“Panthers” are ready to set sail aboard the USS Iowa submarine
“Panthers” are ready to set sail aboard the USS Iowa submarine
You can find ties to the University of Northern Iowa everywhere — all across the country, around the world and very soon, hundreds of feet deep in the Atlantic Ocean.
The USS Iowa submarine will be commissioned in Connecticut this Saturday, April 5, before deploying to sea later this year with 135 sailors on board. Among the group, you’ll find the “Panthers,” one of four crews responsible for conducting security patrols aboard the vessel and ensuring all the sub’s systems are operating correctly.
About 1,000 Iowans are expected to be present for the commissioning ceremony to see the vessel off. Among the many dignitaries in attendance will be UNI President Mark Nook.
“It is a privilege to represent the University of Northern Iowa for the commissioning of the USS Iowa nuclear-powered submarine on Saturday in Connecticut,” Nook said. “The UNI community is particularly honored that one of the four segments of the 135-sailor crew is dubbed the Panther Patrol. Along with members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation, state leaders, other notable Iowans and members of the Sullivan family, I look forward to honoring Iowa’s long standing tradition of military service. Knowing that the latest vessel in the Navy’s fleet recognizes the importance of UNI to our state and country with the naming of the Panther Patrol should make us all Panther Proud!”
The Panthers proudly wear UNI gear, including custom-designed USS Iowa caps provided to the crew along with other UNI apparel and baked goods given by a group of alumni and staff in 2021. For this weekend’s commissioning, the patrol will again receive care packages of Panther Pride, including stickers and other giveaway items for the sailors’ families.
“UNI has been a huge supporter of the boat from day one in terms of getting us the hats, the trinkets, the t-shirts and all that stuff,” said Mat Tanner, the executive director of the USS Iowa Commissioning Committee.
Only two of the vessel’s crew members have Iowa ties, but that hasn’t stopped the submarine’s members from paying homage to the state. In addition to the Panthers, the other patrols are named for the other Regent universities and a fourth group is known as the Sullivans, in tribute to the Navy’s renowned band of brothers from Waterloo.
The submarine will eventually contain photos and images from the state it is named for, including visuals from the University of Northern Iowa.
“We'll probably have a picture of the Battleship Iowa on one of the tables,” said Tanner, referring to the retired Battleship USS Iowa that shares its name with the new submarine, now a museum. “We'll have Sullivan brothers pictures and historical Iowa stuff, maybe a picture of John Wayne thrown in there, just because ‘The Duke’ is from Iowa. It brings out the atmosphere of Iowa on the mess deck. So when the sailors come in and they have their meals, or they have their training, or they're sitting down relaxing playing cards, there's Iowa all around them.”
The USS Iowa is a history-making submarine. It’s the fourth U.S. Navy ship and the first Navy submarine to be named after the state of Iowa. Although women have served on submarines for many years, the USS Iowa is the first submarine with accommodations built for women.
The USS Iowa commissioning ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. CST this Saturday. There are more than two dozen watch parties being hosted across the state of Iowa, including at the Grout Museum in Waterloo and Waverly Area Veterans Post. You can also watch the commissioning ceremony via livestream online.
