A Veteran salute - 11-11-21

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To all those that have served and are now serving. THANK YOU!

The USS America (CV-66) was the last ship I served on/in. It's at the bottom of the ocean now. Fond memories remain.

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The USS America transiting the Suez Canal in 1985 for some duty in the Indian Ocean. It's a breath-taking experience and with no aircraft turns, its very quiet.

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USS Nimitz (CVN-6

The Nimitz was the only nuclear powered ship I served in. It was a joy to serve on a ship without stack gasses. Another joy was, never on water hours.

All of my assignments were on the flight deck. I was a squadron flight deck aircraft maintenance coordinator, a squadron line division chief and a carrier air wing flight deck control coordinator.

In 1980 we were directed to leave the Mediterranean Sea to support the USA attempt to rescue hostages from Iran. Because Egypt would not allow Nuclear Powered ships to transit the Suez Canal, the Nimitz left Naples, Italy with its battle group – two nuke cruisers and somewhere down there, a nuke attack submarine - and went around Africa.

I salute all those that volunteer for military service to defend our way of life and others around the world that want to join our great freedom.

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USS Independence (CVA-62)

In 1965 the Indy was home ported at Norfolk, VA. With its first all jet powered air wing aboard it was deployed to the Pacific Fleet and was the first Atlantic Fleet Aircraft Carrier to do so since WWII. For the Air Wing’s A6 aircraft of VA-75 it was their first operational deployment.

During the 1965 deployment I was serving with Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) with F-4B aircraft. For the entire cruise I worked on the flight deck as an airframes troubleshooter for VF-41, the “Black Aces”.

I could tell stories all day about that seven-month deployment. Here is one of them. After our first 30 something days line period flying numerous sorties, we got a two-week port call at Yokosuka, Japan. Some of the ship’s boilers needed serious repairs and the entire flight deck was resurfaced with nonskid paint.

While at Japan the ship’s commanding officer departed on emergency leave. His wife and daughter had been killed in a traffic accident. On departure day our ship’s XO was hospitalized with a severe case of the flu. In the Navy there are normal procedures to follow when placed in a command position. The requirement for aircraft carriers is deep draft experience. Without it no one was allowed to take command. None of the Indy’s department heads were qualified. When leaving port, we were the battle groups senior ship and had an Admiral and his full staff with. His chief of staff was a Navy Captain with deep draft experience and took command of the Indy until Captain Kennedy returned from his emergency leave.

Normally ships in the Vietnam waters in support of the war effort were relieved on station. Our relief was the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), and they were behind schedule and relieved the Indy in the Indian Ocean on its way home. They did not have support ships with them because they were in a hurry and were much faster than any of their normal support ships.


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Veteran Tributes, USN, 1965

Early in 1965 the USS Independence (CVA-62) was deployed from Norfolk, VA in support of combat operations in Vietnam. It was the first carrier to deploy from the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific Fleet since WWII.

The Carrier Air Wing was CVW-7. Attack Squadron 75 would be the first A6 squadron to join the war effort. They often flew low level bombing missions making them easy prey for Vietnamese snipers in the tree tops.

I was serving as an aircraft troubleshooter with Fighter Squadron 41 (Black Aces) when CDR Denton was shot down. He was one of the most senior Naval Officers captured by the Vietnamese. He suffered severe treatment from his captors but endured. In my naval career he was most revered and a hero almost beyond description.

http://www.veterantributes.org/Tribu...ecordID=278%20

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What a short memory Americans have towards our enemies. Maybe this comes from being a Marine veteran, and married to a Marine veteran. Never forget!
But, I better let this move back towards an RV related subject...

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Originally Posted by Notanlines

What a short memory Americans have towards our enemies. Maybe this comes from being a Marine veteran, and married to a Marine veteran. Never forget!
But, I better let this move back towards an RV related subject...

You don't have to look very far to find a USMC hero.

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[Notanlines]

I believe Sgt Major Canley died just this year. And yes, he was "da man!!"

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Tuscaloosa, AL

One time while traveling west on US-82 through Tuscaloosa, AL we spotted a military memorial in a mall parking lot. We found a place to turn our rig around and went back to investigate. Here are some pictures of what we found.

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USN Atack Squadron 75

RADM Denton was a well-known survivor of nearly 8 years in the Vietnamese POW camp known as the Hanoi Hilton. He was piloting a VA-75 A-6 aircraft when shot down over Hanoi in 1965. VA-75 was operating off the USS independence (post #4). VA-75 was the first squadron to operate the A-6 in combat.

http://www.veterantributes.org/Tribu...?recordID=278+

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Extraordinary River Boat Captain

I doubt that any story about this warrior can truly describe his ability to direct his patrol boats against nearly overwhelming odds. Sailors like me, who served in the Vietnam Theater of operations in 1965 – 1973 all, knew of this man’s accomplishments against the Vietnamese Sampan fleet. The news of extraordinary heroism travels quickly throughout the USN fleets.

http://www.veterantributes.org/Tribu...20of%20Vietnam.

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USN Fighter Squadron 41

Working on the flight deck, as an airframes troubleshooter for VF-41, during a 1965 deployment to the waters off the coast of Vietnam for Fighter Squadron 41, I got to talk with all pilots and RIOs during their walk around (preflight) inspections. One of those was a young ENS/LTJG that would have to eject from a squadron F-4B Phantom II over land and was captured by Vietnamese ground forces. He spent nearly 7 years as a POW. I last saw him on TV upon his return to the USA. His goal was to survive his capture and become a Navy Pilot. He did that and more before his retirement as a Pilot and Navy Commander.

http://www.veterantributes.org/Tribu...hp?recordID=68

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USAF BGEN Robin Olds

No tribute to military personnel would ever be complete without Robin Olds near the top of the list. The man had an extraordinary career in the USAF/USAAF. He was very popular and his achievements as a pilot speak for themselves in this tribute.

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Captain David Hoffman USN

CAPT Hoffman survived Vietnamese POW camps and went on to command Fighter Squadron 41 aboard the USS Nimitz and later commanded the Aircraft Carrier Kitty Hawk.

I first met CAPT Hoffman when he became XO/CO of VF-41 in the late 1970s. He was a “fire and ice” autocratic leader and very difficult to work for. We often had disagreements. With respect of our different leadership styles, we worked things out. In 1978 I was advanced to SCPO, and skipper Hoffman immediately assigned me as division chief of the line division. He said they needed a leadership boost. During the “turnaround” for our next deployment, my good friend AFCM Frank Regan, VF-41 command MCPO Retired. Because the air wing’s maintenance department did not have any CPOs with flight deck experience, they had me sent to them for temporary duty for the next deployment. In the interim, skipper Hoffman assigned me to the duties of Command SCPO. He was still angry with me for having black aces painted on our sister squadron’s aircraft and not found until the deployment homecoming fly-off. (We put them on the flaps). Skipper Hoffman made me write a letter of apology to the VF-84 skipper. CAPT Hoffman was known as the “Terminator” when he was CO of the Kitty Hawk.

http://www.veterantributes.org/Tribu...?recordID=1360

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SGT Leigh Ann Hester

Women will become a force to reckon with in all branches of the United States military commands.

Sgt Leigh Ann Hester earned the first silver star by a woman since WWII.


https://foundationforwomenwarriors.o...lass-u-s-army/

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Charlestown, SC

The USS Yorktown (CV-10), a WWII aircraft carrier has been restored and is an open to the public memorial at Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant, SC.

We stayed at the local hotel near the memorial so we could tour it before going on an anniversary cruse out of Charleston. We’ve toured almost all of the USN ship museums/memorials over the years.

There is a lot of very good parking at the memorial and a nice park area with a great view of the newest bridge from Mount Pleasant to Charleston.

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LCDR Scott Spicer was the first combat casualty in the Iraq war. His F/A-18 aircraft was shot down and he went missing for many years (2009).

At the time he was shot down he was a member of navy squadron VFA-81 home based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, FL. His squadron was commanded by Commander Naval Air Wing 17 operating off the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.

The aircraft pictured here is a tribute to him and is on display at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. He was posthumously promoted to Captain.


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LCDR Scott Spicer was the first combat casualty in the Iraq war. His F/A-18 aircraft was shot down and he went missing for many years (2009).

At the time he was shot down he was a member of navy squadron VFA-81 home based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, FL. When his aircraft was shot down his squadron was commanded by Commander Naval Air Wing 17 operating off the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.

The aircraft pictured here is a tribute to him and is on display at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. He was posthumously promoted to Captain.


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Proper name spelling .... Speicher.