Commissioned 22 February 1943, the U.S.S. Iowa was placed in reserve and refitted many times before her final decommission on 26 October 1990. In the fall of 1943, Iowa carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference. Her combat debut was in the Marshalls campaign as flagship of Battle Division 7. Iowa fought through the entire Pacific war and entered Tokyo Bay as Admiral William F. Halsey's flagship for the Japanese surrender ceremony on 2 September 1945. She earned nine battle stars for World War II service. After WWII, Iowa served as flagship for the 5th Fleet and flagship of VADM R.T. Briscoe, Commander Seventh Fleet, off Korea. She earned two stars for Korean War service and also served during Vietnam and the Gulf War. On 19 April 1989, an explosion within Turret Two killed 47 crewmen.