LCDR WILLIAM JOHN GARRITY
CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN
U.S.S. ORISKANY CVA 34

ON THE MORNING OF OCT 26 1966, A TERRIBLE FIRE BROKE OUT ON BOARD THE USS ORISKANY. THERE WAS MANY ACTS OF HEROISM THAT EARLY AM AT FIRST THERE REPORTS OF OVER 100 MEN KILLED, WHICH PROVED LATER ON TO BE 44 DEAD. "FATHER GARRITY" WAS AKIND AND GENTLE PERSON WHO ALWAYS HAD A WAY TO MAKE US ALL FEEL AT EASE.

ON THAT MORNING OF 26 OCT 66 A DAY WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE BURNED IN MY MIND A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE FORWARD STARBOARD SIDE FLARE LOCKER. JUST A FEW FEET FROM WHERE I WAS STANDING. THE FIRE CAUSED BY TWO TIRED AND EXHAUSTED CREWMEN, THE FIRE QUICKLY ENGULFED BAY ONE. WHICH WAS LOADED FOR A MORNING RAID IN VIET WITH A-4S AND F-8S, AND HELOS FROM DIFFERENT SQUADRONS ON BOARD. FATHER GARRITY WAS RUNNING AROUND OFFERING HELP AND GIVING LAST RITES TO THOSE WHO DIED. HE WOULD RUN INTO THE FIRE AND BE TURNED BACK BY THE HEAT, THAT WOULD NOT STOP HIM.

HE MADE IT BACK TO THE "FIRE" BUT ONLY TO PERISH. THEIR HAS NOT BEEN A DAY IN MY LIFE THAT I HAVE NOT THOUGHT OF THAT DAY AND THE HEROISM OF "FATHER GARRITY" HE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A HERO OF HEROES IN MY HEART.

GOD BLESS HIM AND THE REST OF THE CREW WHO DIED THAT DAY.

HE WHO IS DEAD WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AS LONG AS WE REMEMBER THEM IN OUR HEARTS .

from a shipmate and friend