Experience the final voyage of the USS Kitty Hawk. Tik Tok ► vm.tiktok.com/ZMR7EpeVw/ Facebook ► / texascountryreporter Instagram ► / texascountryreporter Texas Country Reporter #1864 5-20-2023
@@janetlambert4198 , I was one of your dad's shipmates in 1986 to 1987. Your dad must have stayed behind in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard while the Kitty Hawk was undergoing her two-year $950 million Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which began in June 1987.
Served with VF114 Fighting Aardvarks aboard USS 0:40 KITTYHAWK CVA63 in 1967-68 deployment to Vietnam. One of my greatest memories was MANNING THE RAILS and saluting the USS ARIZONA and other US NAVY young sailors still entombed while serving their country. Well done production done with respect and dignity. God bless you.
@bobgoodner3056....I was enlisted in the Navy and in VAQ-33 from 71-75. I was a Plane Captain for our ERA-3B Skywarriors. We were an ECM squadron and permanently land based at N.A.S., Norfolk. We had been TDY at Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field, for exercises. On the last day, one of my A-3's blew an engine and we didn't have time to get one sent over from mainland. So....the plane was put onboard the Kitty Hawk that was there but leaving for San Diego in a couple of days. I was the Plane Captain for that plane and I knew that I would never get another chance to get on a carrier, so I gladly got to go with my plane on the Kitty Hawk. And yes, Mr. Goodner, looking at the Arizona Memorial as we slowly drifted past her was a very emotional experience for me...I'll never forget it.
I served on Kitty Hawk at different times with VA-115 squadron in the 6o's. We flew to Norfolk, Va in 1961 and took her around cape horn South America and visited many countries also! I worked the flight deck and saw and seen people killed and drowned! This was a sad video for me.
A sad video to watch, but at the same time, be very proud of what she and her crew members accomplished through the years. Hats off, and a salute into eternity! ✝️🥲👍🙂🇺🇸
Watched Sara disappear in Brownsville using Google Earth. I realize that scrapping it made sense but still selfishly prefer a SINKEX like my other ship Yosemite.
So sad to see this Great ship being torn apart. I made 2 deployments (1994 and 1996/97) on her and she took me all over the world. Rest easy old girl. You did the country proud.
If you have ever served on a U.S. Navy ship you know the attachment you will have with that ship. I was in the Navy for 25 years. I shed a tear every time a ship ends its life. So sad . Very difficult to watch.
I feel the same way, I also served for 25 years Active Navy and Naval Reserve.I was very sad when my ships were scrapped. Thank You for your US Naval service.
4 years onboard Coral Sea CV-43, 5 years Kitty Hawk and 3 1/2 years Acadia AD-42. In between were a few shore duty assignments. I retired at 20 years, went to school a few years and then back to working on Navy ships as a civilian, did that for 23 years.
Thank you so much @Texas Country Reporter for this. As a former US Navy Sailor from the Aircraft Carrier community, this brought tears to my eyes. Very proud to have had an opportunity and the honor to serve my country as a US Navy Sailor!!!
My older brother served on the USS Independence during Vietnam. Never knew it got scrapped. This is a beautiful story, and I thank you for it. Rest easy, Jimmy.
I’m an old retired Army Infantryman and it’s heartbreaking to see how the aircraft carriers are chopped up. I had the luxury of being on the USS Constellation for 3 days in 2001 and I’ll never forget the experience as a guest on that ship, she was magnificent when underway. I wish they at least saved the island for her crewmen.
Was stationed at NAS North Island (Coranado, Ca) back in the late 80's and served on the USS Constellation, with duty on the USS Ranger and the USS Kitty Hawk. Amazing ships. Great times.
I've said this many, many times about a certain episode being my favorite - but - you'all knocked it outta the ball park in this one. I knew a lot of folks who deployed on her....this was really heart-wrenching. Thank You TCR for doing this!!!
I served onboard the Kitty Hawk from 1998 to 2001. So sad that both my ships have been destroyed. R.I.P. USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62 & USS KITTY HAWK CV-63.
I was on the Indy for her last Gulf Cruise in early 98 and then rode her to Pearl Harbor where we Cross Decked to the Kitty Hawk. Then I was on the Kitty from 98-01. I left when we pulled into Guam right before she continued to Sydney.
Good video! She was one of the best. Served aboard the Hawk, also Constellation CVA-64, Midway CVA-41, Coral Sea CVA-43, and Lexington CVT-16, while assigned to Attack Squadron 122. 1971-1975 Thanks again for doing this. It means alot to many!
We feel these emotions because we made them come alive. We polished her brass, worked her valves, fired her boilers and kept her painted and looking good. We were the blood that flowed through those passageways. So it hurts when we see our old girl get sunk for a reef or cut down for scrap. I salute all of you who served these ships and elsewhere. We take with us our memories.
What a beautiful tribute you guys did for that fantastic ship that means so much to so many. God bless you, God bless our country and God bless the Kitty Hawk and those who served aboard her.
* 81-85 P1 div. 4MMR Unless you have lived onboard/with a ship you can never fathom the deep soul connection, she is alive with the vibration of everyone who ever called her their ship. Press On.
Thanks so much for honoring this incredible ship and the memories of those who were there to witness her final port of call and to all those who served and sacrificed aboard CV-63. I served aboard USS Independence (CV-62) '81-'83. I know with all my heart, the emotions felt by those featured in your video and those who have ever deployed on a US Navy ship. I experienced the most exciting moments of my life on the deck of Indy. She was my home, brought me to far away ports, good times and adventure. She kept me safe and alive. She always brought me home to my family and loved ones. She made a man out of me and an extremely proud old man today. God bless you TCR. God bless the hard working dismantlers at International Shipbreakers, keep them safe. Most of all, God bless all the sailors of USS Kitty Hawk and honor to those who gave their lives while serving aboard her. I may not be a real shipmate, but there is an unbreakable bond we share. To those who served on CV-63, I'm proud to call you brothers. Semper Fortis P.O.3 Henderson
I’ve walked many of those passageways myself. I was with HS-8 when our air wing was on Kitty. Did one cruise on her for 9 months. We had the helicopters on board for a while that participated in that cluster-f@$k hostage rescue mission in Iran. That pretty much put the fork in the Carter administration. There were two plaques on the forward and aft end on the island which was the actual distance the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane. Fair winds and following seas to you USS Kitty Hawk!
I went aboard the USS Saratoga in the winter of 1960 at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard. I was 17 years old and from a little town in the Missouri Ozarks. I was a very scared wide-eyed kid. The Sara was only 3 years old at the time and the bad assed ship in the navy. After many years of service, she was taken to Texas to be scrapped and I was sure sad to see her gone.
May I take jus a moment to say Thank you fer doing your part yo Honour,Respect and Remember all those who have served in defense of this Republic of ours,The United States of America America 🇺🇸!!!!
As a veteran of the USS KITTY HAWK, thank you for this video. She was my home for 3 years. I worked with a lot of great men and women during that time. Seeing the old girl like this brings a tear to my eyes, and the memories keep coming back. To all the men and women that served on board her, I say thank you, and it was a pleasure to be a part of her history.
Thank you so much for this video. I wasn't able to make it to this ceremony. This video brings back some really good memories. I served on the USS Kitty Hawk from 2003-2007 ENG DEPT /E-Div / FWD IC & E-div RPPO. so many memories it's very emotional. Thank you again. I can't wait to get my hands on the challenge coins and a piece of the ship.
Were you able to get any memorabilia from the Kitty? I live here in South Texas and called, emailed, and messaged to get just a small piece of her - I served on the Kitty in the 90s. No one responded.
@@rhythmisuniversal I haven't seen anything yet. I did see parts of the flight deck or at least it was listed on their Facebook page. But I never actually saw anything yet.
I served on the USS Constellation, and the USS Kitty Hawk, and it so sad that we who served on these ship, cannot return to reminisce on the memories and the ship mates we will miss. How sad that I cannot go and see her one last time.
Me too. My grandpop from Brooklawn helped build her. I was on her flight deck after her christening May 21, 1960. I was 5. In 77-78 I deployed on her with VA-195. I shed a tear watching this video. I still have the christening medal.
hey turd chaser, i was on cv66 r div 81 - 84. my boat is at the bottom of the atlantic, off the virginia coast. they blew her up testing sea and air munitions.
I went aboard Nov. 1964, 13 months later almost died in a fire off Vietnam. Two guys saved me and my buddy and it always bothered me I never got to say Thank-you. Another time we were doing full power run, I was told if 1500 lb. main steam line broke we had 3 seconds to escape. The whole engine room was shaking when there was a loud blast of steam. My immediate thought was "I'm dead" but Thank God it was a relief valve. We lost 44 guys that cruise I knew 3. I was at the decommissioning but regret missing this farewell. Bless all of Kitty Hawk shipmates for your service
Fantastic job Texas Country Reporter! Had tears in my eyes watching this.. ex Navy here and my former ship USS John F. Kennedy is next in line. I will be there upon her arrival and i hope Texas Country Reporter will be there too!
2 westpacs 73-74, 75. Plane Captain VA195. One of my memories is riding in a Jeepnee from Subic City returning to the”boat” and when you turn the corner around the mountain, there she was. It was an awesome sight and incredibly beautiful view at sunrise. Great memories!
You two never seize to amaze me. Thank you for doing this incredible story of such an amazing piece of history. I love what y'all do and thank God for such incredible people!!
Never served but I sure felt the connection of those who did. Lots of history and memories there that will be sailing as long as those who served live.
With the Nimitz and ike coming to end of service, there will be folks remembering her service. As a CVN 70 plankowner, I may be able to see the CVN 70 (Vinson )get decommisioned.
I served aboard the Ranger from 89-93 at North Island in Coronado, California. I drove down to the Island from Denver, Colorado and I remember seeing her come over the horizon for the first time in 22 years. I left Ranger in 93. being in the navy was the best time of my life. Watching her come in for the final time was a very bittersweet moment for me and for those who served aboard her. At least I got to pipe her in for the final time. I was born in Brownsville in 1965 and the Island was our playground. - Mark Balli
I shed a few tears seeing those shots of hangar bay 1. I walked through there almost every day for five years. In the video it doesn't look much different than it did when I left in 2008. The duty section should be mustering down there in a half hour or so.
The ship docked into Sydney Harbour numerous times before it was decommissioned. It is the only “super carrier” that is allowed into the harbour due to the fact that it was not nuclear powered. I went on it twice with 2 officers for tours. Incredible carrier. It was a beautiful sight to see the carrier in garden island. Awesome stuff. Thanks for the video.
I served as a a contractor on the USS Ranger, USS kitty HAWK and the USS CONSTELLATION. They were great city’s on the water. So sad to see then decommission. I replaced pedi’s, decking, fan tail, bridge deck siding, boilers, electronics, and non siding. So sad to see us let them go. 🫡 north island, Bremerton, and 82 street. I will miss them all.
I served on board from May 1968 thru December 1971, made 2 1/2 Westpac Cruises. I was proud to serve on board and think of her often. I was in S-3 division.
On this Veteran's Day, this was very moving. I served on the Kitty with RVAH-13, the bats. 2 Westpac cruises to Vietnam, 65-66, and 66-67. We had the Vigilante planes made by North American Aviation. It's a special skill to be able to land a Vigilante on that flight deck. I had quite a few midwatches on that deck, checking the tie downs etc. Thanks for this memory.
In 1980 I made my first Western Pacific (Westpac) deployment aboard USS Whipple, a frigate out of Pearl Harbor. At times we were tasked to be part of the Kitty Hawk BG and made a couple of unreps alongside of her. Sad to see her go.
There was talk a few years ago about trying to bring the Kitty Hawk to North Carolina as a museum ship.Since she was named for the town of Kitty Hawk NC where the Wright Brothers made their first powered manned flight
Sailors today hear stories of west-pac cruises of years ago, subic, Hong Kong, Singapore ,I did mine on the Big E in the late seventies. I remember seeing this magnificent ship sitting pierside in north island. I knew many men from her and others like her. God Bless all Who Serve!
RIP Mighty Lady. My dad was in the Navy during Korea but never served on her. But did serve on 4 other 'baby' flattops now all scrapped also. Gilbert Island CV 107 was one of them. SV14 if I remember right? (Navy was decommissioning them so he got transferred to others) Later he became a Seabee. RIP Dad - miss you.
First in Flight. The Hawk is My Ship and I'll never forget the experiences I had on board her (83-86). I just wonder if "it" is still stashed on board her and if they will find "it" during her dismantling.
Served onboard the Hawk from 99 - 03. OI Div. Coming up on the anniversary of 9/11 and every year memories flood back in from that time in particular. Hard to see her last voyage to the scrapyard after all the years of service to her country. Yes there were many of bad times but many good too. I don't have much words to express so I'll just leave it with this.....Semper Hawk!
I was on the kitty when she was in the PNSY getting rehabbed. There was a time I worked three days strait got an hour sleep and worked two more days. We worked so hard to get her back in the fleet especially since the first Iraq war, so we humped and bumped. When it was done before she set sail my son was the first and last child to be christened on the forecastle. I was a BM3 !st div. So, I was proud to have my family seeing what we have built. The forecastle was beautiful by the time we were done. Many people died rehabbing her. The guys that fell through the canopy that was covering the catapult because it was sagging with the snow and water. They came right through it was an awful site. Know to see the kitty die it hurts. I actually got TAD orders to go to the connie and bring her around the horn so she could go through the same rehab that the Kitty did. See her getting chopped up to really sucks!
My dad served on Kitty Hawk during Vietnam with HC1 helicopter squadron. I served on broad USS JOHN F KENNEDY from '92-'95 and now there being scrapped side by side
I really wish all these Navy ships could be preserved as museums for the public, but that requires a lot money and volunteers. may she rest in peace. Kitty Hawk.
I was on USS Hancock CV-19. It was the third to last Essex class, decommissioned - 1976. She was scrapped in Los Angeles. Then came USS Oriskany CV-34 - 1976. She is now a dive-able artificial reef of the coast of Florida. And the last Essex laid to rest was USS Lexington - 1991. She is a museum ship at Corpus Cristi, Tx. It is sometimes difficult to contemplate or hear what is to become of these massive and mighty shire war horses.
Was on the hawk in #4MMR as an MM2 from mid1970--late73. Left the ship 2 weeks before the fire in #1MMR that took the lives of 6 of my fellow engineers.
Ahoy, matey… I was there, too. Came aboard mid 73, MM3 in 1MMR, then bumped over to 4MMR just before leaving on that next fateful cruise. Maybe I took your spot. Was there for the fire. Stayed in 4-Main till 75, then moved up to hanger deck to the LOX shop. Some great years !!
Thank you for this very touching video. I've never cried before like I did with this video. My dad was supposed to be transferred to this vessel but was medically discharged due to knee failure before I was born. Had he been allowed to continue I do believe we would have been navy brats growing up. I am saddened by the destruction of this ship but I understand every ship has it's life cycle. God Bless y'all for the honor you showed in this video towards the men and women who served aboard her.
Served aboard and made the move from Bremerton to San Diego with my family and 2 cars onboard. E division , made Chief and got surface warfare qualified during a six month deployment. It was home for 4 years.
I was stationed aboard the USS Independence during the early 80s, i.e. 82-85, and we saw duty in the Med as part of operations in Syria and Lebanon. We also were an intricate part of operations in Grenada, i.e. Operation Urgent Fury. As a Corpsman, I saw a number of man never to return home again and one in Grenada, pass away in my hands. Those days, those memories, those friends will always remain with me. R.I.P. Indy (CV-62)….
That was my dad shif he serve 25 years in navy.that was his home away from home and its sad to see its going to a scrap yard its nice to see the veterans that my dad serve with.we still have dad book did all the memories with it,thomas j gill.dad thanks for your serves and your fellow mens that serve .you rest in pice in heaven and so is your ship 🚢 ❤️. We will always carry you memories with us.
I served on a submarine tender for four years in the middle of a Loch in Scotland... Living on a ship for 4 years it becomes your home... I'm 60 now and I'm very proud of what I accomplished and served..
Kitty Hawk was my last duty station 1997-1999 - working in the ASWModule and stealing flight time with HS-6 and VS-29. VERY odd to see (from other videos) the slow breakdown of her... seeing old work-spaces and berthing spaces exposed to the sun. EVERY ship I deployed on is now scrap or sunk or sold. Oh MY - minute 16:30 - coming up on the flight deck were I would walk up to man the SH-60F from the HS-6 Indians.
RIP USS Lady Kitty Hawk you served USa, We the People well. We thank all who bravely and honorably took their NAVAL oaths to serve with YOU on the high seas in safe guarding America's interest around the World.
