I served my entire enlistment on this Ole gal and I was sorry to here how this great war ship met her untimely end. I became a member of ship's crew in Nov of 1968 ended my time on her in AUG of 1972, was in V-3 divsion and worked on the hanger bay, doing 3 tours of duty in Viet Nam. She was a great ship.
I served from 84-88, at the time I was clueless as to how those years changed my life. Toady I have fond memories of the ship, the ports and the friendships made. There is a Coral sea page on facebook if you are trying tp find old friends.
@LenConnor Thanks for the comment and info. I can understand them decommissioning the Maru when they did. Too bad that SF, for example, didn't have her preserved and made into a tourist attraction as NYC did with the Intrepid. When I served aboard her, she was known as "San Francisco's Own" although the ship was actually homeported at NAS Alameda--now also defunct I understand.
@bluejeeplab Nice sentiment, but 43 years (appropriate) is a pretty good service life. Of her two sister ships, Midway was in commission a few years longer, but the FDR was in commission for a far shorter span. Most other I looked at for comparison had shorter commissioned lives.
@saulpaulus - She still had life left in her. She passed INSURV just prior to the cruise and all of her systems were in good shape. I spent 3 years on America before my tour on CV43 and had to poop in trash bags for a week because the waste systems failed. Politics played the biggest role in her retirement.
@bluejeeplab Well any of these ships could have been kept in commission indefinitely. As I say, most carriers had shorter commissioned lives and I think the Navy really wanted to have an all Nimitz class carrier fleet. The Coral Sea was never going to be a match for the Nimitz class super carriers.
I was on board from '82 to '84 (G-1), the lady was one of the best. We beat out all competition for O.R.E. every time. She was truly the "Ageless Warrior".
I was a Radioman on board (CV-43) from June 1975 thru Nov 1978. Earlier, I helped put a giant Yellow Ribbon on top of the Coit Tower (San Francisco) late May 1975 for the returning Coral Maru crew (then CVA-43) from their 74-75 Vietnam Cruise. I am looking for any pics of that Yellow Ribbon to show my kids and grandkids. Went to '77 Westpac Cruise and two ship yard restorations Long Beach '75 and Bremerton '78.
Good to hear from you. I came aboard while the Maru was at Subic 1 April 1975 and left upon separation 15 September 1978 so we were pretty much aboard the same time--except I was part of the Frequent Wind and Mayaguez "excitement". I vaguely recall the ribbon. Don't think I have a pic, but I'll keep an eye out. Take care.
I served my entire enlistment on this Ole gal and I was sorry to here how this great war ship met her untimely end. I became a member of ship's crew in Nov of 1968 ended my time on her in AUG of 1972, was in V-3 divsion and worked on the hanger bay, doing 3 tours of duty in Viet Nam. She was a great ship.
kartvines 4 weeks ago
@kartvines Thank you for your comment and service.
saulpaulus 4 weeks ago
va 27, west pac '81. never do it again but wouldn't trade.
farber2 11 months ago
I served from 84-88, at the time I was clueless as to how those years changed my life. Toady I have fond memories of the ship, the ports and the friendships made. There is a Coral sea page on facebook if you are trying tp find old friends.
LenConnor 1 year ago
@LenConnor Thanks for the comment and info. I can understand them decommissioning the Maru when they did. Too bad that SF, for example, didn't have her preserved and made into a tourist attraction as NYC did with the Intrepid. When I served aboard her, she was known as "San Francisco's Own" although the ship was actually homeported at NAS Alameda--now also defunct I understand.
saulpaulus 1 year ago
I was part of the Decom crew for the Coral Maru. A great ship retired too soon...
bluejeeplab 1 year ago
@bluejeeplab Nice sentiment, but 43 years (appropriate) is a pretty good service life. Of her two sister ships, Midway was in commission a few years longer, but the FDR was in commission for a far shorter span. Most other I looked at for comparison had shorter commissioned lives.
saulpaulus 1 year ago
@saulpaulus - She still had life left in her. She passed INSURV just prior to the cruise and all of her systems were in good shape. I spent 3 years on America before my tour on CV43 and had to poop in trash bags for a week because the waste systems failed. Politics played the biggest role in her retirement.
bluejeeplab 1 year ago
@bluejeeplab Well any of these ships could have been kept in commission indefinitely. As I say, most carriers had shorter commissioned lives and I think the Navy really wanted to have an all Nimitz class carrier fleet. The Coral Sea was never going to be a match for the Nimitz class super carriers.
saulpaulus 1 year ago
Med Cruise '87-'88!
liveandletsdive 1 year ago
My first carrier worked the Gear on topside, World Crusie, and Med, and also the crunch thing and backing it back into shipyards. GOOD DAYS
hotrodtopside 1 year ago
@hotrodtopside Were you aboard the Coral Sea? If so, when?
saulpaulus 1 year ago
I was on board 72-75 S-5 Division
aukball 1 year ago
@aukball You were leaving just as I was coming aboard.
saulpaulus 1 year ago
She is & will be missed. She was called the "Ageless Warrior for a good reason.
pdxnative1964 1 year ago
I was on board from '82 to '84 (G-1), the lady was one of the best. We beat out all competition for O.R.E. every time. She was truly the "Ageless Warrior".
pdxnative1964 1 year ago
@pdxnative1964 Thank you for your comments and for your service.
saulpaulus 1 year ago
@pdxnative1964 Hey I was onboard from 83 t0 85. OI division. Did you know a Brian Chapman?
sds1962 1 year ago
I was a Radioman on board (CV-43) from June 1975 thru Nov 1978. Earlier, I helped put a giant Yellow Ribbon on top of the Coit Tower (San Francisco) late May 1975 for the returning Coral Maru crew (then CVA-43) from their 74-75 Vietnam Cruise. I am looking for any pics of that Yellow Ribbon to show my kids and grandkids. Went to '77 Westpac Cruise and two ship yard restorations Long Beach '75 and Bremerton '78.
Radiobiker91773 2 years ago
Good to hear from you. I came aboard while the Maru was at Subic 1 April 1975 and left upon separation 15 September 1978 so we were pretty much aboard the same time--except I was part of the Frequent Wind and Mayaguez "excitement". I vaguely recall the ribbon. Don't think I have a pic, but I'll keep an eye out. Take care.
saulpaulus 2 years ago
Yes, gone but not forgotten, eh?
saulpaulus 4 years ago
I took the last two cruises, 1987/88 & 1989... thanks for the memories...
mark
mtnmark 4 years ago