Aircraft Carrier Named the USS George H.W. Bush Commissioned

[Terminator]

NORFOLK, Va. — It's the perfect gift for an old Navy flier: 1,092 feet of flattop.
"What do you give a guy who has been blessed and has just about everything he has ever needed?" asked President George W. Bush from aboard the Navy's newest ship. "Well, an aircraft carrier."
The USS George H.W. Bush, a steel-gray vessel longer than three football fields and built at a cost of $6.2 billion, was commissioned Saturday with its namesake, the 41st president, and other members of the Bush family on hand for the ceremonies at Naval Station Norfolk.
Adorned for the day with red, white and blue bunting, the USS George H.W. Bush is one of the Nimitz class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the largest warships in the world.
"The ship that bears our dad's name is more than 95,000 tons of aluminum and steel," Bush said from a podium tucked under the flight deck. "She will carry nearly 6,000 of the finest sailors and Marines in the world. She represents the craftsmanship of many skilled builders, and thousands of hours of preparation."
Bush, who took his last scheduled flight aboard Air Force One to get to Norfolk, added: "Laura and I are thrilled to be here to help commission an awesome ship and to honor an awesome man."
It was the ultimate honor for former President George H.W. Bush, a decorated World War II pilot.
The former president recalled the day 65 years ago in Philadelphia when he attended the commissioning of the USS San Jacinto, a light carrier on which he served during the war. It was during that trip, he said, that he gave his fiancee, Barbara, an engagement ring.
"I thought that the San Jac was by far the biggest ship, or anything else, I'd ever seen," said the elder Bush, comparing it to the massive aircraft carrier, spit and polished for its unveiling. He marveled at its 4.5-acre landing field, a tower that reaches 20 stories above the waterline and its 1,400 telephones.
Speaking to the sailors preparing to serve on the new ship, his voice quavering at times with emotion, the former president said: "I wish I was sitting right out there with you, ready to start the adventures of my naval aviation career all over."
Bush, 84, joined the Navy on June 12, 1942, his 18th birthday and six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During the war he flew torpedo bombers off the USS San Jacinto. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals for his service.
On a mission over the Pacific in September 1944, Bush's plane crashed into the ocean after being hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire. The future president parachuted into the sea and was rescued by a Navy submarine. He returned to combat and served until the end of the war.
The Nimitz class of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was first launched in 1972. The USS George H.W. Bush is the 10th and final vessel of its type.
A bronze statue on its hangar bay deck depicts the former president as a youthful, smiling pilot in his flight suit. On an upper deck, a "tribute room" presents Bush's life from his days in the Navy to his four years in the White House.
No other former president has visited a carrier named after him. Ronald Reagan was the first living ex-president to have a carrier named in his honor, but he was unable to visit the vessel before he died.
Doro Bush Koch, the president's sister and ship's sponsor, had the honor of bringing the carrier to service, calling out: "Man our ship. Bring her to life." With that, hundreds of sailors charged up gangplanks as a band played "Anchors Aweigh," the song of the Navy.
Four F-18s flew overhead, followed by a solo World War II torpedo bomber similar to the one the elder Bush flew during the war.
The president's daughters, Jenna Hager and Barbara Bush, and Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, were among the throng of attendees. Also on hand were Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

[Skyy]

Maybe we should paint little red and white circles on all of the crew members? At least they'd blend in with the ship.

[Xiphos]

Maybe we should paint little red and white circles on all of the crew members? At least they'd blend in with the ship.

Whaaaat???

[Skyy]

Let's be honest, if you were a terrorist or some foreign country not exactly happy with the US (I can't count those with all of my appendages), would there be a better symbol to take out?

Luckily it will have the resources to defend itself, and maybe go on a slight offensive (Ok a big offensive).

[Xiphos]

Terrorists will attack targets of opportunity (USS Cole) and any American war ship will do. I doubt any would suddenly stop an attack because they read "USS Jimmy Carter" on the mast.

[Ryan]

Let's be honest, if you were a terrorist or some foreign country not exactly happy with the US (I can't count those with all of my appendages), would there be a better symbol to take out?

Luckily it will have the resources to defend itself, and maybe go on a slight offensive (Ok a big offensive).

Do you actually read what you type and think, "Hell yeah, that's exactly what I want to say"?

[Skyy]

Yah, that's pretty much exactly what I meant for the statement to say. Because if it wasn't, I would have said something different. That is logical, right?

[countybear]

Maybe we should paint little red and white circles on all of the crew members? At least they'd blend in with the ship.

Speaking as someone with a long history of military service in my family, not to mention someone with a family member currently in the service, I find your post highly objectionable. If you are here to create problems, I have a very quick solution for you.

Yah, that's pretty much exactly what I meant for the statement to say. Because if it wasn't, I would have said something different. That is logical, right?

... and I just said exactly what I meant to as well. So tell us... are you a troll or just very ill-mannered?

Godspeed the men and women of the George H.W. Bush.

[MacLean]

Let's be honest, if you were a terrorist or some foreign country not exactly happy with the US (I can't count those with all of my appendages), would there be a better symbol to take out?

Luckily it will have the resources to defend itself, and maybe go on a slight offensive (Ok a big offensive).

Speaking as a military specialist in the protection of assets, I can tell you an aircraft carrier has the means to protect itself.

I learned about this by attending a school along side my navy counterparts, but it is public information and not hard to come by.

If there is a terrorist organization with the stones to take down a carrier, you have far more serious issues to worry about.

[Norm357]

Let's be honest, if you were a terrorist or some foreign country not exactly happy with the US (I can't count those with all of my appendages), would there be a better symbol to take out?

Luckily it will have the resources to defend itself, and maybe go on a slight offensive (Ok a big offensive).

You are an ass.

[Skyy]

Speaking as someone with a long history of military service in my family, not to mention someone with a family member currently in the service, I find your post highly objectionable. If you are here to create problems, I have a very quick solution for you.

... and I just said exactly what I meant to as well. So tell us... are you a troll or just very ill-mannered?

Godspeed the men and women of the George H.W. Bush.

What's objectionable about it? If you took that as a threat, I'm not sure what to say. But trust me, I have not the means, desire, or any of the other things required to try and blow up a US Aircraft Carrier. I'm way too patriotic for that. Simply pointing it out that naming it how they did is making it an international target.

Speaking as a military specialist in the protection of assets, I can tell you an aircraft carrier has the means to protect itself.

I learned about this by attending a school along side my navy counterparts, but it is public information and not hard to come by.

If there is a terrorist organization with the stones to take down a carrier, you have far more serious issues to worry about.

I trust it does, I was being slightly sarcastic when I said it might. If there's one thing I trust Mr. Bush to do, it's arming the military to the highest extent.

I'm convinced there are hundreds. Remember, there are criminals with the stones to try and kill cops. Not exactly the smartest thing to do, but they do it.

You are all looking too far into my post. I'm simply stating that naming it as such is making it a huge target. Think of the symbolism that'd go along with an attack on that ship. It'd make 9/11 look like an ant hill. I truly do hope those men and women realize this, and put that ship's security absolutely paramount. Not for the ship. Not for the administration it represents. But for the country it represents, and the people on board.

[MacLean]

You're a little new and a little young to pull off sarcasm successfully.

Would you care to explain why President Bush should not ensure that the military is armed to the teeth?

It also may interest you to know that the name of the ship was chosen well before 9/11 - the carrier was ordered in January of 2001.

[Skyy]

Would you care to explain why President Bush should not ensure that the military is armed to the teeth?

I'd rather not.

Because I think he should.

[countybear]

What's objectionable about it? If you took that as a threat, I'm not sure what to say. But trust me, I have not the means, desire, or any of the other things required to try and blow up a US Aircraft Carrier. I'm way too patriotic for that. Simply pointing it out that naming it how they did is making it an international target.

I certainly didn't take your comment as a threat, more just a crass, disrespectful, and abrasive use of jaded and inappropriate sarchasm - aimed perhaps at humor, but absolutely missing the mark. Suggesting that we paint targets on the backs of our service personnel might be humorous where you live and in your circle of friends, however it is not so well recieved here, especially as a number of our users are indeed veterans, families of, or servicemen themselves.

Naming the Carrier after former President Bush (41) might indeed be taken as a 'slap in the face' of terrorists, especially given the now well-documented plot that existed to assassinate him: ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...ine/062793.htm )

Personally, I think that the real attempt to assassinate a sitting President rather belittles any "fear" of retaliation against a nuclear powered carrier. For some reason, thinkers of your ilk tend to forget how despicable radical Islamic terrorists are, yet are ruled by fear over 'how they feel'. Well sir, let me explain to you how they feel. Unless you are Muslim (even perhaps of the same faction as they are), they want to kill you and your entire family.

Given that, do you think the naming of an American warship is a deep concern? Hell, I'd like to see a destroyer named "The U.S.S. I'll stick a missle up your jihadist asses". That would suit me just fine.

I trust it does, I was being slightly sarcastic when I said it might. If there's one thing I trust Mr. Bush to do, it's arming the military to the highest extent.

... and his successor to do the reverse.

You are all looking too far into my post.

I think we fully understand.

I'm simply stating that naming it as such is making it a huge target. Think of the symbolism that'd go along with an attack on that ship. It'd make 9/11 look like an ant hill.

Think of the futility of attacking one of the largest and most heavily armed warships in history... I wager that the crew of the U.S.S. G.H.W. Bush are of the opinion, "bring it on". Remember, though, jihadists are predators who much prefer unsuspecting and unarmed innocents as targets. They are cowards and babykillers.

I truly do hope those men and women realize this, and put that ship's security absolutely paramount. Not for the ship. Not for the administration it represents. But for the country it represents, and the people on board.

I'm sure they have it well under control.

[Captain America]

I had the privilege of serving on two aircraft carriers. Terrorists don't want any part of that noise. Period.

[213th]

Speaking as someone with a long history of military service in my family, not to mention someone with a family member currently in the service, I find your post highly objectionable. If you are here to create problems, I have a very quick solution for you.



... and I just said exactly what I meant to as well. So tell us... are you a troll or just very ill-mannered?

Godspeed the men and women of the George H.W. Bush.

^what he said^ Skyy, I'd also add that you may want to tread lightly. There are many veterans on this site, and even more people who are related to veterans. I think that you will find that most if not all leo's have respect for the military as a whole, atleast I have.

[Five-0]

Skyy,

Since I invited you here to find some good deals on equipment that you mentioned on another site. I am going to give you some advice. Don't walk into our living room making wiseass comments about those that serve causes bigger than themselves. The banter between long time members here is banter between those that have devoted careers and lives to the service and protection of others. You have stated that you are in the process of becoming a leo, and that you are currently in an academy to realize this goal. You may one day find yourself at your first roll call if you make it through your training. Don't walk into that roll call, fart, and then start yanking the chains of those that came before you. Your reputation here and in law enforcement is that of a neophyte. Keep this fact in mind if you so choose to continue your participation on this site. Others have already responded to you in a far more eloquent manner and/or forceful manner. My intention is not to humilitate or demean you. My intention is to save you some hardships in this career and on this site if your intentions and story on this site are honorable. If, however, your intention is to troll you came to the wrong place. I hope that the site staff have made that clear, Aaron.

[CTR man]

Given that, do you think the naming of an American warship is a deep concern? Hell, I'd like to see a destroyer named "The U.S.S. I'll stick a missile up your jihadist asses". That would suit me just fine.

Think of the futility of attacking one of the largest and most heavily armed warships in history... I wager that the crew of the U.S.S. G.H.W. Bush are of the opinion, "bring it on". Remember, though, jihadists are predators who much prefer unsuspecting and unarmed innocents as targets. They are cowards and babykillers.

Rep inbound for this statement.