[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 131 (Thursday, August 4, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4046-S4047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 744--RECOGNIZING THE SAILORS AND MARINES WHO GAVE 
THEIR LIVES FOR SHIP AND SHIPMATES WHILE FIGHTING THE DEVASTATING 1967 
 FIRE ONBOARD THE USS FORRESTAL AND COMMEMORATING, DURING THE WEEK OF 
 THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC EVENT, THE EFFORTS OF THE SAILORS 
                   AND MARINES WHO SURVIVED THE FIRE

  Mr. LANKFORD (for himself, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Ms. 
Sinema, Mr. Braun, Mr. Peters, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Daines, Ms. 
Warren, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. King, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. 
Rounds, Mr. Wicker, and Ms.

[[Page S4047]]

Baldwin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 744

       Whereas, in 1967, the ongoing naval bombing campaign 
     against North Vietnam from Yankee Station in the Gulf of 
     Tonkin was one of the most intense and sustained air attack 
     operations in the history of the Navy;
       Whereas, on June 6, 1967, the USS Forrestal and Carrier Air 
     Wing 17 departed Norfolk, Virginia, for duty in the Western 
     Pacific;
       Whereas, on July 28, 1967, during an underway 
     replenishment, the crew of the USS Forrestal were required to 
     onload deteriorated bombs, which were more vulnerable to 
     exploding at high temperatures;
       Whereas, on July 29, 1967, the older ordnance were used to 
     avoid canceling a planned strike mission over North Vietnam;
       Whereas, despite safety precautions taken by the crew, on 
     July 29, 1967, a devastating fire erupted on the USS 
     Forrestal after--
       (1) a malfunction in a parked aircraft caused the aircraft 
     to fire a Zuni rocket that ruptured a fuel tank on another 
     aircraft; and
       (2) the burning fuel ignited a chain reaction of 9 bomb 
     explosions on the flight deck;
       Whereas the explosions destroyed multiple aircraft and tore 
     massive holes in the armored flight deck of the USS 
     Forrestal, and burning fuel dripped into the living quarters 
     of the crew and the aircraft hangar below deck;
       Whereas, for 18 hours, sailors and marines on the USS 
     Forrestal, assisted by helicopters and crews from 8 other 
     ships, fought to bring the fire under control while hospital 
     corpsmen navigated the mangled flight deck and tended to the 
     wounded; and
       Whereas the fire onboard the USS Forrestal ultimately--
       (1) left 134 men dead and 161 men injured;
       (2) destroyed 21 aircraft; and
       (3) caused the USS Forrestal to terminate its support to 
     the fight in Vietnam and return to Norfolk, Virginia, for 
     repairs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commemorates the 55th anniversary of the fire onboard 
     the USS Forrestal;
       (2) recognizes the sailors and marines who gave their lives 
     for ship and shipmates while fighting the devastating fire 
     and commemorates the efforts of the sailors and marines who 
     survived the fire;
       (3) recognizes that--
       (A) if not for the heroic actions of the crew of the USS 
     Forrestal, the consequences of the fire would have been far 
     more devastating to the sailors and marines onboard and the 
     USS Forrestal; and
       (B) the selfless sacrifices of the sailors and marines who 
     came to the rescue of fellow shipmates and the USS Forrestal 
     represent, and are consistent with, the highest traditions of 
     the Navy; and
       (4) expresses gratitude to the sailors and marines who 
     served aboard the USS Forrestal for their faithful service.

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