To the hundreds of thousands who made her home, the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) was far more than a gigantic aircraft carrier. She was a city at sea—a home, a career, and a place where young naval men learned lessons they would carry for a lifetime. Commissioned in 1960 and a staggering 1,000 feet in length, the Kitty Hawk was an engineering wonder. But for the crew, the heart of the ship was never the steel or the machinery—it was the people, the friendships, and the memories that made their time at sea so special.
Life aboard the Kitty Hawk was a constant mix of action, responsibility, and noise. Over 4,500 sailors worked together to keep the systems running smoothly and everyone on the ship safe. Some were there for the first time by themselves, and the thrill mixed with the stress had a lasting effect.
Corey Urband, a former machinist’s mate, recalled being “30 feet below the waterline, half a world away from home” while his friends were still in school. Rich Bratlee, a sailor, traded his small Montana town of 3,000 for living with thousands of shipmates. Even the ship’s escalators were the subject of myth, sometimes causing wild pileups when everyone crowded on at the same time.
Not all the threats were immediately obvious. Like many ships of those years, the Kitty Hawk contained asbestos, prized at that time for fire resistance and insulation. It was present throughout the ship—engine rooms, boiler rooms, pipes, insulation, and protective gear.
Sailors who worked in hot, cramped spaces, particularly in engineering, were regularly exposed to asbestos fibers, the damage frequently not being seen until many years later as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
Some of the stories are sad to listen to. One of the sailors got asbestosis from routine maintenance work in the early 1960s. Another, in the bowels of engine rooms with gaskets and valves, contracted mesothelioma many years later and eventually was paid for it.
These illnesses not only harmed the veterans but also their family members. Routine medical checkups are now strongly recommended for all who served on ships during this period, and the Veterans Administration provides support to affected individuals.
The mental struggles of serving on the Kitty Hawk were as trying as well. The men endured experiences like the 1972 race riots, which had profound effects, and a devastating 1973 fire that claimed six lives but also revealed acts of heroism and sacrifice.
These experiences created resilience, loyalty, and a deep sense of responsibility. Friendships and camaraderie formed under such circumstances have lasted a lifetime, fueled by reunions and memorial services to commemorate the ship’s spirit.
When Kitty Hawk was finally retired and embarked on her 16,000-mile journey to a Texas shipbreaking facility, emotions ran high. Vets and their families gathered to reminisce, say farewell, and take mementos made from pieces of the vessel. Chris Green, President of International Shipbreaking Limited, made sure the demolition would be handled with respect and dignity for the service and sacrifices of all who called Kitty Hawk home.
In the end, the history of the USS Kitty Hawk is one of perseverance. It is not only the tale of a ship that sailed through decades of change but of the women and men whose bodies, minds, and spirits were tested on her decks. Her legacy continues today in the lives she touched and in the lessons carried on by those who were aboard her.