Welcome to the USS Forrestal CV-59 Guestbook Forum

Years Served: 4…I served on board Forrestal beginning in Sept. 1955 thru Nov 21 1958. I was an electrician and worked in the Power shop. I am a plankowner and was really disappointed in the Navy not lending a hand in making this powerful warship a museum.

Years Served: 1977 to 1979…Forrestal was my First ship and was on her for the Homeport change from Norfolk Va to Mayport Fla. Sorry to see her getting scrapped she deserves better.

Years Served: 1980 – 1983 VA81…does anyone remember the brass plaques that were on the bridge? one i remember said ‘forbearance’ but there were several other leadership virtues that were commemorated on other plaques – but i cannot recall them….can anyone recall them?

Years Served: 1988 to 1992 for the Forrestal. I was in until 1998…When I reported to the ship I was an undesignated airman and promptly sent to Aid Dept’s V-1 division. Where I aided in spotting aircraft and tying them down. I also operated the deck edge elevators. Then one night after flight ops, we were cut lose to get our 6 hrs of rest in when I decided to get to the berthing compartment by way of the flight deck. I mis-judged where I was at and almost walked off the bow of the ship. My foot hit the round down which prompted me to stop in my tracks. I decided at that point that I didn’t come to the Med. to get ran over by an 90k ton warship and trained to become an AO. Where I moved bombs that were designed by the lowest bidder lol. I loved my time as an ABH and as an AO. Wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Just wish the ship could be spared the cutters torch and made in a museum…. Lets hope her steel will find its way back to the ship yard for the Ford Class carriers. When I left the Forrestal, I went to the Carl Vinson CVN 70 and later on the Constellation CV 64.

Just for fun’s sake. The photograph of the FID transiting the Suez Canal with the sailors forming the “108” on the forward fight deck was taken by me. I remember that day. I was TAD, working nights for the MAA at the time, but because I was one of two special missions aerial photographers at the time, I got to sleep a normal night so I could make the flight. It was shot with a Pentax 6×7 medium format camera. I forgot the ASA of the film, but I do remember that it was very hot that day. It was Egypt after all.