III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 234 

Recognizing the Sailors and Marines who sacrificed their lives for ship and 

shipmates while fighting the devastating 1967 fire onboard USS Forrestal and, during the week of the 50th anniversary of the tragic event, 

commemorating the efforts of those who survived. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 27, 2017 

Mrs. ERNST (for herself, Mr. COTTON, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. INHOFE, Ms. 

WARREN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. KING, Mr. CRUZ, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, 

Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. WICKER, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. NELSON, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. REED, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. KAINE, 

Ms. HIRONO, Mr. PETERS, Mr. SASSE, Mr. PERDUE, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. 

STRANGE, and Mr. HEINRICH) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

OCTOBER 24, 2017 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the Sailors and Marines who sacrificed their 

lives for ship and shipmates while fighting the devastating 1967 fire onboard USS Forrestal and, during 

the week of the 50th anniversary of the tragic event, 

commemorating the efforts of those who survived. 

Whereas in 1967, the ongoing naval bombing campaign 

against North Vietnam from Yankee Station in the Gulf 

of Tonkin was the most intense and sustained air attack 

operation in the history of the United States Navy; 


dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 234 ATS 

Whereas in June 1967, USS Forrestal and Carrier Air Wing 

Seventeen departed Norfolk, Virginia, for duty in the 

Gulf of Tonkin; 

Whereas, on July 28, 1967, during an underway replenishment, the crew of USS Forrestal onloaded deteriorated 

bombs, which were more vulnerable to explosion at high 

temperatures; 

Whereas, on July 29, 1967, the ordnance load for the strike 

was changed at the request of the crew of USS Forrestall 

to expend the inventory of the newly onloaded older 

bombs as soon as possible; 

Whereas despite safety precautions taken by the crew, a devastating fire erupted on USS Forrestal after— 

(1) an electrical surge 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 USS Forrestal, and burning fuel dripped into the living quarters 

of the crew and the below-decks aircraft hangar; 

Whereas for 18 hours, Sailors and Marines on USS Forrestal, assisted by others from accompanying destroyers, 

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 USS Forrestal ultimately— 

(1) left 134 men dead and 161 men severely injured; 

(2) destroyed 21 aircraft; and 


dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 234 ATS 

(3) caused USS Forrestal to terminate its support 

to the fight in Vietnam and return to Norfolk, Virginia, 

for repairs: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that— 

3 (A) if not for the heroic actions of the crew 

4 of USS Forrestal, the consequences of the fire 

5 would have been far more devastating to the 

6 Sailors and Marines onboard and the aircraft 

7 carrier itself; and 

8 (B) the selfless sacrifices of those who 

9 came to the rescue of fellow shipmates and 

10 USS Forrestal represent, and are consistent 

11 with, the highest traditions of the United States 

12 Navy; 

13 (2) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 

14 USS Forrestal fire; and 

15 (3) expresses gratitude to the Sailors and Ma16 rines who served aboard USS Forrestal for their 

17 faithful service. 

Æ 


dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS