As Commanding Officer Matt Powell introduced himself in front of the Sheeler Building, he encouraged those in attendance to share their stories, which prompted one resident to joke that he could assure Powell “your sea stories are better than theirs.” Powell, who hails from Atlanta and attended Georgia Tech before joining the Navy about 20 years ago, was approached by a recruiter about an officer program that would lead him into the submarine force while in college, and he’s been at it ever since with postings including Georgia, Virginia and Groton, Conn.

Powell admitted he had no real connection to Iowa other than a brief stationing in Omaha and visiting Council Bluffs prior to accepting his current post, but he loves the state so far.

“It’s been really cool. I didn’t really know what the term ‘Iowa Nice’ meant, but then I came here,” he said. “I’ve been honored to have three visits here — State Fair last year, State Fair this year and Veterans Day (all in Des Moines) — all of those were all geared around various veterans events. I have not been to every state in the country, but I don’t think there’s any state over Iowa that values military service and values veterans more than Iowa does.”

Tuesday marked Powell’s first visit to Marshalltown and the IVH campus, and it’s safe to say it made quite an impression on him.

From left to right, IVH Division Administrator/Licensed Nursing Home Administrator Penny Cutler-Bermudez, USS Iowa SSN-797 Commanding Officer Matthew Powell, 95-year-old Navy veteran and Marshalltown native Dick Huff (who served on the original USS Iowa), his wife Marlys, YNC Sherman Harris and STS2 Christian Leporati pose for a photo.

“I’m flattered, first of all, to have such a warm welcome, and then I love to see the support that Iowa gives its veterans. I got to meet the Commandant earlier, Todd (Jacobus), and he’s just an outstanding human being,” he said. “And I feel like his attitude is exactly what I think we need, and I’m sure that’s exactly what we’ll see here today in support of our veterans.”

The visit was especially meaningful for 95-year-old Dick Huff, a Marshalltown native and new IVH resident who served on the legendary original USS Iowa all the way back in the late 1940s before the Korean War.

“It’s an honor. It’s an honor,” Huff said.

After the original USS Iowa was deactivated and decommissioned in 1949 (it was reactivated in 1951 and sent to Korea), Huff was transferred to another ship, but he still proudly wore his USS Iowa hat on Tuesday and even brought his family along for the occasion. He said it’s been interesting to talk to the younger generation of sailors about their service experiences and the contrasts between submarines and above water battleships.

“I think it’s a difference between my time and the high-tech now,” he said. “I can’t really talk their language. (But) you’ve gotta have respect for guys that get on and stay for a long, long time. A lot of respect.”

 Powell shares a warm moment with veterans Steve Peliser and Richard Major as Major shows him one of his old photos.

Commandant Jacobus was not able to attend due to meetings in Des Moines, but he was happy to welcome the crewmembers, who in addition to Powell, the Commanding Officer, included YNC Sherman “Dave” Harris, STS2 Christian Leporati and USS Iowa SSN-797 Commissioning Committee Chairman Doug MacCrea.

” Thanks to Captain Doug MacCrea of the USS Iowa Committee, Commander Matthew Powell and crew from USS Iowa (SSN 797) for visiting Marshalltown and spending time with Navy veterans,” Jacobus said. “Our Iowa Veterans Home residents showed today that a Sailor can leave the Navy, but the Navy never leaves them. Iowans are grateful to have the Navy’s newest submarine as our namesake.”

As previously mentioned, the SSN-797 is the fourth vessel to bear the Iowa name, and it was christened by former First Lady of Iowa Christie Vilsack, the boat’s sponsor, on June 17. Its keel was laid down on Aug. 20, 2019 in North Kingstown, R.I. Commissioning is expected in early 2024.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.