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
G DIVISON 1972-1975 SHIP COMPANY THEY CALL ME HAMMER FROM ALABAMA. jcbennett@knology.net
on the rusty rosie 1964 to 1965,v6,test cell,
I was aboard the “Rosie” while attached to VF-14. I trying to find out if anyone knows if we were in “Brown Water” while serving in Vietnam.
Also trying to get in touch with friends from the line division (Plain Captains). If anyone can help I can be reach Via E-mail. F600@myfairpoint.net.
Thanks a million
Jean-Paul Curran
(Bubbles)
Alex, Great story!! Any other versions out there? Larry
Hey Larry
I remember the outhouse. It was built during 1962-63 Med. cruise. It housed dogs and cats and a large smoke bomb. It was lifted by helo over to either the carrier we were relieving or that was relieving us. The flight deck was clear for awhile then a ensign came out and opened the door and the cats fell on the dogs and the smoke bomb went off. They probably still have cats on that ship.
Don Hoban I do remember you. I worked with Jerry Beard in XRAY and as the saniation inspector and when we were out to sea I was one of the flight deck corpsman. I was from Johnstown,Pa..Have you heard from any others? My email is trainman@atlanticbb.net I hope to hear from you. Bill Davis
BILL DAVIS HM3
I was a striker in sick bay during this time frame. I knew Beard, and Hm1 Strickland, Mike
Opal Hm3, I left for Corpsman “A” School late May 1969. (Bill, where you from N.C. ? ) After corp. school, Fleet Marine trainning, Naval Hosptial Jax, it was on to sunny Viet Nam
Republic of…Mag 11 Dang. Got out July 1972. HM3, “HOBIE” Hoban
“Served onboard for her last cruise which was my very first, Got onboard the Friday before we left for a 9 month Med. Cruise and at 17 I was scared as you know what coming from a little town and the biggest boat I ever seen was a 10 foot John Boat. worked in the #4 Engineroom and the #4 Generator Room MM1 Roberts was the Supervisor was from Texas I do think. Have a Decommisioning Coin from Her. Hello to all who served on this great ship.”.. Hi, DALE WONCH, i to served on the FDR on the last med cruise, also in #4 engine room. i so remember roberts, (bryan ryan as well) i think he was in charge in the generator room, do you remember a, John e scott, red headed stocky kid? i also had a decommisioning coin, but unfortunately my house was broken into years ago and the coin was stolen from me (i understand there worth a few dollars now). i wish i knew of a way to get one now, but i think its very unlikely..nice to see someone i likely served with though..
My Dad, Richard T Overcash served as BM2 on the FDR CVA -42 from 12 May 61 to Sept 63
finishing at LANFLT Jacksonville, Fla.
I was born at Duval Naval Hosp. in Oct 1961.
Does anybody know the story behind the “outhouse” being heloed over the the Independence on 04 Oct. 1964 when the FDR had to go to Bayonne for a new prop? Number was 10 on the door and “Turk’s Head” above the door. Please message me witn the Webmaster Contact Form if you remember the story. Larry.
This reply is for Linda Buan (Daughter of Tom Williams):
Ms. Buan, my name is Bob Schultz, I was one of the Helo Rescue Aircrewman the day we lost your Dad. Wanted to reply to your November 2010 message and make myself available if you have any questions. You can Email me at Debischultz@comcast.net.
I did not personally know your Dad, but being a Naval Aviator, I can assure you they don’t come much better than him!
Many years have passed since that fateful day and believe me, few days go by that I don’t think about it and wonder why.
Regards,
Bob Schultz
WELL I’M A SHIPMATE OF YOUR SISTER SHIP U.S.S. CORAL SEA CVA-43 AND CV-43 AND AFTER MAKING 11 CRUISES ON THREE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS DURING MY CRAZY NAVAL CAREER WHERE I GOT OUT THE NAVY TWICE BEFORE REALIZING I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN THE VERY FIRST TIME BUT AFTER SPENDING THE FIRST THREE COMBAT CRUISES ON THE CORAL SEA WITH MY VERY FIRST ONE BEING THE LONGEST CRUISE ANY AIRCRAFT CARRIER HAS EVER MADE SINCE, 331 DAYS LONG AFTER BEING EXTENDED. THE WHOLE IRONIC THING ABOUT THAT CRUISE WAS THAT WE LEFT MONDAY DECEMBER 7, 1964 AT 0800 23 YEARS EXACTLY AFTER PEARL HARBOR DAY AND HAVING SPENT 36 DAYS IN PEARL HARBOR TO GET OUR BOILER TUBES REPLACED. WE STARTED BACK ON SCHEDULE TO OUR VERY FIRST OVERSEAS PORT-OF-CALL OF MANILA, PHILIPPINES WHICH WE NEVER SEEN THAT CRUISE BECAUSE THE VIET CONGS KILLED SOME AMERICAN OVER THERE ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6, 1965 AND AFTER PRESIDENT JOHNSON PUT THE WORD OUT ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7,1965 EXACTLY TWO MONTHS AFTER WE LEFT OUR HOMEPORT OF NAS ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 7, 1964. WE WERE ONCE AGAIN FIGHTING ANOTHER CUNNING ENEMY JUST LIKE THE JAPANESE. FOR US ABROAD THE CORAL SEA THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME THE SHIP HAD EVER LAUNCHED IT’S AIRCRAFT AGAINST AN ENEMY AND WE KICKED IT UP TO A 100 NOTCHES TO SET THE PACE FOR ALL TO FOLLOW. I SPENT 528 DAYS ON THE LINE OFF THE COAST OF NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAM DURING FOUR CRUISES BUT I WOULDN’T TRADE IT FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA. I HAD A GREAT NAVAL CAREER EVEN THOUGH IT ALL STARTED OUT CRAZY. 8 WESTPACS, 2 WORLDS AND 1 MED CRUISE PLUS ONE SHORE DUTY FOR 23 YEARS OF TOTAL NAVAL SERVICE FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS.
WALTER HARDY, JR. ABH-1 U.S. NAVY RETIRED
I served on the “Rosie” from mid 1963 thru to 28 Nov 1966. Was in “G” division.
E-Mail address… wkeyes4127@aol.com
I was aboard from 1959 – 1962 OP Divn. PT-3
Hello Shipmates,
I arrived onboard the Rosie in 1975 and transferred after the decommissioning ceremony in 1977. I was a Personnelman (E-3) when I transferred. X-Div (Personnel Office). I too have a decommissioning coin to remember her, however, she was my first ship – you always remember your first ship. I have many fond memories of my time onboard. The last cruise, the collision, playing the Marines in football in Catania, etc. Still keep up with shipmates, Jerry Ira Miller, Jerry Schaefer and others. Their families are part of me. I went on to serve 28 years retiring as a Commander in 2006. And it all started on the FDR. God Bless You All!
Mike “John Boy” Stacy, CDR, Ret
served on port cats, also served on USS Forrestal and USS Essex
forgot to add my contact info + would like to hear from Tommy (Willy) Williams from NC, Joe Gmelch BT3,
Bob Gilligan (NY), Fred Kerzner ( RI), Dan Pfaff (OH), Lee Hayden (OH?), John Ellis (IND ), Angelo Falcone (PA) , “The Mayor” Joey Castaldo, Dave Brown (MT), Jimmy Mitchell (FL)
ragtop1964@gmail.com
Served onboard for her last cruise which was my very first, Got onboard the Friday before we left for a 9 month Med. Cruise and at 17 I was scared as you know what coming from a little town and the biggest boat I ever seen was a 10 foot John Boat. worked in the #4 Engineroom and the #4 Generator Room MM1 Roberts was the Supervisor was from Texas I do think. Have a Decommisioning Coin from Her. Hello to all who served on this great ship.
On board from November 1961 through May 1964 in OI division. Good memories!!
on board 65-66 At Mayport
My heartfelt prayers, thoughts and deepest sympathies to the families of the fine men of VQ2/ EA3B who were lost at sea 2/26/70 after crashing off the port catapult.
God Bless you
Lt Cdr Roger Blaine Thrasher
LT Thomas Lee Walls
AO 1/C Floyd Russell Bond
I forgot one more thing. All Veterans of the Rosie should watch a movie called “Soldier” with Kurt Russell. It’s a futuristic movie and shows the Rosie. Now, anyone with ANY connection to the Rosie knows this is B.S. but it’s still interesting to see her on the screen. WARNING: They have her on the port side on a garbage planet. It may be hard to see if you loved her the way my dad says he did. I watched that movie when it came out, and since Dad was on that ship, the number 42 caught my attention fast.
My father, AQ2 James F. Denney, served on the Rosie from ’74-’77. I have found a Zippo lighter belonging to an AK1 J.E. Kuykendall. If anyone knows of his whereabouts please contact, or have him contact, me at night_train_rat@yahoo.com Thank you.
What a time to remember. Some good parts and some not so good, but an experience that will never be forgotten. I was in personnel and GQ was in damage control. I was aboard a training ship straight out of boot camp. USS Daniel A Joy DE585 and while on the Rosie we got shipped out for the Cuban Missile Crisses and while there, I found out 35yrs later that the Daniel Joy was also part of that barricade. Interesting stuff.
Was anyone S-3 division in the early to mid 70s or know anyone who was? My father was and I would like to get in contact with someone who may have known him. His name was Garry Wayne Ball and I believe he was on USS FDR from 1973-1975. Thank you! nay4jay@gmail.com
Hi, Was in VF-32 aboard the carrier FD Roosevelt. Would like to hear from anyone from VF-32. 1966- 67 -68. It’s been a long time and is there a Sam Uston or Ellinger still out there. Those were the good old days. Robert E Parks – bparks122@msn.com