October 4, 200619 yr From Navy Times October 04, 2006 Carrier George H.W. Bush to be christened Saturday By William H. McMichael Staff writer NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — President George W. Bush will deliver the principal address at the christening of the aircraft carrier bearing the name of his father, President George H.W. Bush, during a Saturday ceremony at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The former president, his wife Barbara and their daughter, Doro Bush Koch, will attend the event. Koch, who serves as the ship’s sponsor, will perform the time-honored tradition of breaking a bottle of wine across the bow to formally christen the ship. George H.W. Bush, the nation’s 41st president, was a World War II aviator who joined the Navy on his 18th birthday and earned his commission and wings before he turned 19. Bush flew the Avenger torpedo bomber. During an attack on enemy installations in 1944, his plane was struck by enemy fire, yet he completed a strafing run on the target before bailing out. He parachuted into the sea and was later rescued by the submarine Finback. Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals for his Navy service. Bush went on to serve two terms as a Texas congressman, as ambassador to the United Nations, chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to China, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and two terms as vice president under President Reagan before his election in 1988 as president. The George H.W. Bush is the last of the Nimitz-class carriers and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in late 2008, according to the shipyard. The 10 a.m. ceremony is open to the public.
October 4, 200619 yr Will we ever get away from naming capital ships after politicians, let alone while they are still alive? Too bad I already know the answer.
October 6, 200619 yr Author I agree with you, Pete, and I've heard many express the same sentiment. I have to admit that I have a weakness for the USS Ronald Reagan, but the move to name carriers after living Presidents is a step further in the wrong direction.
October 6, 200619 yr How about the naming them after polititions who even some of the most astute people would have a hard time identifying with. "Carl Vinson"?, "John C. Stennis"? My bad...simple google searches provided http://www.stennis.gov/senatorpage.htm states he was considered the father of the modern US Navy, and http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodi...l?index=V000105 describing these two politicians, however neither of which instill any of the impact that a majestic battle, campaign, historic ship, "concept" or even a strong president - Saratoga, Lexington, Midway, Hornet, Enterprise, Independence, America, Teddy Roosevelt to name a few. I don't have a problem with former presidents who may have had a positive impact on national defense issues either as president or an actual participant - therefore George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Nimitz, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman (although as a Marine, I have some issues with him, hehe), Ronald Reagan. I hope to high heaven that there will never be a Clinton - neither William J. nor Hillary Rodham
October 6, 200619 yr Right on Pete, the only compelling reason to become a British colony again would be sane ship names!
October 7, 200619 yr There is an interesting sidebar article beginning on Page 30 of the September 2006 issue of Proceedings, titled Misnaming Aircraft Carriers by Norman Polmar. I do not believe that an online copy is available however.
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