Charles
Johnson, Keizer, Ore.: USS Kearsage (aircraft carrier)
"It was the coldest winter I can ever remember in my lifetime. We left
the States without enough foul-weather gear for all the crew, and many of us had to work
in our pea coats to keep from freezing. I finally had my folks mail to me a World War
II-surplus Air Force flight jacket to work in, and I stenciled my name and division number
on the back of it. Not long after, I noted many other nonregulation jackets being worn
around the ship."
Cas Welch, Pittsburgh: aviation
ordnanceman aboard USS Kearsage (aircraft carrier)
"While operating off Korea we worked 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Some
of the planes returned to the carrier damaged by ground fire. I remember one time as the
plane approached to land, a piece of the bomb rack broke off and almost hit the landing
control officer, who was located at the end of the flight deck directing the plane’s
approach. His comment about this experience was, 'Only God and the laundry man knew how
scared I was.' "
Joseph Dyer Sr., Pennsville, N.J.:
USS Philippine Sea (aircraft carrier)
"Some pilots from our carrier didn’t make it back. We even had one
pilot, Ensign Jackson, who had been flying an F9F Panther jet. His canopy was crushed by a
wire cable slung between trees in the combat zone. When the cable hit the cockpit, he
suffered a gash across his brow, and the blood was flowing into his eyes. His flying
partners talked him back to the ship, and the landing signal officer talked him into the
flight deck for a safe landing."
— Steve Liewer
Stars and Stripes