117th CONGRESS 2d Session |
Recognizing the sailors and marines who gave their lives for ship and shipmates while fighting the devastating 1967 fire onboard the USS Forrestal and commemorating, during the week of the 55th anniversary of the tragic event, the efforts of the sailors and marines who survived the fire.
August 4, 2022
Mr. Lankford (for himself, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Braun, Mr. Peters, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Daines, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. King, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Wicker, and Ms. Baldwin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
Recognizing the sailors and marines who gave their lives for ship and shipmates while fighting the devastating 1967 fire onboard the USS Forrestal and commemorating, during the week of the 55th anniversary of the tragic event, the efforts of the sailors and marines who survived the fire.
Whereas, in 1967, the ongoing naval bombing campaign against North Vietnam from Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin was one of the most intense and sustained air attack operations in the history of the Navy;
Whereas, on June 6, 1967, the USS Forrestal and Carrier Air Wing 17 departed Norfolk, Virginia, for duty in the Western Pacific;
Whereas, on July 28, 1967, during an underway replenishment, the crew of the USS Forrestal were required to onload deteriorated bombs, which were more vulnerable to exploding at high temperatures;
Whereas, on July 29, 1967, the older ordnance were used to avoid canceling a planned strike mission over North Vietnam;
Whereas, despite safety precautions taken by the crew, on July 29, 1967, a devastating fire erupted on the USS Forrestal after—
(1) a malfunction in a parked aircraft caused the aircraft to fire a Zuni rocket that ruptured a fuel tank on another aircraft; and
(2) the burning fuel ignited a chain reaction of 9 bomb explosions on the flight deck;
Whereas the explosions destroyed multiple aircraft and tore massive holes in the armored flight deck of the USS Forrestal, and burning fuel dripped into the living quarters of the crew and the aircraft hangar below deck;
Whereas, for 18 hours, sailors and marines on the USS Forrestal, assisted by helicopters and crews from 8 other ships, fought to bring the fire under control while hospital corpsmen navigated the mangled flight deck and tended to the wounded; and
Whereas the fire onboard the USS Forrestal ultimately—
(1) left 134 men dead and 161 men injured;
(2) destroyed 21 aircraft; and
(3) caused the USS Forrestal to terminate its support to the fight in Vietnam and return to Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
(1) commemorates the 55th anniversary of the fire onboard the USS Forrestal;
(2) recognizes the sailors and marines who gave their lives for ship and shipmates while fighting the devastating fire and commemorates the efforts of the sailors and marines who survived the fire;
(A) if not for the heroic actions of the crew of the USS Forrestal, the consequences of the fire would have been far more devastating to the sailors and marines onboard and the USS Forrestal; and
(B) the selfless sacrifices of the sailors and marines who came to the rescue of fellow shipmates and the USS Forrestal represent, and are consistent with, the highest traditions of the Navy; and
(4) expresses gratitude to the sailors and marines who served aboard the USS Forrestal for their faithful service.