About the USS FORRESTAL Association:
The USS FORRESTAL Association is a non-profit veterans organization formed in 1990 for
anyone who served with or supported USS FORRESTAL. Membership now counts in the thousands,
and the group stays focused on preserving the ship's memory and the bonds between
shipmates. The work is volunteer led, from reunion planning to the Spot Sheet mailings
that still carry association news to members.
At its heart the association is about memories. Activities cover reunions and lighter
gatherings, and they also include memorials when we say goodbye to members and when we
honor shipmates who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Association work today
Even after the hull left Navy custody, the association keeps the FID line active through
reunions, scholarship and memorial projects tied to the ship's name, and steady
communication between crews from every era. The web site and Facebook page act as open
boards for reunion photos and public notices, while the member area handles forms and
registry details that should stay inside the membership family.
New volunteers step in beside long-serving officers, so if you have time to help with
communications, reunion logistics, or history research, use the contact links on this
page and address the role you can fill. Every committee runs on shipmate effort, not
paid staff.
Status of the USS-FORRESTAL:
On 4 Feb 2014, the USS FORRESTAL AVT-59 was towed from the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA, enroute to All Star Medals, Brownsville, TX for disposal.
On 18 Feb 2014, the USS FORRESTAL AVT-59 arrived at All Star Medals, Brownsville, TX for disposal. The association still marks these dates in memorial posts because they close the hull chapter, not the crew chapter.
Video of FORRESTAL's arrival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHGdQvG-S6o
Video Tribute to USS FORRESTAL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDDwCbj3Ba8
Status of USS FORRESTAL photo slideshow:
Click here to view the disposal of USS FORRESTAL slideshow
Executive Committee
Volunteer Committees
How do I join?
If you are a former crew member (including ships company, Marines, and
Air Wing personnel attached to the ship) and would like to join the USS FORRESTAL Association
please fill out the application or use the membership wizard, then print and send it to the address on the bottom. If you don't
have a printer, click on the membership chairman's email link at the top of
this page or use our online contact form and request a copy be mailed to you.
Online Experience
Most forms and newsletters on this site are PDF files. Install Adobe Acrobat Reader if your device does not already open them.
Download Adobe Reader for free.
A few older banner animations were built for the Adobe Flash Player. Modern browsers no longer run Flash, so treat the Flash link as historical. The photos, PDFs, and static graphics carry the same information today.
Adobe Flash Player download (legacy)
About this web site
The USS FORRESTAL web site first went online in June 1996 and has been sponsored
by the USS FORRESTAL Association, Inc. since February 1997. In 2026 it remains a
volunteer-maintained project, with officers posting reunion news, guestbook entries,
and member notices as time allows.
The News, Guestbook, Contact, store cart, membership tools, and related resources are moderated by
FORRESTAL Association executive board members and their appointed volunteers. Updates, deletions, and edits are solely up to
the discretion of those officers so the site stays aligned with association policy.