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
