{EXCERPT} , By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer Posted : Monday Nov 2, 2009 6:46:19 EST

The fire aboard the carrier George Washington on May 22, 2008, cost the Navy $70 million in damages — and very nearly cost four sailors their lives.

Crew members fought for six hours to free four sailors trapped in an aviation fuel pumping room. Intense heat caused team after team to turn back after battling down the nearly vertical ladders in the trunk space that led to the pump room
deep within the hull.

Nearly a year and a hal

Naval Service Discussion/News/Info Exchange Forum
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/all-things-navy

Medals and Awards Discussion/News/Info Exchange Forum
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/military-medals

Military Medal Issue Regulations
http://www.amervets.com/replacement/isr.htm

        U.S. and friendly nation laws prohibit fully
        reproducing copyrighted material. In abidance
        with our laws this report cannot be provided in
        its entirety. However, you can read it in full
        today at the supplied URL. The subject/content of
        this report is not necessarily the viewpoint of
        the distributing Library. This report is provided
        for your information and discussion.

-- Otis Willie (Ret.)
   Military News and Information Editor (http://www.13105320634.com)
   The American War Library, Est. 1988 (http://www.amervets.com)
   16907 Brighton Avenue
   Gardena CA 90247
   1-310-532-0634