This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
McNelis, Frank Charles, Jr., AO2.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Casualty Info
Home Town Pasadena
Last Address Pasadena
Casualty Date Jul 29, 1967
Cause Non Hostile- Died while Missing
Reason Other Accident
Location Vietnam, North (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Grand View Memorial Park - Pasadena, Texas
Wall/Plot Coordinates 24E 036/Garden of Christus, Lot 282, Spc 1
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase III Campaign (67-68)/USS Forrestal (CVA-59) Fire
From Month/Year
July / 1967
To Month/Year
July / 1967
Description In July 1967, a fire broke out on board the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. An electrical anomaly had caused the discharge of a Zuni rocket on the flight deck, triggering a chain-reaction of explosions that killed 134 sailors and injured 161. At the time, Forrestal was engaged in combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, during the Vietnam War. The ship survived, but with damage exceeding US$72 million (equivalent to $517 million today), not including the damage to aircraft.[2][3] Future United States Senator John McCain and future four-star admiral and US Pacific Fleet Commander Ronald J. Zlatoper were among the survivors.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1967
To Month/Year
July / 1967
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Served onboard at the Battle Dressing Station on the Flight Deck during the fire that took place. We had 134 Shipmates that gave their lifes to be there for the american people and our proud country.
