Dwight Eisenhower (CVN 69) - Naval Cruise Book

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IKE'S HISTGRY Construction of USS DWIGHT D. EISEN- HOWER ICVN-69I, the third nuclear carrier ever built, was authorized by Congress in Fiscal Year 1970. Construction continued for the next five years, and on October 11, 1975, IKE was christened and launched by the ship's sponsor, the late Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower. Work continued, and in mid-April 1977 the precommissioning crew moved aboard ship. On July 15, 1977, IKE was officially placed ln Service and was recognized as a sea-duty command, and later that month went on Builder's Sea Trials. On October 18, 1977, all the work of the precommissioning crew culminated in lKE's commissioning, where-by DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER officially became a United States Ship and achieved special status in international law by her placement into active service in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In the following month IKE departed Norfolk for training at Guantanomo Bay, Cuba, and after the Christmas holidays, traveled to the Roosevelt Roads operating area. On March 17, 1978, IKE proclaimed United States, arriving , and President Jimmy Carter emerged from an SH-3 helicopter for a tour of the ship and to view a Combined Weapons Training Exercise.

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After a three month post shakedown availability, IKE went back to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Roosevelt Roads operating area for more training. In January, 1979 IKE departed Norfolk for her first extended cruise, to the Mediterranean. The six month cruise saw port visits to Naples, Athens, Haifa, Venice, Livorno, and Lisbon, before returning in July, 1979. After a four month inport period for stand down and repairs, workups began again in November, 1979. November also brought the news that IKE had won the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Efficiency Award for best overall carrier in the Atlantic Fleet, along with six departmental awards. A month later, IKE received the Admiral Flatley Aviation Safety Award. January, 1980 brought another trip to GITMO and February and March saw the continuation of Type Training in the Roosevelt Roads operating area and the announcement that IKE would deploy in April to relieve USS NIMITZ on Gonzo Station in the Arabian Sea. On December 22, 1980, IKE returned home from a record setting Indian Ocean deployment with her second consecutive COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Efficiency Award for best overall carrier in the Atlantic Fleet, along with another six departmental awards. The year 1981 found USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER moored at pier 12, Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia, for a much needed rest for the ship and crew. In late January, IKE entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, for work necessitated by the 1980 Indian Ocean Deployment. IKE departed the shipyard for sea trials in mid-IVlay and finished the month undergoing Fleet Carrier Qualifications. After a brief in-port stay, IKE once again got underway, this time for a pleasant at-sea period which included many fathers and sons of IKE crewmembers who were able to witness Carrier Qualifications and other operations. IKE finished the month of June involved with Refresher Training and TYT I 81 ll in the Puerto Rican Operational Area. g 2 July, 1981 saw IKE sailing into the picturesque Caribbean port of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands for a much appreciated port call. This tiny island also served as the backdrop for an impressive change- of-command ceremony in which Captain J.H. Mauldin, USN, turned over command of USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER to Captain Edward W. Clexton, Jr., USN. Captain Clexton was the first Executive Officer of IKE during her pre- commissioning, two years of construction, outfitting and training, and for a year of operational employment. 'Ti' g 1- -