The USS George H.W. Bush CVN 77 is one mighty aircraft carrier that was officially commissioned on January 10, 2009. During the commissioning ceremony, the carrier’s namesake, former President George H.W. Bush, then 84 years of age, gave a stirring address to the sailors. He reflected upon his military service some 65 years earlier and felt almost akin to the crew. “Those who are sitting out there, where I was, 65 years ago, preparing to serve aboard your new ship, I wish I was sitting right out there with you,” he said. He made it clear that as they prepared to man the ship, they carried with them the hopes and dreams of every American who holds dear freedom and peace, as well as the undying respect and admiration of the entire Bush family.
The 1,092-foot tall, 20 stories high USS George H.W. Bush stood arrayed in red, white, and blue banners for the occasion at Naval Station Norfolk. This is a publication of Faircount Media Group and the U.S. Navy League, Hampton Roads Chapter, to bring some of the sense of importance of this event into your home.
Another testament to the dedication and service of military personnel, those experiences of the VP-44 Patrol Squadron speak eloquently about the sacrifices and great contributions of servicemen and women. Jack L. Fant, Communications Expert, served from February 1970 to February 1974, contributing mightily to the secure teletype communications system for P-3 aircraft in the EastLantMed area. He never logged any flight time, despite flying nearly 2000 hours, a sore point to this day. Still, he remains proud of his contribution to the ASW effort.
John Federico was another veteran who served from 1975 until his retirement in 1999 in several VP squadrons; he enjoyed every minute of it, flying as a flight engineer and claiming his buddies as family. Other veterans sharing their experiences were Steve Feeley and Donald R. Fellows about the closeness of the men that served with them and how the military career truly shaped their lives.
From the towering presence of the USS George H.W. Bush down to the personal stories of those who served in the VP-44 Patrol Squadron, these are stories that stress how truly endowed with the spirit of service and dedication the U.S. Navy has been over the years.