shape
carat
color
clarity

USS Fitzgerald

redwood66

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
7,329
My thoughts and prayers to the Fitz families. This tragedy has hit close to home for us as this was my son's ship for 3 years until 2014. He is waiting to hear from his former shipmates that he keeps in touch with and he is heartbroken. We do not know yet if any of the lost were sailors he knew. The forward berthing compartment was his sleeping quarters which was near the other female berthing that was also affected. I think he is having a very hard time because he knows exactly what that entire inside of the ship looks like and it is so personal to him. It has been a very quiet weekend at our house.

I love this poem but it makes me cry like a baby.


The Watch

This sailor has stood the watch
While some of us were in our bunks at night
This sailor stood the watch

While some of us were in school learning our trade
This shipmate stood the watch

Yes.. even before some of us were born into this world
This shipmate stood the watch

In those years when the storm clouds of war were seen brewing on the horizon of history
This shipmate stood the watch

Many times he would cast an eye ashore and see his family standing there
Needing his guidance and help
Needing that hand to hold during those hard times
But he still stood the watch

He stood the watch so that we, our families and
Our fellow countrymen could sleep soundly in safety, Each and every night
Knowing that a sailor stood the watch

Today we are here to say
'Shipmate... the watch stands relieved
Relieved by those You have trained ,Guided, and Led
Shipmate you stand relieved.. we have the watch..."

"Boatswain..Standby to pipe the side...Shipmate's going Ashore.."
 
It's so awful Red! I am thinking of you and your DS. The families who lost loved ones are also on my mind and in my thoughts. Hugs and relieved your son is safe, but how difficult for him. :'(
 
My thoughts are with the families, the crew of the ship, and the many others that are affected by this loss (like your son Red). I was so hoping they would
say they found some of the sailors alive this morning when I got up. :cry: You always think with today's technology that these things just couldnt/shouldnt
happen. I would like to know what was going on in the Japanese ship? I assume the Fitzgerald couldnt get out of the way in time...so incredibly sad to lose
more brave Americans. May they rest in peace and know that their service is greatly appreciated.
 
tyty it is going to be a difficult investigation. In talking with my son there is no way to get around the fact that multiple human errors were likely involved in this accident. The advanced capabilities of this class of destroyer even though she is older is very high.
 
Such a loss to so many.
Red, your poem moved me. We certainly owe those (such as your sons) who sacrifice so much to serve.
 
It's so bizarre how, right after the accident, the US Navy announced that 7 sailors were missing.
But when the ship got to port, flooded compartments were drained and inspected, they announced they found bodies, but won't say how many ... ???
Very bizarre.

And yeah, given all of the latest technology that must be on that destroyer, how could this accident even happen?

Given all the security considerations and big egos of top brass, I doubt the public will ever learn the full truth.
 
Last edited:
Kenny the fact that they stopped looking for the sailors at sea tells me that all crew are accounted for. Also notifications must be made to family before letting the public know details. That is only right.

Some of the advanced technology is known and some is top secret. This ship has the ability to "hide" from others on radar and it is likely that the container ship did not "see" it until it was seen visually. At 2:30am the ocean was black and only the white, red, green lamps are what is seen by the eye. It is probable that several will lose their jobs and some might receive a court martial for this. The Commanding Officer is almost always gone when something like this happens.

I have to give major commendation to the damage control performed because with a hole as big as has been said, it took all hands to keep it running and afloat. Bravo Zulu to the crew.
 
At the first company I worked at after college our company lawyer used to be in the Navy. He was in the chain of command of a ship that
hit another ship and it basically ruined his career. I believe thats when he choose to retire and start his second career as a lawyer.

Definitely bravo to the crew that kept it from sinking...could have been even a bigger disaster.
 
My thoughts and prayers are also with the families involved. I also find it very upsetting with all the modern technology that this could even happen?
 
Prayers for those sailors. What a terrible tragedy.

But modern technology will never be foolproof. Airplanes crash, cars crash (even self driving ones), etc.
 
Kenny the fact that they stopped looking for the sailors at sea tells me that all crew are accounted for.
Also notifications must be made to family before letting the public know details.

Logic fail.

They announced 7 crew members were missing before notifying their families.
So, the families not being notified yet does not explain why they don't just say all 7 have been found.
Families are notified before names are made public, not number missing or number found.

If all 7 are accounted for (as you claim) why doesn't the Navy just say so?

Something's fishy.
 
I have a very close friend with a son on the USS Fitzgerald. He was sleeping in the area that the most casualties occurred. He was able to get to safety but four of his bunk mates did not make it. So heartbreaking for all of the families and soldiers. My thoughts and prayers are with them all. Having served I know how hard this must be for the entire Navy family.
 
I'm glad the Navy has finally confirmed that all 7 sailors are accounted for.
I think that traditional services (with remains) will offer more closure to the families, compared to if sailors had been lost at sea.

I still ponder why the Navy left the number of bodies they found a mystery.
Considering the cargo ship's underwater bulbous bow (see below) impact with a berthing department while many were asleep ... perhaps some bodies were so ... uhm ... not-intact ... that it took time to determine exactly how many bodies were found.
Perhaps rushed DNA analysis established the distinct remains of 7 individuals.

In addition to the visible (above-water) damage to the ship in the pics ... it was the bulbous bow of the cargo ship that compromised the hull below the waterline, which let water in.
Damage visible in published pics above the waterline was cause by the portion of the cargo ship above the water line.

A bulbous bow reduces fuel consumption by reducing a ship's drag.

Forgive me for trying to understand exactly what happened.
I can't help it.

This pic is of a cargo ship with a light load since the bulbous bow is still visible.
A full load results in the ship sitting lower in the water and the bulbous bow being submerged and not visible.

Screen Shot 2017-06-18 at 7.44.15 PM.png

Screen Shot 2017-06-18 at 7.07.21 PM.png

Screen Shot 2017-06-18 at 7.09.01 PM.png
 
Last edited:
The truth (if it ever comes out) will be very interesting. DH was in the Navy for 13 years. Somebody dropped a big ball here - the question is who, and what they were doing instead...
 
I have a very close friend with a son on the USS Fitzgerald. He was sleeping in the area that the most casualties occurred. He was able to get to safety but four of his bunk mates did not make it. So heartbreaking for all of the families and soldiers. My thoughts and prayers are with them all. Having served I know how hard this must be for the entire Navy family.

HS4S I am thankful your friend's son is ok but am sorry for his shipmates. This will be so hard for him. Prayers to your friend that her son is able to cope with this devastating loss. Shipmates are a tight family on a ship like the Fitz.
 
Hugs, Red. I'm deeply saddened by this, the more I read about it, and especially to think that your DS was on this ship just a few years ago and is hurting.

I don't think any of us civilians will ever know exactly what happened. `
 
Redwood, you have no idea how right you are about Shipmates, on a smaller ship, being a tight family. I served on a Destroyer with only 350 personnel. Everyone knows everyone. Although years have gone by, my shipmates are my family. My husband served on an Amphib, and knew very few people outside of his division.

My heart aches for the Fitzgerald, her crew, and their families.
 
My cousin is in the Navy, he posted that many of the sailors are in desperate need of basic supplies (Navy will not replace these items, the men and women are on their own to replace them).

"If anyone has spare clothing they don't wear at all, razors, shaving cream, tooth brushes, tooth paste, shampoo, etc. Please help support by mailing to the Fitzgerald, There were sailors who lost everything and literally only have the clothes on their backs. They could really use anything you can spare to give."

USS Fitzgerald
UNIT 100173 BOX 1
FPO AP 96665
 
Redwood- I'm so sorry you have such a close connection to this ship. My heart and thoughts go out to the crew and their families. I hope very much they get the closure they need to help them understand and grieve.

On a slight tangent - I have spent a lot of time in the town where the Fitzgerald was built. Shipbuilding is an art and a science and a passion- hard work often passed down through many generations of the same families. I know the town will be devastated by this, and my thoughts go out to them also.

Ascherhalo Lover- thank you for posting that. We will send a care package.
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top