Memorial Day revisited

So, before Father's Day hits, and then the 4th of July, I want to take a moment to revisit this past Memorial Day. Yep, this past one, about 3 weeks ago?

What did you do for Memorial Day? Maybe went to see a parade, put out some red, white and blue, and of course celebrated the opening to BBQ season?

I know that Memorial Day means much more to those who have served our country, and even more to those who have lost friends, family members and fellow servicemen. Some of us, go to the parades, and pay our respects and then hurry on to the family gatherings and then don't give it much more thought.

I have to say that I probably fall more in the second category if I am being completely honest. In fact, the past few years I have not even attended a parade, and the day past with out much more than a thought.

This year, however was much different. I have reflected on this past Memorial Day many times over the past few weeks

This year, I found myself in a small, out of the way town. Not exactly easy to get to from Estacada. I got up at 7am and attended a parade that lasted all of 11 minutes, and then stood in the drizzling rain to witness a Memorial Day Service. It was small, a couple of Boy Scouts, a few volunteer fire fighters, placing of wreathes, the playing of taps, and a group of singers who did a lovely job with America the Beautiful. A politician got up and gave a welcome and then a Vietnam Veteran got up and spoke.

His speech was moving and memorable. I talked to several people who had also attended this service during the few days that followed and they all seemed to say the same thing. "That speech was so good, I have never had a Memorial Day speaker deliver such a memorable speech."

I asked the veteran if I could have a copy of his speech. He e-mailed it to me.

I am going to post it here, as a tribute to all those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.

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Memorial Day Speech

May 30, 2016

John Kracen

Good Morning,

On the 27th of July, 1967, very early on it's first patrol of Vietnamese waters, the lives of over 5000 men were changes forever. A routine air sortie turned deadly in a second, costing the lives of many of these sailors, almost sinking an entire aircraft carrier possibly resulting in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands of servicemen.

Today, I am telling the story about the brief Vietnam cruise of the USS Forrestal an attack aircraft carrier. Commissioned in 1955, this first "supper carrier" was built from the keel up as a true aircraft carrier. The ship was 1039 feet long and 252 feet wide at the widest point. It was a giant of a ship displacing 18K tons with it's top deck 25 stories above the water line. A fast ship as well, with a top speed in excess of 33 knots or 37 miles per hour. When fully manned with ships company and air wings, she carried 90 planes and 5000 men.

In July 1967 the Forrestal was in the Gulf of Tonkin cruising about 2 miles off the coast of North Vietnam. It was July 27th, the fourth day of operations on this tour and the shop was busy preparing for the launch of the second wave of aircraft. The deck was covered with airmen and sailors loading gas and munitions, positioning aircraft and completing final preparations.

Then, the unthinkable. A rocket, called a Zuni, used both for air to air and air to ground, inadvertently launched from the wing of an F4 Phantom waiting to take off. It flew across the flight deck striking an A4 aircraft on the opposite side of the ship. The fuel tanks on the A4 ruptured into a giant fireball and fuel began pouring on the deck. Almost immediately a sea of fire began spreading across the flight deck engulfing other aircraft and trapping flight deck workers and aircraft crews. A fire call was announced followed immediately by a call to general quarters. Very quickly, everyone on the ship realized this was not a normal fire.

Firefighting crews started rolling out hoses and attacking the fire with extinguishers. Just 94 seconds after the fire call, the first of 9- 1000lbs bombs exploded-breaching the flight deck, killing 5 of the initial 8 firefighters and injuring the other 3. The shrapnel shredded the hoses being used to fight the fire, rendering them inoperable. Burning fuel poured into the hole created by the bomb, spreading the fire below decks and into aft hanger bay. In addition to the 1000lb bombs, rockets and gun ammunitions were being set off all over the flight deck greatly contributing to the hellish inferno.

It was 17 hours of dangerous work before it became clear, that although fires were still burning, the ship was not going to be lost. Fire fighting and damage repair continued for several days. The lost off live was great, all in all 134 sailors lost their lives.

My berthing area was under the flight deck and outboard from the island, the portion of the ship that extends above the flight deck. Although it had not been breached, it was uninhabitable. A group of us decided to sleep on the deck in the computer room. One of this group was Steven Hock. He was a quiet guy who didn't participate in the perpetual card games, chess matches and pranks that were part of life at sea in the electronics division. Rather he seemed to live to help people; no matter what it was Steven was always there to help, whether lugging a radio or getting a cup of coffee for someone working long hours repairing radars, he was always there. This is probably why during the night e got up and went at to the bombed out birthing compartments. The next morning at division muster he was not present. Later that day we received word that Steven had died in the aft section of the ship while trying to help.

There are a few things to mention before I conclude. The aircraft that the rocket struck was piloted by someone we are all familiar with, the now Senator John McCain. Another point is the breathing tubes which are part of the superstructure, the portion of the ship extending above the flight deck. These tubes provide air to the boilers which power the ship. Had the explosions destroyed these tubes, the ship would have lost power and its ability to fight the fire. Lastly, there was an oxygen generating plant located in the aft hanger bay. This plant generated liquid oxygen used in the aircraft for pilots oxygen systems. The plant had a 150 gallon storage tank. It took over an hour to empty this into the ocean. Had this tank been punctured the result would have been a massive explosion that would have destroyed the aft portion of the ship and the ship would have sunk. As luck would have it, despite shrapnel damage to both sides of the plant, somehow this catastrophe was avoided.

In conclusion, I would like to thank all that have served and sacrificed for our nation. I would specifically recognize 3. Crisspus Attucks, died March 5, 1770 in the Boston Massacre and is believed to be the first to die in the Revolutionary War. Petty Officer Steven Hock, my ship mate, died July 30th 1967 during the Vietnam war. Finally, Navy Seal Charlie Keating IV, died May 3 2016 in Iraq. At this time I believe that he is the latest to give his life for our country.

Thank You for assembling here to remember those who have died for our country.

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All who attended this service were riveted as this veteran told his story. Even the little kids. Why was everyone so take by this man's story? Because it is living history. This man's true story of his time in a very tumultuous period in history. You won't read this kind of history in text books.

So where was this out of the way town and who is John Kracen? The little town is Bridgewater, Connecticut. And for those of you who do not know, John Kracen is my father.

My dad, as with most veterans, doesn't talk about his time in service. I have heard bits and pieces through out my life. This time was very special to hear my Dad not only speak in front of a crowd, but to speak on such a topic in such an eloquent way. I was able to gather at the ceremony with my Mom, my sister who lives in Delaware and my brother who lives in the Hartford area.

Dad, thank you for serving your country, for sharing your story and instilling your values in your children.

Happy Father's Day.