6 Days left!
We have only a few days left. We ahve over 160 people coming, I think that this will be a great Party!

I have coins for sale as well. I made them for the party but you can have one for only $13.
Email me for more info.
Darin

Sad News

I was asked to post this in honor of a former Plank Owner, MSCS Richard (Dick) Minge, who rested his oars and went to Fiddler's Green. Dick Has greeted his maker on 12 April 2009, may he have fair winds and following seas. Anyone wishing to sign an electronic guest book or visit his obit site may go to http://www.obryantokeefe.com and click on Richard E. Minge 4/12/2009.

Reunion Update

Go to reunion area and read the latest update.
(We have done this to clean up theold site a bit.)

Sailors of YORKTOWN !

This is being sent to all those that have contacted me regardless if you are able to come, just to keep you informed in case your status changes.

Since I have found a large number of individuals, if you are looking for someone, drop me a line, I may have found them. Also, if you have contacted or stayed in touch with other members, send me there contact info and I’ll add them to the list and send them the info.

First of all, I would like to thank all of those that have contributed in getting this going. Some have given great ideas and one person in particular has done much more than ever expected and lined up the location and many other things. I/we have to thank Rudy Bohannon for doing such a great job!

Anyway, we now have 163 confirmed coming to the reunion, with more that will probably show up. 89 crew, 44 of which are plank owners, 22 that are unable to attend that have contacted me and 35 maybes. We have members of the crew from all of the 20 years she was afloat, including 5 from the last crew out of Pascagoula.

We have reserved a picnic shelter at Cheatham Annex, near Yorktown. We also have two 20x20 tents just in case of bad weather. We have a hog and a smoker and will need some local volunteers to help out with that. We also have a couple of grills for hamburgers and hotdogs. Throw in some chicken, potato salad and a few cold ones and we got ourselves a party !

We have made every effort to keep the costs low by doing a lot ourselves and by not renting a hall. We have decided to just cover our costs and only charge $20 for a single person, $30 per couple, and $40 for a family. We do have to make some deposits and have some other costs coming up before the actual party so we would like to collect the money now. Please send the money and how many people are attending with you at your earliest convenience.

Checks or money orders can be made out and mailed to:

Darin Walter, P.O. Box 225, Fowler MI, 48835.

For those that may need lodging, I have located a hotel that is in Williamsburg, not very far from Cheatham Annex. It is also where my family and I are staying. It’s the closest, cheapest and had the best reviews that I could find. They have given us a discount group rate cheaper than any others that I have looked into. The others were all well over $160. We have a block of 30 rooms, 25 standard (2 Queen beds) and 5 rooms with a King Bed. The rooms come with a very nice breakfast & outdoor pool.

The cost of the room is $125 per night, for either the two Queens or the Kings. First come, first serve. The Hotel is the Country Inn and Suites – Williamsburg East. The address is 7135 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA 23185. The phone number is: 757-229-6900.

When you call make sure you tell them that you are with the Yorktown reunion to get the right rate. There is a two night minimum but if you can only stay one night we can work it out.

You must make your reservation by June 3rd. If you have to cancel, the rooms must be cancelled no later than June 19th to get all of your money back. Everyone is expected to make their own reservations.

I NEED to know how many of you are going to use this lodging option! If we have more need than what they have allotted, then I need to send a request for more rooms. If we don’t need what has been set aside, they want me to let them know that as well.

The base at Cheatham Annex also has a small motel with 2 room suites. You must be on active duty status or retired to be able to use it. The price is $55 a night. These places have already started filling up, so I suggest if anyone wants to stay there that they call and reserve it now. There also are cabins that they rent by the week if someone was interested in that. To get information and make reservations call Cheatham Annex MWR at (757)887-7224. Pictures of the place are at the following web site.

http://www.donlodging.org/FISC_NORFOLK_CHEATHAM.HTM

Since the reunion is on a Naval Base, we have to be “checked in”. They want to know who is going to come on the base so I NEED to know all the names of the people that are coming, norder to provide the Navy with the list. If you arrive at the gate and are not on the list they may not let you on. If you are active or retired military, you can get on with your I.D. card, But I still would like a list of all the names.

Please Email or call me @ (989) 593-2147 and let me know. You can also send this information with your check. I need confirmation from you with the following information:

1. How many are coming
2. Who is coming (all names) &
3. If you need lodging so that I can set aside more rooms with the reunion rate

Thanks,

Darin

Date and Time Set For 25th Reunion

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 11 Jan 2009 10:26 AM CST

Greetings to all sailors of the USS YORKTOWN CG 48. After phone conversations and e-mail exchanges on "when and where to hold the next reunion", Darin Walter and I have decided to set the 25th Anniversary reunion to July 4, 2009 in Yorktown. Exact times and locations will be posted on blogs, Facebook pages, e-mailed and mailed USPS.

Now, somebody had to do it, so we moved on the decision making process. I understand that some sailors will not agree or be able to make it this year but we have to start some where.

My thinking is to hold a reunion every two years. This first reunion can be in Yorktown, Virginia. The next reunion can be held in Pascagoula, MS, the birthplace of our beloved ship. Pascagoula is in the lower middle of the country and Yorktown is filled with many shipmates that can meet in the homeport and commissioning of the site. I just don't know how else to plan the reunion other than this suggestion. We can certainly hold different discussions at our first business meeting in the Yorktown area.

Darin and others have been e-mailing "what if" suggestions for sometime. Our first reunion can be this summer on the 4th of July. I have been part of the planning on class reunions and some like the 4th and others don't like it but it certainly seems fitting to hold it there on the 25th anniversary of her commissioning.

Darin said he contacted Rudy Bohanan and Rudy suggested having the first meeting be held at his house. Rudy has hosted over 200 guest at parties in his yard and has experience with what it takes to plan such an event.

The following information is what Darin Walter is posting in his e-mail:

Sailors of the Yorktown!
We are planning a reunion for all former crewmembers of the USS Yorktown (CG – 48). This is open to all that served aboard from her commissioning in 1984 to her untimely de-commissioning in 2004. We would like to invite those that can attend to join us in the Yorktown Virginia area on the Fourth of July, 2009.

Since we are in the planning stages, we would like to get a better idea of how many crewmembers are interested so that we can reserve the appropriate space needed. We are looking into various hotels in the area that we can get a group rate at as well as other things that we are trying to plan.

We are also in the planning stages of forming a USS Yorktown CG-48 Association. If you are interested in helping out with either event, please let us know.
RSVP with the number of people attending as soon as possible to Darin Walter, (Former OS2) via email at waltx4@charter.net or by TX to: 989-593-2147. If you are not able to attend, we would still like to hear from you.
If you are in touch with any other former crewmembers that did not receive this email or notification, please forward it on to them.
Thank you and hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
Darin Walter
(OS2)

So, I thank Darin for helping with the planning. We look forward to keeping everyone updated and contact your shipmates and send in any e-mail addresses for a data base build up. I am hoping Mike Hirsch still has his data base and I believe I kept a copy of my e-mails from the last reunion in 2003 for the decommissioning ceremony and final farewell the the Yorktown. There are others who have volunteered to help and we welcome anyone's suggestions. It will a simple reunion like the one we had in Pascagoula. A meeting and social hour Friday. A dinner planned on the 4th of July and everyone can pretty well mingle and hold small parties in their rooms or homes. Simple, fun and a great time to swap sea stories and renew old friendships. Hope to be there and see some friends and shipmates!

David Black OS1(SW) Retired

We also might be moving the site and I will be in touch with that decision. I appreciate BlogHarbor supporting our site but we move the site. It is a consideration in cost savings. Thanks to generous donations we have $96.00 in our account and we could use some of that for mailings, reunion planning and yearly domain charges. Stay tuned and hope all of you can attend the next reunion.

Yorktown Hats

by David Black (OS1) on Fri 19 Dec 2008 09:12 PM CST

Thanks to EO1/EN2(SW)Phillip A. Cipriani Jr. USN(ret) http://www.totalnavy.com/ballcaps.htm is a site that one can order hats. They are not original hats bought by crew members originally stationed on the Yorktown, but it can be a good site to order your Yorktown memorabilia gear.

New Donation and YouTube Memories

by David Black (OS1) on Thu 04 Dec 2008 03:18 PM CST

Yorktown sailor Darin Walter just made a donation and is working with me on the planning stages of a Yorktown Association. Thanks, Darin! There is work to be done on the association and the more volunteers we have the better it will be for the association. Next year on July 4, 2009 will be the 25th year since the commissioning day on July 4, 1984. I will never forget the long hours of practice for that commissioning ceremony.

I was just looking for some information on the Yorktown and found that many volunteers have provided information on the Wikipedia site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Yorktown_(CG-48) outstanding job. I am thinking next year could be a great year to celebrate the life of one of the best fighting ships and crew of U. S. Naval history! What do you think! I know there are hundreds of very talented people that could make the Yorktown Association a big event that could be enjoyed for years to come.

I am going to a reunion of the USS MONTROSE (APA 212) in October of 2009. Montrose Association will be meeting in San Antonio, TX next year. They meet every two years and vote on the next location of the reunion. Each member of the association that wants to hold the reunion in their town make a pitch for the location and the members vote during the business meeting the new location. This could be similar for the Yorktown Association. I served on the Montrose during the Vietnam war.

Mark Watts sent this link from YouTube. Thanks Mark!

Donation Made!

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 30 Nov 2008 08:22 PM CST

Thanks to Don Arnold of Pascagoula, MS for his donation for maintaining the web site!

I served with Don and he was a great Radioman and plankowner. I look forward to seeing Don at our next reunion if not sooner! I ran into Don many a time running message traffic from Radio back to CIC.

Awaiting Her Terrible Fate

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 30 Nov 2008 08:19 PM CST

These disturbing photographs were submitted by Mark Watts GMM2 (SW) USS Yorktown CG48. It is certainly a sad and terrible fate to be witnessed by the many crew members that served aboard this fine fighting ship.

A bit of all of us will "die" with her they day she is sunk. She will not be forgotten for many years to come. It is my hope that a reunion can be organized within the next year or two. I will be glad to help in the planning stages. It is my hope that a retired Yorktown sailor will be able to find the time that is necessary to plan a reunion. I am still hard at work with my own small company and simply do not have the time to organize the mailing, newsletters and venue necessary to for a good reunion.

Our last reunion was held in December of 2004 when she was decommissioned. It's hard to believe that much time has passed since we met as a crew. It was one hell of a great time and I can guarantee that our next reunion will be just as much fun. It will seem like yesterday. It did in 2004 and it will feel the same way when we meet again.

What I thought was interesting about the decommissioning reunion was how quickly it was put together and how successful it was in Pascagoula. In my opinion the best location for the next reunion would be in Norfork, VA. There are still lots of Yorktown sailors near Yorktown and it should be a large turnout. I believe what can lead to successful reunions will be a Yorktown CG48 Association.

Let me know what your ideas may be for a reunion committee.

Support Needed For Yorktown Web Site

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 30 Nov 2008 07:50 PM CST

If anyone can make a small donation to keeping this domain in service it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. May your holidays be wonderful for you and your families. Donations can be made using our PayPal Account.

David Black
OS(1) SW
Yorktown Plank Owner
1983-1986

Looking For Yorktown Hat

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 30 Nov 2008 07:45 PM CST

My older brother is a disabled vet who spent a great deal of time on the USS Yorktown CG 48. He had an official Navy hat from the boat, but it has disappeared over the past ten years. He expressed an interest in getting another one the other day and I have done considerable research trying to find one for him. I have had little luck. I have found several places to purchase the CV 10 hats, but not the CG 48 ones. I was wondering if you might now how I could procure a hat for my brother. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Lt. Haveman #1408

(webmaster note: I have the phone number to Lt. Haveman if anyone can assist him, please e-mail me from this site or leave a comment from on this article and it will be posted to me.)

Message From Shipmate Ed Harris

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 30 Nov 2008 07:42 PM CST

I served aboard the Yorktown from her commissioning, until 1986, when I left the service. FC1 Harris, you would have known me as.

I think in all these years, I have ran into one of my old shipmates, with the exception of Tim Clemence who I still maintain irregular correspondence.

I do believe that I can still close my eyes and picture every square inch of her decks and compartments. When we were doing the pre-commissioning duties the fellow I worked for, one FC1 Goehring, was diligent in our education. Every void and tank was to be learned…

Anyway, I am deeply saddened and feel ancient knowing that she is relegated to being sunk. I feel as if we are still in Libya, and should be indeed shooting back.

Ack.

I would certainly be interested in a reunion in the tidewater area. I live in NJ, right up the street.

Lt. Russell Strnad Recalls Wonderful Memories of Yorktown Service

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 30 Nov 2008 07:40 PM CST

Hi David, Glad to know there is an official historian for the USS Yorktown. I don't know if you remember me but I was one of the original pilots for the SH-2F helo crew that was stationed aboard the Yorktown from Feb '85 to May '87. Our crew was Lcdr Scott Hendrickson, Ltjg J.W.Swain, and Ltjg Michael Short, and me, Lt. Russell Strnad. Capt Philip Durr, who succeeded Capt Anderson, made us honorary plank owners and gave us original plank owner plaques. It is stll on display in my home, along with my aviation stuff.

I am glad to hear that there will be a reunion next year and look forward to coming to it. It is saddening to hear that the first Tico class cruiser, (I never really counted CG-47 as the first because it seemed to be a promo ship and not one for battle; besides, we were the first to long cruise) was decommissioned and was going to be sunk. I know all plank owners must feel that way about their ships..."but this one is different."

Some of my memories include:
-- "events" in the Black Sea and the Backfire bomber photo op
-- drag racing a Russian "Hinde" helicopter and bringing it back to the ship for photo ops
-- flying the photographer around for our debute in Car and Driver
-- flying the CNN news crew around for Lybia coverage
-- the "Line of Death"
-- GQ in 3 1/2 minutes during the first night of action off of Lybia -- the official statement of "we can neither confirm nor deny..." for our missile launches
-- the Aegis radar frying all of the helicopter's towed magnetic anomoly detectors (MAD), all electronic watches and radio controlled cars going out of control on the flight deck
-- wearing aluminum foil underwear for the first month of launches because the ASAC's couldn't remember to shut off the radar during takeoff's and landings
-- cruising beside the majestic USS Iowa
-- wearing a wolfman mask during the ship's first unrep and riding the highwire to the supply ship to give the CO a message from Capt Anderson
-- the zero dark thirty at-sea ditching of our helicopter during EMCON (I was not onboard but had to lead the safety investigation for the squadron and ship).
-- the F-14 that scared the daylights out of us during the NATO airshow when he flew behind us at supersonic speed -- the Achille Laurel highjacking
-- our great port calls and the ones that were cancelled due to the highjacking
-- looking all day for the castle from "Romancing the Stone" in Cartegenia, Columbia, just to find out it was filmed in Mexico City
--and on and on...

I still wear my 1985 issued USS Yorktown belt buckle, but it is getting pretty worn now. Do you know if they can still be purchased with the raised ship on the front? If you know of a source for any memoriabilia, would you please let me know? I will always be grateful for the experiences, maturing moments and tremendous friendships that came about because of the wonderful men and their families that supported the USS Yorktown. May her spirit live on!

Russ Strnad, VP Operations
Floor Source, LLC

Yorktown Still Scheduled As Target

by David Black (OS1) on Sat 24 May 2008 03:44 PM CDT

I received an e-mail today from Gil Bohannon, USS Torsk Historian, Torsk Volunteer Association and want to share this information with readers of this blog. I know Yorktown crew members will find this information sad but true.
The following e-mail is from Gil Bohannon:

Mr Black,
I saw your name listed as the contact point for USS Yorktown CG-48 on the Navsource.org page for Yorktown.

I am a member of the Torsk Volunteer Association, a group that maintains the museum submarine USS Torsk SS-423 in Baltimore, MD. We are allowed by NAVSEA to go aboard decommissioned ships for parts removal that will help in our restoration efforts for Torsk, as well as USCGC Taney and Lightship Chesapeake, all part of the Baltimore Maritime Museum.

Today we were in Philadelphia for the spring NAVSEA open house. Yorktown was one of the ships open for parts removal. I spent about 2 hours aboard her today. There wasn't much that we could take - a couple of battle lanterns, a small safe, and a few other small items. The ship has been pretty well cleaned out. Her guns are gone, the missile launchers are still there but it looks like they have started disassembly on them. Virtually all of her electronic equipment is gone - all the radio gear, radar gear, sonar gear - all gone. The Aegis radar is gone - the array panels are still in place but all of the equipment in the forward and aft Aegis radar rooms has been stripped out. CIC is fairly empty, as is the bridge.

I understand from looking at the Navsource page that she is scheduled to be sunk as a target (they list her as already sunk on 2 Nov 2006!!). My brother served four years aboard USS San Jacinto CG-56 in the early 90's and I think the Tico's are wonderful ships!

I took a couple of photos aboard and would be happy to share them with you and your association if you are interested.

Best Regards,
Gil Bohannon USS Torsk Historian Torsk Volunteer Association

I hope to have some photos from this e-mail soon. I will post them on the site.

Yorktown Reunion July 4th 2009

by David Black (OS1) on Wed 05 Mar 2008 10:05 PM CST

Yorktown plankowner Mike Hirsch and I were on the same train of though last weekend. Mike called me tonight and said why not have a reunion on July 4th, 2009? I told him Bill Kivlan and I were just talking about that very thing last weekend. So. . . what do you think? Ready for a reunion of all Yorktown sailors? Want to join a committee to put a reunion together?

I told Mike I would post this idea on the site, so, here 'tis. We are certainly open to any suggestion for the reunion next year. We want to see ALL YORKTOWN CG48 SAILORS!

Mike and I will interject some of our thoughts on the location and time and these are only suggestions, we will go along with the majority :

The 4th of July 2009 will be the 25th year of the commissioning. We thought a reunion in Tidewater might get a large attendance. Yorktown is just up the road and Mike thought we could collaborate with the citizens of Yorktown for some celebration and festivities.

Another thought: I have had some discussions with other Yorktown sailors and they thought a reunion with the USS Yorktown sailors from CV 10 might be feasible and worth looking into. In fact, the CV10 web site has a CG48 page on their site which can be seen at this link: http://www.ussyorktown.net/main/index.php I recall talking to some members of the CV10 association at the decommissioning ceremony in Pascagoula, MS they would be interested in CG48 sailors joining their association. That might be happening today. I'm not sure but it wouldn't surprise me.

So, I hope to see a reunion of the Yorktown on July 4, 2009. Until then, let's see what the sailors from Yorktown think about this future event. Contact me at maldenite@gmail.com
Mike said he would utilize his mailing list he saved from the decommissioning ceremony. Hope this reaches plenty of Yorktown sailors and I am looking forward to another great time with my shipmates.

After everyone arrived in Pascagoula in 2004, it seemed like yesterday since the last time we met. It was a great time!

Stay in touch and smooth sailing. OS1(SW) David Black-1983-1986

Black Sea Ops

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 30 Nov 2008 07:32 PM CST

(This article was submitted by Mark Watts GMM2 (SW) USS Yorktown cg48)

I had posted the video of the ramming on You Tube and a guy set me the report done by the catain of the soviet ship i thought yall might like to read it. I find alot of things that did not happen on this but it goes to show you the had a major defeat of the US navy that day.
Following is a transcript of a report by Russian officers Nikolay Mikheev and Vladimir

Bogdashin:
By the moment they approached our waters, the Americans followed in radio order distanced at 2700-3600 meters from each other. Cruiser was leading and more to seaside, destroyer closer to seashore at the cruiser's angle of 140-150 degrees left board. Coast Guargship "Honest" ("Bezzavetny"), which was 8 times lighter than its American counterpart, and Coast Guardship "SKR-6" (equally lighter) were following the cruiser and destroyer at their course abgles of left boards 100-110 degrees at the distance of 90-100 meters. Behind that group an additional two USSR coast guardships followed.

When we received the order to start push out the US invaders, we run "All sailors man their battlestations", we sealed the bow sections, moved personnel out of bow sections, armed torpedoes, primed the machine-guns, fielded the fire-fighting crews, sent "ready to engage" to shock troopers, rest of the sailors manned their stations. Right anchors were moved out the hawseholes. At the bridge of the "Honest" was Mikheev in contact with headquarters and managing the battle group, Bogdashin is helming the ship, translation officer keeps constant radiocontact with US group.

Closed in at distance of 40 meters, then closed to 10 meters (SKR-6 does the same with the destroyer). At the US cruiser's deck jolly sailors and officers waving, shouting, taking pictures, making obscene gestures as US sailors normally do. US cruiser's captain walked out to the left open part of the bridge.

When we've been confirmed "Act as planned" we started to "shove" the cruiser, simultaneously SKR-6 "shoved" the destroyer. Bogdashin steered the ship in such a way that the first contact was at tangent to the US cruiser's left board. After the impact as a result of the shock, sparckles flew, and American's board paint started to burn. For a moment, the fireball appeared, and then deep clouds of smoke trailed our movements. After the hit, our anchor has torn up the cruiser's board and made a pretty dent in our bow. The aftershock threw our bow away, while our stem went left, and our aft got dangerously close to enemy's board.

The US cruiser sounded full alarm, personnel rushed from decks down to holes, Cruiser's captain rushed inside from the outer bridge. At that moment Americans obviously were unable to control the ship, so the cruiser turned right, which made it even more dangerous for the "Honest". After that Bogdashin commanded "riht on board" increased the speed to 16 knots, which allowed somehow to lean our aft away from the enemy, but at the same time the US cruiser turned left and the most devastating (for Americans) impact occured - what we wanted as "showing" turned into full ramming.

We've hit the cruiser into the helideck - our high and sharp bow, so to speak, "crawled" onto cruiser's helicopter deck, and at angle of 15-20 degrees to the left started to crush everything in its way, gradually sliding down to the cruiser's aft. The "showe" tore up the deckhouse, cut down all the rails of helipad deck, destroyed the commander's cutter, further crawled to the aft deck, and also destroyed all guardrails. After that we broke the "Harpoon" launcher - we thought we're going to cut it off completely, but we just cut it in half. Then the anchor tore loose off the chain (by miracle, thank God, it didnt hurt any of US crewmen) it flew within inches from cruiser's firefighters crew and fell into water. Out of four US "Harpoon" launch pads, two were cut in half, the missiles' warheads hanging on the wires. One more "Harpoon" launch pad was bent.

Finally, our forecastle fell on water from the cruiser, we've parted with the cruiser and started to follow it at 50-60 meters. We've informed Americans that we will repeat a "showe" if they don't leave our territorial waters. Strange activity was observed at the cruiser's decks. Firefighting crews (all of them afro-americans) first unrolled the fire hoses, but then disappeared into the holes - the US "Harpoons" didnt catch fires, so all men went into ship's inner spaces. As intelligence reported later, US cruiser developed a fire in "Harpoon" support bunks deep in the hull, and also in "Asrock" anti-submarine missile bunks.

Yorktown Black Sea OPs

by waltx4 on Wed 24 Jan 2007 06:54 PM CST

I still have some copies of the shouldering incident if anyone is interested. I have changed ISP's and have a new Email. It is waltx4@charter.net Please send me your address. For Cliff Serano (OS3) please email me back, I lost all info when I changed and can not retrieve it...

Thanks
Darin Walter

Information on Yorktown Sinking

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 19 Nov 2006 12:48 PM CST

This information was mailed to by GunnermateM@aol.com on September 12th. So perhaps they have changed their mind about sinking Yorktown.

From: "Dunnigan, Katie A CIV NAVSEA" To: Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 09:44:23 -0400

Subject: RE: USS Yorktown CG-48

Mr. Watts,
Below are the responses to the questions submitted in an e-mail dated Aug. 30.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks, Katie

Katie Dunnigan
Public Affairs Officer
Naval Sea Systems Command
202-781-3350 katie.dunnigan@navy.mil

Q1. Can you tell me about the status of the ship? How will it be disposed and when? A1. The ex-USS Yorktown is a decommissioned inactive ship at the NAVSEA Inactive Ship Maintenance Office (INACTSHIPMAINTO) in Philadelphia, Pa. The ship is designated to be sunk as a part of a fleet sinking exercise. The date and location have not been set yet.

Q2. What is the current state of the ship? Has everything been stripped off already? Are the missile launchers and the guns still onboard? A2. The Navy is in the process of preparing the ship for sinking. Most of the weapons systems have already been removed from the ship.

Q3. Is there any way we can some souvenirs off the ship? A3. Unfortunately, the Navy cannot permit veterans, or any individuals, to remove material from the ship. The Navy is only authorized by law to donate material to eligible non-profit organizations for educational display purposes at no cost to the government.

Q4. Do you have any current pictures of the ship that we can have? A4. Unfortunately, the Navy does not have current pictures of the ship available.

Thanks to Mr. Watts for sending that information.

Valley Forge Sunk

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 19 Nov 2006 12:40 PM CST

Received this article from Mike Hirsch.

Aegis ship sunk on target range

The first Navy Aegis ship to be sent to Davey Jones' locker now rests on the bottom of the Pacific, done in by a combination of missiles and gunfire.

The decommissioned cruiser Valley Forge was sunk as part of a Nov. 2 target practice on a test range near Kauai, Hawaii, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The fourth Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser to be built, it was in service for only 18 years, from 1986 to 2004. The ships were designed to serve at least three decades, but the Navy decommissioned the first five Aegis cruisers in 2004 and 2005, citing their older missile systems.

The Navy could not say whether the Aegis combat system was on board at the time of the sinking, although Naval Sea Systems Command said Nov. 17 that "various components of the Aegis weapon system have been removed."

Topside items such as missile directors, radars and gun mounts were removed prior to the sinking. None of the other decommissioned Aegis cruisers are currently scheduled for sinking, the Navy said.

Sinking ships at sea, usually for target practice, has become a regular method of disposal. Of 31 decommissioned Spruance-class destroyers, 19 already have been sunk and three more are scheduled. Only two ships have been scrapped, and two more are scheduled to be broken up.

Yorktown Video

by waltx4 on Thu 09 Mar 2006 08:21 PM CST

Hello I have a DVD of the incident at Sea in the Black Sea if anyone is interested. It also contains the Christmas special of1987. You can Email me at waltx4@intergate.com If you can, please send $5.00 to cover transfer and DVD cost as well as shipping.

Thanks
or snail mail @

Darin Walter
11253 West Second Street
P.O. box 225
Fowler, MI 48835

Donations

by David Black (OS1) on Wed 07 Dec 2005 11:39 PM CST

Thanks to Mike Zimmerman and Mark Jeffcoat for the generous donations for running the Yorktown weblog! I hope some of us can begin think about a reunion in 2006 and NLT 2007. I know you are busy with Christmas and New Year holidays with family and friends but it would be great to have another reunion. Where and when is the big question.

If anyone wants to post photographs or holiday greetings on the site and have a little trouble figuring the ins and outs of posting on the website, let me do it for you. Just e-mail me your message and photograph to post on the site and I will be more than happy to upload them. There is a link on the site to contact me but just in case you need a quick link in this posting write to: maldenite@gmail.com and I will get your information posted.

I am still trying to get some photographs uploaded that Kenny Zimmerman sent in June, so you can see that my schedule has been loaded with starting a new business and developing sites for other clients. I will get back to the Yorktown this winter.

Thanks so much for any help with expenses and being patient with uploads.

MISSISSIPPI AREA

by GARY GETMAN on Sun 11 Sep 2005 09:05 PM EDT

Katrina Assistance:

NEXT WEEK I PLAN ON BEING IN THE MISSISSIPPI/LOUISIANA KATRINA RAVAGED AREA ASSISTING THE POLICE WITH THE PROTECTION OF THE EVACUEES! IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE "GOULA" AREA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I AM CURRENTLY AT MY SON'S PLACE IN HAZEN, ARKANAS, WILL BE HERE FOR ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK AND THEN I SUSPECT THAT I WILL BE IN THE KATRINA RAVAGED AREA!

Good Luck Thunders! Watch Out Katrina!

by David Black (OS1) on Sun 28 Aug 2005 11:52 PM CDT

Good Luck Thunders! Watch out Katrina! is a tribute the many fine people in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Affectionately known as "Goula" to many, our thoughts for their safety during the hurricane. What is now called the largest hurricane in the last 500 years will surely cross near the city of Pascagoula and many sailors of the Yorktown will pause and remember those who live in the city.

I have been absent from publishing on the web site and regret that I have not been able to update the site like I want to but I have plans for becoming more active since some of the summer business on my end has slowed. Perhaps this winter, I can have some new design and ideas to share with you on the site development.

Mike Zimmerman recently made a wonderful donation and for that we can all be happy that Mike will keep the lights turned on for the site. I have been in contact with some Yorktown sailors and they have been kind enough to donate their photographs. I promise to find time to upload them to the site soon.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to visit the site and please stay in touch with me and return to see more information about site development. Good luck and smooth sailing and especially for citizens that must deal with the wrath of Katrina.

Photographs

by waltx4 on Thu 04 Aug 2005 11:28 PM EDT

I served aboard the Yorktown for 4 years as an OS and the ships Photographer. If anyone is interested I have a number of pictures from both cruises and the Black Sea Ops. I also have the video that was given out showing the "Shouldering" incident that occured there. No charge for the pics, just E-Mail me and we'll set something up. I will have to see if i can get the video copied before I send it out. You can reach me @ waltx4@intergate.com
See Ya

CG-48 LIFE

by GARY GETMAN on Mon 25 Jul 2005 09:03 AM EDT

Am looking for photos or videos of "Precom" and "Commissioning"! Attemptuing to put together a scrapbook of the Yorktown's birth and life! Any and all photos/videos would be greatly appreciated! If anyone knows where I might obtain these, please let me know, either on this website or at my home address

My address: DCC(SW) Gary S. Getman, USN Retired
2237 Hoss Road Utica, Ohio 43080

Email: GSGETMAN@ECR.NET