Independence (CV 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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From the beginning . . .

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her outstanding performance during that period INDEPEN- DENCE was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. Following a short yard period in 1966, INDEPENDENCE hosted the carrier suitability tests for the Navy ' s first vertical take-off and landing aircraft. In 1970. INDEPENDENCE was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her performance in Jordanian contin- gency operations. The ship hosted the change of command events for 2nd Fleet in August 1971, and a month later, crossed the Arctic Circle, making each crew member an official Bluen- ose. INDY ' S 150.000th arrested landing occurred in February 1972, shortly after the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, visited the ship. In 1973, President Richard M. Nixon delivered his annual Armed Forces Day address from INDEPENDENCE. In 1977, after INDY ' s 12th Mediterranean deployment, it began a lengthy complex overhaul. The work lasted for nine months and cost over $90-million. The ship was awarded its first Navy Expeditionary Medal in 1980 for her performance in Iran Afghanistan contingency operations. During that deployment, INDEPENDENCE made the first carrier south-to-north transit of the Suez Canal after the canal ' s reopening. INDEPENDENCE made two more deployments, one to the Indian Ocean, and one to the Mediterranean. The Navy Expedi- tionary Medal was awarded to the ship in 1982 for its work with the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon. The year 1983 was the most exciting for the crew and her air wing. In Operation Urgent Fury, the ship participated in the assault of Grenada, and the combined INDY and USS JOHN F. KENNEDY carrier battle group air strike against Syrian targets in Lebanon proved the ship ready to carry out its mission on short notice. INDEPENDENCE ' S 25th Anniversary year. 1984. began with one Mediterranean deployment and ended with another. The ship was awarded its third Navy Expeditionary Medal, and its second Navy Unit Commendation as result of the year ' s work. The following year, INDEPENDENCE was rewarded for her con- sistent outstanding performance by earning the Atlantic FTeet ' s Battle Efficiency Award for the 18-month competitive period. It was the ship ' s first such award. In 1985, INDY entered Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to be- gin the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). The program consists of three phases — fleet modernization, ship ' s life-en- hancing alterations, and repair and replacement. The SLEP is truly a cross between new construction and comprehensive overhaul. Having completed SLEP in 1988, INDEPENDENCE will now serve the United States of America well into the 21st century.

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Before Operation Desert Shie] ii