I was an AMS2 with VF-41 during the 1972 Med Cruise. I was onboard until late November 1972 when I was discharged and flew back to Oceana out of Palma de Majorca via Rota, Spain. I worked the night shift in Airframes mainly.

February 24—2012
Looking for a friend that served with me aboard the FDR 1957—1958 as Seamen in the ships company FireControl Division. Friend is .Eual Stewart and he was actually from East Ohio and W.Virginia,I last met with him in Columbus Ohio in 1962—If you can help please do..Richard Chiles

NAV Divison Dec 1963 to Apr 1964 then early (82 days ??) out in Mayport. Great memories of piles of $$$$$$$ with one or more loaded 1911’s laid out on the table too.

Smooth sailing to you all, Ed

hi i was led here after researching family history, does anyone know of a william stanley dunstan, we were told he was captain aboard this ship during the early years (1940’s) but i have had a look through the information you have and cant seem to find anything about him, he was in the forces in the uk and my grandfather seems to think he was on this ship when it was first built , however he died at age 47 (in 1949) so there is relatively little known of him, our family would be very honoured to think he had some kind of role on this ship, if anyone has any information it will be greatfully recieved , many thanks

V-1 division, served from late 63 to May 66. Enjoyed 2 Med cruises (64 and 65).
I am in touch with a handful of former shipmates.
Does anyone know where John (Woody) Woodward or Johnny Gonzalez is?

I was part of VAW121 in 1970 to 1972 and remember the incident where one of our plane captains, petty office 2nd class, was blown into the spinning prop of a E1B. The petty officer lost his right leg and left foot in the accident. He was waiting at the dock when the ship returned to Norfolk with a artifical leg and foot to greet his shipmates. The location that our 3 plane detachment were parked, next to the island, demanded that you had to keep your head on a swivel all the time.

Tucker, Thomas NEW ETN3 Jun 28, 1962 – Aug 8, 1964 OE Division I watched the Rosie tugged up the Delaware to NJ in 1977. Days later, standing aside her nauctical berthing I paid my lasting respect for all who called her a home away as my brother and I remember: The Indelible Rosie

That story above was nearly 35 years ago and it was never planned for me to look on the Delaware River that day if not for it being heralded in the Wilmington Journal News. Living in Delaware made the trip automatic. Was it karma? I will be coming upon my 50th year this year when I first boarded the Rosie in Mayport, Florida on June 28th, 1962. It indeed has been an honor.

what happen to all the electricians that was aboard that bucket of bolts 1963/1966,wally greer,sawyer? ketechum?savinsky? anybody??

I was assigned to V-4 Division on the FDR from 1970-’72 after two years at NAS Kingsville, Tx as a plane captain. Those two years at Kingsville were a tremendous asset in regards to what was to be on the flight deck of the FDR. For example, the first time up on deck I quickly realized that I had to alter my work ethics around aircraft, or be killed. The planes were not as spread out as I was used to, and the ten foot warning painted on the side of the island, BEWARE OF JET BLAST rings true. There was no room for error now.

Aboard during the ’71 Med Cruise was an Early Warning Squadron, VAW-121 that flew an E-1B aircraft. It was known as the “Willy Fudd” by some. Others called it the COD, but in V-4 Division it was known as the Gas Burner, because it burned aviation gasoline as opposed to JP5 as the jets burned. Nice looking plane with a wide wingspan, two reciprocating engines with large props that almost hit the deck, and headers. It sounded like a dragster when it idled, and looked like one at night because you could see the flames shooting out of the exhaust.

On one particular afternoon I was on deck just forward of the starboard JBD waiting for an A-7 Corsair. When it arrived I stuck my head into the port wheel well to attach the fuel nozzle, then sat down on the tire with my hand gripping the hose to feel the thump it will make telling me that it’s full. I watched the gas burner come in, catch the hook, and taxi up to its usual position, which was just next to the island, aft of the starboard JBD, and directly behind the plane that I was refueling which had not yet shut down. The tires were chocked on the gas burner, and within a couple of seconds I saw a brown shirt walking toward it with tie down chains over his shoulders. As he approached his plane I recall that he wasn’t leaning, meaning that he wasn’t being affected by any strong currents, or any jet blasts. I noticed it because they almost always lean due to the ship sailing into the wind when recovering aircraft.

Going 30 knots into a 20 mph ocean breeze will produce a 50 mph wind over the deck. Combined with the weight of the chains and you will find yourself leaning. But this guy wasn’t leaning, and I wondered why. Then I remembered how we would sometimes stand behind a jet blast to get warm on a cold night, but just at the edge of it. It was just enough to make me lean into it, but not enough to knock me backward. Even though I was leaning into the exhaust, it pushed me back just enough to make me stand upright. It was an illusion, because although I looked as if I was standing upright, I gave in to the blast. I was relaxed, and if the jet shut down, I would fall over. Had I been closer to the center, I would’ve had to lean hard into it.

I thought to myself, this guy isn’t leaning because he’s at the edge of the jet blast. He’s leaning into the exhaust which is pushing him upright. Then I had another thought, and I yelled as loud as I could, “HEY!” I stood up, and again yelled, “HEY!” No one could hear me. He took one more step, caught the center of the jet blast, and started running straight for the prop. I turned my head away at the last instant, took my helmet off and threw it over the side, and went below. It was the most disgusting thing that I ever saw, and I didn’t see a thing, but I saw it in my mind. It was disgusting because I saw it coming, but reacted too late. I started thinking about how and why. Did he think the plane was shut down because he saw a fuel hose on it? Did he think that the jet blast was from a plane further away, like at the air station?

In 2009, 38 years later, about ten of us from V-4 Division got together for our third reunion in 6 years. We were talking about some of the incidents that occurred aboard the FDR one night, and I brought up this story. I said that maybe if I had recognized it a little sooner, or if I had reacted quicker, perhaps he would still be alive today.

I always avoided talking about it, so I suppose it was my own fault for not knowing the final outcome of this ordeal, because when I mentioned that he had been killed, I was told that he had survived, and I couldn’t believe. I’ve heard different accounts of this man’s injuries from different people, but they all agree that he survived. I can’t say that this has haunted me all these years, but I have thought about it from time to time. Now that I know that he’s alive, I wish I knew how he is doing.
My email is eas1949@aol.com

1st Division 68-71, Robert I hung out with Jim Morace, Don Doornheim, Bill Guilfoyle, Gus Henson, Dan Sedor, the Rosey has a facebook page, I made contact with Jim Pallagrino from NY, don’t know if you remember him, trying to get in touch with these guys, but no luck so far. Robert get in touch with me. John

bluefin78@zoominternet.net

I was part of a reserve unit called up to take Rosie to Mayport, Florida. I well remember being initiated on the equator and becoming a Shellback. Anyone remember being volunteered to go to the Chilean navy picnic? Jeez it was hot! Then onward around the Horn to Rio and then Florida. We became Horned Shellbacks.
whaw654768@aol.com

On board from June 1967 until October 1969. Member of Fox Division with Les Mong, Glenn
Semmelmann & many other great guys. Lots of good times on the 67/68 Med Cruise.

Served in Sick Bay during the 67/68 Med cruise. I’d be pleased and honored to hear from my old shipmates. Tom, Donald, Dick, Tindall, that includes you. Best wishes to all, dbeland@net-venture.com