Special ceremony pays tribute to sailors lost aboard USS Nimitz

By CJ HADDAD Cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

This Memorial Day in Cape Coral, members of the c o m m u n i t y a n d l o c a l v e t e r a n s g a t h e r e d a t t h e Brotherhood of Heroes Resource Center and Museum to pay tribute to those that paid the ultimate sacrifice serving their country

The constant reminder that “freedom isn't free” came from the lips of many speakers Monday morning, while honoring the lives of servicemen and women that didn't make it back home to their loved ones

A special ceremony took place paying homage to the 14 individuals who lost their lives during an incident on the USS Nimitz in 1981 off the coast of Jacksonville, as Cape veteran and business owner Chris Cammarota led the remembrance.

Cammarota was aboard the vessel the day of the accident

“Today is a day we remember all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and gave their life for their country,” Cammarota said “We also recognize, with gratitude, all those who have served this country, men and women, and who have given us the liberties and freedoms we often take for granted ”

Present during the ceremony were many veterans who served aboard the Nimitz, coming from all over the country to take part A section of the museum is dedicated to USS Nimitz, adorned with uniforms, hats, relics and historical information on the ship

Cammarota said a big part of the display is dedicated to his friend Dennis Driscol, who died in the accident He was 21 Cammarota said he and Driscol had changed positions just 11 days before the incident.

“By the grace of God, that should have been me,” Cammarota said “Most of these men were just out of their teenage years The U S Navy has a habit of turning boys in men "

Cammarota then read the name of the 14 sailors who died As each name was spoken, a Nimitz veteran walked up and rang a bell

On May 26, 1981, a Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler crashed on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz, an aircraft carrier named after World War II Pacific fleet commander Chester W Nimitz The nighttime crash and subsequent explosions and fire either destroyed or damaged 19 other aircrafts The fire was fed by the steady flow of fuel from the punctured tank of a just-refueled aircraft When the fire was believed to be out and orders were given to start the cleanup, a “sparrow” missile warhead detonated, killing two and injuring seven while rekindling the fire It left a 12-inch by 24-inch wide by 3-inch-deep depression in the flight deck Two other warheads detonated after the first explosion

A veteran in attendance who was also aboard the

N i m i t z w h e n t h e a c c i d e n t t o o k p l a c e w a s J o h n Goodwin Goodwin, who served five years in the Navy, traveled from Alabama to take part in the ceremony, and said being around his fellow veterans is a tremendous thing for his spirit

“I really appreciate the effort that goes into this event every year,” said Goodwin, who spent 2 1/2 years aboard the Nimitz working in flight deck fuel “It's done a world of good for my mental health I was lost for years Now, it's much better than it used to be Just being with these guys gives me some relief As long as I am able, I'll be here ”

For Goodwin, Memorial Day means: “So many things So much I've lost members of my family And at that age (when the Nimitz accident occurred), I was 21 and lost most of the friends that I had that surrounded me on the flight deck ”

Another veteran in attendance who served on the Nimitz was Carlos Borbolla He worked on ejection seats, liquid oxygen and other aspects of navigation during his time, and actually left the Navy just two months before the accident

“I was always flight deck, and I always loved nights,” Borbolla said, inferring he would have been in the line of fire if he had been serving still “We used to stand on the foul line and the planes come in so fast Those poor guys that passed away had no chance You can't run away from that It was a very, very said day ”

Borbolla said the fact that Navy sailors are trained on how to fight fires probably made a big difference in how bad the situation could have been

“Unfortunately, those guys were young guys,” he said “When I was on, I was in my 20s It's not an easy life. And right now, there are guys and girls out there doing those same kinds of jobs ”

Borbolla added, “As a country, we need to realize and appreciate our service people Being away for the

A ceremony paying homage to the 14 individuals who lost their lives during a n i n c i d e n t o n t h e U S S Nimitz in 1981 off the coast of Jacksonville took place Monday at the Brotherhood of Heroes Resource Center and Museum in Cape Coral. Present for the ceremony were veterans who served aboard the Nimitz, coming from all over the country to take part

CJ HADDAD

holidays, I remember all of that Christmas, I'm in the Mediterranean or in the Indian Ocean But this is nice remembering our fallen "

Borbolla said it's a great time getting together with his fellow Nimitz family He said he and another attendee of the ceremony served on the ship at the same time, and didn't know one another while they were on deck until the other veteran's brother connected the pair

“We were able to share stories,” Borbolla said Memorial Day for Borbolla means: “Thanking those that have passed on that have done the ultimate sacrifice for our country There's also a lot of folks that we haven't recovered there's many of them Now there are some organizations that are actively looking for them, and hopefully can find more, that was the families have closure It's in the thousands ”

The president and founder of the Brotherhood of Heroes, Dr Carol Rae Culliton, thanked all in attendance for their support and said, "This is a day we must remember our fallen heroes If it wasn't for these brave men and women, our country would not be what it is We wouldn't have the blessings and freedoms we have now Spend time remembering our heroes and what they gave us "

Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter said Monday was "a special day to remember all of our members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country Those families who have lost loved ones -- Memorial Day is every day to them

“Those families have to live that each and every day I ask that we pray for those families and give them the strength ”

For more information, visit www thebrotherhoodofheroes com