Dwight Eisenhower (CVN 69) - Naval Cruise Book

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Returning to Naval Station Nor- folk Virginia in late July IKE got ready to participate in the largest NATO joint sea exercise the world had seen in 25 years of maritime history. Soon Magic Sword - Ocean Venture - Ocean Safari became synonomous with USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER During these NATO exercises IKE made visits to Lisbon Portugal and Portsmouth England where her impressive size and well-mannered crew acted as true ambassadors of the Navy the United States and her people on foreign shores. IKE again returned home to Norfolk Virginia and her families proud of the participation and recogni- tion. After nearly a month in home port IKE set out for another great test - Operational Readiness Exercises in the Caribbean. During this short deploy- ment USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER again distinguished herself by repeated successful planned exercises with the USS JOHN F KENNEDY ICV 671 Two-carrier operations became the plan of the day and IKE again proved the great reliability of the aircraft carrier and Air Wing. 1: L31 ,Ffim 1-1.25 .1., Following an enjoyable port visit in Bridgetown Barbados IKE and CVW-7 completed the Operational Readiness Exercise. IKE again returned to Nor- folk Virginia in time for an appreciated holiday period and to get ready for yet another challenge - Deployment to the Mediterranean in support of SIXTH Fleet Operations During 1981 USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER continued to distinguish herself as the greatest aircraft carrier in history by earning the coveted COMNAVAIRLANT Battle E for the third consecutive year. Additionally the following departments in IKE won awards for excellence in their respec- tive fields' Operations IGreen EI, Engineering IRed EI Weapons IBIack WI, Supply IBlue EJ Damage Control IRed DCI and Deck ISeamanship lnsignial. On January 5 1982 IKE along with CVW-7, departed Norfolk for her second six month deployment to the Mediterranean. IKE relieved USS NIMITZ and became the flagship for Rear Admiral James E. Service, Commander Task Force Sixty. Follow- ing a month of operational exercises at sea, IKE anchored in the Bay of Naples for twelve days of crew liberty. The ship next visited Tangier, Morocco for four days of sightseeing and crew liberty following nine days of operational exercises. IKE's next port visit was to Haifa, Israel, where IKE crewmen traveled to the inspiring cities of Nazareth, Beth- lehem, and Jerusalem. Athens, Greece provided a pictur- esque seven day port call in March. Following a visit to Alexandria Egypt and her second visit to Naples IKE joined in to participate in the multinational NATO Exercise Distant Drum . The exercise provided training for naval amphibious and land based air forces placing heavy emphasis on sea control Once again the men and officers of IKE and embarked Airwing SEVEN proved their great mission capability, and high state of readiness. Following a final visit in Naples IKE became the first nuclear powered warship to call on the tiny principality of Monaco. It was here that crewmen were treated to the beaches of Monaco and near-by Cannes and Nice France IKEs final deployment port call was at the island of Pa ma Spain. 2,3 594252: . 5 5 5 5 5 . . 5 7 7 5 5 . ' I 5 5 5 5 5 1 ll , . 5 I5 5 5 5 5 5 5 , . . . . . . . I 5 ll 55 5 , . 5 5 1 5 5 5 5 5 Tragedy struck IKE and all were effected when on April 4, the wreckage of Mamie , IKE's C-1A logistics aircraft was located on a mountainside near Souda Bay, Crete. 11 IKE passengers and crewmen perished. j ' V .,.l ' ,V Ia, I 5 li5l5l 5 , if I I I I f 'F I if I I ,I I x ., I I ar-IIA I I-'girl I I ,. , PQI, . 5 I . !If I I III' I if II-'fir255?Lv'IX2sefIsLIrIili II II I I I I II ttf I I:'iIit-SIQQIIQIEII ,sfttwwif .II Il II II II,IIwiftff' .IfII I I I I QI-.1 .f ?'vflYt.l.'QI'iflb'rC555I1-It.rl1Y5-wilwhv I Ir' I I -IRQ I, I to I I' I , I III a-I,.3wae,,w ww-.1.-Iwgif-,Iv II ' I II- II III' . im-s:IsLrIMII2-II.-fIa.et1fII f. IIIIII iv- 'Ill rip 'QI W t II., ' ,, ' , I I I who I . I I KI, I, I. M II. .Is ' I' IILII. lwysj I. .. - , I j rgwfjaltegtvfi C IIIIIIQQSFI . - T I ff I Iy,,jiI Y ' I 'S 5 7 :TQ I , ' 'WN ' W It I f f - I I1 I if I I I I I xgsuui 635513, I k ., 49- . QI Ha g L vim S , , P325 f -xx-fl Y wvtjxxt M If, in I -K rf K I f vtiiit Ig, X -ffl ,fjiitiIQ'ElV A Iwmfft 5, ' I., z lift W WI I V' F W if f:x1iiIIQ,i:tI?II I' e Wk' , agfxgrtf 'irjji I W Wwe Q D if :HF n I ' I it if 0 sim ig?,gIj,If,IIglIiw 9 52 Xfwkistj SM Q .M ivqerijif I IQ, I I i ,gghtuwqm 30 X I :ij M. Q, I if I II as A Aiwa ,I I tj IA, I , f V It ii: x ' I ll I , I ijmi jaw W NE I -I I MQ Ijji D .III 1 , .

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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- -

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