I was there Tracter driver on flight deck .several of my crew members died that night. But 1 man stays in my heart I salute you Jackie Gothard one of my friends. He was the first man they put on my tractor I took away from the fire. Jackie I'll see you again one day my friend.
I was on board that night. I saw, heard, and smelled things I wish I could forget. As Aircrew we stayed in our Ready Room most of the night. A lot of very good people lost their lives and were injured that night.
Captain Jack Batzler had just given me the Oath of Enlistment earlier that day, awarded me my first GCM, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Navy Expeditionary Medal. Head of the line privileges in that environment is a huge deal and not easily come by for most crewmembers. It just so happened that as part of the "bonus" package you received for continuing your USN career was a Head of the Line privilege pass good for one use only. I was the first person to leave the ship after the injured because of it.
thank you Capt. JACK Batzler for your leadership thanks go out to all hands on this date R.I.P. those who did not make it . may you R.I.P in Eternal life
I was on the USS Seattle which is the ship moored next to the Nimitz. We knew something happened on the Nimitz but weren't aware of just how bad it was. I remember taking photos of the damaged F-14s the navy craned onto the pier as I was leaving the ship that afternoon to go on liberty. RIP to the sailors lost!
I was in E2 Div. working in the Motor Rewind shop when the crash happend and the word got passed "fire on the flight deck" and went to G.Q. I never got to see all the news reports untill now. Thanks WAVY TV for posting this.
I was in E2 Div. Berthing asleep in my bunk when I heard the initial call for "fire, fire, fire on the flight deck, at sea fire party provide." On the word flight deck, I was out of my rack and dressed before the call was changed to "belay my last," then the bosun's whistle sounding GQ followed by the "General Quarters, General Quarters all hands man your battle stations, go up and forward on the starboard side, down and aft on the port side, General Quarters." My bunk was on the Starboard side passageway near the head, I was heading past the aft mess deck at time plus 1. My GQ station was the Liberty Boat Repair / Battery Locker. It was full of smoke because it was directly below the the area of the flight deck where the fire was, in the tunnel forward of the Hangar Deck. I donned my gas mask and shut off the supply ventilation. That was a long night. RIP shipmates.
Is this Gregg Bauer? That was a terrible night. I too was part of E2 Div. We were still unwinding in our shop, Alarm and Warnings when we heard a loud noise and shortly there after GQ was sounded. I remember that night vividly. Especially the smell of burnt flesh in the mess deck as the bodies were being moved on the supply elevators.May those shipmates rest in peace!
I remember being in my rack, reading my Bible. The "Collision Alarm" was the first alarm sounded (wrong alarm). I grabbed hold of the forward rack stanchions, didn't even think about it (I guess drills make a difference!). A couple of seconds later, the "General Alarm" was correctly sounded. I recall the sailor announcing the casualty was very shaken (I can't imagine what he was experiencing from the bridge). I proceeded to Repair 5.
To those who may have known my father Steven Pass, he has since passed in 2008. He was on the flight deck that night and was one of the critically injured that was flown to San Antonio. He was 21. Ive heard so many stories about what happened and while most dont match what the media states, it was something that truly haunted my father for the rest of his life.
I served with your father,V-4 division and was on the flight deck that night. I’m so sorry for your loss and just to let you know he truly was a good man and shipmate!!!
@galexj123 he spoke so highly of everyone even through his ptsd. My brother and I grew up listening to the stories including that night and what came of it. We have so many unanswered questions about things he gave us or left behind. Thank you for your service.
This was hard to watch even in its cleaned up look! One person I saw in the crowd was VF-41 AE-2 Shop Mate Mike Davies! To the Brothers we lost this day continue to R.I.P. and to those who were injured physically, I hope you are well healed by now (i have one friend who also was a shop mate is in my mind often and you know this {RH})! As well as a friend and Squadron Mate (RR) who has taken a mental tole as well! Near 40 years ago and a memory none can erase nor forget! G-d speed for all involved
I was in VF 84 (airframes) working on an aircraft on the flight deck. I, along with a few of my former squadron members are still having PTSD after being on the house teams fighting the fires, stepping on aircraft and body parts. I still hear the screams of people including a three AOs from VF 41 and two men in VF 84 as they were being burned alive. One of the "red shirts" from 41 rode with me and a few guys in 84 from Oceana to the Nimitz were one one the men killed during that catastrophe. When Captain Batzler told the press that everyone died suddenly and never knew what hit them, I was threatened (silenced) by an information officer not to intervene to tell the real story of what really happened on that night in late May.
@@brucefranks9900 my father may have been one of those people. he lived until 2008 with 98% of his body covered in skin graphs, PTSD and bad lungs. He was also silenced by the leadership on the boat as lies were told as to WHY the accident happened and how it happened. He told me to always wait to see if the records from that accident would ever be de-classified and to my knowledge, they havent till this day.
I was in Ready Room one watching the Recovery when we saw the Plat and the Prowler go wide right....and heard the bang and flash..I ended upon a hose team in Hangar bay one till about 3 in the Morning...
Was there that night. Rumor after the fact was the pilot had a high level of cold medication in his blood. THC was in a lot of the dead sailors blood, thus "Zero Tolerance", and if you think about it, Nancy and Just Say No!@dpass1982
@@onemorething100 the Nimitz had a crew of over five thousand . It depends on what department he was in, but it is possible.. I was in helicopter squadron 9.
