The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Commissioning of the aircraft carrier in a special ceremony that will welcome nearly 300 former U.S.S. Intrepid crew members back to the ship – some for the first time in decades – on Friday, August 16 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon on the flight deck of the ship, located at Pier 86 at 12th Avenue and 46th Street. Former Crew Members will be available for interview after the ceremony. 

Remarks will be offered by Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.), Chairman of the Board, United States Naval Institute as well as Intrepid Museum Co-Chairmen Ken Fisher and Bruce Mosler, Intrepid Museum President Susan Marenoff-Zausner and representatives from the Intrepid Former Crew Members.

Former Crew members from World War II, Korea, the Cold War and Vietnam will travel from around the country, many with their families, to participate in the event. Some will bring personal artifacts that are associated with their service on the Intrepid, for donation to the museum. These include:

• World War II medals, a hat, a sewing kit, and a photo of a deceased Former Crew Member, donated by his widow
• The Japanese Message of Surrender sent in 1946 and transcribed by radioman first class Joseph Barry; plus photos of Barry’s division, Intrepid holiday menus, and ID cards from his service. 
• Photos of Intrepid’s band, donated by William Murphy

Among those Former Crew Members expected to attend:

• Roy Latall, age 92, from Michigan, who maintained a friendship for 70 years with the two other shipmates who manned the arresting gear on the ship’s flight deck during WWII;

• Sverre O. Bach, age 90, from McLean, VA, who flew VF-6 Hellcats for Intrepid’s Air Group 6 in 1944.  He later earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for operations against the Japanese from February 16 to April, 21 1945.  He flew 20 combat missions near Tokyo, Kyushu, the Nansei Shoto and the NanpoShoto;

• Joseph Barry, age 88 from Cary, NC, a plankowner (member of the ship’s commissioning crew), served with Intrepid from its commissioning in 1943 until 1946.  He served in the K2 division as a radioman first class and translated Morse Code Messages into English.  When Intrepid received the message that Japan surrendered, he volunteered to take it down and kept a copy for himself, which he donated to the museum.  His family will be with him;

• Winston Goodloe, age 91, another plankowner from Clifton Park, NY, served on Intrepid from the ship’s commissioning in 1943 until 1945.  He served on the flight deck, and earned a bronze star for leaving his station after a kamikaze struck the ship because he volunteered to help fight fires and rescue injured men on the hangar deck.  His fellow crew members joke that he was also one of the few men who knew the location of all three of the ship’s liquor stills.  He and his wife Ruth are involved in theater productions and will sing at the ceremony;

• William Murphy, age 88, from Salida, CO, another plankowner, served on Intrepid from its commissioning in 1943 until 1946.  He served in the ship’s band and fought the Japanese with his clarinet.  As a musician he played for funerals and for more light hearted occasions, such as movie nights and USO shows.  He also stood watch and went for General Quarters just like every other man on Intrepid;

• Ray Laroche, age 88, from Brookings, SD, an Aviation Ordinanceman from February 1944-46, who currently lives in a nursing home.  One of the home’s staff saw an article about the Intrepid’s Homecoming in their local paper and coordinated with Ray's grand-nephew to fly him to New York for the ceremony.

All Former Crew Members will be available after the ceremony for interviews and photos.

Ceremony and wreath laying will take place on stage on flight deck. Multbox and media riser available. Long throw lenses recommended for ceremony.

DATE:                        Friday, August 16

TIME:                        10:30 a.m. – Noon
                                    Former Crew Members available after ceremony

LOCATION:            Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
                                  46th Street & 12th Avenue
                                  Flight Deck