Can you find Nicky (Johnson) among the crewmates on the USS Forrestal? He worked on the flight deck launching jet planes.
A narrative of the Forrestal fires written by Nicky follows - - - -
"We fought fires all the way from Gulf of Tonkin No. Vietnam to Subic Bay in the Phillipines. We fought fires all the way -- it took two weeks. Senator John Mccain was in a jet on the rear catapult when a sidewinder missile dislodged from his plane, shot across deck starting a number of explosions. If anyone wants more info, google USS FORRESTAL CVA-59. The fire -- they have pics and more info.
Here's something you won't read. There were gaping holes in the flight deck from our own bombs and ordinance. Out of 134 dead, we killed a substantial amout ourselves. Carriers are air tight and thats why its hard to sink them. Each compartment has a hatch that locks and seals in order to put fires out below flight deck. We could only put fire hoses down thru holes caused by exposions, consequently the crew members who were on night shift were sleep and were drowned. We'll never know how many. This was heralded as the worst naval tragedy since WW II. I'll leave out the two week gore-fest to Subic Bay.
One other major note: our cousin Harry Ellis was also on same ship in the marine detachment. When we got to Subic, I finally saw him in one of the smokey passageways. He looked at me and said, "They didn't get you!" God bless his soul."
This is a colorful trip down Memory Lane for Nick and an opportunity for us to understand a little of what he went through during the war.
Thanks, Nick!
2nd one from the left, p.o.v. of the viewer:)
ReplyDeleteThe short little guy with the mustache?
ReplyDeleteThe short fat one with sergeant stripes?:)
ReplyDeleteI know that Nick has to be somewhere in that select group of sailors, blimey mates! Which one might he be? Their teeth are all white, couldn't use that as a baseline. They all have nice, wavy, curled, and coiffed hairstyles. They all look like they didn't miss any mess calls from the company cook. There doesn't seem to be any hairs amiss. Let's see, hummmm. They are all way over 6 foot. They all are wearing their medals on their chests in plain view of the camera. They all know how to salute on cue.
ReplyDeleteI know! The one that most looks like Aunt Bert has got to be dear ole Cousin Nick!!!!
Voila! I see him!! He's the tall dark and handsome sailor towering over all of the others with a steady sober look straight into the camera with a wicked small but huge smile saying, "Hello Slaughter Family."
Nick is in there somewhere, I know. I'll have to keep coming back, wandering through the miles of decks on the USS Forrestal, through heavy flak and screeching jet enjines coming in from hard fighting and dogfights in the skies above.
I know that my Cousin Nick is in the midst of all the critical action, taking care of business to keep Americans and the world safe from one harm after another.
I salute you, Cousin Nick.
I see you now, gazing steadily and earnestly back at me.
Respect Cousin Nick and the men who served with him forever Respect Cousin Nick.
Thomas
LIKE THOSE COMMENTS, THOMAS. YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL A WRITER .. . A GOOD ONE, TOO. . . ONE WITH A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR . . . KEEP WRITING!
ReplyDeleteIRENE