Dwight Eisenhower (CVN 69) - Naval Cruise Book

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I I I I , I l l 1 1 INTRODUCTION On july I7, I995, USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER QCVN 69D entered Newport News Shipyard and Dry Dock Company, in Newport News, Virginia, for a scheduled 24 month complex overhaul. The mighty aircraft carrier's four 2 I foot, 22,000 pound, bronze propellers were an awesome sight to behold as water was purged from ship way if I I where she was berthed. Like a fish out of water, the ship seemed lifeless and abandoned in a massive industrial graveyard. I8 months later and six months ahead of schedule, IKE emerged from the shipyards reborn. The carrier was encased in a new coat of haze gray paint, the four bronze screws shined like newly minted coins, and numerous technological upgrades had been installed. No longer was the gigantic vessel a fish out of water, she was a United States Naval Ship at sea. It was a cold, windy, and cloudy day in earlyjanuary, I 992 when IKE left Newport News for initial sea trials. Admiral Frank Bowman, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion was embarked to observe the evolution and commented on the crew's professionalism and teamwork. During the three-day at sea period, IKES propulsion plants were certified, high speed rudder throws were practiced, and Close-In-Weapons-Systems QCIWSJ mounts were tested, among the many other drills that were performed to prove the ship was sea worthy. On the outside the carrier looked new and well preserved. But, the more dramatic and interesting stories lay beneath her decks and inside her hull. It's the men and women, officer and enlisted, that breathed new life into the 20-plus year old naval vessel as she set sail from Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia time and time again to ensure she would be ready for a deployment in the summer of I998. Many of the Sailors had not been in the Navy very long and their only experiences to date had been of a ship in industrial overhaul. They looked at our Navy with a new set of eyes. Their wonderment, excitement, teamwork, and achievements are some of the things this book will document. Herein these pages a story unfolds of how a crew of more than 3,000 strong brought a seemingly lifeless vessel from the bowels of the industrial environment of the shipyards to once again sail the seas in support of our nation's interests. Each page is filled with information documenting IKE's achievements during the I6 months from shipyard departure to deployment on june I0, I998. The book is meant to be informational. Each department's contributions will be highlighted, staff and air wing embarkation will be chronicled, and each of IKE's divisions will be depicted. Not only will the faces of Sailors appear on its pages, their job specific contributions will be explained, as will the mighty ship's capabilities themselves. This book is for the Sailors that man the flight deck and bridge, who work the machine shops and mess decks, the men and women who perform administrative and public affairs duties, and who fight the ship from combat watch stations, repair lockers, and as members of damage control parties. This book is for the aircrews that fly into harm's way and the ground support personnel that keep them flying. This book is for the Sailors that participated in the... ' 3 1 l