Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kilho Park | The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman transits the Strait of...... read more read more
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On July 25, 1998, the Honorable John Dalton, former Secretary of the Navy, brought a new U.S. warship to life during a commissioning ceremony attended by guests from around the world. The ceremony officially marked the start of a historical career for the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
Bill Clinton, the president at the time, served as the guest of honor and principal speaker. Before the commissioning, there were only eight nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the world. Harry S. Truman became the ninth.
During that year, Google.com was founded, the first iPhone was still nine years away from development, Michael Jordan had taken his last shot as a member of the Chicago Bulls, and the number one song in America was “The Boy is Mine” by Brandy and Monica. And many of Harry S. Truman's current Sailors hadn’t been born yet.
Throughout the past 25 years, Harry S. Truman’s crew has witnessed some of the most significant events of the 21st century. Harry S. Truman was among the first aircraft carriers to deploy and launch jets during the invasion of Iraq at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and, just a few short years later, surged to the Gulf of Mexico to support humanitarian efforts following Hurricane Katrina. The ship’s most recent deployment involved rigorous training and operations with U.S. Allied and Partner Nations, bolstering cohesiveness and preparedness between NATO and international allies in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
During these 25 years of voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, generations of Sailors built networks and relationships with their fellow shipmates. Side-by-side, Sailors received promotions and awards, experienced port calls, built lasting memories, and provided community service locally and abroad. Twenty-five years of Sailors achieving personal and professional success, 25 years of “Giving ‘Em Hell.”
“This crew, as has every crew since the first Sailors walked these decks when she was PCU Harry S Truman, has defined the personality of this warship, said Capt. Gavin Duff, Harry S. Truman’s commanding officer. “Truman is a ship of action. Our mottos define it… 'the buck stops here' and 'give ‘em hell.'"
Aircraft carriers can feel like ‘floating cities.’ Within a ‘floating city,’ Sailors accomplish the tasks that are required in their respective professions and, at times, can struggle when thousands of miles away from their families. For some Sailors, the day-to-day can feel mundane to the bigger significance of having an aircraft carrier traveling across the seven seas.
“One of the most profound interactions that I’ve had was with a senior political leader [during the last deployment],” said Duff. “Towards the end of his visit, he told me very clearly and cleanly, ‘Thank you, the presence of this aircraft carrier is what is keeping my country free and is preventing Russia from invading our country. Without you all, we would not be in the same position.’ “Some days, you just walk to the ship and think it’s just another job; sometimes, we have to pause and recognize that the world certainly doesn’t see us that way. It’s a symbol of everything that the U.S. military can bring to bear.” “From the ingenuity of those who designed it, the intellect and craftsmanship of those who built it, and to our courageous Sailors who operate.”
Over the course of 25 years since Harry S. Truman’s commissioning, multiple generations of family members have served aboard the ship.
“My dad was aboard the ship when it was commissioned and made its maiden voyage,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class John Carter. “My father came to the Truman as an Electronics Technician 1st Class and made Chief on this ship. He is a plank owner. There is a cutlass board down in the Chiefs Mess that hangs on the wall in the meeting room and my father was one of the guys who made that and his name is on it. That makes me extremely proud.”
Sailors commonly use the term ‘It’s a small Navy’. However, the U.S. Navy is the largest Naval force the world has ever seen.
“It’s a really cool idea that my dad and I are essentially working in the same field 25 years apart on the same ship," said Carter. "I’m essentially sharing the same experience as my dad. I guess the apple just doesn’t fall too far from the tree. The fact that my dad was here a quarter of a century before me doing the same things makes me proud.”
Since commissioning, Harry S. Truman has accomplished some amazing statistical feats’ completing 198,000 sorties and 178,000 traps. The ship has received 150,000 pallets during replenishments-at-sea, processed 20,000,000 pounds of mail, served 75,000,000 meals to Sailors, cleaned 500,000 pounds of laundry and has provided 300,000 haircuts during its 25 years in service.
“I have been on this ship for three different tours,” said Aviation Electrician's Mate Chief (ret) Alfredo Trinidad, a plank owner. “I feel very blessed that I’m in this position. That first tour was nostalgic because we were a brand new crew and all gelled together. They had just welded the island on the flight deck the first time I checked aboard. I was the 173rd Sailor to check aboard; I was the first person in my rate on the ship. Coming back to the Truman and being rung aboard as a plank owner fills me with joy and pride knowing that I have been here from the beginning, from the very first jet landing on the flight deck all the way to today.”
Harry S. Truman celebrated its 25th anniversary during a flight deck ceremony, July 25. In honor of the anniversary, the ship hosted a small ceremony on the flight deck, bringing together current and former members of the crew. The ceremony celebrated the ship’s accomplishments and the commitment of the sailors who have called the Harry S. Truman ‘home.’
Harry S. Truman has accomplished the Navy’s mission objectives for a quarter of a century. Whether utilized to project power or protect freedom of trade throughout the world, Harry S. Truman stood fast through fair winds and rough seas, and she will continue to do so.
For more news from the ship, visit www.navy.mil/local.cvn75/, www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, www.twitter.com/usnavy, www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn75/, www.facebook.com/cvn75, www.twitter.com/ussharrystruman, or http://instagram.com/uss_harrys.truman.
| Date Taken: | 07.25.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2023 09:07 |
| Story ID: | 460207 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 338 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, CVN 75: 25 Years of “Giving 'Em Hell”, by PO3 Christopher Suarez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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