Submitted by: Janet Oberndorfer OH-BURN-DOOR - FUR
This is the memory of: Robert A (rthur) P. Kennedy
Relationship to submitter: We shared a home for 14 years until he succumbed to three cancers
During WW II, my late companion, Bob Kennedy (no relation to THEM)(mine was an American of Scots background) enlisted in the USN as soon as he was old enough. He was assigned to the USS Franklin, the most heavily damaged carrier in the war, which nearly sank after being kamikazied 50 miles off of Okinawa in March 1945.
His job was to get the planes ready to fly off on their missions and to prepare the area for their return, when they did. He would talk about catapaults and arrestor cables. He told many stories about his experiences. When the Franklin was attacked he assisted Father Joseph O'Callahan, the catholic priest in his duties ministering to the wounded and giving the final rites to the dead. (Kennedy always said O'Callahan was NEVER the same after this experience going back to Holy Cross College in Worcester -- but never, never the same. O',Callahan won the CMH for his actions.)
Only about 750 crew members survived of the original compliment of about 2500. While he always showed great respect for the other equipment and fleet of the current Navy, in talking to Kennedy you knew he really thought the WW II Carriers were the 'real thing.' He died in 1991 of 3 cancers and other related maladies. He would have loved to see this CARRIER series. I appreciate the opportunity to share this remembrance.