THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

Semper Fortis

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your sister Donna is poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Seaman Apprentice Vincent Carmen Bourdeau, Served aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, Task Force 77 (TF-77), 7th Fleet.

DEAR SEAMAN APPRENTICE BOURDEAU,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A SEAMAN APPRENTICE FROM THE U. S. S. FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT. SUNDAY IS MOTHER'S DAY. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS.

On November 4, 1966, while on station in the South China Sea, a flash fire broke out aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) in a supply storeroom below the hangar deck and took the lives of eight crewmen. The fire was caused by the chemical calcium hypochlorite coming in contact with flammable liquids. The eight crewmen in the storeroom were asphyxiated when they attempted to seek shelter in a compartment adjacent to the storeroom. The lost crewmen included FN Thomas L. Blackman, SA Vincent C. Bourdeau, AA Sebern E. Graham Jr., SA Donald R. Johnston, FA Charles E. Mitcham, FA Barry B. Myhr, FA Allan A. Schwarzkopf, and FN Garry D. Tackett. [Taken from ussfranklindroosevelt.com] The following account was found on the electronic bulletin board at military.com and contains a distinct history from the above narrative: The fire happened in an oil/fuel storage compartment about 3 levels down from the hangar bay. It was a massive explosion, the compartment was sealed due to a flare locker next door. When the fire could not be contained, and in order to protect the ship, the compartments were flooded, and all vents were closed. Dozens of men suffered burns and hundreds from smoke inhalation. Two of the men were trapped in air passages and suffocated, two drowned from the flooding, even though newspapers claim all were killed instantly. Four were killed by fire, none instantly. [Taken from the Bulletin Board for USS Franklin D. Roosevelt - CV 42 at military.com]