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 aboard the “Rosie” from December 1970 until May of 1974 in “E” Division Lighting Shop. I made 3 Med cruises, first one was for 6 months, second one turned out to be for 10 months (extended because our relief ship had a fire on-board I believe) and the 3rd Med cruise was a 6 month as well. On my 3rd and last cruise when we were coming back to home port we went through a severe storm that did quite a bit of damage to the forward catwalks and also knocked a starboard side hanger bay door off it’s hinges and it fell into the hanger bay, damaging planes and I believe that some people got hurt as well. This is a great website and I would like to hear from any of my old shipmates!
I was attached to VFP 63 Detachment Two and was on board the Rossie January 71 Med cruise. Most everyone on the cruise knew me by my nickname “Abe.” When Admiral Zumwalt said we could grow a beard, I grew one that looked like Abe Lincoln. My berthing compartment was under the 4th wire and the office for V1 was next door. If you needed something on board and couldn’t get it through normal channels, you came to me. I was fairly good at the naval art of “Comshaw!” I would like to hear from anyone from Det 2 or any of my lost shipmates from that 71′ cruise. My E-mail is stub@tampabay.rr.com.
bos,n mate of the watch 2nd division.ramed a liberan freighter in the
massina passage split that sucker right in half.
spent a month in dry dock in naples, god did that get expensive,
meet some good people in the nav and some nit wits
but without the navy I wouldent have my job or my house.
last cruse of the rosey. 76 77 it is logged I was the last bosun mate of the watch underway.
Underway Saturday Sunday Filthy Dirty and Rusty USS FDR. but I wouldent trade a day I think of my time on board fondly.
I was in VF-84 1971 to 1973.
Aboard from Sept or Oct 62 till Mar or April 65
I was the Marine Orderly for then Caption G.E. Miller, now Vice Admiral Gerald E. Miller retired.
If anyone knows how to get in contact with Vice Admiral G. E. Miller, I would like drop him a line,call or visit.
Tommy M. Cole EM2,
I was in E Division from August of 1959 to December 20, 1962. I worked as the Flight Deck Electrician for three years. I was on three Med Cruise trips.
Work in Primary Flight Control during that period. James Sakowski EM2 was the flight deck electrician before me. I had a good time. Great Ship and ship mates. I now live in High Point North Carolina. my email address is RealTomCole@northstate.net. I retired from Duke Power in 1994 and have been selling real estate since then. I am with Coldwell Banker Triad doing business in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina. My Coldwell Banker Email is Tommy.Cole@coldwellbanker.com
I served aboard December 61 to April 65 (AO2) and also served aboard August 71 to December 74 (AO1) with VA-15 ……Remember the extended cruise and the swim call….
I would like to hear from anyone who served with VA-15 onboard 61-65 or 71-74.
aboard 1968-1972, RD2 working in ECM and CIC OI Division
I served aboard FDR from April ’71 to Nov ’74 in as an ET in OE div. Made 3 Med cruises and drydock overhaul in Philly.
Are you out there Chief Chase? Would like to hear from any of the OE guys.
Was on the Rosie 66-69. Was assigned to the cod crew out of AIMD. Would like to hear from any shipmates. email me at elbi57@yahoo.com
Aboard 62-63 OI Div. One med cruse, Cuban crisis and one cruse to Gitmo. How many carrier qual? Who can say. Once below equator on return from med. Good times looking back, not so sure at the time. Remember day kenedy died, was on brovo working party replenish at sea.
I was on the Rosie from 1956 to 1959. Some of the best times of my life.I was in A-division in air conditioning & refrigeration.I was
the one that kept the water coming out of the scuttlebutts cold.I
keep in touch with two other guys that were aboard with me. All Our
birthdays are January, February & March of 1938. They are still my
best buddies.
Patrick F. Walton
I was aboard the Roosevelt CVA 42 for two Med cruises 1960&1961. I was attached to the air group and a member of VF 11 , The famous Red Rippers .
She was a fine ship and I have many memories of the time aboard.
robertlane@comcast.net
Joined FDR in the yards at Portsmouth, VA, worked as the “coupe cleaner” while we lived off ship. Did the shake down and move to Mayport ~1969.
Med cruise circa 1969-70, aviation fueling flight deck crew (Airman / ABF3) and also worked in flight deck control keeping fuel status. A couple names I remember: Shippy, ABF2 Billy Joe Miley, Chief Beamen, Chuck Whitley.
Things I remember well: The A6 that settled into the water beside the ship and the Pilot & REO punched out but one was lost when the wreckage sank. The night the F4 ran out of fuel when the lights were not left on at the bingo field. The A3 that cold CATed and was run over by the ship and visable under the water wrapped around the bow. Grappling for pad eyes when they would spin one around that had gone down prior to launch. The loneliness of being alone on a cat walk on a dark night.
I was a kid at the time and wish I had been wise enough to appreciate all the experience more. I am greatful to those who led us and kept us safe.
I hope all are well and I am grateful to all who have served.
I now volunteer at the Phildelphia USO one day a week – Bob
I served aboard the FDR, CVA-42, from 1970 – 1974 in the CR divn (RM3). Had some great days, good time and a lot of memories. It would be great to hear from some of the guys. BLAZER162@AOL.com
I was highlined aboard in the Gulf from the USS Neches (I beleive that is how you spell it) in 66 and returned to the states via tha equator as we stopped and spent a lovely day there. I finished the Viet Nam tour and tour took a tour of the Med before I left CVA-42 for the last time in 1968. I was an AQ in VF-14 working on phantoms. I saw VF-14 at the Smithstonian. I guess I am a part of history.
I served on the FDR CVA-42 from 1968 to 1971 in AMD division, ADJ3. Some of the best memories of Navy days.
Appreciate the new website-and the heads up on it from Joe Howell, who’s father was a Chief during my tenure aboard. It was good times serving aboard -I regret I have lost contact with some good friends thru the years; Roy Tschabold, Jerry Byrnes, Ted Brundage, Vern Chedister, Billy Gay, Norman East, John M.Cecil, John Daigrepont, Chesbro, DuPont, and many others.
But, all is not lost I still have contact with Howard L. Jones, and Carl Snyder. About 6 years ago I met Jonesy and his wife Judy at my sons place in ILLINOIS. It was good seeing them.
This year we hope to see some of our other BT buddies in Montana in September or October.
Served aboard the Roosevelt, “A” Division from Sept. 58 through Jan 61.
Worked in the LOX crew. Remember those Med cruises, and the stay in GITMO and
Port Au Prince, Haiti. Retired from IBM, just loving retirement.
I served on the FDR from 1952-1954. I made one Med. cruse. After that our ship went to Bremeton Wa., Puget Sound Navy Shipyard for a extra deck to be fited with. From there I went to the Philippines, Alogapol and finish my tour in the Navy. Wish I had shiped
over, but didn’t. The best time of my life while I was in the Navy. Stay safe ship mates. Bob
AH the great old days on the Rosie, served early 72-late 73 Marine Detachemnt. She cranked along like no other leaving everyone in her wakes. Many days out at sea and never forget the med of 73. Working 24’s at sea, pressing utilities at 2 a.m. Worked with many fine marines and navy, Great Teamwork
Good job on the website just noticed it last week
My name is William (Bill) R. Gleason. I went aboard the U.S.S. FDR in 1945 as a Musician 3rd Class. We proceeded to the shakedown cruise to Cuba (Gitmo). My memorize is hazy, but I believe 12 planes were lost & 9 men were killed on that cruise. The plane I recall was a gull winged Corsair. After the shakedown cruise we proceeded to Rio de Janiero, Brazil for the inauguration of the then new President Dutra of that country. The band was sent up to a fabulous hotel in the mountains called Quitandina (sp?). It was an unbelievable hotel where we were treated royally. I was sworn in to the Navy on May 13, 1944, and discharged May 13, 1946. Prior to FDR, I was on a troop transport called the General C. G. Morton. I am 83 years of age and hope for some more good years. I located David Vaas, who served on the same ships, via the internet. I wrote and received a letter from his widow. I doubt there are very many crewmen still living from that era. I was just under 20 when I was discharged. I loved that ship. While in Washington, D.C. I was privileged to play in FDR’s funeral parade as a member of the U. S. Navy School of Music.
Bill Gleason
2143 Foster St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
PH# 760-757-5230
Trying to locate shipmates from CR div 65-68, I have located 8 so far, would be great to get together some time, drop a line to kentanula@yahoo.com
Just bumped into this “new” website. Thanks Larry for picking up the ball. (remember me sending you scans from my FDR Cruise Book?) . My father was a Chief Boilerman aboard the FDR from ’56 thru ’62 when he retired. I have all his cruise books from that time and have scanned them on request from any sailor on her from that time. Offer is still good!
For you former BT’s, I am a member of the “BT’s from the Fifties” and a reunion has been taking place yearly – what a great group! Happy to to put you in touch with them.
jhowel38280@gmail.com