Forrestal (CVA 59) - Naval Cruise Book

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The weather in Mayport had been sunny the entire weekend before departure day. But by Monday, April 25th, it seemed like the climate took a turn to reflect the emotions running through FOR- RESTAL crewmembers and their families. The long awai- ted deployment was about to become reality. A gray, rainy, overcast sky hung overhead for FORRESTAL ' s afternoon departure from Charlie Two Pier. Tension was intensified due to the Navy ' s escalated role in the Persian Gulf several days earlier. The question whether the carrier would depart prior to the scheduled Monday afternoon was very real. But the unanticipated ear- ly good-bye never materialized. Preparations for the six-month deployment began months earlier. Training exercises, refresher training, and carrier qualifications all brought the crew and the air wing up to speed. The arrival of the air wing in Mayport during the first days of April and the increased tempo of stores on- load signalled that the time to depart was almost there. With the final farewells said from a damp pier, FOR- RESTAL was pulled from the pier and turned seaward by six tug boats to begin her six month voyage. HELLO DEPLOYMENT 21

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April 25, 1 988 GOOD-BYE MAYPORT 20

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3R(»»r: r ' r -iMEv t BE STRONG AND ' TwoNTee I I 22