"I've nothing but praise for the American sailor."
"Nobody had better say to me that American youth [is] lazy. I saw men working today who were not only injured but thoroughly exhausted and they had to be carried away."
"USS George K. MacKenzie (DD 836) , in what Rear Adm. Harvey P. Lanham, ComCarDiv Two, called an act of "magnificent seamanship," had maneuvered their ships to within 20 feet of the carrier so fire hoses could be effectively used."
"I am most proud of the way the crew reacted. The thing that is foremost in my mind is the concrete demonstration that I have seen of the worth of American youth. I saw many examples of heroism. I saw, and subsequently heard of, not one single example of cowardice."
SAM, imo, after having met the young men of the USS TARAWA, I have no doubt that this is how sailors would respond no matter the ship or the time and place. They showed a bond between them that I can only guess happens not only with Sailors but also with Soldiers and Marines and any of our Armed Forces in harms way and this is why all those serving are hero's in my eyes.
Heartbreaking story SAM, I thought of "our" sailors while I read this and it makes it even more touching and sad.
May God Bless the lost and the living of the FORRESTAL.