USS Douglas H. Fox Boiler Room Fire - 1968

September 9, 1968 Fire Broke-out 325 Miles Southeast Of Charleston En-route To Vietnam

These are excerpts from the Evening Post newspaper account. "Cmdr. W.J. Aston, Commanding Officer of the Fox said that full details would only be known after the Board of Investigation hearing was completed." Joseph Licata, BM3, of Leroy, NY was quoted as saying "Rinaldi had a hand torch and was putting it into an aperture of the boiler, when there was a great whoosh and a flame leapt about 40 feet clean across the room. Duren was behind the boiler making soundings and must have been overcome by the heat and gas. Burkhalter was behind Rinaldi." Licata received first and second degree burns. Stephen L. Ketter, BM3 of Portsmouth , OH, who suffered a bruised back said "I was on a catwalk on the upper level when I saw the flame pass right under me . Then something hit me in the back and bowled me over. The smoke was unbelievable. Luckily we were at general quarters so when someone got to the hatch and called out, the fire control team came on the double and pulled us out." The casualties were brought brought back to port by the Destroyer Corry which raced full speed through relatively quiet waters to bring them home, while the Fox returned to Charleston under her own power.

At the FOX reunion in Baton Rouge October 2002, John Hobbs of Hookstown, PA gave the following personal account of this unfortunate incident.

"We were second day out heading for Vietnam. Just after lunch, we had gone to general quarters. We had been practicing war games 50 miles off the coast of Charleston. We had just concluded a drill of a fire in the boiler room. The fire hoses were sitting on the deck charged and ready, and we were just sitting around on the deck shooting the bull and waiting for the next exercise. We never knew what it was going to be."

We were running at that time on Number 4 Boiler and were getting ready to switch the load to Number 3, when something happened down there; an oil line ruptured. It was under 350 pounds of pressure. I was sitting in the forward fire room when the call came. 'BRAVO 3, FIRE; THIS IS NOT A DRILL!' I went topside and saw black smoke rolling out of both sides midship. I was the 'oil king' which meant I was responsible for refueling and moving the oil around in the ship to keep it level in the water and that type of thing. So I very quickly isolated Bravo 3, the oil going into it. There was a quick trip valve on the deck and we shut it off. I dropped down into Bravo 4 and shut down an entire series of manifold valves going to Bravo 3. All of this happened in a matter of seconds.

When I got back on deck, the men from Bravo 3 had opened the hatch and scrambled up on deck. Billy Burkhalter, BT2 from Columbus, MS, was on fire. There was a cook there who had a water hose, and he just turned around and turned the water hose on him. All his clothes had been burned off. The only things he had on were his shoes. He died three days later. He and I had been playing cards just before all this happened. He had a baby daughter who was maybe two or three weeks old. Robert Rinaldi, BT1, from Taylor, MI died soon after from smoke inhalation, as did Ralph Duran, FA, from Philadelphia who had only been on the ship a week or two. Rinaldi was behind the boiler, and nobody knows what he was trying to do, but maybe he was trying to get down to the bilges where there was water and he could have dropped under it, but he didn't make it. The boiler had gauges that were covered with glass maybe one inch thick, and all this glass was just melted, the heat was that intense. It was incredible when we went down afterwards to see the destruction. In addition to the three who died five others were injured, which included Jerome Davis, FA from Flushing , NY, Robert Dandrow, Hopkins, MI, Stephen L. Ketter, BM3 of Portsmouth, OH, Daniel Russ, BM2 of Green Bay, WI, and Joseph Licata BM3, Leroy, NY.

A lot of people did a lot of things right that day. The damage control parties were fantastic. Chief Distlerath, BTC was in Bravo 1, and neither of his boilers were on line. He lit off one of his boilers and brought it on line while we still had steam pressure. Had he not done that, we would have really been in trouble. Had all of the steam pressure been lost, we wouldn't have had water pressure to fight the fire. We'd have had nothing. Normally it takes two to three hours to bring one of those things up to speed, because you want to heat them up very slowly. In a matter of two or three minutes he had this thing up and on line. Probably broke every rule in the book, but he saved so many lives by doing that. It was a tragedy, but at the same time, a lot of people did a lot of things right. We were fighting for our lives, because with a fire at sea, you have no place to go." As recounted October 2002 by John Hobbs, Hookstown, PA, at the Fox reunion in Baton Rouge, to Willie Oliver.

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Subject: RE: boiler room fire
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004
From: Joe Sczyrek
To: 'Bill Oliver' , racer@forcomm.net, saltysam@bellsouth.net, brewer@shawe.com, ike779@earthlink.net, mike_ferguson@juno.com, plumbfish1@aol.com, seab@vnet.net, taroell@msn.com, jschaefers@northallegheny.org, ussfox@webtv.net, "Sczyrek, Joe" , fsds65@aol.com, gstrike@fccwaupaca.org, ddt830@aol.com, wrightd14@comcast.net, joeythez@att.net

Bill,

Thank you for passing this on. I was at GQ in Bravo 4 when the fire broke out. I remember shutting down the after engines and hosing down the forward bulkhead to keep the paint from igniting in the after engine room. I think about those lost shipmates often, particularly Ralph Duran because I checked him in aboard the Fox while on Quarterdeck Watch, as he just arrived from Boot Camp, and showed him to his quarters. Little did I know that in about two weeks, he would be lost.

Jocco

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Oliver [mailto:billoliver@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004
To: racer@forcomm.net; saltysam@bellsouth.net; brewer@shawe.com; ike779@earthlink.net; mike_ferguson@juno.com; plumbfish1@aol.com; seab@vnet.net; taroell@msn.com; jschaefers@northallegheny.org; ussfox@webtv.net; jsczyrek@seligmandata.com; fsds65@aol.com; gstrike@fccwaupaca.org; ddt830@aol.com; wrightd14@comcast.net; joeythez@att.net
Subject: Fw: boiler room fire

This is addressed to everyone on my list whose dates include 1968. I hope someone will respond to Doc Harter's message. If you do please copy me. If you haven't looked at the website it is www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd779

Regards,

Bill Oliver

----- Original Message -----
From: Doc To: billoliver@bellsouth.net ; steve_roberts73@hotmail.com
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004
Subject: boiler room fire

Bill,

I just happened across this site on the destroyers on line website. I found the account of the boiler room fire in Sept '68, something I have been trying to find details of for many years.

I was serving on your sister ship at the time, USS Robert L. Wilson (DD-847) when the explosion happened. The HM1 and I were hi-lifted to the Fox to render what aid we could to the victims of that tragedy. One of the men died in my arms...burned over more than 90% of his body...quite an ordeal for at the ripe old age of 20. I also remember working on Billy Burkhalter, BT2, although I surely didn't know his name at the time.

I guess I just wanted you and your shipmates to know that someone else remembers those brave souls who were lost in that fire.

Thank you for your time,

Doc Harter

Doc USS Robert L. Wilson (DD-847)'68-'69 2nd Bat 1st Mar 1st Mar Div '69-'70 http://www.wavv-ks.com

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February 03, 2004 10:05 AM
From: Doc Harter
To: Bill Oliver
Subject: Fox Boiler-room Fire

Bill,

Attached is the photo Photo I was telling you about. In the foreground back to camera is Capt. St. Lawrence. I am receiving the Commendation from him, and on my right is James Taylor HM1. Some of the ship's company in the background were snipes who also received Commendations for their assistance in the boiler room clean up. I don't know if this is something you want or need. But it's yours to use if you feel it will help others.

Doc

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Other Letters Received Concerning the Fire and "Doc" Harter's Message of Jan. 17, 2004

March 10, 2004 4:47 PM
From: Carl Burkhalter, UNK Operations,
To: Bill Oliver
Subject: Bill Burkhalter

Dear Mr. Oliver,

I was sitting here at work today and out of the blue had this urge to look up info on the U.S.S. Douglas H. Fox, and to my surprise I found a web page full of info I have never known, about my brother (Bill Burkhalter), and the accident that took his life some 36 years ago. I was 5 years old, and remember having sailors carry me around and buy me candy while at the Naval Hospital in Charleston, and going to several Memorial Services at the chapel. I have never forgotten those Men.

But what really struck me was an excerpt from an email that had been sent to you by "Doc Harter", concerning how he had helped my brother after the accident. Do you know how to get in touch with this gentleman?

Carl N. Burkhalter AO1 (AW)

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March 11, 2004 9:58
From: Bill Oliver
To: Carl Burkhalter
Cc: Doc Harter, Gary Strike, Joe Sczyrek, John Hobbs
Subject: Bill Burkhalter

Dear Carl,

It's good you've found us. Your brother has a special place in the hearts of all Fox sailors, and so do all of his family. He isn't and won't be forgotten. Doc Harter's address is shown above, as are the addresses of Joe "Jocko" Sczyrek, Gary Strike and John Hobbs, who were aboard with your brother Bill. I've attached an application for Association membership and invite you to send it in. This will give you a permanent connection to the Fox.

March 11, 2004 1:11 PM
From: Carl Burkhalter,
To: Bill Oliver
Subject: Bill Burkhalter

Mr. Oliver & Fox Sailors,

I live in Fort Worth Texas and work at NAS Ft. Worth Station Weapons as an Aviation Ordnanceman where I currently serve as the LPO for the Weapons Div, and hope to make CPO this year. I have been in the Navy for the past 18 years, have lived and traveled all over the world, having been a Naval Aircrewman for most of that time. It was my encounter back in 1968 with sailors of the Fox that caused me to want to be a Sailor when I grew up. They were all so nice, took care of and looked out for me while in Charleston even though many of them were in great pain themselves. I was 5 years old, and have never, and will never forget that. I will also pass this email on to my father who at age 81 has never forgotten Bills death. You can always tell when Bills birthday or the anniversary of the accident rolls around, because my father just isn't himself on those dates. However your kind words about Bill will lift his sprits greatly. Thank you so much for your response and kind words.

God Bless You All,

Carl N. Burkhalter AO1(AW)

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March 11, 2004 12:43 P.M.
From: Gary Strike,
To: Carl Burkhalter
Subject: Bill Burkhalter

Carl,

What a blessing it was for me to read your note to Bill Oliver. You touched my heart today. That is a day no "Foxman" who was aboard will ever forget. I was relatively new to the Fox at the time...fairly fresh out of boot-camp and quite scared by what was happening. Though I didn't know Bill personally as we were in different divisions, we all experienced the loss and grief that followed in the days, weeks, and months to come. After our tour in Vietnam your brother and the other losses were honored in our cruise-book, which I still have. There were many heroes aboard the Fox that day, revealed by the way they went down and fought the fires. Later, I will never forget men sitting around the Fox's deck crying by what they had just experienced. I specifically remember John Hobbs as one of them. I am (still) sorry for your loss. May the LORD bless you richly.

Pastor Gary L. Strike
Faith Community Church
Waupaca, Wisconsin

O God, we give glory to You all day long and constantly praise Your name (Psalm 44:8)

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March 11, 2004 1:25 PM
From: C. Jordan
To: Bill Oliver
Subject: Boiler Fire '68

I was checking to see what other information you might have ! I was reading the notes on www.destroyersonline.com about the boiler fire and the crew members that died (my half-brother sent me the web site & told me to read it). Billy Burkhalter was my step-brother and was a half-brother to my half-brother. I was only 18 at the time and my brother was about 6. I remember it very well, but never knew a lot about what actually happened. I haven't thought about it in a long time but after reading this, it just all came back. There was a friend of Billy's that came home with his body but I can't remember his name. I'm sure my step-father remembers. Just wanted to know any information that other people from the ship might know.

Thanks,

C. Jordan

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December 09, 2004 6:48 PM
From: Dennis Bass PSNS,
To: Bill Oliver
Subject: USS DOUGLAS H. FOX

Bill,

I was sitting here looking at this letter of commendation I got from our CO along with about 13 others from USS Robert L. Wilson. It concerns the boiler room fire on USS Fox in 1968. I also saw the email from "Doc Harter". I was Scene Leader, Repair 5 on Wilson. I recall us arriving at the Fox by small boat. I was at the interior hatch first in line pulling up a stokes with a victim and the rope burned thru and the stokes released. I remember that day well. After all was calm the XO asked for someone to go down and take a temp reading. We were on deck having oranges and liquid. I went down with this huge hand held thermometer. The air temp was over 200 degrees. I remember seeing the victims. I went down to the lower level and behind the boiler on the deck plate was a pair of shoes and a green notebook. I opened the book and there was a family picture. It was very tough. I was very surprised to see this web site after all these years of wondering exactly who it was that lost their life that day. I still work for the Navy as a civilian in the Engineering Division at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton WA. I would appreciate any other info you may have.

Take care,

Dennis Bass
SFM2, U.S.S. Robert L. Wilson (DD 847)
1966-69