book glimpse hell explosion uss iowa cover book investigative journalism written published book describes uss iowa turret explosion took place april subsequent investigations tried determine cause explosion aboard united_states navy battleship iowa killed turret crewmen soon explosion thompson informed iowa navy conducting investigation cause tragedy thompson producer television minutes later produced television reports disputed navy conclusions caused explosion based work minutes reports plus investigation thompson wrote glimpse hell book published thompson book extremely critical navy personnel involved investigation concluding navy orchestrated cover conceal true cause explosion publication book received favorable comments book reviewers thompson later claimed navy tried suppress sales banning book navy exchange stores navy bases world navy servicemen named thompson book sued thompson book publisher thompson sources libel false light privacy conspiracy suit settled court undisclosed terms background morning april united_states navy battleship command captain nautical miles northeast puerto_rico steaming knots mph preparing engage live fire exercise inch guns ship inch turret loaded prepared fire guns traveling feet second pressure pounds square inch blew turret center gun open breech spread turret gun rooms lower levels turret crewmen inside turret killed soon fires turret extinguished vice admiral commander appointed rear admiral conduct informal officer investigation explosion boarded iowa staff april began investigation interviewing iowa investigation continued iowa returned home port norfolk april days explosion gunner mate worked iowa turret called told conducting investigation news media thing navy honest said thompson producer minutes navy officer naval gunfire served tours duty vietnam war leaving military journalist thompson produced numerous news stories military subjects thompson discussed phone colleague journalist naval officer asked begin following news stories explosion navy investigation cause closely september admiral navy vice chief naval operations announced results investigation investigation report endorsed navy leadership concluded explosion probably result intentional act committed turret named according navy died explosion initiated explosion electronic chemical reporter wrote editorial new_york_times september titled navy dead editorial sharply critical navy conclusions stating subjected process guilt evidence sailor weak read article asked thompson produce report broadcast explosion navy investigation help team military officers including commander battleship uss new_jersey thompson produced story aired minutes november story conducted heavily criticized findings investigation story contained interview defended conclusions saying mike cause accident looked ruled deliberate act likely navy conclusions heavily criticised victim families media congress test found powder bags gun caused explosion navy reopened investigation october new navy chief naval operations announced navy determine caused tragedy apologized family closed navy investigation independent review navy investigation concluded explosion probably caused powder bags center gun breech possibly malfunction mechanism gun crew trained soon minutes broadcast updated story navy investigation report written produced thompson wallace included interview navy closed investigation thompson continued research explosion aftermath thompson assisted navy personnel including iowa crewmen navy headquarters staff members family members victims staff members house helped thompson addition obtained information freedom information act requests navy furthermore thompson accessed taken navy leaders investigators lawsuit navy family thompson book published april tenth anniversary explosion book publisher based new_york_city content book begins describing conditions aboard iowa explosion thompson depicts ship captain gained command battleship political connections leadership lack thereof iowa operated severe training safety deficiencies especially regard operations ship inch guns book details ship master chief fire conducted illegal gunnery experiments inch guns apparently check ensure experiments authorized cases appears aware carried book describes explosion april heroic efforts ship crew contain fires avoid turret powder magazines fires contained ordered crew immediately begin cleaning turret cleanup involved removing bodies deceased turret damaged turret equipment recording locations bodies equipment presumably assisted resulting investigation according thompson navy immediately began efforts cover cause explosion rear admiral assigned lead investigation soon focused inquiry trying prove deceased turret intentionally caused explosion learning named sailor friend life insurance policy enlisted help predecessor naval criminal investigative service investigate investigators tried prove unsuccessfully homosexual relationship initiated explosion relationship investigation continued information navy focus sailors relationship leaked media leaks later said come navy headquarters thompson investigation agents lied conducted extremely manner captain assigned navy lead technical investigation explosion supervised preparation powder shells iowa inch guns according thompson conflict interest ensuring powder ammunition guns fault explosion focus directed investigative team determine initiated explosion electrical chemical investigation according thompson admiral navy vice chief naval operations interfered investigation sending suggestions avenues inquiry pushing finding responsible interfered investigation order prevent findings navy operated unsafe ship unsafe manner feared iowa class battleships found unsafe battleships decommissioned navy lose associated admiral plus warships support ships assigned battleship groups september navy announced determined intentionally caused explosion victim family members media united_states congress rejected navy findings acting request united states determined explosion accident caused powder bags gun breech loading process forced revelation reopen investigation navy according thompson placed charge new inquiry nineteen months later navy concluded determine caused explosion provided partial apology family closed investigation contrast concluded explosion probably caused powder bags center gun breech possibly malfunction mechanism gun crew trained critical reception navy reaction movie publication book received favorable reviews reviewing book san_francisco_chronicle stated main outlines convinces accuracy thompson book provides gripping read wrote measured information gathering great book investigative journalism book selected book month club featured selection march thompson stated book published previously scheduled invitation speak navy rescinded book banned sold museum book store navy exchange stores bases world forbidden selling book navy officials obtained thompson freedom information act request included navy public affairs officer dated april saying regard thompson book tell set book author navy denied attempted suppress censor thompson book stating simply refused permission thompson hold book navy bases august checked naval submarine base new london iowa home base naval station norfolk find book available sale locations network broadcast movie based thompson book starring movie received household rating drew million viewers according nielsen_media_research movie watched program seven year history appear released sales figures book january lists book sales books offered books related state iowa lawsuit march iowa officers filed suit thompson stated provided information book libel false light privacy conspiracy april iowa filed separate suit attorney causes action response suits thompson stated stood book content april south supreme court dismissed suits allowed suit proceed court stated south_carolina long arm jurisdiction apply thompson february suits settled court undisclosed terms attorney said clients felt totally publicly material thompson book instead sending letter stating extent believe book implies engaged cover incompetent committed criminal acts violated naval regulations exhibited faulty professional regrets emotional distress experienced family
A Glimpse of Hell (book)