The Nation - News from July 19, 1989
Navy investigators believe the explosion that killed 47 sailors aboard the battleship Iowa in April was the result of sabotage by a suicidal sailor, NBC News reported. The Navy investigation ruled out technical causes for the blast in a gun turret, the network reported, citing unidentified Navy sources. Instead, investigators, with assistance from the FBI, found a “compelling circumstantial case†that Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Clayton M. Hartwig, 25, of Cleveland was a troubled homosexual who took his own life in the blast, NBC said. Navy spokesman Lt. Greg Smith said the conclusion of suicide was “the opinion of NBC and Mr. (Fred) Francis,†who reported the story.
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