USS George Washington (CVN-73)
History of the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier
The USS George Washington was ordered for the U.S. Navy on December 27, 1982. Her keel was laid down by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News in Virginia on August 25, 1986. She was launched on July 21, 1990 and commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia on July 4, 1992.
For her maiden deployment in 1994, USS George Washington served as the backdrop for the 50th anniversary of D-Day celebrations. On her second deployment in 1996, she hosted a meeting of the Joint Military Commission consisting of military leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aircraft carrier took part in Operation Decisive Endeavor and then in Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq.
From October 1997 until April 1998, the USS George Washington served as the cornerstone of the American military force in the Persian Gulf and was important in the negotiations to convince Iraq to allow United Nations weapons inspectors in. The aircraft carrier spent the last half of 2000 back in the Persian Gulf, in the Mediterranean and in the Indian Ocean. She supported Operation Southern Watch and helped enforce UN sanctions against Iraq. After the Yugoslavian presidential elections, her battle group provided a stabilizing presence in the Adriatic.
USS George Washington entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia for a six-month overhaul on February 13, 2001. Her yard work was completed at the end of July. On September 6, she was awarded the 2000 Battenberg Cup, her second win. She also received the Flatley Award. When terrorists attacked the United States five days later, the aircraft carrier was conducting carrier qualifications off the coast of Virginia. She headed north to New York City to provide airspace defense in coordination with NORAD. From there, she returned home to Norfolk for training and carrier qualifications.
In June 2002, the USS George Washington headed to the North Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. She hosted a flight deck concert by the band 3 Doors Down in October, footage of which was used in the music video for the band’s song “When I’m Gone.”
The USS George Washington received another Battenberg Cup in June 2003. On September 11 of the same year, a flight deck accident involving an arresting wire injured 11 crew members who had to be medically evacuated from the ship. The aircraft carrier took part in more training exercises before her next deployment.
As part of the military “surge” in 2004, USS George Washington got underway for the Persian Gulf on January 20. In addition to lending her support to Operation Vigilant Resolve, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, she made port visits in Crete, the United Arab Emirates and Italy before returning home in July.
After an 11 month overhaul in Newport News, Virginia, the USS George Washington returned home to Norfolk. It was then announced that she would replace the USS Kitty Hawk at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, the first nuclear-powered surface ship to become permanently stationed outside of the United States mainland. She departed Norfolk on April 4, 2006 for the Caribbean. Her commanding officer was promoted to Rear Admiral on September 1 before she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul in preparation for her transfer to Japan.
USS George Washington left Norfolk on April 7, 2008 and sailed around South America for transit to Yokosuka. Along the way, a fire on the ship injured 37 sailors and required repair work at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California. The aircraft carrier finally arrived at Yokosuka on September 25.
The use of asbestos was common in shipbuilding components for much of the 20th Century because of its resistance to heat, fire, water and corrosion. Because of their asbestos exposure onboard ship and in the shipyards, seaman, shipyard workers and longshoreman are at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma .
Sources include:
John Hedley-Whyte and Debra R Milamed, "Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences," Ulster Med. J. 77(3):191-200 (Sep 2008) The Official Homepage of the USS George Washington (CVN-73)
