The Name

James V. Forrestal was born in Beacon, New York, February 15,1892. After graduation from high school, he attended Bartsmouth College and Princeton University. Forrestal worked for short periods of time as a financial reporter and a tobacco salesman. During 1915, he entered the banking business in New York City. At the outbreak of World War I, Forrestal enlisted in the United States Navy. He was later commissioned as a Naval Aviator and served both in this country and abroad. He was discharged in 1919 and reentered the banking industry.

In June 1940, he accepted a post as Administrative Assistant to President Roosevelt, serving as liaison for the President in the National Defense Program. In August 1940, he was appointed to the newly created office of Under Secretary of the Navy. Forrestal was appointed Secretary of the Navy in May 1944. He took the oath of office as the country's first Secretary of Defense in September 1947. He resigned in 1949 and entered the hospital in April of the same year. He died on May 22, 1949 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Ship

In July 1951, the Navy announced plans to build a 60,000 ton, 1039 foot carrier designated CVB-59. The keel was laid in July 1952 and less than 30 months later, the first "super-carrier" was christened (by Mrs. James V. Forrestal) USS Forrestal. On October 1, 1955 Forrestal was commissioned (as CVA-59) and officially joined the fleet. In the Fall of 1956, Forrestal was called to assist forces in the Mediterranean during the Suez crisis. From 1958 through 1966, Forrestal alternated between the Second Fleet in the Atlantic and the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. On October 30, 1963 a crew led by Lt. James H. Flatley III completed 21 unarrested full stop landings and 21 unassisted take-offs onboard Forrestal. This was out of the ordinary because the aircraft used was a KC-130F refueler transport on loan from the Marines as part of a COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) feasibility study. In so doing, the plane and crew became the largest and heaviest airplane to land on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, a record that holds to this day. In June of 1967, she departed Norfolk for duties in the waters off Vietnam. After only 4 1/2 days of combat operations, a tragic fire broke out on the flight deck which claimed 134 crewmen. The entire nation felt the tragedy, summed up in a quote made by Lt. Commander Herbert A. Hope "in five minutes, everyone on this ship became a man", and published by Life Magazine for their August 11, 1967 issue.

Forrestal deployed to the Mediterranean twelve times between 1968 and 1986. In March 1973, she conducted rescue operations in the flooded Medjerda River Valley near Tunis. In July 1975 Forrestal's designation was changed to CV-59, and on July 4, 1976 Forrestal was host ship for the International Naval Review in New York City. From Forrestal's flight deck President Gerald Ford rang in the nation's Bicentennial and reviewed over 40 "tall ships" from countries throughout the world. Forrestal celebrated her silver Anniversary in October 1980. On September 12, 1982, Forrestal transited the Suez Canal for the first time in her 28 year history. From January 1983 to May 20, 1985, Forrestal underwent a $550 million Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) which was designed to extend her useful life another 15-20 years. In October 1987, Forrestal returned from "Ocean Safari '87," a highly successful NATO exercise, operations were conducted above the Arctic Circle and in the fjords of Norway.

Forrestal completed her 19th major deployment on October 7,1988 after operating 108 consecutive days underway, making port calls totaling 15 days and operation in three oceans. For her superior operational performance during the deployment she received the Meritorious Unit Citation. After a brief stand down period and local operations, Forrestal participated in New York City's FLEET WEEK in May 1989, and then commenced preparations for her next deployment. Forrestal got underway for her 20th major deployment on November 7, 1989 after having completed repairs caused by a fire a month earlier. During the deployment Forrestal was visited by President George Bush during his historic Malta Summit with Soviet Premier Mikhal Gorbachev. Forrestal returned to her homeport of Mayport, Florida on April 12, 1990.

From August 1990 through March 1991, Forrestal constantly maintained a high state of readiness in anticipation of deployment in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The call never came. Forrestal Commenced her 21st and final operational deployment on May 30, 1991. During this period she provided air power presence and airborne intelligence support (the airwing flew over 900 sorties over Iraq) to the Combined Joint Task Forces of Operation Provide Comfort enforcing the northern "no-fly zone" in Iraq. During this last deployment Forrestal served in a number of new and innovative battle group and carrier roles. She completed this deployment on December 23, 1991. After returning from her final operational deployment Forrestal changed homeports from Mayport to Pensacola on February 5, 1992. She was redesignated as AVT-59 (training carrier), relieving USS Lexington (AVT-16) which was decommissioned after 49 years of service. Forrestal served for six months training new naval aviators and providing a platform for carrier qualifications of active duty carrier air wings. During the Summer Forrestal and her crew called on the fine citizens of the city of New Orleans as her final liberty port. Forrestal was opened up for tours while the crew enjoyed the many flavors of the crescent city. On September 14, 1992 Forrestal arrived at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pa., for her final refit as a permanent training carrier. Half way through this overhaul, it was decided the nation no longer needed a dedicated training carrier and she was retired due to budget cuts.

USS Forrestal was decommissioned in Philadelphia on 11 September 1993 (effective 9/30/93) and removed from the navy register. On December 5, 1996 a memorial service was held aboard the ship in hangar bay one to remember those who perished at Pearl Harbor. On July 29, 1997 a memorial service was held on the flight deck to remember the 30th anniversary of the fire in the Gulf of Tonkin that claimed 134 crewmembers, the ceremony included a 21 gun salute and a fly-by (with the missing man maneuver) provided by three F-14 Tomcats from the U.S. Navy. On December 6, 1997 a second ceremony was held on Forrestal's flight deck to remember Pearl Harbor. In September 1998 the ship was painted from the waterline up and moved to Rhode Island for storage, that is where she will remain until her fate is determined by the navy. There are currently organizations (including the USS Forrestal Association, Inc.) working in cooperation with the U.S. Navy in an attempt to save the ship as a museum, memorial, and education/training center, please visit the carrier links page to learn more about these efforts. For a current status of all the Forrestal's please click here.

For more detailed history of Forrestal's operational history, click Here. This history was written and is maintained by the U.S. Navy.