the great ship home. Iowa’s men manned the rails again as she moved steadily onward toward the new colorful pylons marking the shipyard and museum. To handle the expected crowds, the decision was made to moor the ships at the new museum piers. The band readied to play one last time.
As the ship neared the museum, she slowed. Hammond blew one long blast on the ship’s whistle and the Iowa band began to play. They chose the song ‘Rockin’ Down the Highway,’ to be their entry song. From the first note, the crowd began to cheer loudly. Just as in San Francisco, confetti was blown high into the air around the ship as Vallejo came alive with dancing and good cheer.
Hammond stood on the bridge wing staring down at the crowd on the pier and savoring the return of his ship and crew. Up forward, Bos’n stood in his whites with his hard hat on his head grinning from ear to ear. Down below Father Danner stood on the O-2 level talking to some sailors. Davis was with the conning officer making sure things ran smoothly and standing beside the forward 5-inch mount he saw Doc Dickerson staring at the crowd and waving. He saw Master Chief Skelly walk the deck along with the Weapons Officer and heard a report from Main Control from Commander Kimberlain. They were all a part of his life now and it was difficult to believe he had known them such a short time. Even though they would soon part, he knew there would always be a special bond between himself and the crew.
As they moved closer to their berth, Hammond saw Jack Latham on the pier with the two senior veterans, Moosally and Morse. He waved down to them. Jack waved back and clasped his hands together over his head sharing the moment. Nearby he saw someone in a wheelchair waving at them. It appeared Petty Officer Owens was on the mend. Despite the scarring from his burns, Hammond could see a smile on the young man’s face.
That’s when he noticed a yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible drive onto the pier. Patricia Crowell stopped the car, climbed out, and walked to the edge of the pier as Iowa was pushed in by the tugs. She held up a set of keys and smiled.
As the lines went across to the pier, Rear Admiral Roger Hammond smiled and waved to her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. Opening it, he showed Mayor Crowell the diamond ring inside. She saw it, looked directly at him, and nodded her head. USS Iowa was home.
“Moored. Shift colors.”