Robert "Ski" Siesputowski is on a mission.

The Summit Hill native is trying to save the USS Independence, a decommissioned Naval aircraft carrier tagged for dismantling in 2015.

The reason Siesputowski is determined to save this particular ship from becoming only a memory is because he was part of the ship's first crew, having served as a second class radarman from 1959 to 1960.

"I know there are a lot of people in Pennsylvania who were on that ship," Siesputowski said, explaining he feels it should be brought to Philadelphia where it could become a floating museum.

"Just the name itself, 'Independence' should say it belongs here in Pennsylvania," he said, adding it fits right in with the signing of the Declaration of Independence over 200 years ago.

Discovering ship's fate

Siesputowski found out about his ship's fate earlier this year when he saw the USS Saratoga was being dismantled. Siesputowski also served on the Saratoga.

After that he decided to start a campaign to save the Independence from its grim fate.

He wrote letters to various media outlets, as well as the area's state representatives and senators and congressmen.

On Aug. 4, he received a response from United States Sen. Patrick Toomey, who submitted an inquiry on Siesputowski's behalf to the United States Navy.

Navy responds

Toomey provided Siesputowski with a copy of the Navy's response, written by E. Rory O'Connor, director of the office of corporate communications.

In it, O'Connor said, "The USS Independence (CV 62) was decommissioned on Sept. 25, 1998 and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on March 8, 2004 with a final disposition of dismantling ... (it) has been extensively stripped of equipment."

O'Connor noted there are already two ex-Navy museum ships in Philadelphia, including the USS Olympia and USS Becuna.

"The Navy only donates ships for museum use to states and nonprofit organizations that have the financial capacity and berthing location to maintain the ships indefinitely," O'Connor wrote. "Neither a state nor a nonprofit organization has expressed interest in saving the ex-USS Independence since it was decommissioned 15 years ago.

"Furthermore, establishing the ship as a museum in Philadelphia would adversely impact the economic viability of the existing three museum ships located in proximity."

Not giving up

Siesputowski disagrees with O'Connor's statement regarding the adverse impacts on the other ships already docked at the Independence Seaport Museum.

He said the Independence is large enough to create quite a tourist attraction. It could include a number of restaurants and displays the other ships couldn't handle because of its massive size.

But, Siesputowski is also up against the clock with his battle.

"I don't have much time," he said, adding he plans to continue pursuing his mission.

He is asking fellow servicemen and women who served on the Independence, as well as anyone who believes in his cause to write letters to Gov. Tom Corbett and contact state and federal representatives and senators.

"Even if I don't save it I got to try," Siesputowski said. "This ship belongs in Philadelphia."