My Tribute to The U.S. Navy Veterans of my Family

This space is dedicated to my father, Roland LaPorte (Korea), my uncle, Donald LaPorte (deceased; WWII and Korea), and my cousin Chris Laporte who is currently serving his twentieth year in the service to our Country. I am also told that my father's cousin Brien Laporte was a Submariner and a Recruiter, and that my Dad's Aunt Cora was a WWII Navy Nurse, with a rank of LT jg. She was married to Bob Senecal, who was an instructor on the Escape Tank at New London, CT.

The USS John Paul Jones DDG-53

This picture is courtesy of my cousin Chris, who states "This ship is a marvel of modern warfare and technology."

The USS John Paul Jones Lets Loose on the Taliban & Al-Queda!!!

More pictures courtesy of my cousin Chris and the U.S. Navy. TOMAHAWKS AWAY!!!

My Dad's Ships (shown in order)

The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CV-42

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy website

The USS Bennington CV-20

This picture is courtesy of the U.S. Navy. Dad signed on to this ship since it's home port was Quonset Point, R.I., and trips home to Massachusetts were easy and frequent. The ship blew up off the New England coast with my Dad aboard, on his 20th birthday (read the news account below). He was on K.P. that morning, alone in a room in the aft galley running the potato peeling machine. He described it as just a loud boom, coming from forward on the port side. When the alarms sounded "fire", he tried to make it to his fire station which was forward, but was met by a guard near the hanger doors, and was turned away. The next day he was able to go up on the hangar deck, and found it warped and buckled from the intense fire below. The secondary explosions were from the 5 inch gun magazine that was located directly below the catapult. It was the second worst peace-time naval disaster in history.

May 26, 1954 -At 0611, while USS Bennington (CVA 20) was cruising off Narragansett Bay, the fluid in one of her catapults exploded, setting off a series of secondary explosions which killed 103 crewmen and injured 201 others. The Bennington proceeded under her own power to Quonset Point, R.I., to land her planes. Moving to the New York Naval Shipyard for repairs, she was completely rebuilt during 12 Jun. 1954-19 Mar. 1955.

The USS Lake Champlain CV-39

The "Champ" getting topped off by an oiler while under way (picture courtesy of USS Lake Champlain Homepage) Dad served on this ship since he still had time to serve after the Bennington disaster.

A Visit to The U.S.S. Intrepid

In 1996, we took a family trip to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in NYC. Dad showed us the 5 inch gun tub of the Intrepid that was the same as the ones he served in, located on the starboard side under the flight deck.

Here, Gunners Mate Third Class Roland LaPorte poses at the breach of the 5 Inch Gun.

My Uncle Donald

My Uncle Donald served on LST's and Mine Sweepers. This ship, the USS Requisite, is one of the Mine Sweepers he actually served on. Unfortunately, there are hardly any pictures available of the "Utility" ships of the past, unlike Carriers, Battleships, etc.