USS Bonhomme Richard Decommissioning Ceremony

[@gysgttedlovell1003]

I remember the day Aug 20 of 1998 as the first Marines to be aboard her. We were amazed at how big she was. We brought our Howitzer to be anchored and fired off her flight deck using AFTADS systems in converting from analog to digital technology. As the first Marines to board her the commanding officer gave us the commemorative coin from the christening May 17 1997. Now that she isn’t with us any more I will cherish that coin even more.

[@helmitpeak]

Her predecessor was a lot bigger, the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31. I served on her in the early sixties.

[@feraxks]

@@helmitpeak Actually LHD-6 outweighed CVA-31 (41,000 ton vs 36,960 tons) and she was only slightly shorter (844ft vs 872ft).

[@WartimeStories]

Farewell, old friend. While I was never one to enjoy standing in formation in dress uniforms, I can’t help but acknowledge this was a beautiful and touching ceremony. Thank you all for your service.

[@atsea713]

She didn’t get the goodbye she deserved or the crew that served in her for the last 23 years. So sad.

[@darkguardian1314]

31:00 It's hard hearing the Captain... He was choking up and I was about to choke up too... Here's to the America Class USS Bonhomme Richard being built. Like the Enterprise, the Navy wouldn't be the same with out a Bonhomme Richard in the fleet.

[@pikaluv43]

my dad was on that ship during ww2

[@pikaluv43]

he recently passed away

[@09876username]

Fair winds and following seas to the crew as they decommission USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), "Ready Now, Ready Always." As Captain John Paul Jones declared in his fight with SS Serapis on Sept. 23, 1779, fighting a larger and stronger enemy ship, "I have not yet begun to fight." The men and women of the crew of LHD-6 exemplified that spirit of readiness to fight to win. God bless the crew.

[@tombrown6628]

What a horribly sad and senseless loss to the US and the USN. It may be a long time, if ever, before this great ship is replaced. A great loss. Thanks for recording and posting the ceremony.

[@benjaminnorcross6109]

I spent five years aboard the BHR, and the last Plankowner to leave my department. I was given the departments plaque with the names of our department first crew with the intention of returning to share it at it's decommissioning. I'm sad that this moment has come early, and more so that I wasn't able to attend because of COVID-19. Still, I will never forget those years, the moments spent at battlestations and the amazing crew with which I spent that time. A sad day.

[@foahsdarb]

Norcross was the best medic!

[@JM-te6ot]

It was an honor to have sailed with crew in ‘07 Tiger cruise. You all have been in our prayers.

[@gowebbgo]

As a Plankowner, such a depressing series of events. Thanks for sending her off with such a nice, classy ceremony. Now. Lets get the next LHA or CVN named for her.

[@thefederalist9982]

She'll be LHA-9

[@Joshua_N-A]

Will she become a sister of the America-class?

[@thefederalist9982]

@@Joshua_N-A Most likely.

[@TheSalineman]

Proud ship. I was on CVA31 on its final cruise in Vietnam 1970. The proud name of this ship should live on into a #4 ship. I wish it would be a super carrier. Quit naming them after politicians and get back to historic proud names.

[@mpeugeot]

Such a horrible end for a ship. Those responsible for the sabotage deserve to be held fully accountable for their actions.

[@sterlingarcher7101]

So it was confirmed the fire resulted from arson?

[@rgloria40]

Incompetence, Fraud, Waste and Abuse when a ship goes into the yard. Firemain was undermaintenance and no fire watch setup....

[@GamingLibrary_24]

I live in San Diego and was there when the fire occured. We could smell the burning from miles. I served from 2013 to 2016. So sad to see a ship go.

[@pauloconnor5931]

Such a sad day in Naval history. A total slap in the face to the memory of ships with names like Enterprise (CV-6 and CVN-65), Forrestal, Franklin, Stark, Samuel B. Roberts, Belknap, Laffey, and Bunker Hill. And it happened to a ship with such a gallant name! How these blowhards can say what they are saying with a straight face is truly amazing!!!!! As a taxpayer and former Sailor, It breaks my heart to see such a gallant ship lost due to utter incompetence. I wonder if our Woke and Diverse Navy with all its fancy uniforms can still actually operate and fight a ship at sea. I gotta leave this before I throw up!

[@navy4735]

so true......and so despicable....none of those puke pieces of shit paid ....they blamed a seaman recruit. lol...pathetic.

[@timfremstad3434]

ThankYou sir, I not being a military man was loath to say anything , but to me this ceremony was kind of like putting lipstick on a pig.....the ship basically burned down when it shouldn't have, and this basically unattended de-commissioning was a quick way to send the ship away , you might as well say stealing it away so no one would notice

[@RobertHolster1]

I saw her at NAS Pensacola in August of 1998 when she was commissioned; it's sad to see her career cut short as she was placed out of commission and hauled away for reclamation. Fair Winds and Following Seas to the USS Bonhomme Richard, LHD-6, and to all that served in her for the past 22 years. CAPT Thoroman, great job, Sir and Godspeed and God Bless- SGT Robert Holster, USAR.

[@jamani1086]

awesome. i was there too that day in Pensacola and was lucky enough to get a small amount of video to remember the day.

[@RobertHolster1]

@@jamani1086 It was great to see her that day at NAS Pensacola, but sad to see her career cut short over the past few months.. The Navy didn't waste any time hauling her away. But she didn't have the soot and smut from the fire. The Navy really cleaned her up.

[@jamani1086]

@@RobertHolster1 check out my short video of that day in Pensacola if you are so inclined.. thats how i want to remember BHR

[@RobertHolster1]

@@jamani1086 will do!! Just gotta find it!

[@jamani1086]

@@RobertHolster1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmS6lK1mlJ2Mhsk

[@aker9046]

Thank you for visiting Hong Kong twice, so that I could see this ship with my own eyes. Thank you all for your service to the country. I look forward to a new navy ship that bears the very same name!

[@USAIRFORCE621]

Quite a disappointing end for a ship with such a name steeped in history! I recall the dying words of CAPT James Lawrence who himself said "don't give up the ship"! Sadly, that happened when fire crews couldn't save this magnificent ship, but all who helped her fight that fire are heroes, none once thought of themselves but of the ship and while a 23 year career is small when compared to ships like USS Enterprise or Kennedy it is still something to be proud of!

[@rgloria40]

What can I say? The Captain is (are) ultimately responsible for your crew even when the transfer to another ship and re earn trust of the men of new ship. PS I don't know why my mailbox for my community got damaged and vandalise....must be my negative comments about management and especially thoughts on you Shipyard Management Availability Period. I am smart enough to know to hire a minimum wage civilian firewatch when the main firemain is OOC... Does he have a conflict of interest? Don't mind that the way the Navy community is: 2+billion dollar ship with addition 2+billion addition running cost to cover overage....Fat Lenoard ruined it. ..

[@Devin_Dat_Dude]

I served onboard USS Bobhomme Richard (2006-2008). She was and still is my favorite ship. Good to see she was sent off with dignity and respect.

[@rgloria40]

So what happen to the "management" did they become corrupt, complacent or just inept? 2 billion dolllar and the addition cost does not come from thin air.....it comes from the immediate veterans.

[@jefflochner5972]

I'm glad her sailors and Reserve sailors worked so well together. It is sad we lost her. There could have been a much worse outcome had they not worked so well as a team. Many ships in the past have sunk or rolled over at berth, during an incident. There could have been a complete release of the fuel to the bay. In terms of a sad farewell, at least she stayed afloat without an environmental mishap beyond smoke.

[@F6FHellCat0013]

I got a USS Franklin vibe seeing the small but proud group of sailors just as the franklin did after surviving a Kamikaze

[@blackshirt4ever02]

I enjoyed the time I was aboard, BHR. Fair winds LHD6!

[@tarn1135]

I didn’t realize this ship was that old. Now it makes a lot more sense to decommission and scrap her. Still a shame that she went this way.

[@ghostfox8550]

The big thing is that it is estimated to cost ~$3.2 Billion to repair her while a new America class LHA would be ~$4 Billion to replace her.

[@tarn1135]

@@ghostfox8550 old rule of thumb is if the repair cost over a quarter of the cost of new always go for the new one.

[@darkmatter32x]

I served on this beauty for two tours. Re-enlisted twice onboard. I wish I was on that ceremony.

[@johnmarlin4661]

Served omboard CVA31 on Yankee Station 1967 as subdet VAW-13 .NFO rightseat on EA1F's . Watched CVA31 scrapped in San Pedro Calif.in 1992 . Got a day cruise on this one 2012 LHD6 . FLY NAVY !!! Fair winds and Following Sea's BHR !!

[@takaogibson845]

I remember the Essex, and Boxer at San Diego. Later came her to commission. My former Bosn got orders to go there. Brand Spankin New at the time.

[@chrishimes5656]

My last time underway was on BHR. A fine ship!

[@seraphinll2483]

I served on uss bonhomme richard from September 2017 to December 2020 and even though I didn't always love my time on board I will appreciate what I learned.

[@iplayfoofee3547]

Holy crap that color guard is on point xD.

[@leftboot83]

😂 🤣

[@JustTip922]

Right!

[@FrankC321]

Nice video and ceremony. Thank you for posting this. Semper Fi.

[@zuberishakir105]

It was an honor and privilege to have twice deployed with the 15th and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on the Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) in January 2000 and December 2001. Home away from home. Great memories! She will be missed.

[@ky1ebetts]

Had a blast on this ship when deployed as a Marine in 2007. Amazing boat to say the least.

[@robertevans8126]

R.I.P. USS BONHOMME RICHARD

[@1mc-show]

I was on her for the 2001-2002 for the beginning of Anaconda and OEF. Been on many LHAs and LHDs, the BHR was like home. Even as a Marine, I was treated like family. Got my Golden Shellback there too. 😊

[@ralphklene1357]

God bless you. Bonhomme Richard.. May you live on..

[@brianculham1180]

From 07 to 12....best command I ever served in. It was so gut wrenching to watch it go down. 😞

[@ThisDangOriginalDude1944]

Sail Away USS Bonhomme Richard, You will be remembered

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

that commanding officer should be kicked the F out the navy. it is truly unbelievable that he still has a job. extremely typical though i wouldn't expect anything different

[@jonboxleitner7354]

No one has been fired for losing 13 brave souls on the way out of Afghanistan and leaving billions in equipment behind. I feel bed for some of the clowns politicians that we the people have handed them as "civilian" leadership.

[@johntripp5159]

Farewell 'Bonnie Dick' I remember you in Vietnam, no one trod on you. An Aussie vet.

[@TheSalineman]

Final cruise sailor 1970 Vietnam. YANKEE Station. Thanks John for your kind words.

[@bathyprobe]

I'm assuming the USN doesn't normally conduct this ceremony entirely from the jetty?

[@sb75ification]

In hindsight, this is like watching a funeral for the ship and the careers of many.

[@xonious9031]

listen to bilge pumps podcast number 70 (it is on YT) it will show you that this stemmed from system wide problems... basically we have no functioning Navy

[@generalmax4252]

I worked on the BHR when it was in SD. So sorry it ended this way. From my point of view was all that work for nothing? I was blessed to have worked on the BHR so it wasn't for nothing, but i really wanted it to go out to sea where it belonged.

[@daleswalley7226]

Fair thee well Bonhomme Richard ⚓️🇺🇸

[@typhooonn]

what a beautiful scene.

[@abubetts1846]

My first ship

[@kimbruns2084]

How do you lose a ship this size sitting next to the pier? Was there no DC watch patrolling the ship? Was there no working fire stations aboard this ship?

[@leewright1209]

Never have I seen a navy warship lost like this next to the pier with so many bodies available (I've been through a major main space fire with a crew of less than 300)

[@abledog9462]

Always thought Nimitz would be the first ship I sailed on to decom. Sad day

[@GH-oi2jf]

An excellent, traditional rendering of the national anthem. I hope there will be another Bonhomme Richard soon.

[@xonious9031]

Nope- no one wants that- you may not be familiar with how much of a disgrace that name has become

[@navywoman7709]

Still hear the beautiful voice of the Sailor...❣️A real homage⚓️

[@calimadejj5362]

I was on her in 04' - 07'

[@GlenCychosz]

I am a plankowner.

[@shawnthompson3059]

So tragic to see her go

[@jamesricker3997]

If she was a newer ship she probably would have been repaired, that she was an older ship on her last refit. With the insurance settlement from the yard it was cheaper to construct a new ship rather than do a massive repair job

[@bigwrenchgarage1360]

2yrs to design repairs, 3yrs to do repairs. If wartime rushed 3yrs for a modern ship. 7 to 9 to design and build a new one and get into service. Toss up, unless emergency like now. Go with repair it while building another. Two different yards can go to work. Scrapped because 23 yrs old (30 if count designed and construct). It's a floating flight deck, better to have one to fly off asap than nothing! Harder for adversaries to fight against two ships than one. With many fire zones, electrical zones, and water tight areas it has; sure there's plenty of light to undamaged major spaces. Let's see the damage assessment.

[@duuurs]

STOP BUILDING WARSHIPS OUT OF ALUMINUM.

[@mikepoulin3020]

Majority of fire stations not working, 1MC not working? Damage control teams poor training and readiness...poor communication and coordination with shore-based fire departments, securing power to the entire ship especially AFF systems , too long a time before the fire was even found and fought... CO, XO and Engineering officers should have all been court martialed... CO must have had high ranking friends in the Pentagon to get away with this crap...

[@xonious9031]

they literally TEXTED the captain that there was a fire- A TEXT!! let that sink in... at which point the captain decided that it was the responsibility of the Federal fire fighters. No water on the fire for the first 2 hours?!?!? wow

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Hopefully a name ship gets honored soon to carry on the name.

[@NickGonsalves]

Sad to see her go, Plank owner of Big 5 USS Bataan

[@RichardsWorld]

We know the junior sailors do all the hard work, but here as usual, you see the officers in the spotlight.

[@foahsdarb]

Nice ceremony. I would have liked to see Capt Keith on the mic.

[@ronaldvero5232]

no women twerking ??

[@thefederalist9982]

I sincerely hope a member of her crew, or a member of the team tasked with performing upgrades and modifications, did not maliciously bring about her demise early in her career, for that would robbed all who served aboard her great discomfort and anguish. Don't Give Up The Ship!

[@JohnDoe29568]

i still believe it was an act of terrorism. as i was researching the fire as it had just finished, i learned that another Wasp class vessel had suffered a fire that was well handled and another fire on one of Gerald R Ford class carriers as she lay in dry dock. all 3 happened within about a week of each other. im sure fires on USN ships are common, but 3 carriers, 2 of the same class, and one with results so bad that she was decommissioned? i cannot think of that as merely a coincidence. i will forever remember the Bonhomme Richard as a victim of terrorism, i just hope it was not domestic terrorism. though i think it is VERY possible, there was a lot of social strife just starting at the time of the fire.

[@thefederalist9982]

@@JohnDoe29568 You may be right.

[@GH-oi2jf]

It wasn’t terrorism, but a seaman has been accused of setting the fire.

[@stltrekmodels.4157]

I was in the Navy when these ships were new. They are cutting up my beloved Kitty Hawk now, but she was over 45 years old, This gal could only be about 20ish.

[@heretoforeunknown]

Instead of spending many millions to tow it to a Texas Gulf port for scrapping, the USN should have towed it far out to sea and use it in a SINKEX in a PACRIM exercise.

[@sanjuanshoujo6319]

She caught fire on my birthday...

[@jackkrusberg3159]

A great Navy Day? A tragic day. After a $250M availability for F-35 upgrades, this ceremony did not even mention the loss of this vital capability going forward. The CO, responsible for the ship, got away with no punishment and allowed to retire.

[@manga12]

ah I did not know they would do this for the ship, I thought she or rather he was already decommissioned and in mothballs, when the fire happend I just assumed it was going to be towed to a naval yard and cut up, this is not just a laying to bed like some decommissionings I have seen bits of this was like a funeral how sad I know its just steel and bronze, but it has soo much meaning to those that called her home or releied on her or him to carry the operation out, just like a certain car or locomotive for us train fans , or a special old building to a region.

[@GH-oi2jf]

No, she was being refitted when she was set afire.

[@Lupinthe3rd.]

This ship maybe gone but there will be another to bear her name and when she does she will carry on and her opponents will tremble at her name because she is bonhomme Richard and she won't strike because she has not yet begun to fight!.

[@wddlaw]

Navy incompetence

[@xonious9031]

basically there is no functioning Navy

[@bigbigmurphy]

Around 7-8 years ago, when he was still the skipper of HSM-37, we were running group PT on Kbay, somewhere behind the base carwash, we ran passed an older navy guy, on his phone and walking, also in PT gear. Then CDR Thoroman, confronted this man for being in violation of the Base CO's directive(Can not be on the phone while in uniform while in motion). The old man looked at him and thought Mr. Thoroman was just a JO or some kind of Junior Enlisted. The old man told Mr. Thoroman to stay out of his business cuz he is a Chief. Oh lord, wish I was able to stop running and witness what happened next. But from what I gathered later, apparently Mr. Thoroman gave the CPO his name, rank and contact information, before asking the old man to have his CO give him a call if there were any confusions. LMAO !!!!

[@randbarrett8706]

Wow, I’d love to have ruffles played when I walked into a room

[@j.d.peppmeier9041]

A sad end for a proud warship ! - Army

[@danielthethird0949]

Our Navy officers in dress uniform make every other navy look inferior. God bless from Phx , Az

[@xonious9031]

They put more effort into this ceremony than they put into actually putting the fire out. After all remember all they did was text the captain that his ship was on fire and the captain decided it was the responsibility of the Federal fire fighters. Basically USA has no functioning Navy.

[@donkoh5738]

USN should have donated it to Philippines Navy to just simply anchor at will somewhere relevant as required ... perhaps retrofitted as basic offshore helicopter refuelling pad and maritime surveillance outpost. imho . at least something productive and useful ✌

[@mangothemagnet27]

The damage was too much, the hull had been buckled and the island had to be scrapped. The ship was also listing.

[@donkoh5738]

@@mangothemagnet27 go ahead, scrap the island - no problem with that. the listing part could have been propped up of course by simple rebalancing and the buckled bulkhead part would be irrelevant if re-purposed and retrofitted as said, as perhaps some sort of anchored, floating, helicopter dock and/or sea-based maritime surveillance and refuelling outpost within the EEZ somewhere beneficial. Better to re-use as some sustained useful strategic asset, rather than just scrapped for a cheap gain. Think more strategically with Naval war college hat on or something and less single-dimensionally , c'mon bro ; ) 👍

[@williampotts4404]

@@mangothemagnet27 DONT FORGET her keel

[@Googleaccount_2]

What an embarrassment

[@nhutpham5305]

Chào

[@goelnuma6527]

How depressing for this ship

[@rodericksumaway5441]

WARNING-base on d bibLe-all Government in the world will be destroyed N killed very neAr in ARMAGEDON, JehOvAh GOd Said that in DANIEL 2:44-45,sO, WOrship JehOvAh GOd fAther Of Jesus b4 it's too late because d end is very neAr, Jeremiah 25:33, mAthew 4:10! read

[@captainobvious9233]

Someone must be off their meds...

[@rodericksumaway5441]

@@captainobvious9233 sO, WOrship JehOvAh GOd fAther Of Jesus b4 it's too late because d end is very neAr Billion people died in ArmAgedOn,6.5billion,that d people WOrship sAtan d deviL,prOOf,read, Jeremiah 25:33read

[@captainobvious9233]

@@rodericksumaway5441 They end has been 'very near' countless times. Every time it never happend. What makes you so sure this time? Oh... and you should wake up and stop being held hostage my fictional stories (The Bible) It's not real. There is no god, there is no devil. Nutjobs like you are what are holding science back.

[@rodericksumaway5441]

@@captainobvious9233 NO,I said read that scripture in your Bible tO knOw that point,I'm very very sure, check the sign,read pleAse,mAthew 24:3-14, you'll see many sign that happen up to nOw stArt 1914-2021,it's up tO U, if you believe or nOt,or if u Will WOrship JehOvAh or nOt, JehOvAh GOd nOt needed U,it's A sTrOnG-WARNING in the world!

[@TheKMG365]

Sad.

[@nhutpham5305]

☆☆☆☆☆ Fleet

[@nhutpham5305]

Canada London Toronto buffalo new York state California state Switzerland country west point military base camping military base officer

[@stephendoing2253]

A epic failure by the Navy! The loss of a billion+ $ ship,not to an enemy, but to Incompetence!

[@nhutpham5305]

World war civil world war 1 marine corps navy ☆☆☆☆☆ Fleet

[@craigt5990]

So woke/stupid/politically “correct”. Wearing masks outdoors. I am a “decorated” Vietnam Veteran, our military is becoming embarrassing

[@weaoponpoweron2778]

You don't know you weren't there.

[@nickrod9526]

+Craig, it's all psychological. Programming at its finest!!!!

[@fasteddievids]

lmao sit

[@davidperry970]

What a waste and disgrace. Total loss from fire while at home?

[@tonalharmony9266]

Sadly, she may well have been done in by one of her own crew.

[@lc3763]

3.2 Billion estimate to repair the ship, The fire was careless human error !

[@brianrochman1443]

Why is he saluting with his left hand?😂

[@randbarrett8706]

Wow, I’d love to have ruffles played when I walked into a room

[@nhutpham5305]

Chào