Posted this thread at the request of Navy Vet:
“Would y’all sign this petition and repost and ask your friends to sign it? I know that it’s not very important in the overall scheme of things, but it’s important to me personally. This is the ship we sailed across the Pacific and through the Philipine Sea and South China Sea and into the Tonkin Gulf off the coast of Vietnam where she earned her 13th battle star, more than any other aircraft carrier in the Vietnam War. During the Persian Gulf conflict she also flew more combat missions than any other carrier. She’s a piece of American history. The Navy has condemned her to be cut up for scrap, but the city of Long Beach, California, unanimously voted to ask for her to come there to be turned into a museum.The Navy talks like the decision to scrap her is final, but they said that about the USS Iowa, too, and she was rescued. We need 10,000 signatures. We currently have 3,707. I’d like to see her again before I pass on, but that’s unlikely to happen even if she is saved from the scrap yard, but I’d like for my children and/or grandchildren to be able to see her if they’re ever out that way.”
— John xxxxxxxxxxx
**** “Noted entertainers, including Bob Hope, Raquel Welch, Les Brown, Suzanne Somers, Gladys Knight & The Pips and Marie Osmond” *****
And Lee Greenwood “God Bless the USA” when I was on her
TT
I served on the Ranger 1990-1993. I spent Desert Storm on .50 cal gun mount 6. I was surprised at how darn cold it got out there at night. The Ranger was my favorite duty station of my career.
When G.W. Bush came aboard Ranger it was the second time that I had met him ... the Man had a Phenomenal Memory! He remembered when I met him on USS Kitty Hawk and he remembered my First Name ... and addressed me by it when we were trading patches and hats ... after he left all of the guys in the Division asked me “You Know Him?”
“Oh yeah ... we go way back”
Good times!
TT
Almost had a 3rd meeting with him but because of Security I had to settle for Secret Service ... I gave them my First and Last name ... when they let us return to our Office there was a Stack of 8 1/2 x 11 Glossies of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, George and Barbara Bush with a note from Bush Thanking me for my Service.
I was surprised to find out that Ranger CV-61 actually sailed around and was an active ship until 1992.
I could have sworn I toured the ship when I was a kid in NJ, in the 60’s. It was a fun trip, it was anchored in NYC. However it doesn’t especially look like there is much record of the ship being on the East Coast at all other than Norfolk.
I can appreciate your wish to preserve the ship. It is/would be a towering, astronomical amount of work. But I think you know that.
Here is a current example:
"USS TEXAS needs substantial long term funding for staffing and to maintain the ship, in addition to an immediate and urgent need for funds to undergo a massive stabilization and/or restoration to prevent imminent loss of historical integrity.
The benefit Texas has, is it carries the name of a great state, which taxpayers have been willing to carry some of the burden. But you are asking for a perpetual tax burden, and it needs to be thought out.
My recommendation? Turn it into a world class military academy AND museum. Everything needed is already there.
I sailed on the U.S.S. Independence CV-62 (Sister to the Ranger). I would like to see the Ranger saved as she is important to history and granted that Indy can’t be saved as she was stripped down to her bones to provide parts for other carriers while in mothballs. The 59 class was the tip of spear during the cold war.
The Iowa is razor blades now. As are another several hundred.
BTTT!
That said, I most likely won't be going back to sea, and neither will the other thousands of people who made her function through her useful lifetime.
All that steel, aluminum, and whatever else that can be scrapped from her will much better serve the purposes of current and future sailors (like my son) after it has been reworked into a more modern fighting vessel.
Anchors aweigh!
I’m there. Thanks for posting.
Unfortunately, she will suffer the fate of most ships, the bottom or the breakers.
5.56mm
When they announce it will sold for scrap for a penny, offer two cents!
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I kinda have mixed feelings about this effort...
Yes, it had its ups and downs, a ship does get a Rep from some of its exploits while on the job...
All I remember about the Ranger was its nickname...And by no means is it an insult to those that served on her, but it does give you a chuckle from time to time...
“Danger Ranger”
But hey, I was not the one that came up with it, I do believe someone onboard came up with that one, and it stuck...
BTW, where and who would get this carrier for restoration and display???
Bump
Need a link, please, EV.
Raquel Welch on USS Ranger (Bob Hope, too!)