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“USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) departed Yokosuka, Japan (NAF Atsugi, Japan) 10 February 2005, for a scheduled Winter Underway period in the Western Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, and the East and South China Seas, on her 14th deployment in foreign waters as a forward deployed carrier participating in Exercise Foal Eagle ‘05, conducting operational and training exercises to include carrier landing qualifications to provide the pilots with refresher training to ensure currency in their flight qualifications, a joint and combined exercise annual Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration, and Foal Eagle (RSOI/FE) 2005 exercises with Republic of Korea and U.S. forces, and continued training for ship and air wing personnel working on strike leader training and limited air-to-air training proficiency sorties while performing surface surveillance coordination missions to support the exercise. she will under go her 37th deployment since her commission 29 April 1961” (Ref. 1-Kitty Hawk, 72, 76, 331, 349, 460 to 465 to 476 & 473).

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) Strike Group is the largest carrier strike group in the Navy and is composed of Carrier Air Wing 5; Carrier Group 5 and Destroyer Squadron 15.

"On 28 March 2005, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and Carrier Air Wing CVW-5 arrived Yokosuka Japan (NAF Atsugi, Japan), ending her scheduled Winter Underway period in the Western Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, and the East and South China Seas, her 14th deployment in foreign waters as a forward deployed carrier, following an eventful seven-week (46-days), Kitty Hawk and CVW-5 performed many operational and training exercises to include carrier landing qualifications to provide the pilots with refresher training to ensure currency in their flight qualifications, and during the short transit down to the Okinawa Op-Area (operating area), training, or bombing proficiency, on targets at Oki Daito Jima (ODJ), were conducted, during which time an F/A- 18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 was involved in an Mishap/accident on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk approximately 100 miles southeast of Yokosuka, Japan on 29 January 2005 at approximately 6:30 p.m., Japan Standard Time, recovering two pilots safely, injuring six crewmembers, resulting in two search and rescue (SAR) swimmers being honored by Rear Adm. James D. Kelly, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5, and Capt. Tom Parker, Kitty Hawk’s commanding officer on 30 January 2005 (Rescue of Pilots a Triumph for All). Welcoming Capt. Jeffrey C. Amick, Kitty Hawk’s new executive officer (XO), assuming his duties as XO on 13 February 2005, after serving on the staff of U.S. 2nd Fleet, as the air operations officer for both 2nd Fleet and Striking Fleet Atlantic from January 2004 to February 2005, bringing a wealth of experience, knowledge and training, just in time for the annual Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration, and Foal Eagle (RSOI/FE) 2005 joint and combined exercises with Republic of Korea and U.S. forces, and continued training for ship and air wing personnel working on strike leader training and limited air-to-air training proficiency sorties while performing surface surveillance coordination missions to support the exercise. The time-honored naval tradition of a Change of Command ceremony aboard Kitty Hawk at sea by the “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-136 was conducted on 17 February 2005, bidding a formal farewell to Cmdr. Patrick J. Bohan, departing commanding officer, and welcomed the promotion of Cmdr. John F. Meier from executive officer to commanding officer with a ceremony in Kitty Hawk’s foc’sle. Multicultural committee celebrations of Kitty Hawk’s first African-American history event, forming in January was conducted in the foc’sle on 19 February 2005, with Capt. J.C. Amick, Kitty Hawk’s executive officer, giving the closing remarks and spoke of individuality and of being part of a forward-deployed command. Underway in the Western Pacific from 13 to 24 February 2005, Kitty Hawk launched its liberty boats to Hong Kong’s Fenwick Pier, on 25 February 2005 after nearly a year, during which time Capt. Thomas Parker, commanding officer of Kitty Hawk, along with Capt. Joseph Aucoin, commander CVW-5, and Capt. Sam Perez, the embarked commodore for DESRON 15, met with several community and business leaders, during which time members of the task force completed seven community service projects, assisting four orphanages, a community center, a seminary and loading Tsunami relief supplies, departing on 1 March 2005, ending a four-day eventful Hong Kong Visit from 25 to 28 February 2005, Kitty Hawk was underway in the South China Sea from 1 to 2 March 2005, during which time CVW-5 performed strike missions, concentrating on strike leader qualifications and basic bombing proficiency on the ODJ targets. A second time-honored naval tradition of a Change of Command ceremony took place aboard Kitty Hawk at sea during an aircraft fly-by with the squadron’s old and new commanding officers of the “Royal Maces” of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-27 on 3 March 2005, bidding a formal farewell to Cmdr. James Bynum, commanding officer, and welcomed Cmdr. Kevin Mannix, VFA-27’s executive officer, as the squadrons new CO, which was witnessed from the flight deck of Kitty Hawk by ship and Carrier Air Wing CVW-5 Sailors, while the fly-by featured F/A-18E Super Hornets flown by Bynum and Mannix, and an F/A-18F flown by Capt. Joseph Aucoin, CVW-5 commanding officer, and Cmdr. Scott Fisher, VFA-102’s executive officer. Underway in the Philippines Sea from 3 to 8 March 2005 and the East China Sea from 9 to 13 March 2005, Kitty Hawk arrived in Busan, Republic of Korea on 14 March 2005 for a port visit on the anniversary of Kitty Hawk’s previous visit in March 2004 with Carrier Air Wing CVW-5 and elements of the carrier’s strike group, during which many Sailors took advantage of opportunities to help the local community and experience a foreign culture, departing Busan, Republic of Korea on 17 March 2005 after a three-day visit from 14 to 17 March 2005. After departing Korea, preparations were underway for Kitty Hawk and CVW-5 to participate in the annual Reception, Staging, Onward Movement & Integration, and Foal Eagle 2005 (RSOI/FE 05) exercises, featuring Republic of Korea and U.S. military forces, enhancing combat readiness of Korean and U.S. supporting forces through combined and joint training demonstrating U.S. commitment to the Korea/U.S. alliance, and continued training for ship and air wing personnel working on strike leader training and limited air-to-air training proficiency sorties while performing surface surveillance coordination missions to support the exercise, during which time Kitty Hawk took part in a gift exchange with Russian Vishnya-class AGI Ship Kurily (CCB 208) at sea on 20 March 20005, after both ships Captains agreed to initiate the gesture of goodwill after Kurily’s commanding officer agreed to move his ship so as not to interfere with Kitty Hawk and Carrier Air Wing CVW-5’s practice air demonstration, since Kurily had moved slightly too close for Kitty Hawk to safely conduct the air operations while participating in the annual Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration, and Foal Eagle (RSOI/FE) 2005 exercises. This is a combined/joint exercise conducted annually involving forces from both the United States and Republic of Korea. Underway in the Sea of Japan from 18 to 25 March 2005 and the Western Pacific from 26 to 27 March 2005. Her 37th deployment ended (10 February to 28 March 2005), since her commission 29 April 1961” (Ref. 1-Kitty Hawk, 72, 84A, & 349).

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) Official U. S. Navy http://www.kittyhawk.navy.mil

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) News http://www.news.navy.mil/local/cv63

USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group Story Archive http://www.news.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=111 and http://www.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=118

Focus on Carrier Group Five/USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group http://www.navy.mil/local/cg5

USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group Photo Gallery http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/63.htm

Current Aircraft Carrier Location - http://www.gonavy.jp/CVLocation.html
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U. S. Navy Veteran
August 1977 to July 1983

Yoeman Second Class,
with student pilot's license