Robert "Ski" Siesputowski is a man on a mission.

The Summit Hill native is trying to save the USS Independence, a decommissioned Naval aircraft carrier that has been tagged for dismantling in 2015.Siesputowski is determined to save the ship from becoming only a memory 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 that 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 that it fits right in with the signing of the Declaration of Independence over 200 years ago.Discovering Independence's fateSiesputowski 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 try and save the Independence from a 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.The Navy respondsToomey 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 said there are already two ex-Navy museum ships in Philadelphia, 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 upSiesputowski disagrees with O'Connor's statement regarding the adverse impacts on the other ships already docked at the Independence Seaport Museum.He said that the Independence is large enough to create quite a tourist attraction. It could include a number of restaurants and displays that 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 that 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 gotta try," Siesputowski said. "This ship belongs in Philadelphia."

About the USS Independence:The USS Independence is a 56,300-ton Forrestal class aircraft carrier built by the United States Navy in the 1950s. The CVA-62 was built at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York, and commissioned on Jan. 10, 1959, as the fourth and last ship in the class. About the ship:• Measures 1,069 feet in length; with a 270-foot wide flight deck that held approximately 85 planes and 2,700 crewmembers.• Fifth United States Navy ship to bear the name "Independence."• From August 1960 to February 1961, the Independence made the first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea for duty with the Sixth Fleet.• In October-November 1962 participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis operations in the Caribbean.• In 1965 became the first Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier to conduct Vietnam War combat operations.• Stationed in the Mediterranean during the Yom Kippur War between Israel and several Arab nations.• From 1974 to 1984, Independence took part in deployments in the Indian Ocean; as well as in combat operations to liberate the island of Grenada.• In 1985, following final Mediterranean cruise, the Independence entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for extensive reconstruction.• Deployed to the Western Pacific in July 1990 and continued on to the Persian Gulf for support during Operation "Desert Shield."• Decommissioned on Sept. 30, 1998, serving a total of 39 years, nine months and 20 days of active service.• Was moved into "mothballs" in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, where the ship was stripped to help support active carriers in the Kitty Hawk class.• In April 2004, the U.S. Navy identified Independence, because of the poor condition, as one of 24 decommissioned ships available to be sunk for artificial reefs.• In December 2010, the Navy decided to scrap the ship instead. It is earmarked for dismantling in 2015.SOURCE: The Department of the Navy