NOTE: Names in Blue and Underlined, Are email addresses.
Graphics Outlined In Blue and Blue Underlined Text, Are Links To Other Pages
* to access - Click With Mouse *


Bremerton Pan by GOMER
Photo by Darrell "GOMER" Morgan M Div 70


All Colors Down
After Ceremony All Colors Down * 30 September 1998
Photo by Bill Stewart YN3

(click this photo to view next photo)


Flag

CVA62 * CV62
SITE SEARCH

ENTER:
NAME, DIVISION,
or SQUADRON, etc.

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POD
Plan Of The Day
Welcome Aboard - Click here
Welcome Aboard
The Declaration - Click here
The Declaration of the
INDEPENDENCE

Cruise Book Covers
Click here
1998 Final Cruise
1998 Final Cruise

Provided by Jamie Windemiller
Click Here For Reunion Association Pages
Indy Reunion Association

Denis Bagley President
(click here for info)
Click Here For Ship's Store
Ship's Store

Indy Reunion Association
(click here)
Click Here for INDY CLUB
USS Independence
Club on Yahoo

Hosted by: Earl Langley



USS INDEPENDENCE
STATUS INFORMATION
Provided by
N * V * R
click here

STRICKEN
To be disposed of,
type of disposal
not known.
Status Date
08 March 2004



click here
Shipmate Links

Click Here
USS Independence

CVL-22 Reunion Group
Click Here
USS Independence

LCS-2
Under Construction

CVS32 * CV32

click here
U.S.S. LEYTE


click here
Al Seguin

click here - for USN
click here - for USMC
click here - for navy news
Navy News

click here - Hull Number
Hull Number

SPECIAL THANKS !
For their help in developing
these Ship's Co. Pages

Leigh D. Allvord
M Div. * 1958-1960
Richard E. Binder
S3 Div. * 1974-1975
Michael Craven
A Div. 1962-1965
Dave Foley
"Sparrowhawk"
V0 Div. * 1980-1983
Earl D. Galloway
V1 Div. * 1960 - 1963
John L. Hedinger
RVAH-1 * 1964-1967
OZ Div. * 1970 - 1974
Harry B. Kidd
OP Div. 1969 - 1970
Pat Little
V2 Div. 1967 - 1971
OX Div. 1984 / 1985
Ron Phillips
CR Div. * 1977 - 1980
Stanley Richardson
RVAH-12 * 1971
Bill Sullens
V1 Div. * 1959 - 1963
Steve D. West
A Div. * 1976 - 1978


Cruise Books
These Cruise Books
have been donated to the
Independence Memorial Library
for use in developing this site


1959 Shake Down
Dave Foley
"Sparrow Hawk"
VO Division
1961 Med Cruise
Charles D. Arnold
OE Division
1965 WestPac Cruise
John L. Hedinger
RVAH-1
1966 / 1967 Med Cruise
John L. Hedinger
RVAH-1
1971 / 1972 Med Cruise
John Zieba
VAW-122
1974 / 1975 Med Cruise
Richard E. Binder
S-3 Division
1977 Med Cruise
Steve D. West
A Division



Computer
Special Thanks Also To
Ron Phillips
CR Div. * 1977 - 1980

For Upgrading My Old
Computer by Donating a
Dell Dimension 8100
Running XP professional


My Apologies
To those who have sent
their names and additional
information, that I have
not yet added.

This project has become
very large and though I
work on it almost every
day, it is impossible
for me to keep up.

I will continue to add the
names and information as
quickly as I can.

Thank You All
For Your Support
George Fetherman AN
V1 blue shirt then
Rep 8 red shirt
& hot suit man
1958 - 1960



df - click here
Dave Foley
SparrowHawk60@aol.com

Anyone out there with information
on any of my subject matter,
feel free to send me
additions and / or corrections.


To Contact Me
email gif
ussindependencecva62@gmail.com

Click Here

If you've ever been stationed
aboard the "Indy"
Ships Company, Air Group or
Marine Detachment

Let me know when you were
aboard so I can add you to
"Ships Company / Air Group /
Marine Detachment Pages".


Download Opera
mypgt
This Page Updated 12.10.08 gwf

THE DECOMMISSIONING CV-62

Crop of Bremerton Pan by GOMER
Photo by Darrell "GOMER" Morgan M Div 70


Don't Tread on Me

Independence Prepares for Decommissioning Ceremony

Story By: JO3 Joseph Rehana
email:pareha40@cv62.navy.mil
Date: September 17, 1998

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.


Invitation
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:


Map
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


Pass
Decommissioning Photo by James Morrissey
Decommissioning Photo by James Morrissey

Bremerton
Photo Collections  - click here



Nam


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