Port Quarter Ghost

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Type: Ghost

Hurricane Andrew Had Wiped Florida, but the USS Forrestall (stationed in Pensicola, Florida) had pulled away from the pier to minimize any damage from the storm to the ship and the pier. The ship was underway for three days. I was an airman at the time, out smoking a cigarette on the port quarter of the fantail with two other of my friends, when I looked up toward the entrance to the port quarter. I looked for about a whole second at the person standing there. I noticed the white sailor hat and the blue dungarees. After that second of looking at hin, I answered my friend's question then looked up again, the person wasn't there.

This all took place in about two seconds, not enough time for anyone to get off of the port quarter let alone a sailor with bell bottoms. The reason I looked up again was to say "hey" or "hi" or something like that. The pause bettween me looking back at my friend and looking back at the person standing there was so brief I couldn't believe that he wasn't there when I looked again!

When I looked back, a chill ran down my spine and I high-tailed it out of there. My friends also got a scare, but they didn't see what I saw! Why did they get creeped out?!

Now that I remember, I ask myself questions like:
Why was he wearing a white hat while underway, when they aren't authorized anymore?
Why was he wearing a blue dungaree (chambray) shirt when we wear turtle neck jerseys now?
Why did I (and my friends) feel the sudden need to get off of the port quarter?
Why did my friends feel the same as me when they didn't even see what I saw?

Later I learned a little more about the Forrestal fire in the 60's that killed 160+ sailors. The fire had also affected the port quarter of the ship, and the ghost I saw isn't the only ghost on that thing.

Now, the ship is decommisioned, and the ghosts may never be investigated, but just ask anyone that was on the USS Forrestal after The Fire if the had heard about the ghosts and I guarantee that you will have an interesting story.