USS Carl Vinson Visits Hawaii

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 arrived in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled port visit, May 15.

Vinson is currently in transition to its homeport in San Diego following a successful six-month deployment to the Pacific and Middle East areas of responsibility supporting maritime theatre security operations in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleets.

“The dedication demonstrated by every Sailor up and down the chain of command was the key factor in accomplishing every mission objective for our time in the 5th and 7th Fleets,” said USS Carl Vinson Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. Whalen. “With our return to 3rd Fleet, our focus may have changed, but our mission-ready mindset continues.”

Vinson served as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group 1, under control of Rear Adm. T. K. Shannon, which also consisted of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1 guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), guided-missile destroyer USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and CVW 17.

Carl Vinson was greeted at the pier by family and friends of Sailors on board. The family members prepared to embark for a traditional “tiger cruise,” in which the family members will be allowed to accompany their Sailors for their trip back to their homeport of San Diego.

“As soon as I heard the ship was off island I began to cry,” said Jean Teo-Gibney, whose son was aboard Vinson. “It’s just so wonderful having him back. I just want to thank all the men and women in the military and all the families that make sacrifices so we can enjoy the things here in America.”

The carriers and their air wings are never scheduled to operate alone, but are the center of a carrier battle group that consists of cruisers, destroyers, frigates and submarines which safeguard the carrier and each other.

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Naval Today Staff , May 18, 2012