III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 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. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 4, 2022 

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. BALDWIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

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. 

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; 


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•SRES 744 ATS 

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 


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•SRES 744 ATS 

(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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commemorates the 55th anniversary of the 

3 fire onboard the USS Forrestal; 

4 (2) recognizes the sailors and marines who gave 

5 their lives for ship and shipmates while fighting the 

6 devastating fire and commemorates the efforts of the 

7 sailors and marines who survived the fire; 

8 (3) recognizes that— 

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

10 of the USS Forrestal, the consequences of the 

11 fire would have been far more devastating to 

12 the sailors and marines onboard and the USS 

13 Forrestal; and 

14 (B) the selfless sacrifices of the sailors and 

15 marines who came to the rescue of fellow ship16 mates and the USS Forrestal represent, and are 

17 consistent with, the highest traditions of the 

18 Navy; and 

19 (4) expresses gratitude to the sailors and ma20 rines who served aboard the USS Forrestal for their 

21 faithful service. 

Æ 


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