These are some pictures of the fires which took the life of my Daddy and 133 of his shipmates, wounded 62 others and changed the lives of countless others both on board the ship and at home in the States. |
H. David Watkins July 16, 1945 - July 29, 1967 |
This is the section (Sections 24E and 25E) of the Wall containing the names of the 132 men who were killed in the fires and explosions aboard the U.S.S. Forrestal on July 29, 1967. |
This is the common grave shared by my Father and seventeen of his shipmates who parished with him in the fire. It is located in Arlington National Cemetary, Washington D.C. |
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington D.C. |
Forever in my thoughts and heart. Even though I don't have any memories of you, I will never forget you. I love, miss, and admire the man you were and shall forever be. I am honored to have you as my Father and I hope that you are at least half as proud of me as I am of you. Until we meet again, for the first time... |
Dad and Mom on their Wedding day. June 1964 |
Daddy |
The Fire. |
Honoring and Remembering. |
This page was last updated on: May 29, 2002
The U.S. Navy decommissioned the Forrestal in 1993. Now they want to scrap her. This can not happen. Please help to save her. Thank you. |
All gave some...Some gave all |
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Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile...can respond...I served in the United States Navy... John F. Kennedy |
Bring them home. |
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Daddy, Grandpa Watkins, Grandma Watkins, Aunt Shirley Sept 1966 |
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Daddy and Shep. |
Me in July 1967. I was 6 months old. |
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The day Daddy got shipped out. |
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Daddy on board the Forrestal. |
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The one pic I have of the one time my Daddy got to meet me. Gosh, I wish I could remember this day! March 1967. |
Offical Dates for Honoring and Remembering. |
Memorial Day - May 30th- Observed Last monday of May. |
Veterans Day - November 11th - Thank a Vet today. |
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag." Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC |
Independence Day - July 4th. |
Flag Day - June 14th - Thank a Vet today. |
Violence is a choice. Choose non-violence |
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Thank you everso much to Capecod Mouse for restoring this picture of my Dad for me. |