Senator’s resolution honors the 134 servicemembers lost in the USS Forrestal Fire – one of the worst losses of life on a U.S. Navy ship since World War II
The late Arizona Senator John McCain was aboard the carrier, surviving the naval disaster before becoming a prisoner of war 3 months later
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored a bipartisan resolution honoring the 134 servicemembers lost in the USS Forrestal Fire. The late Arizona Senator John McCain survived the fire 3 months before becoming a prisoner of war.
“We’re honoring the American servicemembers lost and injured in the USS Forrestal fire. Our bipartisan resolution is a reminder of the great sacrifices and risks our servicemembers make to keep us safe and free,” said Sinema.
On July 29, 1967, the accidental launch of a rocket caused a fire on the USS Forrestal, a U.S. Navy carrier off the coast of Vietnam, which killed 134 American servicemembers and injured an additional 161. At the time, it was the worst loss of life on a U.S. Navy ship since World War II.
Senator McCain was aboard the carrier and survived the naval disaster before becoming a prisoner of war 3 months later. Senator McCain maintained it to be one of the most impactful events of his life. Sinema’s bipartisan resolution remembers and honors Senator McCain’s legacy – a personal hero to Sinema and countless of Arizonans and Americans.