After thirty-nine years of naval service, USS Independence (CV 62)
will hold her decommissioning ceremony Sept. 30, at the Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. The Honorable John H. Dalton,
Secretary of the Navy, will be the guest speaker in the ceremony
which is to include the transfer of the First Navy Jack, also known
as the "Don't Tread on Me" jack. The honor of flying the First Navy
Jack is held by the Navy's oldest continuous active-duty ship.
USS Independence was commissioned as a "Forrestal Class" attack
aircraft carrier (CVA 62) at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard, New York,
on January 10, 1959. She is the fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name
"Independence".
After commissioning, "Freedom's Flagship" was on the cutting edge in
projecting naval air power and protecting U.S. national interests
around the globe. Called on by President John F. Kennedy during the
1962 Cuban missile crisis, Independence provided a strong, visible
reminder of U.S. determination and resolve while it acted as a key
participant in the U.S. naval blockade of Cuba.
In 1964, the ship deployed for more than seven months, including
100 days in the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam.
In 1973, President Richard M. Nixon delivered his annual
Armed Forces Day address from the decks of Independence.
While based in Norfolk, Virginia, the ship made deployments
to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.
In 1982, the ship provided critical support to the
multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
In 1983, aircraft from the embarked air wing flew missions in support
of Operation URGENT FURY, the action to liberate the Caribbean nation
of Grenada. Returning to Lebanon that same year, the ship's air wing
conducted air strikes against Syrian positions.
In June 1988, Independence completed the Service Life Extension Program
(SLEP) at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. It was fitting that the ship
should be rejuvenated in Philadelphia, home of the Revolutionary War's
"Liberty Bell" which is recognized worldwide as a symbol of liberty and
freedom. The "Liberty Bell" also serves as the ship's official seal.
Later in 1988, the ship transited the tip of South America
and arrived at her new homeport of San Diego, California.
In August 1990, with Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN embarked, Independence
was sent to deter Iraqi aggression during Operation DESERT SHIELD.
Indy was the first carrier to enter the Arabian Gulf since 1974.
The ship remained on station for more than 90 days and
permanently reestablished a U.S. Naval presence in the region.
Independence changed homeports again on September 11, 1991 - this time to
Yokosuka, Japan, embarking Carrier Air Wing FIVE and assuming the role
of the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and
flagship for Commander, Carrier Group FIVE.
The ship deployed to the Arabian Gulf in mid-1992 and started Operation
SOUTHERN WATCH, a multinational mission to monitor Iraqi compliance
with the U.N.-established "no-fly zone" below the 32nd parallel.
Independence became the oldest ship in the Navy's active fleet on June 30,
1995. With this distinction, "Freedom's Flagship" proudly displayed the
Revolution-era First Navy Jack, commonly called the "Don't Tread On Me"
jack from her bow. In the ceremony, the jack will be handed over to the
next oldest ship USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).
In November 1995, the Independence and Carrier Air Wing FIVE team
returned to Japan after successfully completing their third
deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of
Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.
In March 1996, Independence was called upon to provide a stabilizing
presence during heightened tensions between Taiwan and China.
Upon returning to Yokosuka in April 1996, the ship was visited by President
Bill Clinton as part of an official state visit to Japan.
In 1997, Independence made a four month deployment, covering several
major exercises and seven ports of call. Included in these ports of call
were two historic port visits. The first was February 28 to the island
territory of Guam. Indy was the first aircraft carrier to pull into
Guam in 36 years. The second, two months later, was to
Port Klang, Malaysia. Indy became the first aircraft
carrier in the world to make a port visit to Malaysia.
Before sailing back to Yokosuka, Japan, Independence made its last port
call of the deployment in May to Hong Kong. Indy's port visit was
the last U.S. Naval port visit to the territory before
its reversion to China on July 1, 1997.
Independence received a short notice deployment order and deployed to the
Arabian Gulf in January 1998 to support negotiations between the UN and
Iraq and to again participate in Operation Southern Watch.
On Sept. 30, Independence's commissioning pennant will be hauled down
39 years, 8 months and 20 days after it was first proudly hoisted.
Secretary Dalton will speak of Indy's mighty accomplishments through the
years just as Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke foretold of the
protection and service USS Independence would provide America
in his commissioning speech
Jan. 10, 1959.
The decommissioning ceremony for USS Independence will take place in
Bremerton, Washington on September 30, 1998. Plans are underway to
make this a fitting and memorable ceremony. If you're a previous
INDY crewmember and desire to attend the ceremony, please
Email Independence at adbank40@cv62.navy.mil
providing the following information:
NAME:
Mailing Address:
Dates assigned to INDY:
Rank/Rate when assigned:
All decommissioning ceremony invitees and their guests are invited to tour the
ship on September 29, from 2 - 6 p.m. This self-guided tour will allow you to
visit the Hangar Bay, Flight Deck, Bridge and one last look at Indy before
the ceremony that will bring thirty-nine years of Naval excellence to a
close. The ship will not be open for tours on Sept. 30.
Location: Pier Delta, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA
