America (CV 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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UNITED STATES SHIP CV-66 1984

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i You must know that AMERICA is a proud ship manned by a proud crew who serve a country dedicated to the ideals of freedom and peace. That our ship bears the same name as the country we serve adds a special meaning to the accom- plishments we have recorded during the cruise revisited in this book. We have roamed the seas from Norfolk, Virginia to the Indian Ocean and back again. Our odyssey has led us into the Gulf of Mexico (Ocean Venture ' 84), through the Carib- bean (Caracas, Venezuela), across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean (Malaga, Spain), a dash to the Suez Canal (4 June), through the Red Sea and the Straits of the Bab el Mandeb then into the Indian Ocean and up into the North Arabian Sea (10 June — 25 August). After battling the elements brought on by the infamous Southwest Monsoon, participation in Beacon Flash and Mul- tiplex, we retraced our steps back through the Suez Canal (2 September) and into the Mediterranean Sea for visits to Naples, Monaco and Catania. Operations in the Med includ- ed participation in Display Determination, a multinational exercise spanning three weeks. Together with our NATO allies we sailed from west of Corsica to the Aegean Sea conducting offensive and defensive operations across the spectrum of Naval Warfare. We then turned over to the USS EISENHOWER in Augusta Bay, Sicily prior to heading west toward home. As we passed through the Straits of Gibralter many smiles creased the sweat stained faces of our hard working crew. They were, are and should be proud of their many accomplishments over the six months we spent operating in support of the SIXTH and SEVENTH Fleets. While this book is a pictorial of our adventures and accu- rately portrays the ship ' s life, it cannot begin to capture the indomitable spirit, tremendous pride, zest for life and in- credible capacity for work which was so abundantly evident throughout our cruise. I ' ve often stated that AMERICA is similar to her sisterships insofar as configuration and size are concerned. But what makes her a special ship is the very special breed of men who breathe life into this giant of the sea; they give her personality. Their enthusiasm is reflected more in how we do our job than in what we do. It is indeed rare to be associated with the men of this great ship; to have served as their Commanding Officer defies description. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. To the men whose faces fill the pages of this book, and to those of you at home whose moral support and love were our nourishment, I express my deepest admiration, sincere appreciation and utmost respect. God Bless AMERICA. PRESS ON M i w.