HAVE YOU CHECKED THE HOME PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFO?
I have managed to resurrect some of the Guest Books from the previous FDR Websites. There are some that are lost forever but this is the best there is at the moment. There is a lot of good stuff there.
Click on the year you want to view. Click on the left arrow at the top of your browser to return to this page.
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006-09
MISUSE OF INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN COULD BE AN INVASION OF PRIVACY!
Sign in using the comment form at the bottom of the page and please leave a valid email address. It will NOT be viewable to visitors! If you want to hear from your shipmates leave your email address IN THE MESSAGE ALSO.
SO
Please put your email address in your message so your shipmates can get back to you (if they can remember you).
There is software on board that makes it unreadable to the “bots” who collect that sort of stuff.
All entries must be approved before they will appear in the book. Any inappropriate entries, as well as those with invalid email addresses, will be deleted and will not appear. I check daily so don’t despair if your entry doesn’t appear immediately.
Due to a rash of automated spam messages we now use “captcha” authentication. Just enter the “captcha” code and then SUBMIT. Don’t worry about upper or lower case….either will work. If you have trouble reading it just click the little button to the right and it will “refresh”. Thanks!
Many shipmates have told me, via email, about having visited this site. Oddly many have not left entries here for their shipmates to see. THEY do wonder how you are and probably would love to hear from you. This is a great way get back in contact.
REMEMBER….THE ONLY WAY FOR YOUR SHIPMATES TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU IS HAVING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR MESSAGE
For YOUR protection – No home phone numbers or addresses please. Please save that for when you make email contact.
REMEMBER….IF YOU WANT TO BE CONTACTED MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE BODY OF YOUR MESSAGE
Served onboard “Rosie” from 1975 to 1977. Was in V-3 Div. and made the last cruise.
Served onboard “ROSIE” from 1964 to 1968 in “G” division. Was in “G” flight deck crew during our tour with the “Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club”. Was discharged in drydock in Norfolk VA.
My son, Richard C. Burgess (age 62), died March 30, 2010. I do not know when he was assigned to the USS FDR, however, he was aboard the trip from Mayport to Norfolk. I have a picture of him presenting a piece of memorbilia which was triangular in shape, wooden, and a peg of sort in the middle of the bottom shelf , which he presented to the Marine Corps Leage of Ft. Wayne, IN where he was living. Does anyone know what this object represents. His son tells me it has something to do re a flag of the USS FDR. My son was very fond of “Rosie”. He stated to me on various occasions that joining the Navy was the best thing he did in his life.
served on the rosie med cruise 67-68 dry dock va. 69 M Div. main engines with Chief Hare
and David Dekracker, James Stewart and others. I have forgotton some, great times i would do it again, and a guy named James Poore boiler maker from fla. and many many more miss them all I was a old boy from Mississippi that went to sea and learn to love it……..
I am looking for a Sailor named Mike Dronen who served on the FDR (OI 1970) with My father Richard Valentine my email is neissy7@yahoo.com Thanks
DRAKE NILLSON WROTE AN ARTICLE IN SEA STORIES ABOUT THE 1969 FIRE ON THE FLIGHT DECK OF THE FDR. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS. IF YOU DO PLEASE CONTACT ME I WAS ON THE FDR FROM 1968-70. YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT fishman17320032000@yahoo.com THANKS
I ran across your site and it brings back a lot of memories. I worked in the Post Office on
the Roosevelt in the 60’s and was released when we were in Yokosuka, Japan during the
Nam cruise in 1966 to return to the states. My brother Andy was also on the Roosevelt
working in the boiler room during the same years.
I served on the FDR 72-74 The ship was in a storm in the atlantic which resulted in the death of a friend Chief Robert Rhoades. I need information on the incident , It is very important to verify what happened. I have filed a claim for benefits though the VA and have to get info for this claim.
Please, anyone that can help me I am indebted to your help.
edelliott2@verizon.net
Thanks, I really enjoyed serving on this great ship, and great shipmates!!!!!!!!!
I was with VA 153 “Blue Tail flies” on her last cruise. We were a west coast squadron sent out on a Med cruise. I was a plane captain and worked the flight deck. One of the many memories from that cruise was the day we had the mini air show for the Vips and the bombing run they were setting up was a little too close to the ship thus we had incoming shrapnel hit the ship. Even tho we were told to hit the deck I still took and have pictures of the bombs dropping and hitting the water. Collision was right out side my line shack on the starboard catwalk. We were in it at the time. I never saw a persons eyes so big as the guy who was going out to get water for coffee, and jumping back in the hatch yelling “we are going to hit another ship” of course we did not believe him until I saw his eyes, as big as pie plates. Then we heard the collision alarm sounding. Ahh… the stories and memories.
This entry will be for Denise Vallentine Robinson. Please find my deepest sympathies for you and your family on the loss of a great man and sailor Richard Vallentine who I served with on the FDR 69-71. He was a true friend and will be missed by all who knew him. God Bless, David Hamilton
…..Hi. My name is Robert Smith. My father (SMITH, ROBERT B, RM3c, USNR) deployed on the maiden voyage and shakedown as a radioman gunner in VB-75 (SB2C-4E Helldivers). He was trained at NAS-JAX, and stationed at Chincoteague / Norfolk, VA. I have located two VB-75 veterans.
…..For veterans & survivors only: I have three remaining 6in VEE BEE flight jacket patches (near perfect repros); Photo comparison w/original available. Also squadron photos.
…..For administrator: Thank you (place big handshake here) for this admirable site: a lot of time and effort. I will be donating ASAP.
The missing nicname for VB-75 on your deployment page is “Vee Bees.”
If you’re interested, I have 1945-46 photos of:
my dad
SB2Cs
VB-75 squadron personnel
orig squadron patch
a 1945-46 navy blue felt “F.D.R.” cap
…..I AM LOOKING FOR MY FATHER’S AIRCRAFT NUMBER(S) AND AVIATOR(S), PLUS ANY VB-75 INFORMATION, Including maiden/shakedown cruise stories.
Thank you for your attention. I can be emailed at veebee@nevermail.me . God bless our troops.
Robert Lyle, I was probably on board after you left but I can put you in touch with Dan Pelligrinni if you remember him. Send me an e-mail rcher54@ptd.net
served from 71 to 74 in X div.
I am looking for anyone that may have served with my father on the FDR. In the years 1970-1973. I know he was in OI DIVN and was a RD2. He recently passed last Oct 2009 and I wasn’t able to get to know his Navy life would love if any one had any stories, pictures or info
His name was- *RICHARD “DICK” VALENTINE*
you can email me at neissy7@yahoo.com
I’m also looking for a USS FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT CVA-42 CRUISE BOOK 1971
Would like to hear from anyone on the westpac cruise in oi div
I served during 1970 – 72. I would like to have contact with any crew member that might remember me. Thanks! Michael
I’M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT ALAN SAYRE. I WAS IN ‘R’ DIVISION DURING THAT TIME. I’M LOOKING AT HIS PICTURE AS I WRITE THIS. I CAN’T SAY I REALLY EVER KNEW HIM THOUGH. IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT ,I BELIEVE HE WORKED IN THE REHAB SHOP. I WAS ON THE ROSIE FROM 72—76ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT MY E-MAIL ADDRESS…… QUALITYGARAGEDOOR@HOTMAIL.COM. DENNIS HICKS
18 Feb. 2010 – Email From Cora Varian
Don’t know how to get in touch with anybody who served on the FDR. Yours is the only address that I can find or get in touch with. Alan Sayre (Munchkin) R-Divison (damage control) who served in about 1973-1975 passed away in his sleep on February 4, 2010. If you know of anybody who served at the same time or in the same division, please let them know. Thank you for your time.
any one wanting to buy my decommisioning coin 45/77 mint condition still in the case, contact me at my E mail address…….. chachi057@yahoo.com
its marked on the side as 999 fine silver 1731
Reply for Chief Smith, I was on the Rosie in 71 &72. OE Division.
Hi- wanted to leave my email for anyone who remembers me from the “Rosie”. I was on duty between 1963-1967.”Rep 7″ They called me “little moose”. Mostly flight deck fuelie. Send emails to crazeedm2@yahoo.com Hope to hear from someone soon!
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’T MAKE IT AND I AM SURE HER CREW ARE SAD FOR THAT. IF IT WERE UP TO ME ALL OF OUR RETIRED WARSHIPS WOULD BE SAVED AND TURNED INTO MUSEUMS AND MEMORIALS. MEN,AND WOMEN, WERE IN MOST CASES LOST ON THESE SHIPS WHILE SERVING AND THE SHIP ITSELF WAS HELPING TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE, I JUST FEEL THAT IF A GROUP OF PEOPLE WANT TO TRY AND SAVE A VESSEL FROM DESTRUCTION, A PLACE TO BERTH IT SHOULD BE MADE POSSIBLE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. IT WAS ALREADY PAID FOR BY TAX PAYERS I.E. THE PEOPLE AND IN MOST CASES IN BLOOD. OUR WARSHIPS ARE NOT JUST SOMETHING TO BE SCRAPPED. SORRY I WENT OFF ON THIS JUST HAD A PLACE TO VENT AND DID SO. I WOULD LIKE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SAILORS WHO BUILT, AND MODIFIED THE MODELS OF FDR. I HAVE THE ONE YOU CAN GET OF HER AS BUILT IN WW-2, I HAVE A MIDWAY 1/800 MODERNIZED, BUT AS YOU KNOW, FDR WAS DONE AT FIRST LIKE THE ESSEX CLASS,THEN ADDING THE FORWARD STARBOARD SIDE ELEVATOR.THIS BEING DIFFERENT THAN 41,43 HAVING THERE PORT SIDE LIFT AFT INSTEAD OF FORWARD. CAN’T JUST GET ANOTHER MIDWAY AND PUT 42 ON HER. I HAVE TWO UNBUILT 1/542 REVELL AS BUILT IN 1940’S WOULD LIKE INFO ON HOW THEY DID WHAT THEY DID, ALSO THEIR TERRIFIC DETAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT….YOUR FRIEND,AND FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT ENTHUSIAST….RG KULIG
Mr. Walters: Do you have any pictures of the “TACAN”, that thing at the top of the mast being replaced???
When you were in the Navagation Office do you remember the course we steamed after leaving Barcelona ,on or about 12 Aug 57, and prior to arriving at Athens, on or about 12 Sept 57???
All I heard on the flight deck nightly was “We’re still steaming East”.
Hi, I served from 56-60..made 2 med cruises..first year aboard I worked in the engineering office, then went to Navigation office..last 2 years in gunnery div..
just been looking at old slides from cruises…brings back some good memories..
if any thinks they served with me I’d like to hear from you….thanks
Hey mates. West Pac Cruise 68-67 Med Cruise 67-68 Dry Dock @ Pourtsmouth 68 A-2 Div. Great times as I look back. Anyone out there from that time?? dr.em1@juno.com