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
Unfortunately, because there were no names or photos in the cruise book.
I was on the 1962-1963 cruise. Why are there no listings for that cruise?
was aboard 1974-76 & was bunked under arresting area.
I worked for a John Blocker who was on the ship when it was commissioned. he was a baker when he first came in. We worked at Spawar at point loma, the Navy labs. I was on the USS Blakely FF 1072 and was int battle group in 77 in the Med. I went over and had dental work done, we were in Northern Italy but I can’t remember the port. Anyway John always spoke fondly of the rosey. It was a shame she never got the care and refit that Midway and coral Sea got. Jeff
St. Cyr I thought the Entire Squadron did the 57/58 Med cruise. Look up A3skywarrior.com. Do you have any photos of the change out of the TACAN, from the top of the mast???
I live in Calif. P/C AL 307 BuNo135442, 56/59
Served aboard the “Ramblin Rosie” from 63 to 66 I was a boat coxswain in the 4th division. What a time it was. Tom Tryon, it was good to see you on here. I remember the prop incident in the med and the return trip back to NJ and could only go about 5 knots due to the vibrations at a higher rpm. If i am not mistaken one of our divers went down right after the prop broke off and drowned. I think it was an Ensign but can’t remember his name. And who could forget the collision with the French ship in the med. it hit just aft of our sleeping quarters. on our return trip from the med that year. As we were preparing to return to mayport we were busy moving the boats from the hanger bay to the flight deck. We were using the yellow gear to move the dollys. The weather was clear and as we were moving into position to dock, I was sitting on one of the yellow gear movers attached to one of the boat dollys. we were at flight deck level and as the ship touched the fenders one of the cables attached to the elevators snapped and the elevator fell and struck the dock. Several of the guys standing on the edge of the elevator jumped to the dock while I was stuck on the elevator. i jumped off the yellow gear and the elevator was tipping backwards against the ship. i tried to get to the hanger deck but was about 8 to 10 feet below the hangar bay floor by that time. one of the tongue’s of the boat dollys was swinging back and forth and hit my knee knocking me to the deck. I got up as the boats were coming toward me and made it to the side of the ship where several guys reached down and pulled me up to the hangar deck. I believe that those guys saved my life. I sure wish I could thank them. they took me to sick bay and I was there for a day or so but didn’t have any broken bones. That is one med cruise I will never forget. Anyone out there from the 4th division gimmie a shout.
paul304@bellsouth.net
I was aboard during 1957-1958 Med Cruise, with VAH-3 detachment.
I served from 1962-66 as flight deck crew chief
served in OA division, 1958/59
While watching a TV production dealing with the construction of super carrier Harry S Truman, I was reminded of a special journey that took place back in 1945 (I believe it was December).
My brother Ronald (age 7) and I (age 9) experienced the trip of a lifetime involving the FDR which at the time was at Brooklyn Navy yard ( I believe in drydock). We were privileged to be allowed special permission to spend an overnight visit aboard ship. We were accompanied by our uncle who was a Lieutenant and member of the crew. While aboard, we met the captain and enjoyed a tour of the ship. We also sat in a disabled Helldiver dive bomber that was in for repairs on the hangar deck. That evening we had supper in the officer’s mess and enjoyed a movie on the hangar deck (Mutiny on the Bounty with Chas Laughton and Clark Gable) I am sure that we may have been the only kids afforded that opportunity (at least up until then). These memories are still vivid even after 66 years. I thought that this event warranted at least small entry in the history of that great ship.
served in first division/1966-69. didn’t know that i was a child of the most high god back then.should have spent my time getting to know and appreciate the people around me, but i was young and took up space.
My name is William J. Norris and I was a lance corporal with the Marine detachment aboard the USS FDR from August 1969 to December 1970. I have been trying to locate a black sailor that saved my life while we were doing time in the ships brig from September to December 1970. I don’t remember his name, I think it was Robert but I’m not sure. He should remember me by the following bible verse Isaiah 43:10. If any one remembers or has any info, I would appreciate it if you can email me at the following address: wjnorris@metallube.com
I was onboard during the viet nam cruise, in 1966-1967, and came home for discharge on the first of January 1967. It really seems that when one is TAD to another division, your not mentioned as a crew member. I was a RM2 who spent the trip as a mess deck master at arms. At this time I have a daughter who is currently in the Army, home on leave (r&r), she has to go back to Afghanistan for another six months.
I served on the Roosevelt in 1961, would like to get in touch with other crew members. I would like to find David Hughes if anyone has information. I can be reached by email. Ron Deske
deskg@aol.com
Looking forward to hearing some stories!
1961 – 1965, Machinest Mate 2nd Class, A Division. My father “Charles Irving Eppling” was a proud member to serve aboard the USS Roosevelt. He then transferred to reserve in 1965 until 1967. He did civilian work for many years and then later continued his military career in the National Guard, Camp Shelby, retired in 2005ish???
He passed away from lung cancer in December 2009.
I have heard so many stories “only the shipmates and soldiers” should hear but since I was his favorite daughter (only daughter), I heard them all — LOL!
I do want to personally thank those that covered for my father when he was in the brig for protecting a girl while off duty when it was family weekend in Mayport!
I was on the ROSIE from 74 to 77 I was in V-1 crash & salvage and one of the last sailors off her in Portsmouth after decomissioning.
I served aboard the Roosevelt from Feb.,1956 to June 1959, when I left for discharge. I remember the UFO incident just south of the equater in 1956 when we were on our way to Mayport, Fla. That incident was hushed up real fast. I made 3 Med cruises and crossed the equater twice. I’ll never forget my time on the USS FDR.
Unfortunately the only source available for the rosters on this website were the Cruise Books. If, for whatever reason, you didn’t get name in the book you won’t show up in the roster. I have noticed that some of the books were more accurate in that regard than others.
As Bill Coleman states, I also noticed my own name and several other shipmates omitted from the 1972 roster. In my case, I was catted off and sent back to Rota and Philadelphia to be processed out when my enlistment ended and it was late enough (November) in the cruise that they didn’t need the use of an ARC-51 technician in AIMD. Some of the others names I noticed absent from the roster also were transferred back to the States under the same conditions.
I just noticed my name is missing from the 1972 roster, must be while I was TAD to the laundry. LOL
I was with VF-41 from March 1972 – May 1975. I made 3 Med. cruises on Rosie, 1972, 1973-74, and 1975. I worked in the VF-41 Airframes shop and on 1975 cruise was the troubleshooter/final checker on the flightdeck.
I served aboard the USS Roosevelt on its final cruise to be decommissioned.
I still have my 1945-1977 Decommissioning 1 October 1977 Commerative Coin/Medallion.
I would like to find more information about it. I also have my certificate showing that I served on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt signed by Everett F. Rollins. I was on board when the Roosevelt had the collision at sea hitting an oil tanker.
I would like to get in touch with other crew members. I was a mess cook/cook.
I live in the Corpus Christi area and can be reached by email.
James Ray Chandler
family_history@att.net
WAS ON THE FDR CVA-42 IN 1974….S-3 DIVISION….WISH I COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE A FEW THINGS…..NOT THAT THESE THINGS WERE BAD IN ANY WAY, JUST MADE A FEW WRONG CHOICES….IF ANY ONE WAS IN S-3 DIVISION IN 1974….WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YA…..TY
ET’s Officers, YN’s – if you were in OE Div, especially from 1960-1965, contact me at rsiefker@indyblue.com
I’m trying to locate as many shipmates from OE Div as possible.
I’ve already accounted for 35 ET’s & Officers!
Email me at rsiefker@indyblue.com