USS Kennedy Stands Down

In May of 1967, Caroline Kennedy at the age of nine, along with her mother Jacqueline Kennedy christened the warship bearing her father's name at Newport News, Virginia. And the following year, the USS Kennedy began its illustrious career.

Yesterday on March 23rd, 2007 in Mayport, Florida as guns resounded and row after row of sailors in dress blue uniforms stood silently by, covering the decks, the aircraft carrier nicknamed "Big John" finally stood down, eighteen months short of 40 years of service. The Kennedy's last commanding officer, Captain Todd Zecchin called it a "bittersweet day".

A large screen displayed the American flag as speaker after speaker invoked some of the words made famous by John Kennedy, including the line from his 1961 inauguration speech: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

The USS Kennedy was originally designated as a CVA-67, which was an air combat ship, but that was changed to a CV marking the fact that it was capable of anti-submarine warfare. Even though it was ordered as a nuclear carrier with an A3W reactor, it was converted to fossil fuel after construction began. The Kennedy was one of only two remaining conventional powered Navy aircraft carriers, with angled funnels to direct smoke and gas away from the flight deck.

During the 70's, "Big John" spent most of her time in the Mediterranean. The 80's carried her through times in the Indian Ocean, and twelve other deployments overseas. Then she became the flagship for the Red Sea Battle Force and saw duty in both wars in Iraq, Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in June of 2004. She also saw duty in February of 2002 as she moved into the North Arabian Sea during Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Kennedy has been base in Florida since 1995 as a training platform for Navy pilot landing qualification. But that was suspended last year because of faulty landing equipment.

The carrier will get a tow to Philadelphia for its tour of inactive status. Parts of the warship, specifically the in-port cabin that was designed by Jacqueline Kennedy, will find a home at the Navy museum. That cabin is known for being the only room on a navy ship that has wood paneling and it also has a picture of President Kennedy sailing with his daughter, Caroline.

Sources: Carrier USS Kennedy Decommissioned By RON WORD AP
Wikipedia - USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)