A LOVE STORY

Dave Laird

Back in January, 1969, I was  still new to the Navy and was just finishing up at Radarman A School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.

Our orders had just been posted on the board outside the office and I was gathered around with several other strikers, eager to see where we were going to go.  As a young kid from the plains of eastern Kansas, and the first in many generations of my family to choose the Navy, I wasn't too sure about how well my sea legs had developed so I was hoping for a carrier and not a tin can--at least not at first.

I knew all about the big boys--Constellation, Kitty Hawk, Enterprise--to name a few.  One of those would be nice.

Other guys were reading their orders.  Ships like Truxton, Keyes, New Jersey.  Halfway down I found my name..."Laird, David P, RDSN TAD to NTDS school San Diego FFT to USS Ticonderoga CVA 14, at sea. (for those of you who don't know the lingo, I was going to Naval Tactical Data School for further transfer to...to...to a carrier.  Could it be true?  I was getting a carrier?)

Behind me stood a salty old chief who knew how I felt about what I wanted and he spoke words I have never forgotten nor will I ever.  He said "Laird, I don't know why they're sending you to NTDS school.  That's for new ships with computerized radar systems.  Hell, the Ticonderoga is an old World War 2 rustbucket."

Rustbucket???  He was a CPO.  I was a Seaman.  I didn't question him a bit.  I just walked away dejected thinking I was going to get stuck on something the Navy was keeping around just because of a war in a place called Viet Nam.  Little did I know at the time that I couldn't have been more wrong.

A month or so later, I found myself onboard a C-2 at Cubi Point NAS in the Phillipines taking off for the Ticonderoga somewhere in the Gulf of Tonkin.  Running the length of the aisle was a jet engine, all crated up and flying with us for delivery to the Big T. (You AIMD guys were awesome.) 

Now, landing on a carrier wasn't a concept this boy from the land of Oz was even capable of visualizing.  I felt like Gomer Pyle in bellbottoms.  Lo and behold a few hours later I looked out the window, down at that vast expanse of Pacific ocean and there was this little speck which we began circling.  I asked the aircrewman where the ship was and he pointed to the speck.  All I could think of was "Sister Mary Stella, Monsignor Kuglemeier, thank you for all those prayers you taught me in grade school."

As you all probably know, the landing is nothing compared to that sudden stop; and for all you guys who worked on arresting gear, "Man I love ya'.  You are sweet people.  You do great work."

I climbed off the C-2 and was absolutely awestruck.  The noise was deafening.  The movement of men and aircraft was like a well choreographed ballet.  Redshirts, greenshirts, whiteshirts--every color of the rainbow--all doing a very specialized and critical job.

I was quickly ushered inside the island structure and while standing there, I noticed a plaque on the bulkhead.  I don't remember all the words but I can still visualize the ones which were most important..."Dedicated...143 officers and men...January 21, 1945..."

I knew I was in hallowed territory and I had some mighty big shoes to try to fill.

As those line periods in the Gulf of Tonkin went on, we sailed with the big boys of the day.  With the Connie and the Ranger and the Kitty Hawk.  We kept up with 'em too, both in speed and statistics.  One day we launched 29 aircraft in 15 minutes.  We did it with two "cats".  That's as good as it gets guys.  You all know how hard you worked. 

In April, 1969, when the North Koreans shot down an EC-121 in international waters, Task Force 71 steamed north to the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea.  Who was Task Force 71?  Names like Enterprise, Ranger, New Jersey and good old Ticonderoga and Hornet, along with three cruisers, 22 destroyers five submarines and all the necessary supply ships.  It was the largest Naval task force since WWII.  A show of force to the North Koreans, and Ticonderoga was there.

I served on Ticonderoga in her last days as a CVA and helped inaugurate her as a CVS.  We could hunt subs with the best of them and that wonderful ship served her country well.  Those of you who were bosuns and signalmen and radiomen and boiler techs; aerographer's mates and et's, ship's company or air wing--you all know how proud you are of what you did.  That goes for all of you from the 40's to the 70's who proudly served aboard the Big T.  Each and every one of you.

If I had the wisdom back in the 70's that I do today, I would have organized, led and succeeded in an effort to save her from the torch and see her as a floating museum like several of those fine carriers are today.  That didn't happen though, so we'll keep her memory alive right here on these web pages.

Rustbucket???  I didn't disagree with you back then, Chief.  Maybe I should have. 
Rustbucket?????  Oh my Lord no, Chief.  She was my love.
                     She was the Ticonderoga.