WATERS SOUTH OF JAPAN – Sailors aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) conducted a burial-at-sea, Nov. 28.
Capt. Bo Gottfrid Lindfors was laid to rest by Sailors as his son, Capt. Eric Lindfors, observed the ceremony, which took place in waters south of Japan and had an attendance of more than 100 Ronald Reagan Sailors who paid their respects.
“The U.S. Navy has a long history of burials-at-sea,” said Cmdr. Joseph Coffey, Ronald Reagan’s command chaplain. “Prayers are said for the deceased, a eulogy is read and when the cremains or weighted casket containing the body of the deceased is reverently lowered to the sea, a 21-gun salute is fired and taps is played.”
According to Coffey, it is not typical for family to be present during burials-at-sea because of the nature and location of the ceremony.
“The ceremony was perfect,” said Capt. Lindfors. “I can’t say thanks enough to all who were involved. My father was a plank owner on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and spent the majority of his career on nuclear aircraft carriers, including his last sea tour. This was very special to our family knowing how much he loved this class of ship.”
Lindfors left Finland and the cold war behind at the age of six when he and his parents sailed to start a new life in America. He had to learn English, become a U.S. citizen, complete 12 years of schooling and qualify for the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1967. Twenty-six years of active duty naval service followed. From resupplying boats in Vietnam, showing the American flag in the Arabian Sea during the Iranian hostage crisis and deploying near the coast of Lebanon during the time of the Marine barracks bombing, Lindfors spent 18 years at sea.
“Captain Lindfors’ father had a long distinguished naval career,” said Coffey. “For Captain Lindfors to be present for his dad’s committal service, as a fellow Navy officer, wearing dress blues, saluting his dad’s cremains as they were lowered into the sea was incredibly special.”
Ronald Reagan and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.