Forrestal Fire 1967

No one knows how many engaged the fires that day

The super carrier Forrestal was ablaze while underway

She had turned into the wind to launch a combat strike

When everything changed due to an electrical spike

A rocket on one plane shot and hit a fuel tank across the way

That plane’s fuel exploded in a fiery spray

The detonation dislodged two bombs into the red-hot fray

The hinged gates of hell opened up on that day

Ordinance designed to drop on an enemy position

Cut down through lower decks with a wide incision

Brave men of every stripe and rate

Were killed in a horrible fate

Trained firefighters were the first that arrived

In less than two minutes many were vaporized

Those less trained pitched in and improvised

Without their courage, none would have survived

Other sailors rushed in to do what they could

As any and all good shipmates would

Some aided the wounded in dread

Others lifted and removed the dead

We’ll never know the stories of all who fought fire for hours at death’s door

But we do know that bereavement letters were sent to the families of 134