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Navy League Takes Trip to USS JFK (CV-67)

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Contributed by: Ann C Caton-Weisbecker on 2/25/2007

SHIP's VISIT TO THE USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) BY THE TREASURE COAST COUNCIL OF THE NAVY LEAGUE. Two buses with 116 Council members, local citizens, NJROTC cadets from two high schools and Sea Cadets & their parents visited the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 on February 15 in Mayport Florida. All had a terrific day with lunch at the Naval Station Mayport galley consisting of Surf & Turf and all around excellent Navy chow. Captain T.A. Zecchin, Kennedy's Commanding officer, Captain R. B. Robinson, the ship's Executive Officer and Lt. Walter Matthews, the ship's Public Affairs officer were all extremely generous with their time although the ship was conducting a Fast Cruise, man overboard drills and other simulated underway evolutions since Kennedy was scheduled to get underway for Boston February 20th.

USS Kennedy was commissioned on September 7, 1968, has a complement of 3, 200 personnel and with the airwing aboard, blossoms to 5, 600. The ship is capable of 34 knots and carries over 80 aircraft. Big John, as known to her crew, is expected to be decommissioned in March 2007. She has had an illustrious career which includes 18 deployments, one of which was during Desert Storm in 1991 when she launched 114 sorties and nearly 2,900 sorties against Iraq. In 1989 in the Gulf of Sidra, two Tomcats from the Kennedy shot down two threatening Libyan Mig-23 flogger E fighter bombers.

During our visit we heard officially that after nearly 40 years of service to America and the U.S. Navy, the John F. Kennedy (CV-67) will be decommissioned on March 23 at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. While details for the actual ceremony are being finalized, it is expected that numerous dignitaries, including members of Congress, Navy officials and possibly members of the Kennedy family are expected to be in attendance. In 1967, it was 9-year-old Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president broke the traditional champagne bottle on the ship's bow, christening the ship USS John F. Kennedy. "Big John" has had an illustrious tour of duty and we were privileged to be able to walk her decks and meet her crew during these, her last days in active service.

Rear Admiral R. G. Guilbault USN (retired), NL council president led the visit and stated that it was a great opportunity for the 27 Sea Cadets & parents from the Melbourne area, 8 NJROTC cadets from West St Lucie high school & 26 NJROTC cadets and parents from Sebastian River high school to get a first hand view of shipboard life and terrific Navy chow! Supporting our Treasure Coast youth through shipboard visits and scholarships as well as basic financial assistance are initiatives that Navy League councils address as well as endorsing our Sea Services: the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine.

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