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 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.

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.  Unfortunately, Airman Ramon Garza, who was on the night shift and was apparently sleeping in his bunk, was one of the fatalities.  He was in the 03-level berthing compartment all the way aft and directly below the flight deck when the fire erupted and flames flowed down due to the holes the exploding bombs had made.  AN Garza reportedly died in his bunk and is buried at San Jose Catholic Cemetery in Mission, Texas, where the inscription on his grave marker carries the inscription:  AN  -  USNR  -  VIETNAM.

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