DECEMBER 2020 Volume

The Coral Sea Breeze

This Issue’s Ports of Call: History of The Ageless Warrior Ageless Warrior History 1 1943. She was re- CVB-42 was renamed President’s Corner 1 USS Coral Sea (CV/ classified as a "Large in honor of Franklin CVB/CVA-43), a Mid- Ageless Warrior (cont.) 2 " with D. Roosevelt, the way-class aircraft hull classification late President, and Ageless Warrior (cont.) 3 carrier, was the third symbol CVB-43 on CVB-43 was named ship of the United Treasurer’s Corner 4 15 July 1943. Her the Coral Sea. States Navy to be keel was laid down Secretary’s Corner 5 named for the Battle on 10 July 1944 in Coral Sea was one of of the Coral Sea. She the last U.S Navy Chaplain’s Corner 7 Shipway 10. She was earned the affection- launched on 2 April carriers to be com- Small Stores Order Form 8 ate nickname 1946, sponsored by pleted with a straight "Ageless Warrior" , with an Membership Form 10 Mrs. Thomas C. through her long ca- Kinkaid, and com- angled flight deck Assoc. Officer’s Directory 11 reer. Initially classi- missioned on 1 Octo- added during later fied as an aircraft ber 1947 with Cap- modernizations. All Welcome Aboard! carrier with hull clas- tain A.P. Storrs III in subsequent newly sification symbol CV- command. built U.S Navy carri- 43, the contract to ers have had the an- build the ship was Before 8 May 1945, gled deck included as awarded to Newport the aircraft carrier part of the ship's News Shipbuilding of CVB-42 had been construction. Newport News, Vir- known as USS Coral ginia, on 14 June Sea. After that date, The ship promptly James C. Barlow (Continued on page 2) ENS., S-4 Div. 12/55—12/56 reunion in San Die- ville. Your President’s Corner go in 2023. Just in thoughts? talks at this time, I will have a lot Charles L. Proesel Ahoy Shipmates, but I would like to more to tell you in LT., D Div. have everyone’s I hope that every- the next issue of 6/71—6/73 input. Please let me one is in good the Sea Breeze. health over this know your thoughts on this. Take care and stay pandemic. Here in safe, Texas for my part, We are still sched- we are doing very uled to be in Colo- good. rado Spring in Wayne I have been talking 2021. And we are to the presidents of thinking about Wayne Addkison the other sister holding the 2022 President ships about another reunion in either Norfolk or Louis- P a g e 2 The Coral Sea Breeze

(Continued from page 1) for Commander, Carrier Division 6, History of The Ageless Warrior… she took part in a NATO Exercise, began a series of career milestones Beehive I. She returned to Norfolk, when, on 27 April 1948, two P2V-2 Virginia 6 October for local and Car- Neptunes, piloted by Commander ibbean operations, next sailing for Thomas D. Davies and Lieutenant the Mediterranean on 19 April 1952. Commander John P. Wheatley, made While on service with the Sixth jet assisted takeoffs (JATO) from the Fleet, she visited Yugoslavia in Sep- carrier as she steamed off Norfolk, tember and carried Marshal Josip Virginia. This was the first carrier Broz Tito on a one-day cruise to ob- launchings of planes of this size and serve carrier operations. The ship TAPS weight. The Coral Sea sailed from was reclassified as an "Attack Air- Norfolk, Virginia, on 7 June 1948 for craft Carrier" with hull classification a midshipmen cruise to the Mediter- symbol CVA-43 on 1 October 1952 ranean and Caribbean, and returned while still at sea and returned to Raymond H. to Norfolk, Virginia 11 August. Norfolk, Virginia, for overhaul 12 Oc- Brown tober. After an overhaul period, Coral Sea GM2, 6th Div. was again operating off the Virginia Coral Sea trained pilots in carrier 1954—1955 Capes. On 7 March 1949, a P2V-3C operations off of the Virginia Capes Neptune, piloted by John T. and Mayport, Florida, and in April Jack J. Fetsko Hayward of VC-5, was launched 1953 the ship embarked the Judici- QMQ3, OI Div. from the carrier with a 10,000-lb ary Committee of the United States 1947—1948 load of dummy bombs. The aircraft House of Representatives for a three flew across the continent, dropped -day cruise. On 26 April, she sailed Kenneth L. its load on the West Coast, and re- for a tour of duty in the Mediterra- Platz turned nonstop to at the Naval nean. This cruise was highlighted by AN, V-1 Div. Air Station Patuxent River, Mary- a visit to Spain, and participation in 1965—1968 land. The mission proved the con- NATO Exercise Black Wave with cept of carrier-based atomic bomb Deputy Secretary of Defense R. M. Anthony T. attacks. Following training in the Kyes on board as an observer. Re- Spagnolo Caribbean, Coral Sea sailed 3 May turning to Norfolk, Virginia, on 21 PTR2 1949 for her first tour of duty in the October, she carried out tests for 1947—1948 Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet, the Bureau of Aeronautics and returning 28 September. trained members of the Naval Re- William G. serve at Mayport, Florida, and Guan- Williams Operations in the 1950s tanamo Bay. RD2, OI Div. On 21 April 1950, the first carrier Coral Sea returned to the Mediterra- 1957 takeoff of an AJ-1 Savage heavy at- nean from 7 July to 20 December tack bomber was made from Coral 1954, and during this tour was visit- Sea by Captain John T. Hayward of ed by Spanish Generalissimo Fran- VC-5. The remainder of the pilots of cisco Franco as she lay off of Valen- the squadron completed carrier cia. On her next tour of duty in the qualifications on board Coral Sea in Mediterranean from 23 March to 29 this aircraft on 31 August, marking September 1955, she called at Is- the introduction of this long-range tanbul and participated in NATO ex- atomic-attack bomber to carrier op- ercises. erations. At this time, she returned to the Mediterranean for duty with Sailing from Norfolk, Virginia 23 July the Sixth Fleet from 9 September 1956 for Mayport, Florida to embark 1950 to 1 February 1951. Carrier Air Group 10, Coral Sea con- tinued on to the Mediterranean on An overhaul and local operations up- her next tour. She participated in on her return, as well as training NATO exercises and received King with Air Group 17, prepared her for Paul of Greece, and his consort, a return to the Mediterranean once more on 20 March 1951. As flagship (Continued on page 3) P a g e 3

(Continued from page 2) eotape of every landing, the system History of The Ageless Warrior… proved useful for instructional pur- Friederike Luise Thyra of Hanover, poses and in the analysis of landing on board as visitors in October. Dur- accidents, thereby making it an in- ing the , Coral Sea evacu- valuable tool in the promotion of ated American citizens from the safety. By 1963, all attack carriers troubled area and stood by off of had been equipped with PLAT and until November. plans were underway for installation in the CVSs and at shore stations. Coral Sea returned to Norfolk, Vir- ginia 11 February 1957. She cleared Following the that port on 26 February and visited in August, Coral Sea departed on 7 Santos, Brazil, Valparaíso, Chile, and December 1964 for duty with the Balboa, Canal Zone, before arriving Seventh Fleet. On 7 February 1965, at Bremerton, Washington, on 15 her aircraft, along with those from April. Ranger and Hancock, conducted Op- eration Flaming Dart against the mil- Coral Sea was decommissioned at itary barracks and staging areas the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on near Đồng Hới in the southern sector 24 May 1957 to receive a major con- of North . The raids were in version (SCB-110A), which included retaliation for a damaging Viet Cong Salty Humor a longer angled deck canted 3 de- attack on installations around grees more than the previous over- in . On 26 March, the hauls of her sister ships. As the cen- Seventh Fleet units began their par- Why does a terline elevators were relocated to ticipation in Operation Rolling Thun- the starboard deck edge forward and der, a systematic bombing of mili- slight tax in- aft of the island, Coral Sea became tary targets throughout North Vi- crease cost the first carrier to mount an elevator etnam. Pilots from Coral Sea struck on the port quarter resembling the island and coastal radar stations in you $200 and more efficient deck layout of the Kit- the vicinity of . On 3 April, MiG- a substantial ty Hawk-class then under construc- 17s attacked aircraft from Coral Sea tion. Other improvements included and Hancock in the first United tax cut save new steam catapults, an enclosed States aerial combat of the Vietnam you 50 cents? hurricane bow, hull blisters, and re- conflict. A Coral Sea RF-8 took the moval of the armor belt and several first photographs of a North Viet- anti-aircraft guns. namese surface-to-air missile site on Vietnam and operations in the 5 April. Coral Sea remained on de- 1960s to early 1970s ployment until returning home on 1 November 1965. Upon completion, she was recom- missioned on 25 January 1960 and Coral Sea made another Westpac/ rejoined the fleet. During September Vietnam deployment from 29 July 1960, she conducted training with 1966 to 23 February 1967. her new air group along the West In the summer of 1967, the city of Coast, then sailed in September for San Francisco adopted the ship as a tour of duty with the Seventh Fleet "San Francisco's Own." This might in the Far East on her first Westpac seem ironic given the strong anti- (Western Pacific cruise). She record- military sentiment in the San Fran- ed her 100,000th arrested landing in cisco Bay Area, and the fact that this October 1961. occurred during the Summer of Installation of the Pilot Landing Aid Love. Despite this, the city and the Television (PLAT) system was com- ship enjoyed a formal, official rela- pleted on Coral Sea on 14 December tionship. However, there were prob- 1961. She was the first carrier to ably many times the crew did not have this system installed for opera- enjoy the attitudes of Bay Area resi- tions use. Designed to provide a vid- (Continued on page 4) P a g e 4 The Coral Sea Breeze

(Continued from page 3) They were joined in early April by History of The Ageless Warrior... Kitty Hawk and Constellation. On 16 dents at all. The feeling was mutu- April 1972, their aircraft flew 57 sor- al. In July 1968, prior to a deploy- ties in the area in support ment to Vietnam, Coral Sea partici- of U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress pated in the carrier trials of the US strikes on the Haiphong petroleum Navy's proposed new interceptor, products storage area in an opera- the General Dynamics–Grumman F tion known as Freedom Porch. -111B. After refitting, from 1970 through to The ship continued to make West- 1971, and during refresher training pac/Vietnam deployments until (REFTRA) down to San Diego, Coral 1975: 26 July 1967 to 6 April 1968, Sea, on her return trip to Alameda, 7 September 1968 to 15 April caught fire in the communications 1969, 23 September 1969 to 1 July department. The fire spread so fast 1970, 12 November 1971 to 17 Ju- that Captain William H. Harris com- ly 1972, 9 March 1973 to 8 Novem- manded that the carrier be placed ber and from 5 December 1974 to just offshore between San Mateo and Salty Humor 2 July 1975. Santa Barbara in order to abandon ship if the fire could not be brought Operations by the United States under control. Several communica- Navy and the United States Marine tions personnel were trapped and Corps aircraft in Vietnam expanded Radiomen Bob Bilbo and Bill Lar- significantly throughout April 1972 imore pulled many shipmates out of with a total of 4,833 Navy sorties in the burning and smoke-filled com- On the first the south and 1,250 in the north. partments. LCpl Thomas P. Howard Coral Sea, along with Hancock, was day of school, Jr. of ships Mar/Det received a on when the North a first-grader Vietnamese spring offensive began. (Continued on page 6) handed his teacher a note from his Treasurer’s Corner (Bill) Williams of 19, political changes Mechanicsburg, PA. and civil unrest, I am mother. The not expecting Octo- Hello Shipmates, 3rd prize to Harry note read, ber to show contin- Kleeman of “The opinions With the National Re- ued improvement. union cancelling, it Springhill, TN. My hope and prayers expressed by has been pretty quiet Congratulations to for the Holiday Sea- around here. our winners! this child are son are that we can not necessarily Although we were A special Thank all find reasons to be those of his not able to gather in You to Shipmate Wil- thankful, that 2021 Oklahoma City, the liam Trevillion for his will see an end to parents.” cash raffle drawing generous Scholarship Covid and be a better took place on 10 Oc- Donation. year for us all. tober as sched- uled. The winners Financially the asso- My best wishes for are: ciation is stable. As the Holidays to you of the September and those you love. st 1 prize to Roger statement the schol- Pinel of Westwood, arship investment MA. had regained the Clarence 2nd prize to our late losses from earlier in Clarence Neander shipmate William the year. Unfortu- nately, given the Association Treasurer chaos with COVID- P a g e 5

Scholarship Applications are Being Accepted Now! plication and get it in the mail NO Shipmates...... it is that time of LATER THAN April 1. With the April year again when we begin thinking 1 deadline for mailing completed about our students. Those of us applications, the scholarship com- with seniors want to help them mittee judges can make the selec- with furthering their education. You tions, the chairman can contact may request scholarship applica- the recipients and their schools, tion packets any time of the year and have all this completed for an- (for your seniors). I mail the re- nouncement in the Sea Breeze. quested packets out as soon as I —Guy Dunbar get the request. Complete the ap- Scholarship Chairman ‘Salty’ Humor Secretary’s Corner know ASAP, but no Sea Breeze. He was later than January in possession of the Salty Humor 31, 2021 if you are first Ensign that flew Greetings Shipmates, interested in attend- on Coral Sea on the ing this event. I will occasion of the ship’s Once again, we are What is the coming to the holiday need a firm commit- first time underway difference time of the year. I ment from a mini- as a commissioned wish all of you a mum of 40 attendees ship. He was a plank between golf Happy Thanksgiving, before I will make owner. His daughter and politics? a Merry Christmas any arrangements. is searching for this In golf, you and a Happy New Please contact me by flag and she will do- Year! telephone or e-mail if nate it to the Associ- can’t improve you are interested. I ation when it is locat- your lie. Also, it’s that time of look forward to hear- ed. Indeed, this flag year when your dues ing from you all. will be a valuable ad- may be payable. dition to the Associa- One final note, I had Once again, please tion archives. check your mailing a great conversation label of this issue of with the daughter of Lastly, another Sea Breeze. If your recently deceased prominent member dues expiration is Coral Sea Shipmate of the Association al- shown in red, please Jack Fetsco. His so has passed. Wil- pay your dues. If passing is noted in liam “Bill” Williams, there is any question this issue. He was a the founder of the as to your member- helicopter pilot and Scholarship Fund has ship status, please when Coral Sea was also joined the roster contact me. If noth- making its last fateful of the Supreme Com- ing else, I always en- trip from Philadelphia mander. where Jack lived to joy a good conversa- Godspeed to all these , he almost tion with all Ship- Shipmates. mates! made the last landing on the ship. He Due to COVID19, the thought better of this 2020 Midwest Spring and flew on. He John Fling was cancelled, penned an article re- John H. Ranson but I’m interested in garding this event CVA-43 planning a fling for that was published Association Secretary 2021. Please let me some time ago in P a g e 6 The Coral Sea Breeze

(Continued from page 4) permitting merchant ships time for History of The Ageless Warrior... departure or a change in destination "Meritorious Mast" from Captain Har- consistent with the President's public ris as a result of his location and res- warning. It was the beginning of a cue of shipmates overcome by toxic mining campaign that planted over smoke in security weapon space. An 11,000 MK36 type destructor and OBA was LCpl Howard's only breath- 108 special Mk 52-2 mines over the ing protection at the time. next eight months. It is considered to have played a significant role in Operation Pocket Money, the mining bringing about an eventual peace campaign against principal North Vi- arrangement, particularly since it so etnamese ports, was launched 9 May hampered the enemy's ability to 1972. Early that morning, an EC-121 continue receiving war supplies. aircraft took off from Da Nang air- field to provide support for the min- 1971: Crewmen petition against ing operation. A short time later, Kit- the ty Hawk launched 17 ordnance- delivering sorties against the Nam In 1971, widespread dissatisfaction Định railroad siding as a diversionary with the Vietnam War led to an unu- air tactic. Poor weather, however, sual action by at least 1000 crew forced the planes to divert to sec- members who formed the on-ship ondary targets at Thanh and Phu organization named "Stop our Qui. Coral Sea launched three A-6A Ship" (SOS), and signed a petition Salty Humor Intruders and six A-7E Corsair II air- against the war. The petition stated craft loaded with naval mines and that the signers "do not believe in one EKA-3B Skywarrior in support of the Vietnam War" and that Coral Sea "should not go to Vietnam". My husband is the mining operation directed against the outer approaches to Hai- On 6 November 1971, over 300 men so cheap that phong Harbor. The mining aircraft from Coral Sea marched in an anti- when he dies departed the vicinity of Coral Sea war demonstration in San Francisco. timed to execute the mining at pre- On 12 November 1971, around 600- he is going to cisely 09:00 local time to coincide 1200 protestors demonstrated out- walk towards with President Richard M. Nixon's side of Naval Air Station Alameda to public announcement in Washington encourage sailors to not sail with the the light...and that naval mines had been seeded. ship. Thirty-five men missed her de- turn it off! The Intruder flight, led by the CAG, parture after the Berkeley City Commander Roger E. Sheets, was Council and 10 churches offered composed of United States Marine sanctuary. While this number is not Corps aircraft from VMA-224 and unusual for a ship this size, at least headed for the inner channel. The one military service member sought Corsairs, led by Commander Leonard sanctuary. E. Giuliani, and made up of aircraft from VA-94 and VA-22, were desig- The petition and demonstrations by nated to mine the outer segment of the sailors of Coral Sea were part of the channel. Each aircraft carried a larger movement of anti-war pro- four MK52-2 mines. Captain William tests by military service members. R. Carr, USMC, the bombardier/ Earlier in 1971, about 400 service- navigator in the lead plane, estab- men in Saigon signed a petition lished the critical attack azimuth and against the war, and nine sailors in timed the releases. The Hawaii took sanctuary in a church first mine was dropped at 08:59 and and missed the sailing of the Con- the last of the field of 36 mines at stellation. (In contrast, the Coral Sea 09:01. Twelve mines were placed in crewmen did not want their protest the inner harbor and the remaining "to be a thing like the Constellation" 24 in the outer. All mines were set and therefore likely were not looking with 72-hour arming delays, thus (Continued on page 7) P a g e 7

(Continued from page 6) hostilities in Vietnam, were signed History of The Ageless Warrior... on 27 January 1973, ending four for sanctuary.) years of talks. re- leased nearly 600 American prison- These ‘flattop revolts’ expanded the ers by 1 April 1973, and the last next year, as sailors signed petitions U.S. combat troops departed Vi- or disrupted operations on Kitty etnam on 11 August 1973. However, Hawk, Oriskany, Ticonderoga, Amer- the war was not over for the Viet- ica, and Enterprise. Sabotage on namese. By spring 1975, the North Ranger and Forrestal prevented their was advancing on the South. Coral scheduled port departures while avi- Sea, Midway, Hancock, Enterprise, ators became increasingly concerned and Okinawa responded on 19 April about their role in the bombing cam- 1975 to the waters off South Vi- paign and questioned the war open- etnam when North Vietnam overran ly. two-thirds of South Vietnam. On 29– , Fall of Sai- 30 April 1975, Operation Frequent gon, Wind was carried out by Seventh (Continued on page 10) The Paris Peace Accords, ending

Chaplain’s Corner toral College to final- tradition of singing Salty Humor ize the results. Life each of the service has been stressful for songs, in order of the Dear Shipmates, most of us for a long founding of the ser- When we went time! vice (Army, Navy, Why is the Marine Corps, Coast through our "Fall But now, just ahead, person who Guard, and Air Back" to return to is Thanksgiving Day. Force). Next year we invests your Standard Time, one Well-timed, I would commentator stated, will add our newest money called a say! We need a na- "I don't think any of branch, the U. S. tional day of giving broker? us want an extra Space Force. Many thanks, a time to re- thanks to all who hour of 2020, do flect on our blessings served and who are we?" Yes, it has been which can be so easi- still serving! a difficult year deal- ly overlooked. And ing with The Virus, what I most like Best wishes to you for not just our coun- about Thanksgiving and your family for a try but for our world is that this is a cele- most blessed as well. Sort of re- bration that folks of Thanksgiving Sea- minds me how life on all faiths (and those son! Planet Earth is so in- of no faith) can en- Your chaplain, tertwined! thusiastically join in At the same time, together. I pray your 2020 was our regu- celebration is a won- larly scheduled presi- derful one. Michael dential election cycle. On November 8th in Michael D. Halley And we certainly got many churches Association Chaplain plenty of that infor- across America, we mation made availa- celebrated Veterans ble to us! As of this Day. In our church writing we await the we have developed a action of the Elec-

Place Ship Store Orders Here! Wayne Addkison 12856 FM 1391, Kemp, TX 75143

Ph: 903.288.4455 Fx: 903.675.0086 Email: [email protected] All Credit Cards Will Be Processed Through The Ship Store All Credit Cards Accepted: Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express Make Checks Payable To The Ship Store P a g e 10 The Coral Sea Breeze

(Continued from page 7) Landing Teams 2 and 9 were History of The Ageless Warrior... launched from U Tapao, , Fleet forces. Hundreds of U.S. per- and landed at Koh Tang Island to sonnel and Vietnamese were evacu- rescue the Mayaguez's crew and se- ated from Saigon to the ships of the cure the ship. Eighteen Marines, Air- Seventh Fleet lying off Vũng Tàu. men, and Navy corpsmen were lost South Vietnam surrendered to the in the action. For her action, Coral Salty Humor North on 30 April 1975. Sea was presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation on 6 July 1976. On 12 to 14 May 1975, Coral Sea Meanwhile, she had been reclassi- participated with other United States fied as a "Multi-Purpose Aircraft Car- Did you hear Navy, United States Air Force, and rier", returning to hull classification United States Marine Corps forces in symbol CV-43, on 30 June 1975. about the the Mayaguez incident. This opera- angry pancake? tion recovered the U.S. merchant hostage crisis, final West- ship SS Mayaguez and her 39 crew, ern Pacific cruise He just illegally seized on 12 May in interna- tional waters by a Cambodian gun- On 4 November 1979, militant fol- flipped! lowers of the Ayatollah Khomeini— boat controlled by the Communist . Protective air strikes who had come to power following were flown from the carrier against the overthrow of the Shah of Iran— the Cambodian mainland naval and seized the US Embassy in air installations. Air Force helicop- and held 63 Americans hostage. ters with 288 Marines from Battalion Thus began the . (Continued on page 12)

USS Coral Sea Association Membership Application/Renewal Form Membership in the USS CORAL SEA CVA-43 ASSOCIATON is open to all Navy, Marine Corp and Air Force personnel who served aboard the ship (CV/CVB/CVA-43) for a period of at least 90 days. Also, any person who was assigned to the original commissioning crew (plank owner), even if they spent fewer than 90 days aboard, shall be eligible for membership. DUES: Association membership is $20 per year. Dues for member- ship are not limited to one year when submitted for renewal or first-time application. Any amount submitted over the annual dues will be automatically earmarked for the Association’s Scholarship Fund program. New Member: [ ] I apply for membership for ______year(s). Enclosed is a check/money order $______Renewal: [ ] Renew my membership for ______year(s). Enclosed is a check/money order $______

Name ______Birth Date ______(Please PRINT First name, middle initial, last name) (mo/day/year) Address ______CITY______STATE ______

ZIP+4______PHONE: ( ) Email ______

Spouse’s Name ______Birthday ______Anniversary ______

ON BOARD SHIP AS CREW MEMBER: From______to ______Division ______Rank/Rate On Board______(Month/Year) (Month/Year) (Lt/RD/FN/SN/Sgt) Military Retirement: No [ ] Yes [ ] Retired as:______USN [ ] USMC [ ] USCG [ ] (Rank/Rate) USNR [ ] Air Force [ ] Army [ ] I do [ ] do not [ ] want my complete mailing address printed on the published roster. I do [ ] do not [ ] want an Association bumper sticker. Please make check payable to: USS CORAL SEA CVA-43 ASSOC. Office Use Only Mail application to: Received: ______John Ranson, Secretary, USS CORAL SEA CVA-43 ASSOC. Check: ______52 Woodland Pl. Amount: ______Ft. Thomas, KY 41075-1605 Email: [email protected] Expires: ______P a g e 11

USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) Association. Officers President: Vice President: Secretary: Wayne Addkison Robert L. Gaston John H. Ranson 12856 FM 1391 4407 S. Lanier Drive 52 Woodland Pl. Kemp, TX 75143 Tampa, FL 33616 Ft. Thomas, KY 41075-1605 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (903) 288-4455 (home) (813)298-9774 (859) 781-2536 (home) (859) 250-3727 (cell) Treasurer: Immediate Past President: Board of Directors: Clarence Neander Bill Johnson Larry Pennington—2020 27684 N 725 E Road 322 N Portia Street [email protected] Cornell, IL 61319 Nokomis, FL 34275 Al Ching—2021 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (815) 341-5928 (cell) (941) 485-4360 (home) William A. Bomar—2022 [email protected] Chaplain: Storekeeper: Master-at-Arms: Rev. Michael D. Halley Wayne Addkison Mike Pfeffer U.S. Navy Chaplain Ret. 12856 FM 1391 5311 N Manila Avenue 841 Colonel Mead Dr. Kemp, TX 75143 Chicago, IL 60630 Suffolk, VA 23434 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (903) 288-4455, Fax 675-0086 (773) 612-7107 (cell) Historian: Retention Chairman: Mike Pfeffer Jon Lickey (309) 688-3939 (home) Copy [email protected] [email protected] Submission Deadline:

Material for Committees the March Reunion Committee 2020 Reunion, Oklahoma City issue of The Members: John Ranson & Clarence Neander Coral Sea By-Laws Committee Breeze Chairman: John Ranson, [email protected] is due in to the Members: Bob Nerbetski [email protected] publisher or Bill Eanetta [email protected] copy editor by Scholarship Committee Feb. 5, 2021. Chairman: Guy Dunbar [email protected] (405) 820-5302 (cell) Audit Committee Chairman: Robert Gaston

Nominating Chair: Bill Johnson [email protected]

Parliamentarian: John H. Ranson (859) 781-2536

The Sea Breeze—Official Coral Sea Newsletter Publisher: Wayne Addkison Copy Edit/Layout: Ed Williams, [email protected]

Read this issue in color on the Coral Sea website: www.usscoralsea.org Webmaster: Bob Dorais, [email protected]

NOTE: Please send all mailing address changes to John Ranson at the address shown top right. USS Coral Sea CVA - 43 Association NON PROFIT ORG Wayne Addkison, Publisher US POSTAGE 12856 FM 1391 PAID Kemp, TX 75143 JOLIET IL Email: [email protected] PERMIT #349 Please Note: Send Address Corrections to Association Sec. John Ranson

The Ageless Warrior Enjoy Your Association Online at www.usscoralsea.org and see this issue of the Sea Breeze in full color!

tionary Medal for their efforts. and he could be a strict disci- (Continued from page 10) plinarian. History of The Ageless Warrior… By the time the ship pulled into Subic Bay, the Philip- On 10 June 1980, Coral Sea pines, for a port call on 9 May returned to her homeport of 1980 the crew had spent 102 Coral Sea relieved Midway in Alameda. Shortly after her consecutive days at sea, return, the San Francisco Bay the northern part of the Ara- mostly off the coast of Iran. bian Sea, off the coast of Area press reported the theft (The Iran hostage crisis end- of a set of golden bear stat- Iran, on 5 February 1980. ed on 20 January 1981 when This operating area was nick- ues from the ship. These succeeded statues had been presented named Gonzo Station by the as President of men on the ships operating by the city of San Francisco the United States and Iran after the city had adopted there, apparently because of released the Americans.) its vicinity to Iran and the as- the ship as "San Francisco's sumption that war with Iran At this time (1979–1981), the Own." Two sailors from Coral was likely. ship was commanded by Cap- Sea were caught with the tain (later ) Richard statues after attempting to Later, along with Nimitz and Dunleavy, who was to play a sell them, and the sailors other ships in company, Coral role in the , were subsequently court- Sea participated in Operation which forced him into retire- martialed and sentenced to Evening Light, the unsuccess- ment. However, while com- prison. All of the statues ful and aborted rescue at- manding Coral Sea, he was were recovered in good tempt of 24 April 1980. (Their considered an excellent com- shape. aircraft played a supporting manding officer by his crew Ed. Note—This article will be role.) The crew of Coral Sea, who respected him greatly, and other ships in the compa- concluded in the March issue even though they worked of Sea Breeze. ny, received the Navy Expedi- long, difficult hours under him