Comments

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  Paul F. Rosscup March 21, 2014 at 3:08pm

  I did one cruise on the Ranger and it was not a good one. 82-83 cruise, we lost 10 shipmates, a couple of aircraft, we had 3 real general quarters-the first one was when a shipmate got blown overboard the day of flight opts-the rescue copter only found his crannial, next we had a collision with a tanker refueling us, the Capt. decided he wanted to take a 25 degree turn to starboard, where the tanker was at, so from then on he was referred to as "Capt. Crunch and the last and worst was we had a major fire in Engine room 2 that killed 6 shipmates when the fuel flashed. I didn't enjoy my time on the Ranger at all. We were supposed to go to Sydney, Perth and Hobart, Tazmania, but some butthead Marine General thought it would be a good idea to see if a carrier, who was running on 2 screws, could still maintain it's readiness so we stayed on station for almost 4 months. We missed a 6 pack cruuise by about a week. We did manage to get engine 2 repaired and online by the time we got back to the P.I., then we headed back to the states. Worst cruise ever, for me at least.
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  Richard Bonilla, USS Ranger CV61 March 20, 2014 at 12:23pm

  Chiefs Mess ...  best food on the ship....
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  Martin Knight November 13, 2013 at 10:44pm

  Was stationed on the USS Ranger from 1983 to 1987 out of NAS North Island. Master Chief Hobbs was of course the CMC. I worked in G-1 Division, Weapons Elevators. I made Chief while on board. Alot of hard work and good training.
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  Mark W. Senda August 4, 2013 at 1:34pm

  During a recent swing through Seattle, I decided to take the ferry over to Bremerton. I knew that the Ranger was sitting in mothballs there and I was anxious to take a peek since I had not seen her since my out-processing in the spring of 1983. Sitting in a row and not far from the main gate to the base the old gal sat, looking sad along side such other memorable ships like the Indy, Connie, And Kitty (all for whatever reason which looked even sadder and in greater stress).
  As I went back to the ferry dock and waited for the next run back to Seattle, I walked over to a small bodega who advertised "lumpia". This was another memory from my past days in Subic Bay and brought back even more memories. The whole experience humbled me and left me humming the old Kansas song Dust in the Wind.....
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  michael michalak April 30, 2013 at 7:45pm

  the ranger was by far my best command, i was CMAA from sept of'90 until i retired in may of'92.
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  Ken Estes April 5, 2013 at 11:10am

  Aloha Terry,

  Thank you Terry and all else who contributed.  The Foundation really tried but without $millions vs $'s it could not gain traction.   I have partnered with another Rangerman--John Slaughter, to produce a memorial, History and Reunion website www.uss-ranger.org to keep the memories alive.  Thanks to all.

  Shutterbug

  Ranger OP Div, Photo Lab 1959

  

  USS Ranger (CVA/CV-61) History and Memorial

  This is the USS Ranger (CVA/CV-61) History and Memorial site. It is dedicated to the history of the U.S. Ships Ranger with emphasis on the 7th ship t…
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  Ken Estes April 5, 2013 at 11:07am

  $14 million and a pier to tie up at.   It is too late, unless you have the money and the location--let me know and we will bust buns with Congress to get her saved!
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  Francis Kenneth Leach, Jr. April 4, 2013 at 9:14pm

  How much wwould a group have to raise to save the Ranger?
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  Terry A. Chapman April 4, 2013 at 8:53pm

  Aloha Ken,
  Sorry to hear this. I know you have worked long and hard to get this done, and to have it unravel in the 11th hour is very frustrating. Mahalo for all of your hard work!
  
  Chappy C.
  Ranger V-2 85-86
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  Ken Estes April 4, 2013 at 8:33pm

  Been a while since I posted (Feb 2011)   This is sad news I bring.  I retired shortly after I made this post, leaving the effort in I hoped better hands.  After 13 years of trying to save Ranger, they had a location and were starting to raise money.  But they forgot one thing--The BNSF RR bridge at Vancouver.  When they could not get through they failed to convience NAVSEA they every had a chance, and NAVSEA pulled the donation hold and posted Ranger for dismantling.  I joined another group and we tried every port that had rejected us in 2001---only to find they still rejected us.  Sorry guys, No Port, No Money and now No Ship.  I hurt to say this as I spent twice as much time to save her as I spent in the Navy.  However there is a great group of guys in the Ranger Reunion Association (www.uss-ranger.org/reunion/  Dues are low cost, message on reuniting shipmates--they have convention every year just to have fun.  Not like  having our ship but.   Oh, about the group in Fairview, they are in the process of changing their name and will attempt to get a smaller ship.