YNCM Dewey L. Alexander, USNR He was the finest man I have had the privilege to serve under. He was Ship's Secretary, in the Captain's Office when I met him in late October, 1962, and then, a Yeoman Master Chief Petty Officer. I served alongside him for two years, and he taught me how to wear my 'Sea Legs', and he taught me well. Sometime in January, after returning to CONUS, from WestPac, Chief Alexander received orders to Limited Duty Officer (LDO) school, and was detached from Hancock. I never saw him again, but fate had it otherwise, I was to HEAR about him later, after being separated from Active Duty myself. Sometime in 1967, when visiting my uncle who served in Oriskany, I was paging through his Cruise Book '66, and just casually was looking over the IN MEMORIAM pages, when I saw the name of my Chief at the top of the casualty list! He was then LTJG Dewey L. Alexander, having been commissioned O2 after graduating form LDO School. You have no idea how this news hit me at the time, I was totally in shock. I still am saddened to think of him losing his life that way, but he was a true blue Navy man to the core. Knowing him as I did, no one could dispute my thoughts about him. During your stay here at Jake's 'Yankee Station' - USS Hancock Memorial, please be mindful of this good Sailor, and his sacrifice, and know that this is the reason why I put this Website up, and will try my best to continue keeping it up till I, myself, go to meet him once again on the 'Other Side'. LTJG Alexander gave his life because he loved the Navy and his fellow shipmates. On October 26, 1966, while in Oriskany (CVA-34), he was killed while fighting to save his ship and those he served with from the terrible explosions and fire that swept through the ship that day. He was a true Sailor, and one I will never forget. His face and his passion for duty made an everlasting impression on my mind, that I will carry with me to the end of my days.. On February 24, 2008, I received an Email sent to this Website from his daughter Karen Lee Alexander - I had been hoping for many years to have a member of his family come forward and let me know their thoughts about this Website and the Dedication I made in LTJGf Dewey Alexander's honor. You can only imagine my reaction to hearing from Karen. Her words are below: Name: Karen Lee Alexander, Daughter of Dewey Lee Alexander 24 February 2008 "Dear Jake, My daughter Renee found your website a few years ago; I myself do not use a computer without assistance, hence my delay in correspondence. Speaking for my family, I wish to Thank-you deeply for the tribute that you have created for my Father. We were deeply moved by it, and proud to see your testimony. Although we have not been to the Wall yet; we have been to the traveling Wall twice. We also each have a copy of the book "FIRE On The Hangar Deck, Ordeal of the Oriskany". In the course of life, I have met many Men who have served on the Oriskany; but never met anyone who knew my Dad. Once again, I Thank you with all my heart and Bless you." Karen Lee Alexander LTJG Alexander, I want you to know that this Memorial is dedicated to you, and to your memory! May you always have Fair Winds and Following Seas! I hope that this Tribute hits home to all my visitors.. Thanks so much for remembering our Nation's Veterans. It is so important that our youth remember how their Freedoms were won, and never take them for granted. It is so important that we be mindful of this everyday. This is my final statement in this Tribute, as I wish that it impresses my visitors so that it never is forgotten... "This Web Site is dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives to preserve the ideals that we all hold so dear. Freedom is not Free. If we fail to protect and preserve it, we could lose it." - Jake "For those who fought for it... freedom has a flavor the protected will never know!" Jake Jaccard, YN3, USNR (Ret), Web Yeoman, USS Hancock CV/CVA-19 Memorial www.usshancockcv19.com Dewey Alexander with wife Marian Photo taken at an Officer's Ball LTJG Dewey Alexander with oldest son Steven - 1964 Dewey Alexander's five children L-R Jennifer, Robert, Steve, Karen and Eric These are Dewey's children who came to Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California to pay him their respects back in 1967. The Flag there next to his head stone reminds us of his sacrifice. It is a symbol of his dedication to our Country and his patriotism, wherein he gave his life to preserve those cherished freedoms, we all have come to enjoy, and often take for granted. Gazing at this peaceful setting, upon all those graves here, including LTJG ALEXANDER's, one remembers the great price many have paid so we can have the right to live Free in a Free country! The Above Head Stone reads as follows... DEWEY LEE ALEXANDER TEXAS LIEUTENANT JG US NAVY WORLD WAR II KOREA VIETNAM JANUARY 23, 1927 OCTOBER 26, 1966 In the belief that a heart, filled with love, knows no separation from those who live on in memory, these words, spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ, are inscribed here: "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that  a man lay down his life for his friends..." ~ John 15:12-13 We love you Dewey, we miss you, and always will. This single rose is a symbol of one's lasting Devotion, and I place it here, to show how much you are loved and truly missed by myself, and by those who knew and loved you. This Devotion can never end, as long as there are Roses to give one another, and loved ones to give them to. This Rose is laid here at this memorial to call Remembrance to the lives lost, but never forgotten; it signifies the Love and Devotion and National Gratitude for the Sacrifices which all the names on this Wall have made so that we Americans can live, sleep, work and play within Free and Safe Borders. ~ Jake ~ Light a Votive Candle for LTJG Dewey Lee Alexander - Leave a Tribute to this Fallen Hero - Visit the LTJG Dewey Alexander Votive Candle Tributes - These are Personal Remembrances & Tributes - Featured Comments by a visitor to this Page Thanks Jake for sharing this story. I didn't know your Hancock Website was dedicated to LTJG Dewey Alexander. This story has touched me deeply; it's brought tears to my old eyes and a little pain in my heart as it should. LTJG Dewey Alexander was MY shipmate. Do I remember him? No. did I ever see him on the Hancock? Can't really say for sure, but his face looks familiar. I was wayyyyyy below decks and he was wayyyyyy above. I like to think I saw him maybe on the quarterdeck, or passed him in a passageway. I was on the Hancock from 62-66 so in those years our paths must have surely crossed, but above all else we were shipmates. We steamed the same seas, ate the same food and trained men and prepared Hanna for what was to come. My heart goes out to LTJG Dewey Alexander's family. I too, lost my dad when I was only 5, so I know what they have been going through all these years. LTJG Dewey Alexander is a true patriot. He loved what he was doing; he was serving and protecting his country and his family and I know he was doing his duty the day he perished. So the next time the traveling wall gets close to where I live I'll do as I always do - take my grandkids to see it. We will etch the names we etch, only this time I'll tell them of the story of one of my shipmates and we will etch the name of LTJG Dewey Alexander on paper and they will ask me as they always do, why are you crying grandpa, and I'll answer as I always do, the tears of remembrance, mixed with a little pain and a little joy. Jake thank you for sharing this Page! I'm very touched and very moved by this. I didn't complete the '66 Vietnam cruise; I left Hanna in April. I was wondering if Hanna was with the Oriskany or was relieved by her? Oh one last thing: I also lost my dad in a fire. Albert Spratley, USS Hancock CVA-19, M Division 1962-1966 Joplin, MO Add your Comments here: View / Leave a Tribute in the Dedication Log LTJG Dewey L. Alexander's name is etched in the Black Granite on the WALL in Washington DC.. Rubbing at the Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial - The Wall - Database Loss Data Wall Database Information supplied by The Vietnam Casualty Search Page --- General / Personal --- DEWEY LEE ALEXANDER Navy - LTJG - O2 Age: 39 Race: Caucasian Sex: Male Date of Birth Jan 23, 1927 From: HOUSTON, TX Religion: PROTESTANT Marital Status: Married LTJG - O2 - Navy - Reserve Length of service 22 years Casualty was on Oct 26, 1966 In TONKIN GULF - NORTH VIETNAM NON-HOSTILE, SEA CASUALTY OTHER CAUSES Body was recovered Panel 11E - Line 106 USS Oriskany (CVA-34) Casualty Roster Gone, but not Forgotten Dewey Alexander is remembered in a Vigil at The Wall-USA Tribute Site Dewey Alexander is also remembered in our Taps Section Project Remembrance This Memorial is Placed here for all who go down to the sea in ships, and don't return. During my tour of duty aboard Hancock, I was made sadly aware of  fellow shipmates who lost  their  lives during the  performance of duty.  Such men as those brave  Pilots and Flight deck hands who lost their lives due to misadventure. Nowhere in our cruise book was it made mention of these lives lost to us; therefore, I wish to here remember these men who gave their lives, and who go forever unknown to most of us, but are not forgotten by their loved ones, who grieve for them, nor by our God who gave them life! Diane Mimnaugh Dye lost her brother David Mimnaugh while serving aboard the Hancock in 1974. She wrote a poem that remembers such casualties of peacetime or in freak accidents while in the course of doing their duty: - Diane Dye in memory of her brother David Mimnaugh, SN, USN - OI Division, 1974 Served We defended our country with great pride. We stood tall, even in danger, side by side. We are the men, in service, who have died. We gave our lives so that you may survive. We were the fathers, the brothers and the sons. We stood united, a brotherhood, joined as one. Remember those, who in death, before you have gone Serving this great nation, keeping it free and strong. We died serving our country, but not all in war. We gave our lives, would you expect any more? Remember us who unheralded, have moved on. Promise to keep the brotherhood united and strong. by Diane Dye in memory of her brother David Mimnaugh, SN, USN - OI Division, 1974 (c) 2004 - All Rights Reserved Submitted 12 January 2006 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (Aug 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975) and 2,594,000 served in the country of Vietnam and where  more than 58,202 never returned home. Dewey was one of them. See the Vietnam Statistics Page for more details Vietnam Service Ribbon takes you to the Vietnam Veterans Homepage This Website's Vietnam War Tribute Page Search for Vietnam Casualties on the Wall Database -You can search the WALL yourself Hancock Vietnam War Casualties The Navy Hymn A Sound Poem by Jake A Warrior's Affirmation On-Site Memorials Click here for Post-Re-commissioning Casualty List Please Participate in Project Remembrance Try to visit these Memorials while here and Think of those who gave their All. You will not be sorry! The above casualty Pages do not reflect the many who lost their lives while working the Ship during these periods, though the Yeoman is trying his best to gather this information and will post it when more is ascertained - it is so very imporant that we remember them and the Sacrifice they made - Lest we forget Return here by using BACK Button A Warrior's Affirmation