George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM(AW NAC) James Vaughn COMMANDING OFFICER CDR Mark Huber EXECUTIVE OFFICER CDR Michael Sheahan Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Seven was originally established in April 1956 at Naval AirStation Norfolk, VA, for the mission of harbor defense. HS-7 was later assigned the role of Anti-Submarine Warfare in support of fleet units. HS-7 served on board the USS VALLEY FORGE (CVS 45) while flying the Sikorsky HSS-1 helicopter. The squadron was disestablished on May 31,1966 but later re-established at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rl, on December 15, 1969.During the 1970’s the HS-7 SHAMROCKS “Shamrocks” being the squadron's original name-deployed to a variety of locations, including the coast of Vietnam and the Mediterranean Sea. In 1973 HS-7 joinedCarrler Air Wing THREE, changed homeports to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL, and transitioned to the venera- ble SH-3H SEA KING helicopter. From 1981 to 1993, the Shamrocks deployed numeroust- imes on board the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), to include deployments in support of OperationsDESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. In December 1993 the Shamrocks and Carrier Air Wing THREE shifted to the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). In 1994 the Shamrocks became the first HS squadron on the East Coast to be assigned female Sailors and Officers. In September 1994 HS-7tasked to support “IKE” and the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division off the coast of Haiti during Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. Later that same year HS-7 supported the IKE CVW 3 team in the Adriatic Sea during Op- erations DENY FLIGHT and PROVIDE PROMISE. After returning from deployment in 1995, the Shamrocks retired the Navy’s last carrier-based SH-3H helicopters and transitioned to the Sikorsky SH-60F and HH-60H. The squadron completed its first deployment fly- ingthese new aircraft from the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) in May 1997.