USS Nimitz

The USS Nimitz CVN 68 is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that was originally launched on May 13th, 1972 by Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia and was sponsored by President Gerald Ford himself and was commissioned on May 3rd, 1975. The vessel was named after Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz who commanded the U. S. Fleet in the Pacific during World War II. The maiden voyage of the Nimitz involved the ship sailing to the Mediterranean Sea in 1976 joining along with the several nuclear powered ships such as the USS South Carolina and the USS California and ultimately returning to Norfolk, Virginia the following year.

On May 26th, 1981 a fatal crash landing upon her flight deck by one of her training aircraft occurred that tragically took the life of fourteen servicemen as well as critically injuring forty five other sailors. The incident was a result of the aircraft in question missing the final arresting cable and ignoring the wave off command ending in the tragedy that befell the crew. The Gulf of Sidra incident happened in 1981 off the coast of Libya where during a freedom-of-navigation exercise two F-14’s were attacked by Libyan aircraft in which the result of the attack left both of the two Libyan pilots being shot down. A TWA flight carrying 153 passengers and crew including Americans was hijacked by two Lebanese gunmen in 1985. As a result, the USS Nimitz CVN 68 was called to action and steamed to the Mediterranean Sea where she closely observed and remained until August.

In Seoul, Korea during the 1988 Olympic Games the USS Nimitz provided security off the South Korean coast and in October of that same year, she set sail heading to the North Arabian Sea where the carrier took part in Operation Earnest Will where due to a misfire accident from one of the guns on the ship, three men were killed and many others injured. She operated successfully during Operation Desert Storm and as of today in the year 2008, the USS Nimitz CVN 68 is still in service.

The crew of the USS Nimitz CVN 68 took immense honor in the help they could provide to their fellow soldiers during service. They transported injured casualties to safety, while also landing many more men on the beaches even under heavy artillery fire from Japanese forces. The danger they faced was not limited to enemy fire and the USS Nimitz CVN 68, like many ships of its era, were constructed with toxic materials, including asbestos. Many had no idea of the harmful health consequences of asbestos exposures during this time and many were endangered because of this. Asbestos was used in piping as well as many insulation systems aboard most naval vessels of this time. If any veteran crewmembers worked around these materials, it is important to be aware of the possible respiratory dangers that asbestos exposure can cause such as the development of mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer.

Last modified: December 09 2009.