Our Nimitz is Coming Home!

Hey everyone, the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is returning to homeport at NAS North Island this Friday. Welcome home crew! You were missed.

Here are some fast facts about the ship.

The Nimitz:

* nickname is the "Old Salt".

* is the only carrier of its class and the most recent supercarrier not to be named for someone who held elective office in the United States.

* moved to the Indian Ocean in 1979 in response to the Iran hostage crisis. After four months on station, Operation Evening Light was launched from Nimitz's decks in an attempt to rescue the U.S. Embassy staff.

* was buzzed twice by a Russian Tu-95 'Bear' bomber in the Western Pacific on 9 February 2008. And again, on 5 March 2008, a Russian bomber came within 3 to 5 nautical miles and flew 2,000 feet above the Nimitz.