This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Thompson, William Frank, AM1.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Walhalla
Last Address Walhalla
Casualty Date Jul 29, 1967
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Other Accident
Location Vietnam, North (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Oconee Memorial Park and Mausoleum - Seneca, South Carolina
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.