DIED  IN  FIRE  ON  USS  FORRESTAL  -  7/29/1967

On July 29, 1967 during the Vietnam War, the carrier USS Forrestal was in the Gulf of Tonkin preparing to launch a major strike and many fully fueled and armed aircraft were on the flight deck when a 5” Zuni rocket experienced an accidentally electrical surge causing the rocket to fire and impact an armed A-4 Skyhawk.  Although the rocket did not explode the rocket’s impact ruptured a 400-gallon external fuel tank and ignited the jet fuel as it poured out.  A 1,000-pound bomb also fell into the spreading flaming fuel.  As the first responders rushed to the scene the bomb exploded instantly killing the group.  A second wave of personnel followed and were also wiped from view by an explosion.  Continually responding sailors were driven back by explosions, growing flames, and tremendous heat.  Within the first few minutes of the fire nine 500 and 1,000 pound bombs exploded.  The fire grew into a roaring inferno and as bombs detonated, holes were punched through the 3” armor plating of the flaming deck spreading the fire to the working and berthing spaces, as well as the hangar deck below.  The ship’s crew valiantly fought the fire, and it was almost 18-hours before the last fire was extinguished.  The damage was extensive, 134 were dead, 161 more injured, and 21 aircraft destroyed.  Forrestal was able to steam from the scene under her own power, was later repaired, and continued to serve until 1993 when the carrier was decommissioned after 38 years of active service.  Repairs from the fire damage took five months, cost $72 million, and was the worst carrier fire since World War II.

Unfortunately, Seaman James Lawrence Blaskis was one of the fatalities.  That morning he was one of the three men assigned to the Port After Steering Compartment several decks below the flight deck.  This is an engineering space in the rear of the ship designed for emergency control of the ship should something happen to the bridge.  Access to the compartment was through a trunk and the thick steel hatch leading to it was so damaged by the explosions that it could not be opened by the men inside.  In addition, the area leading to the access trunk was ablaze.  The explosions had caused shrapnel in the compartment to injure the three men inside.  One of the men died when struck, a second man received serious injuries, and Seaman Blaskis, the least injured,  quickly commenced administering first aid to his companion.  Blaskis was able to communicate by phone with Central Control Center.  He reported he had suffered internal injuries and was bleeding from his nose and mouth.  As his condition deteriorated he succumbed to his own wounds and one of his last words were “We need medical help bad.”

Seaman James Lawrence Blaskis is buried at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, Ohio.

NAVY  AND  MARINE  CORPS  MEDAL  CERTIFICATE

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Seaman James Lawrence Blaskis (NSN: 9999038), United States Navy, for heroism on 29 July 1967, while serving aboard USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59), in the Gulf of Tonkin.  Seaman Blaskis was manning the port steering area in the extreme port quarter of the ship when fire broke out on the flight deck causing several explosions.  One of the initial explosions hurled shrapnel into the port compartment, killing one man and seriously wounding Seaman Blaskis and his other shipmate.  Despite his wounds, he administered first aid to his companion until he succumbed to his own wounds.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)