Looking For Friends Of My Biological Father
I know this is a long shot and I'm going to hope for the best. I'm looking for anyone who may have known my biological father. I never got to meet him as he died in 2003 and I didn't know or meet the family until last year. (Ancestry DNA test)His name was Vernon Anthony Hart Jr. (Rochester, NY) and he was a DK stationed with CVG 8, USNAS Oceana as late as December 20, 1963. I was told he did at least one Med cruise on Forrestal during that period, early-mid 60's. It sounds like he was NOT part…
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After my A-school, I was assigned to the USS Forrestal from 90 -93 as a Radioman in the CR/Comm Div and did the last Med Cruise. It was the best time of my life and met some really nice shipmates back then. It was home away from home.
I wonder how many of our shipmates were aware that in November of 1963, the Navy operated a C-130 from the flight deck of Forrestal. It was the only time in history that the Herc made a carqual. CNO just wanted to know if it was feasible. Turned out it was. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM5AI3YSV3M
and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfwJJD5jGXk
I was assigned to the USS FORRESTAL twice in my Navy career. The first time was straight outta boot camp in '81 - '85. My first thought when I saw her was "How does something that size even float much less move?!?!" The second tour was from '87 - '88. It was abbreviated due to tuberculosis (my apologies to any shipmate that i would have happened to infect). Both tours were in Engineering "A-gang".
An effort has been launched to bring the Forrestal, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, to Pensacola. It was taken out of service in 1993 and is set to be scrapped.
Channel Three's Joe Douglass talked with organizers of the plan and a veteran who once served on the ship.
Imagine the one-thousand foot aircraft carrier sitting right here in the waters next to Community Maritime Park.
Supporters of the project say that could bring a lot of money to Pensacola.
Mark Taylor, Restore Forrestal Project: "It's just a community treasure. It's an American treasure."
Mark Taylor is a local businessman and nominee for the Community Maritime Park Associates Board of Trustees.
He's excited about the plan, which he's planning to pitch to the city council, Congressman Jeff Miller and just about anyone else who will listen.
Mark Taylor, Restore Forrestal Project: "To have it her in the Cradle of Naval Aviation would be a huge win."
Taylor has joined forces with the USS Forrestal Association.
The three-thousand member group has been struggling for decades to obtain the super-carrier, which was commissioned in 1955.
Jim Brussell, USS Forrestal Veteran: "We would love to see it as a museum, especially, Pensacola, Florida, because that was its last duty station."
Jim Brussell is the treasurer for the USS Forrestal Association.
He served aboard the carrier in 1967 when a fire killed 134 of his fellow sailors in waters off Vietnam.
Jim Brussell, USS Forrestal Veteran: "It'll be a day I never forget, definitely a tragedy, and the worst tragedy is they're trying to scrap the USS Forrestal."
The association estimates it would cost about 30-million dollars to make the Forrestal into a museum.
They say the project could be paid for in part with BP Restore Act funds heading our way.
Taylor is set to make a presentation to the City Council on Tuesday.
They'll decide how or if they want to move forward with the plan.
I was on her 73-74 IM3 division, PME shop. It would be great to turn her into a museum and gice me a reason to visit Pensacola.
Don't let it be scrapped!
http://www.ussforrestal.org/about-the-restore-pensacola-forrestal-p...
Made two Med cruises aboard Forrestal, '64-'65 & '65-'66, with VA-83 (A-4Es) She was a fine ship.
Made two Med cruises on the Forrestal, between 1975-1978; attached to VA-85 as their DK.
V4 Below Decks, 1980- 82 Pump Room Super.
FID, V-3 Div. 1987-91
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