USS Forrestal CVA 59
"First In Defense (FID) and My First Ship" 

Ship's Patch

                          
The Forrestal was the first ship of my naval career. I remember all the fanfare years before when the nations first "super carrier" was paying a visit to New York harbor. Little did I know then that I'd actually serve aboard her. I was blessed to get something BIG and stable, seeing that I got seasick riding on the Long Island Ferry when the sea was like glass. After going through boot camp and then training on long range radar for a year at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, I finally went to sea, reporting aboard the FID in Nov. 1969. Shortly after reporting aboard, we went to the Mediterranean for 10 months. Timing for being aboard was excellent. Forrestal had already been to Vietnam, where she had experienced the historic fire that took the lives of 134 valiant sailors and she'd just come out of the "yards" (shipyard) after making repairs from another fire. We did the 10 months then returned home for six months before heading back. I was privileged to see many countries I'd only read about in school. I think some of my most enjoyable times were being lost in thought while watching the seas roll by at night, only lit by the moon and stars, and watching night ops from the 011 level and feeling the warmth of the air heated by afterburners launching jets. In the picture above, the 011 level is behind the "dish and fist" radar on top front of the superstructure. That was my radar, the one I went to school for and the one I helped maintain. I went aboard as a third class petty officer (E4) and left 2½ years later as a second class (E5). Being my first ship, Forrestal has a special place in my heart but what came next was even better!

EPILOGUE
Forrestal currently sits pier side in Newport, Rhode Island awaiting disposition. After her decommissioning, she was placed in donation status waiting a new home. The faithful former members tried to make her "the nations first super carrier" museum and a memorial to the many valiant men who served and died aboard her. Unfortunately, the Department of Defense, NAVSEA Systems, decided to have her sunk as a part of the federal "reefing program" before all the requirements to give her a new home and purpose could be met. Sadly, she now sits awaiting her fate, a terrible end for a great ship! Although she may be lost to the sea, she will live on in the hearts of her crew (see To The Last Man poem which was written for the USS Hull DD-945 but still applies to Forrestal).

To read my Forrestal poem, click on the following:

From A Flight Deck Catwalk

To learn more about Forrestal, click on the following link: http://www.uss-forrestal.com/

Many thanks to the above and the following:

Marine Photos
(ship photo)

 USS Forrestal Mediterranean Cruise Book '71
(flight deck  photo)

for their editorial and graphic support!

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