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Personal Experiences
USS Essex (Tom) Thomas G. Trader Service Dates: 1960-1963 78 Lake Tahoe Circle I served aboard the ESSEX from 1960-1963. We had just finished a 6 month repair and modernazation in the Brooklyn Navy Yard When we were sent to Guantonamo Bay Cuba for a shakedown cruise in early Oct 1962. We spent the night in the harbor.The following morning we went to General Quarters and, were underway setting up the Cuban Blockade. We were the Command Ship for that task until relieved by the USS Ranger. We were on the Blockade for a total of 31 days and then returned to our home port of Quonset Point, R.I. Those sailors serving aboard at the time were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal The National Defense Medal and, The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. It has only been made public the last few years what the seriousness of the situation really was. Because of then President John F. Kennedy's resolve we averted what could have become another War
Rufus (RP) Porter Smith Jr "In 1961, I along with my mother and brother were part of a dependents day Sailor:Goss, Floyd Submitted by Grandson Clinton Colantro
"The Fightin'est Ship In The Fleet"....1969: "The Oldest And The Boldest".......I have membership rosters and reunion magazines that I'd be willing to share with anyone. I also have a picture of the Essex taken just after the kamikazee hit in 1944, a photo of men shoveling snow off the flight deck off the coast of Korea, and other photographs from WWII and there after. I hope that what little information I do have is of value to someone other than myself. My grandfather, Floyd Goss, RANK:AMM3, DIV:VIE, was on board from 1944-45. Thank you.
I was aboard the USS ESSEX from May, 1959 to February, 1961. I was an air controllman, worked my entire tour of duty in Primary Fly. Went through the Suez canal twice, and have many color slides from those tours. I worked under Commander Swinburne, the Air Boss. Was there when we lost an F4D when a hold back cable snapped before the afterburners were fired. Also, was manning the tower in the Med when a sailor walked through a propeller of a TF turning up on the flight deck. Went on two Med cruises, participated in the Tour of Good Will with Eisenhower. Would appreciate any info on the Essex. Submitted by John R Ingram II
Sailor=Eric Piper
I was aboard the Essex from 1963 until it's decommissioning in |
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