Forrestal (CVA-59) was commissioned 1 October 1955. As part of the Atlantic Fleet Forrestal made regular deployments to the Mediterranean for a decade. The carrier made one cruise to Vietnam in 1967. On 29 July 1967 off the coast of North Vietnam while preparing for her second launch of the day, a tremendous explosion rocked the carrier. The disaster killed 132 crewmen, injured 62 and left 2 missing. Forrestal returned to Atlantic Fleet and continued the deployment cycle to the Mediterranean. Forrestal was decommissioned on September 11, 1993.^^br^^^^br^^^^br^^^^br^^Awards: Vietnam Service Medal and three Meritorious Unit Commendations.
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