US Navy Seaman Robert Louis Dyke was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Navy, SN Dyke served our country until October 26th, 1966 in North Vietnam. He was 22 years old and was not married. It was reported that Robert died from drowning. His body was recovered. Robert was born on June 28th, 1944 in Alamo, California. SN Dyke is on panel 11E, line 108 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for less than a year.
Friend and Shipmate: Bob and I when through Navy boot camp together in San Diego. We were good friends and I was deeply sadden when I heard of his death - so tragic. Bob was a great friend and I have thought about him often. I visited the VN Memorial just to see his name on the wall. We all became close and I remember you well. I quickly heard about your death through others from boot camp. Throughout my 4 years in the Navy, whenever I would run into one of our fellow 'boots,' we would always ask the other if they had heard about you and the answer was always the same, yes. You were well respected and we all paused and shared a remembrance of you. You were a good friend and you are remembered. I did stop by the wall to say 'hi' to you. Take care buddy. Cort Allen, I was a Boot Camp Squad leader with you. Pleasanton, CA. 94566, [email protected].
Incident: The carrier was on station the morning of 26 October 1966 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 human error. A seaman accidentally ignited the flare, and in a panic, threw it 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 and Franklin D. Roosevelt. 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.[2]
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay on 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
DYKE, Robert Louis aboard the USS Oriskany in the gulf of Tonkin off the coast Vietnam on on October 26, 1966, dearly beloved son of Juin and George C. Dyke of Alamo; loving brother of Timothy, Deborah and Nancy; devoted grandson of MRs Henry Hopkins of Walnut Creek and the late Robert Palmgren; nephew of Mr and Mrs Augustus Guy, Mr and Mrs Norman Proffitt all of Oakland, Mr and MRs William Gourd of Noank, Connecticut. A native of Oakland, aged 22 years. A member of the Key Club, Oakland Technical High School. He was also an Eagle Scout.
Robert Louis Dyke served as a Seaman, Journalist Strike (JOSN) on the USS ORISKANY, Task Force 77, 7th Fleet, US Navy, Vietnam.
He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Friend and Shipmate: Bob and I when through Navy boot camp together in San Diego. We were good friends and I was deeply sadden when I heard of his death - so tragic. Bob was a great friend and I have thought about him often. I visited the VN Memorial just to see his name on the wall. We all became close and I remember you well. I quickly heard about your death through others from boot camp. Throughout my 4 years in the Navy, whenever I would run into one of our fellow 'boots,' we would always ask the other if they had heard about you and the answer was always the same, yes. You were well respected and we all paused and shared a remembrance of you. You were a good friend and you are remembered. I did stop by the wall to say 'hi' to you. Take care buddy. Cort Allen, I was a Boot Camp Squad leader with you. Pleasanton, CA. 94566, [email protected].
Incident: The carrier was on station the morning of 26 October 1966 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 human error. A seaman accidentally ignited the flare, and in a panic, threw it 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 and Franklin D. Roosevelt. 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.[2]
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay on 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
DYKE, Robert Louis aboard the USS Oriskany in the gulf of Tonkin off the coast Vietnam on on October 26, 1966, dearly beloved son of Juin and George C. Dyke of Alamo; loving brother of Timothy, Deborah and Nancy; devoted grandson of MRs Henry Hopkins of Walnut Creek and the late Robert Palmgren; nephew of Mr and Mrs Augustus Guy, Mr and Mrs Norman Proffitt all of Oakland, Mr and MRs William Gourd of Noank, Connecticut. A native of Oakland, aged 22 years. A member of the Key Club, Oakland Technical High School. He was also an Eagle Scout.
Robert Louis Dyke served as a Seaman, Journalist Strike (JOSN) on the USS ORISKANY, Task Force 77, 7th Fleet, US Navy, Vietnam.
He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
US Navy Seaman Robert Louis Dyke was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Navy, SN Dyke served our country until October 26th, 1966 in North Vietnam. He was 22 years old and was not married. It was reported that Robert died from drowning. His body was recovered. Robert was born on June 28th, 1944 in Alamo, California. SN Dyke is on panel 11E, line 108 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for less than a year.
Friend and Shipmate: Bob and I when through Navy boot camp together in San Diego. We were good friends and I was deeply sadden when I heard of his death - so tragic. Bob was a great friend and I have thought about him often. I visited the VN Memorial just to see his name on the wall. We all became close and I remember you well. I quickly heard about your death through others from boot camp. Throughout my 4 years in the Navy, whenever I would run into one of our fellow 'boots,' we would always ask the other if they had heard about you and the answer was always the same, yes. You were well respected and we all paused and shared a remembrance of you. You were a good friend and you are remembered. I did stop by the wall to say 'hi' to you. Take care buddy. Cort Allen, I was a Boot Camp Squad leader with you. Pleasanton, CA. 94566, [email protected].
Incident: The carrier was on station the morning of 26 October 1966 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 human error. A seaman accidentally ignited the flare, and in a panic, threw it 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 and Franklin D. Roosevelt. 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.[2]
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay on 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
DYKE, Robert Louis aboard the USS Oriskany in the gulf of Tonkin off the coast Vietnam on on October 26, 1966, dearly beloved son of Juin and George C. Dyke of Alamo; loving brother of Timothy, Deborah and Nancy; devoted grandson of MRs Henry Hopkins of Walnut Creek and the late Robert Palmgren; nephew of Mr and Mrs Augustus Guy, Mr and Mrs Norman Proffitt all of Oakland, Mr and MRs William Gourd of Noank, Connecticut. A native of Oakland, aged 22 years. A member of the Key Club, Oakland Technical High School. He was also an Eagle Scout.
Robert Louis Dyke served as a Seaman, Journalist Strike (JOSN) on the USS ORISKANY, Task Force 77, 7th Fleet, US Navy, Vietnam.
He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Friend and Shipmate: Bob and I when through Navy boot camp together in San Diego. We were good friends and I was deeply sadden when I heard of his death - so tragic. Bob was a great friend and I have thought about him often. I visited the VN Memorial just to see his name on the wall. We all became close and I remember you well. I quickly heard about your death through others from boot camp. Throughout my 4 years in the Navy, whenever I would run into one of our fellow 'boots,' we would always ask the other if they had heard about you and the answer was always the same, yes. You were well respected and we all paused and shared a remembrance of you. You were a good friend and you are remembered. I did stop by the wall to say 'hi' to you. Take care buddy. Cort Allen, I was a Boot Camp Squad leader with you. Pleasanton, CA. 94566, [email protected].
Incident: The carrier was on station the morning of 26 October 1966 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 human error. A seaman accidentally ignited the flare, and in a panic, threw it 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 and Franklin D. Roosevelt. 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.[2]
Oriskany steamed to Subic Bay on 28 October, where victims of the fire were transferred to waiting aircraft for transportation to the United States.
DYKE, Robert Louis aboard the USS Oriskany in the gulf of Tonkin off the coast Vietnam on on October 26, 1966, dearly beloved son of Juin and George C. Dyke of Alamo; loving brother of Timothy, Deborah and Nancy; devoted grandson of MRs Henry Hopkins of Walnut Creek and the late Robert Palmgren; nephew of Mr and Mrs Augustus Guy, Mr and Mrs Norman Proffitt all of Oakland, Mr and MRs William Gourd of Noank, Connecticut. A native of Oakland, aged 22 years. A member of the Key Club, Oakland Technical High School. He was also an Eagle Scout.
Robert Louis Dyke served as a Seaman, Journalist Strike (JOSN) on the USS ORISKANY, Task Force 77, 7th Fleet, US Navy, Vietnam.
He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
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