In Memory of….. LTJG Dewey Lee Alexander, Jr..
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
DEWEY LEE ALEXANDER,JR. - Navy - LTJG - O2
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jan 23, 1927
From: HOUSTON, TX
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Married - Marian De Young Alexander. They have 5 children. 3 boys, Robert Glenn, Eric Justin and Steve Lee and 2 girls, Jennifer Lynn and Karen Lee, all of San Diego, CA. Parents: Father, Dewey Lee Alexander Born in Texas, Born June 24, 1899 in Texas and Died Sept. 3, 1942 in Legion, Tx and Mother, Stella E. J. Burriss Alexander, born around 1897, born in Arkansas and Died Sept. 11, 1935.
* Paternal Grandparents: Grandfather, James Frank Alexander, 1864-1946 and Grandmother, Emily L Stewart Alexander, 1875-1939.
***** Kenneth Jaccard - Shipmate and friend
Bradenton, FL., 34207, USA
Jake's 'Yankee Station' - USS., Hancock, CVA-19, Memorial, Site Tributes. I served proudly, under Master Chief Dewey Lee Alexander, for two, years, from 1962-64, in the Captain's Office. He was Ships Secretary during this period. I regarded Chief Alexander as a proud Sailor and a man of the highest character and integrity. I respected him, well and it was he who taught me to wear my sea legs. May he rest eternally, in the Blessed Arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jake
***** I remember the morning of Oct 26, 1966 as if it were yesterday. USS Oriskany getting ready for AM launch, I was in hangar bay 1, getting ready to get fully loaded A-4's to the flight deck. Two men tossing flares as if the were sticks. One was grabbed by the wire and it started to sizzle. The ordnance man instead of tossing it overboard, locked it with 600 other flares. BIG mistake.
Ron Moser
LTJG - O2 - Navy - Reserve
Length of service 22 years
Casualty was on Oct 26, 1966
In , NORTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, SEA CASUALTY
OTHER CAUSES
Body was recovered
Panel 11E - Line 106
27 October 1966 The carrier was on station the morning of when a fire erupted on the starboard side of the ship's forward hangar bay and raced through five decks, killing 44 men.
Many who lost their lives were veteran combat pilots who had flown raids over Vietnam a few hours earlier.
Oriskany had been put in danger when a magnesium parachute flare exploded in the forward flare locker of Hangar Bay 1, beneath the carrier's flight deck.
Subsequent investigation showed the flare functioned as designed and the cause of the fire was user error.
A seaman threw the ignited flare back into the weapons locker where the flares were kept for storage, instead of throwing it over the side into the water; this allowed the entire storage locker to ignite and caused horrific damage.
Some of her crewmen jettisoned heavy bombs which lay within reach of the flames, while others wheeled planes out of danger, rescued pilots, and helped quell the blaze throughout the next three hours.
Medical assistance was rushed to the carrier from sister aircraft carriers Constellation (CV-64) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42).
Later investigation by Captain Iarrobino of the Oriskany and analysis by the Naval Ammunition Depot in Crane, Indiana, showed that one in every thousand flares could ignite accidentally if jarred.
Five crew members were court-martialed as a result of the incident but were acquitted.
After this incident and others, the flare design used by the Navy was changed to a safer design immune to accidental ignition, and crews were increased to stabilize numbers so all activities could be properly supervised.
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
****************************************
On October 26, 1966, while on the Oriskany (CVA-34), a devastating fire aboard the USS Oriskany off the coast of North Vietnam.
According to a report by James Pickerell, a civilian photographer, there was no real concern during the pre dawn hours when a flash fire was reported.
There had been other such fires and the men had quickly put them out.
This time men were placing magnesium flares in a locker room when some exploded.
Even as the sailors began actions to put the resulting fire out, more exploded blocking the main exit from "the officer's country" (the officer's sleeping quarters).
General quarters alarm was given and men were sent racing to their battle stations while others fought to water down 34 tons of bombs just 100 yards from the flare locker.
As the flares continued to burn sailors rolled the 500-pound bombs off the deck and into the ocean.
But the Damage was done.
Smoke had streamed into the labyrinth of corridors and 43 (or more) men had died. 34 pilots suffocated in the smoke and fumes.
****************************
.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
DEWEY LEE ALEXANDER,JR. - Navy - LTJG - O2
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jan 23, 1927
From: HOUSTON, TX
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Married - Marian De Young Alexander. They have 5 children. 3 boys, Robert Glenn, Eric Justin and Steve Lee and 2 girls, Jennifer Lynn and Karen Lee, all of San Diego, CA. Parents: Father, Dewey Lee Alexander Born in Texas, Born June 24, 1899 in Texas and Died Sept. 3, 1942 in Legion, Tx and Mother, Stella E. J. Burriss Alexander, born around 1897, born in Arkansas and Died Sept. 11, 1935.
* Paternal Grandparents: Grandfather, James Frank Alexander, 1864-1946 and Grandmother, Emily L Stewart Alexander, 1875-1939.
***** Kenneth Jaccard - Shipmate and friend
Bradenton, FL., 34207, USA
Jake's 'Yankee Station' - USS., Hancock, CVA-19, Memorial, Site Tributes. I served proudly, under Master Chief Dewey Lee Alexander, for two, years, from 1962-64, in the Captain's Office. He was Ships Secretary during this period. I regarded Chief Alexander as a proud Sailor and a man of the highest character and integrity. I respected him, well and it was he who taught me to wear my sea legs. May he rest eternally, in the Blessed Arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jake
***** I remember the morning of Oct 26, 1966 as if it were yesterday. USS Oriskany getting ready for AM launch, I was in hangar bay 1, getting ready to get fully loaded A-4's to the flight deck. Two men tossing flares as if the were sticks. One was grabbed by the wire and it started to sizzle. The ordnance man instead of tossing it overboard, locked it with 600 other flares. BIG mistake.
Ron Moser
LTJG - O2 - Navy - Reserve
Length of service 22 years
Casualty was on Oct 26, 1966
In , NORTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, SEA CASUALTY
OTHER CAUSES
Body was recovered
Panel 11E - Line 106
27 October 1966 The carrier was on station the morning of when a fire erupted on the starboard side of the ship's forward hangar bay and raced through five decks, killing 44 men.
Many who lost their lives were veteran combat pilots who had flown raids over Vietnam a few hours earlier.
Oriskany had been put in danger when a magnesium parachute flare exploded in the forward flare locker of Hangar Bay 1, beneath the carrier's flight deck.
Subsequent investigation showed the flare functioned as designed and the cause of the fire was user error.
A seaman threw the ignited flare back into the weapons locker where the flares were kept for storage, instead of throwing it over the side into the water; this allowed the entire storage locker to ignite and caused horrific damage.
Some of her crewmen jettisoned heavy bombs which lay within reach of the flames, while others wheeled planes out of danger, rescued pilots, and helped quell the blaze throughout the next three hours.
Medical assistance was rushed to the carrier from sister aircraft carriers Constellation (CV-64) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42).
Later investigation by Captain Iarrobino of the Oriskany and analysis by the Naval Ammunition Depot in Crane, Indiana, showed that one in every thousand flares could ignite accidentally if jarred.
Five crew members were court-martialed as a result of the incident but were acquitted.
After this incident and others, the flare design used by the Navy was changed to a safer design immune to accidental ignition, and crews were increased to stabilize numbers so all activities could be properly supervised.
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
****************************************
On October 26, 1966, while on the Oriskany (CVA-34), a devastating fire aboard the USS Oriskany off the coast of North Vietnam.
According to a report by James Pickerell, a civilian photographer, there was no real concern during the pre dawn hours when a flash fire was reported.
There had been other such fires and the men had quickly put them out.
This time men were placing magnesium flares in a locker room when some exploded.
Even as the sailors began actions to put the resulting fire out, more exploded blocking the main exit from "the officer's country" (the officer's sleeping quarters).
General quarters alarm was given and men were sent racing to their battle stations while others fought to water down 34 tons of bombs just 100 yards from the flare locker.
As the flares continued to burn sailors rolled the 500-pound bombs off the deck and into the ocean.
But the Damage was done.
Smoke had streamed into the labyrinth of corridors and 43 (or more) men had died. 34 pilots suffocated in the smoke and fumes.
****************************
.
In Memory of….. LTJG Dewey Lee Alexander, Jr..
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
DEWEY LEE ALEXANDER,JR. - Navy - LTJG - O2
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jan 23, 1927
From: HOUSTON, TX
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Married - Marian De Young Alexander. They have 5 children. 3 boys, Robert Glenn, Eric Justin and Steve Lee and 2 girls, Jennifer Lynn and Karen Lee, all of San Diego, CA. Parents: Father, Dewey Lee Alexander Born in Texas, Born June 24, 1899 in Texas and Died Sept. 3, 1942 in Legion, Tx and Mother, Stella E. J. Burriss Alexander, born around 1897, born in Arkansas and Died Sept. 11, 1935.
* Paternal Grandparents: Grandfather, James Frank Alexander, 1864-1946 and Grandmother, Emily L Stewart Alexander, 1875-1939.
***** Kenneth Jaccard - Shipmate and friend
Bradenton, FL., 34207, USA
Jake's 'Yankee Station' - USS., Hancock, CVA-19, Memorial, Site Tributes. I served proudly, under Master Chief Dewey Lee Alexander, for two, years, from 1962-64, in the Captain's Office. He was Ships Secretary during this period. I regarded Chief Alexander as a proud Sailor and a man of the highest character and integrity. I respected him, well and it was he who taught me to wear my sea legs. May he rest eternally, in the Blessed Arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jake
***** I remember the morning of Oct 26, 1966 as if it were yesterday. USS Oriskany getting ready for AM launch, I was in hangar bay 1, getting ready to get fully loaded A-4's to the flight deck. Two men tossing flares as if the were sticks. One was grabbed by the wire and it started to sizzle. The ordnance man instead of tossing it overboard, locked it with 600 other flares. BIG mistake.
Ron Moser
LTJG - O2 - Navy - Reserve
Length of service 22 years
Casualty was on Oct 26, 1966
In , NORTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, SEA CASUALTY
OTHER CAUSES
Body was recovered
Panel 11E - Line 106
27 October 1966 The carrier was on station the morning of when a fire erupted on the starboard side of the ship's forward hangar bay and raced through five decks, killing 44 men.
Many who lost their lives were veteran combat pilots who had flown raids over Vietnam a few hours earlier.
Oriskany had been put in danger when a magnesium parachute flare exploded in the forward flare locker of Hangar Bay 1, beneath the carrier's flight deck.
Subsequent investigation showed the flare functioned as designed and the cause of the fire was user error.
A seaman threw the ignited flare back into the weapons locker where the flares were kept for storage, instead of throwing it over the side into the water; this allowed the entire storage locker to ignite and caused horrific damage.
Some of her crewmen jettisoned heavy bombs which lay within reach of the flames, while others wheeled planes out of danger, rescued pilots, and helped quell the blaze throughout the next three hours.
Medical assistance was rushed to the carrier from sister aircraft carriers Constellation (CV-64) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42).
Later investigation by Captain Iarrobino of the Oriskany and analysis by the Naval Ammunition Depot in Crane, Indiana, showed that one in every thousand flares could ignite accidentally if jarred.
Five crew members were court-martialed as a result of the incident but were acquitted.
After this incident and others, the flare design used by the Navy was changed to a safer design immune to accidental ignition, and crews were increased to stabilize numbers so all activities could be properly supervised.
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
****************************************
On October 26, 1966, while on the Oriskany (CVA-34), a devastating fire aboard the USS Oriskany off the coast of North Vietnam.
According to a report by James Pickerell, a civilian photographer, there was no real concern during the pre dawn hours when a flash fire was reported.
There had been other such fires and the men had quickly put them out.
This time men were placing magnesium flares in a locker room when some exploded.
Even as the sailors began actions to put the resulting fire out, more exploded blocking the main exit from "the officer's country" (the officer's sleeping quarters).
General quarters alarm was given and men were sent racing to their battle stations while others fought to water down 34 tons of bombs just 100 yards from the flare locker.
As the flares continued to burn sailors rolled the 500-pound bombs off the deck and into the ocean.
But the Damage was done.
Smoke had streamed into the labyrinth of corridors and 43 (or more) men had died. 34 pilots suffocated in the smoke and fumes.
****************************
.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
DEWEY LEE ALEXANDER,JR. - Navy - LTJG - O2
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jan 23, 1927
From: HOUSTON, TX
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Married - Marian De Young Alexander. They have 5 children. 3 boys, Robert Glenn, Eric Justin and Steve Lee and 2 girls, Jennifer Lynn and Karen Lee, all of San Diego, CA. Parents: Father, Dewey Lee Alexander Born in Texas, Born June 24, 1899 in Texas and Died Sept. 3, 1942 in Legion, Tx and Mother, Stella E. J. Burriss Alexander, born around 1897, born in Arkansas and Died Sept. 11, 1935.
* Paternal Grandparents: Grandfather, James Frank Alexander, 1864-1946 and Grandmother, Emily L Stewart Alexander, 1875-1939.
***** Kenneth Jaccard - Shipmate and friend
Bradenton, FL., 34207, USA
Jake's 'Yankee Station' - USS., Hancock, CVA-19, Memorial, Site Tributes. I served proudly, under Master Chief Dewey Lee Alexander, for two, years, from 1962-64, in the Captain's Office. He was Ships Secretary during this period. I regarded Chief Alexander as a proud Sailor and a man of the highest character and integrity. I respected him, well and it was he who taught me to wear my sea legs. May he rest eternally, in the Blessed Arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jake
***** I remember the morning of Oct 26, 1966 as if it were yesterday. USS Oriskany getting ready for AM launch, I was in hangar bay 1, getting ready to get fully loaded A-4's to the flight deck. Two men tossing flares as if the were sticks. One was grabbed by the wire and it started to sizzle. The ordnance man instead of tossing it overboard, locked it with 600 other flares. BIG mistake.
Ron Moser
LTJG - O2 - Navy - Reserve
Length of service 22 years
Casualty was on Oct 26, 1966
In , NORTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, SEA CASUALTY
OTHER CAUSES
Body was recovered
Panel 11E - Line 106
27 October 1966 The carrier was on station the morning of when a fire erupted on the starboard side of the ship's forward hangar bay and raced through five decks, killing 44 men.
Many who lost their lives were veteran combat pilots who had flown raids over Vietnam a few hours earlier.
Oriskany had been put in danger when a magnesium parachute flare exploded in the forward flare locker of Hangar Bay 1, beneath the carrier's flight deck.
Subsequent investigation showed the flare functioned as designed and the cause of the fire was user error.
A seaman threw the ignited flare back into the weapons locker where the flares were kept for storage, instead of throwing it over the side into the water; this allowed the entire storage locker to ignite and caused horrific damage.
Some of her crewmen jettisoned heavy bombs which lay within reach of the flames, while others wheeled planes out of danger, rescued pilots, and helped quell the blaze throughout the next three hours.
Medical assistance was rushed to the carrier from sister aircraft carriers Constellation (CV-64) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42).
Later investigation by Captain Iarrobino of the Oriskany and analysis by the Naval Ammunition Depot in Crane, Indiana, showed that one in every thousand flares could ignite accidentally if jarred.
Five crew members were court-martialed as a result of the incident but were acquitted.
After this incident and others, the flare design used by the Navy was changed to a safer design immune to accidental ignition, and crews were increased to stabilize numbers so all activities could be properly supervised.
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
****************************************
On October 26, 1966, while on the Oriskany (CVA-34), a devastating fire aboard the USS Oriskany off the coast of North Vietnam.
According to a report by James Pickerell, a civilian photographer, there was no real concern during the pre dawn hours when a flash fire was reported.
There had been other such fires and the men had quickly put them out.
This time men were placing magnesium flares in a locker room when some exploded.
Even as the sailors began actions to put the resulting fire out, more exploded blocking the main exit from "the officer's country" (the officer's sleeping quarters).
General quarters alarm was given and men were sent racing to their battle stations while others fought to water down 34 tons of bombs just 100 yards from the flare locker.
As the flares continued to burn sailors rolled the 500-pound bombs off the deck and into the ocean.
But the Damage was done.
Smoke had streamed into the labyrinth of corridors and 43 (or more) men had died. 34 pilots suffocated in the smoke and fumes.
****************************
.
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