On this important day in America's history, memories and thoughts from those working to save Ranger.
To veterans and those close to them--we thank you!
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IF THESE DECKS
COULD TALK
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My last time aboard USS Ranger I departed from her flight deck in
my squadron A7E; destination NAS Lemoore. It was the end of Ranger's 1976
Bicentennial Cruise to WestPac and the Indian Ocean to the far side of the
world off the East Coast of Africa.
Thirty-three years later, December 2008, on a cold wet day in
Bremerton, Washington, I once again set foot on the hangar deck of the ex-USS
Ranger moored at the inactive ship facility. What a different feeling! The cold steel and silence was deafening
compared to what I was accustomed to during her active service. The sounds of
human activity were gone, along with noise of her engineering plant, steam
catapults, electrical motors and jet engines along with the bosun's pipe and
the 1MC. I walked through the spaces I was once so familiar with from the
second deck Chief's Mess to the forecastle, up to the O3 level Air Ops, and
Pri-Fly on the island with a fore and aft view of the flight deck. It was like
the crew just left, except someone forgot to turn out the lights. The Captain's
chair on the Navigation Bridge was vacant, but Captain Denny McGinn's name was
still on the back of his chair, the last of a long line of Naval Officers to
hold this awesome responsibility.
Our vision is to bring to life to the ship through the eyes of
her Captains and the 5,500 crew members on Ranger as well as a representative
carrier for all super carriers to include the nuclear powered super carriers.
So this is not just
about Ranger, it is about saving a super
carrier designed and built after World War II. Ranger is similar in flight deck
size and hull shape, therefore will serve as a representative ship of the Navy's nuclear powered carriers well into the future after they reach the end
of their service life and their nuclear plants are removed and recycled.
There are thousands of individual stories of those dedicated men
and women who served aboard super carriers. The stories involve duty, self
sacrifice, heroic action, triumph and yes, tragedy. The flight deck can best
be described as 4.5 acres of the most dangerous work space on sovereign United
States Territory. The trust between Naval Aviators and a nineteen year old
"Yellow Shirt" directing their aircraft following recovery to within a foot of
the edge of the deck on a dark rainy night with 35 knots of wind is a testimony
to the training of each person on deck to do his or her job flawlessly. Flight
deck operations have been compared to conducting a symphony orchestra with
each person having a part to play at a precise time and executing their part
with precision. It's called Navy Teamwork.
We will tell those stories such as "Oysters" airmanship bringing his
damaged F-18 back aboard Connie during night blue water ops and the
coordination with paddles resulting a successful trap aboard. Who can forget
the heroic action and individual sacrifice of the crew of Forrestal in 1967 to
fight the fire while bombs were exploding all around them, they saved the ship,
sadly paid the price with the loss of 134 brave shipmates. These are just two
examples of stories that will come to life aboard Ranger as a memorial to those
who have served on Super Carriers.
The Ranger Foundation invites you to send in your stories and
photos during your tour on a super carrier, be it from the main machinery room,
the galley, an underway replenishment
station, in the air or from the Flag Bridge, each is important telling a
story that gives life to the carrier and provides the public a taste of life at
sea while standing aboard a carrier in the same spot where you once served your
country.
Also please consider sending a Letter of Support and a financial
donation to the Ranger Foundation to support cost of the application process
that will result in donation of Ranger by the Secretary of the Navy as a
Historical Ship and Memorial. Together as a Navy Team we can make this happen.
Peter Ogle, Captain USN, Ret
Portland Oregon
November 11, 2009
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Perspective
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I checked aboard Ranger in 1971 while she was up on blocks in dry dock at the Hunters Point shipyard near San Francisco. My job was to assign and
monitor the fire-watches. Every civilian welder had a crewman with a fire
extinguisher assigned to put out any accidental fires. Once everyone was
assigned, I made my rounds making sure no one had wandered off or fallen asleep.
My favorite place to take a 'stroll' was in the bottom of the dry dock. Not many people can say they've stood UNDER Ranger and lived to tell about it. Too bad pictures were not permitted, as the hull, rudders and
massive propellers were awesome!
Larry Schmuhl
DS2 OZ Division IOIC
1971-1974
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Learning Experience
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My first thought (first memory) was "Boy she is BIG!" Ranger was arriving
with the assistance of three tugs and the rails were lined with Rangermen in
their dress whites. But I didn't have much more time to think and the
Bosn who was directing the line haulers started telling me to pull that huge
"rope" from the bow down to the "post" coming up from the dock. Of course I
had on dress blues and looked a mess when I walked up the gang way to report
aboard. When they had to send a guy from the photo lab up to "lead" me
down to my spaces, I knew I was the dumbest airdale 3rd class in the Navy.
I was a far different person when I came back down the gang way six months
later, when we arrived home in San Francisco!
And I look forward to going back aboard again in PORTLAND!
Ken Estes PH2 US Navy (Vet)
OP Div Photo Lab
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Without Your Help.... |
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Ranger will Not Be Saved
As we take a moment to reflect on this day, please remember that without your help, Ranger will not be saved and future generations will not be able to walk the decks of a Super Carrier.
The USS Ranger Foundation has been working for years to reach their goal and over the years we have asked for your financial contributions. Board members have donated not only their time, but have traveled to meetings, conventions and reunions on their own expense and have contributed significant funds to keep the mission going. The Foundation has used your contributions for necessary daily operations and has been very diligent at record-keeping and maximizing each and every dollar. While we have been able to continue the important work, no great treasury has been established.
As we enter Phase Two, an immediate need for $250,000 is at hand. We need to commission environmental studies, update the marketing study, revisit the business and financial plans and meet many requirements for the donation of the ship.
This will not happen without your help.
To those of you who have generously given over the years, we again thank you and ask that you continue to support this project. Those of you who are just joining the group, we ask for your help. Each and every one of you can help by forwarding this email on to your contacts. As we spread the word about this important project, we also spread the word of the need.
This can be done.
$250,000 is a reachable goal that can be looked at
from a number of angles:
250 people donating $1000 each
2500 people donating $100 each
1000 people donating $250 each
500 people donating $500 each
100 people donating $2500 each
Please take a moment and find your place for donation.
Each and every dollar counts.
We will add a thermometer to the website to track our progress and would like to see it reach $250,000 by the end of the year.
We have a short time frame to make this happen, don't let Ranger down.
Thank you.
To donate:
Click the "Donate Now" button on the right
to use a credit or debit card, or send donation to:
USS Ranger Foundation
1505 SE Gideon Street
Suite 650
Portland, OR 97202
Remember-the USS Ranger Foundation is a non-profit, therefore your donation is tax-deductible.
Thank you.
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USS RANGER
MUSEUM FOUNDATION
A registered, non-profit corporation established March 5, 2001.
Organized
for the purpose of securing, maintaining and operating the
decommissioned super carrier USS RANGER CV-61 as an educational center,
museum and Military Memorial.
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Be sure to check the Ranger Store for your holiday shopping. There are some great new items with more being added regularly.
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