To her thousands of sailors, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) was always just an aircraft carrier. She was home, office, and community all in one—a city at sea where young sailors had hard work, formed lifelong friendships, and learned lessons that stayed with them until the day they died. Completed in 1960 and measuring 1,000 feet in length, she was an engineering marvel. But to the people who lived on her decks, however, memories went beyond steel and machinery.
Life in Kitty Hawk was one big loop of duty, racket, and coordination. More than 4,500 men were coordinated daily as an entity to keep the ship operational safely and effectively. It was the first time away from home for most, and the blend of thrill and stress made every day one to recall.
Corey Urband, a former midget submarine’s mate, recalled that while his peers were still attending school, he was “30 feet below the waterline, halfway round the world from home.” Another sailor, Rich Bratlee, traded his hometown of mere 3,000 with a space among 6,000 sailors. Even the escalators in the ship became a myth, which also used to result in haphazard pileups whenever too many people tried to ride them simultaneously.
There were a few hazards that could not be detected. As with all ships of its time, the Kitty Hawk contained asbestos, which was valued for its fire resistance and insulating qualities. It was used in engine spaces, boiler rooms, pipes, insulation, and even protective gear.
For the male workers who labor in the hot, confined areas—typically in engineering—a routine exposure to asbestos fibers was an everyday aspect of their work. The diseases rarely appeared until decades after the fact, when some of the seamen began developing asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
These are always difficult to hear. One of the ship’s crew members developed asbestosis from routine maintenance work in the early 1960s. Another who spent his working life fixing valves and gaskets in the engine spaces was diagnosed with mesothelioma many years later and eventually received compensation.
Their lasting effect went further than the veterans themselves, to family and loved ones. Routine medical checks are now greatly encouraged for anyone who worked on ships during the time, and the Veterans Administration provides aid for those afflicted with asbestos disease.
Living aboard the Kitty Hawk was also emotionally taxing. The sailors endured crises such as the 1972 riots and a 1973 fire that claimed six lives but demonstrated remarkable acts of heroism and sacrifice. These trials fostered strength, loyalty, and a sense of responsibility that endured. Friendships born of such adversity have stood the test of time in reunions and memorials honoring the ship’s spirit.
As the Kitty Hawk was finally retired and sent on a 16,000-mile journey to a Texas ship-breaking facility, the emotions ran high. Families and veterans visited to recall memories, say their goodbyes, and carry small tokens made out of shipyard scraps.
Chris Green, the President of International Shipbreaking Limited, stated that the scrapping would be done with dignity, showing respect for the service and sacrifice of all those who had called the Kitty Hawk home.
Ultimately, it is the history of the USS Kitty Hawk that is a history of grit. Not so much the tale of a ship which had lived through decades of global war, but of the sailors and pilots whose bodies, minds, and souls were stretched to the breaking point on her decks. She lives on in the men and women she created and in what they continue to impart from their time with her.
