USS Hancock (CV/CVA-19) was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress and first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.[1] Hancock was commissioned in April 1944, and served in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning four battle stars. Decommissioned shortly after the end of the war, she was modernized and recommissioned in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA). In her second career she operated exclusively in the Pacific, playing a prominent role in the Vietnam War, for which she earned a Navy Unit Commendation. She was the first US Navy carrier to have steam catapults installed.

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  • Michael Yuan Han July 16, 2017 at 2:15pm

    MADE THE LAST WESTPAC WITH THE HANNA ASSIGNED TO VA55 A LOT OF MEMORIES GOOD AND BAD REMEMBER CLEANING OUT THOSE LATRINES ON GRANDA ISLAND FOR THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND WANTING TO GET BACK TO THE SHIP WHAT A DETAIL RIDING IN THE BACK OF AN OPEN TRUCK WITH ALL THOSE KEROSENE DRUMS FILLED WITH YOU NO WHAT SPLASHING ON US ONLY TIME I FOUGHT TO GET BACK TO THE  SHIP OTHER THAN SIGONELLA SICILY OH WELL DID MY DUTY FOR THE END OF THE VIETNAM ERA I AM SURE EVERYONE HAS A TIME WHEN THEY WANTED TO GET BACK TO THE BOAT

  • Robert C Smith July 16, 2017 at 10:37am

    WESTPAC/Vietnam July 1968 thru March 1969 and August 1969 thru April 19703439438080?profile=original

  • John T. Roberts June 28, 2016 at 9:44am

    March 1973 to January 1976,  G-Division  Weapons Elevators and Handling Equipment.  I worked with AO1 Edwards,  AO2 Drane, Plaketta, Masters, Loya, 

  • Dallas Miley April 29, 2016 at 10:14am
    VF-24 aboard Hancock for Operation's Eagle Pull & Frequent Wind, 04/29/75. Last 2 men to die in that damn peace action, Capt. Nystal & 1st Lt. Shea, died while trying to return to ship that day. Marines squadron's were aboard the ship & all Navy squadrons left in Subic Bay to prepare Grande Island for civilian's evacuated. This is a very hard time of the year for me, every year.
  • Donald R Eisner Jr April 29, 2016 at 9:47am

    I made my 1st West Pac on the Hancock. It had a wood flight  deck that was replaced in 1962 or 1963 . Was with the Black Lions of VF-213 aboard her.

  • Max Russell Ende February 4, 2016 at 1:24pm

    Permission to come aboard. I served on the Fighting Hanna from 1974-75. V-3 Division #2 Elevator Operator.

  • Michael Paul Lawson June 30, 2015 at 11:00pm
    I served on the Hancock 66-67 as a dental tech. I have great memories of a very hard working crew.
  • David s. McGrew August 31, 2014 at 2:38pm
    I made my first cruise on the Hancock, I was in VF-213 in 1960. I was 17 years old and enjoyed every minute of the cruise.
  • Dennis D Lund August 9, 2012 at 3:57pm
    What a small world? I was on the Oriskany my first cruise and then Hancock my second cruise. I was in Carrier Air Wing 16, VA-163 my first cruise on the Oriskany and then Carrier Air Wing 21 on the Hancock in VA-163 my second cruise. Jim Morrison's (The Doors) father, George S. Morrison, was the Fleet Admiral on my cruise with the Hancock, 1968 - 1969, as I recall. I enjoyed the Bob Hope USO Christmas Show during X'mas of '68? Especially, Ann Margaret & the Gold Diggers :)
  • Kenneth M. Colgate June 24, 2012 at 8:10pm

    Put me down as a former crew member.  AIMD 1975 WestPac Cruise

     

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