Thank you for the beautiful video and tribute. I was assigned to USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) in June of 1986 for a one month training tour as a midshipman. Even in that short time, I could tell it was a great ship. The crew had obvious pride and a sense of ownership and belonging. Beautiful music to say goodbye to her.

I served on her on a West Pac in 1986-87. That's when she got the name USS DriftWood but, that is another story. It's sad watching her for the last time.

Did my 2nd West-Pac on her 82-83, with HMM-262.

Did my first float 1993? 3/7

I did two west pacs on board her. 1983 and 4 From a marine standpoint, one of the best to deploy on

such a waste not a rust bucket at at time when the Navy doesn't have enough ships to transport Marines

Anyone remember going to chagos and eating some carne asada burritos. Did the FC'S ever get sps 48 working or did it stay as a spoiler till decommission.

I served on Belleau Wood when she homeported in Sasebo Japan great ship

I served on the Belleau Wood in 1984 as 20-year-old midshipman. When we pulled into Perth, there were a bunch of libt ards protesting us from a jetty outside the port because they were too dum b know the difference between an oil fueled amphibious ship and nuclear carrier with nukes aboard. Inside the port however, many more Australians welcomed us with American flags. Many of them were older folks who remembered that America helped defend their country from a Jap invasion. Everyone aboard had crossed the line previously, so I was among about 40 polywogs who was initiated into the realm of King Neptune by over 2000 shellbacks. Back then, it was an all-day affair which really meant something. We crossed the line between Perth, Australia and Subic Bay, PI. I saw the Southern Cross and the Magellanic Clouds for the first time standing on the 08 level next to the signal bridge. Great ship and a wonderful adventure for a young man. My grandfather was in the South Pacific during WWII, so visiting many of the same places as he did meant a lot to me. It hurts to see her sink like this, but at least she has a permanent resting place in the ocean, instead of being scrapped.

Belleau Wood was my last active duty ship 91-92 only about 11 months. HT 2

Yat-Yaz 💪

Did two WestPacs on the Bella Wood. I was on it, heading to Australia, when it got the nickname The Drift Wood. Still, it was a great ship with a great crew who took good care of her Marines. Adios, good friend.

I didn't see any damage to that ship

I was part of the decom crew for the Belleau Wood, stationed on her for the last 2 years of her service... RIP LHA3

Let me say this as a Navy veteran, the Chinese navy is turning out three or four ships a year, while ours is sinking them and can't seem to get any new ships built. At this rate we'll lose the pacific.

Only 27 years of active-service, I see. Under-utilised?

Hello old friend. John Watkins V4 Division. We played STP Plush so loud one night the entire ship was looking for us. The 400 watt Marshal amp thundered in the hangar bay. Good times. I will miss seeing that big 3 at 3 am knowing I just had to get my drunken legs to take me home. RIP Belleau Wood

Who ever chose this song....dumbass.

Of course, she is not gonna sink quickly. No fuel, no ordnance, no flammable items of any kind. If she was combat ready a couple of AP bombs would be devestating.

In WWII my great uncle John Miller earned the Navy Cross. 5 kill ace in one day on the original Belleau Wood

A huge waste of materials.

I can remember being aboard this vessel in 2004 when I was 20 years-old. We were heading towards Hawaii for 3 days of field training, then straight to the Persian Gulf where we disembarked into Kuwait, then flew into Iraq via helicopter. Got promoted to Lance Corporal as we were heading across the Pacific, then we ran into a typhoon south of the Philippines. Strangely enough, I never once got seasick.

I'm sure I'm not the only Navy vet who feels a tightness in his stomach whenever he sees a USN ship slip below the waves, regardless of the circumstances.

the death of a fighting ship is so very sad , her crew gone and no one to help her . she tries so hard to stay afloat but just can't with out her brave crew to help her. she finely gives up and slips beneath the waves .

lose the Cure backing soundtrack over-dramatic nonsense and this would eb a cool video

Three deployments on the smella, two when she still had her guns, and became a shellback with a real wog day on her.

I spent 4 years on her, 92 to 96, with ACU-1. Did many a float on her. We used to call her the death star. So many brothers and shipmates, so many memories. Proud to see her thumb her nose at all ships that tried to put her down, fighting all the way. An honorable end for a ship of her caliber.

Waste of steel 😢😮

I served with RADM Mitch Highfill, a fantastic man and a former CO of the USS Belleau Wood.

It seems to me that 27 year's old is too quick to decommission. The fact that she withstood that kind of pounding is a testament to her sea worthy ness. Given the fact that she was to take part in sinkex, why was she not sunk by our navy ships. If she's being used to determine what it takes to sink her then do the proper job. Sending in an EOD team is bullshit in my opinion.

I was able to tour this vessel in the mid 80s while it was ported out of Coronado. My cousin served aboard. Very impressive ship. The fact it had to be in essence scuttled verses sunk by the sinkex weapons is either a testament to the vessel's toughness or the ineffectiveness of the weapons used on it for its size. Or perhaps it was only struck lightly by design for some reason.

I would say the Chinese had better come up with something better than what they have if they think sinking US Carriers and LHA's are easy push overs.

My dad's a Plank owner on the Belleau Wood. My NJROTC instructor made Chief Petty Officer on her.

HMM-262 deployed onto her for a week or so back in '79 when she had her first run out to Hawaii for a practice evolution of 1st Mar Bgd load-up. A few weeks later we deployed on LHA-1 Tarawa's first WestPac. So Belleau Wood was our 'larn'in da boat'. Sad to see her go, as the LHAs were the bees knees compared to the pig-boat LPHs that we had before and since.

😪

With all the trouble in the world. Why waste the ship. Paint it white and make it a hospital ship.

Same for the Tarawa this past week. Tough ships.

Show you how well American ships are built, they couldn't sink her and literally had to go set internal charges.

My first ship USS Inchon was sunk just over 200 miles ESE of cape Henry Va lighthouse

Why no video and just stills?? 🙄

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I’m having the the hardest time… about the US throwing away beautiful modern warships? The LHAs still seem so modern she could have gone 20 more. I sails with the Tarawa. LHA 1. These ships and their mission is a great Formula! Why not just keep maintaining them?

My dad was on the ship back in the mid 90s when it was stationed in Sasebo Japan. I miss them good old days.

Spent 7 months aboard USS Saipan LHA 2 in 1985.

It was a pleasure & a honor to serve on the Belleau Wood.

It hurt me to see that ship go down. I can tell you the emotions I felt to see this. Mostly sadness and anger. You see I was on the USS Peleliu LHA-5. I would have rather they turn it into veteran's housing.

Anyone from v-4 division from 81 to 84, Roger Hunter here

So sad to see her end this way😢. Served onboard her sister ship uss tarawa Lha-1 84-88 , alternating deployments with her from 32nd st naval station, San Diego 🇺🇸

I served on board this LHA in 1998 from Okinawa to South Korea for operation Foal Eagle!

I served on the Tarawa. She is slated to be sunk during rimpac this year. She will be joining her sister below the waves.