“Our longest on line period was 42 days...we lost one pilot who got shot down from our squadron, it was pretty traumatic.”
AMS3 Robert Hansen, USN
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce that the June 2016 story of the month has been selected to honor the service of Petty Officer Third Class Robert Hansen. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program had the opportunity to interview AMS3 Hansen at the USS America CV 66 Association Reunion in Jacksonville Florida.
Petty Officer Third Class Robert Hansen gave a vivid account of his service in the United States Navy. When recalling his decision to join the United States Navy, Hansen stated, "My draft number was fairly low and my Uncle had been in the Navy and I saw his picture on my Grandmothers desk and I wanted to go in." Upon completion of Basic Training, Hansen would be sent to A school and then to various naval squadrons before receiving orders to the aircraft carrier the, USS America CV 66. Petty Officer Robert Hansen’s detailed account was compiled into a four part series chronicling his service from 1968 to 1973. The series sections follow his service from joining the Navy and service in VA 174, service in VA 82 and the USS America Mediterranean Cruise in 1971, the USS America and the WestPac Cruise of 1972 and 1973, and memories of the USS America and conclusion of service.
When sharing his memories on the USS America off the coast of Vietnam he remarked, “our longest on line period was 42 days...we lost one pilot who got shot down from our squadron, it was pretty traumatic.” The USS America was involved in significant air operations off the coast of Vietnam and Hansen shared his recollections of his time onboard.
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program honors Petty Officer Third Class Robert Hansen, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial Tales from the Navy Log archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at http://navylog.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service
To view this interview please visit the USS America Reunion Collection on the stories of service page.